TO GO ABROAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 932, 27 March 1930, Page 14

TO GO ABROAD

Miss McGruer Making ; Study Tour VIENNA, MILAN, PARIS There are few young New Zealand j musicians who at some time or ; another do not feel the urge to go , abroad. Naturally if they are at nil i sincere in their art the call must | come. To Miss Alma McGruer, one 1 of Auckland’s best-known sopranos, I has come a strong call that cannot be j denied. Some set forth in the spirit of a | great adventure, and an adventure it ! surely is. Musically, New Zealand is I yet in its teens. Success here does ! not necessarily mean success in the i older lands where musical traditions ! have accumulated the dust of ages j and where the student takes his place j among thousands of others equally as S keen and all imbued with the inspira- I tion that can only thrive in a land j where art takes a foremost place in i the every-day life of the people. But if one sets forth equipped with j a receptive mind and determined to ; absorb in a thorough and practical \ way what such countries have to offer the result cannot fail but be successful. And for the future success of music in this country it is desirable that the best of our younger students should steep themselves for a while in the riper culture of other lands.

In deciding upon a course of studies that will take her to London, Vienna, Milan and Paris, Miss McGruer was not led astray by any of the illusions that are sometimes induced by the prospect of distant fields. Three years of hard work await her and she is determined to put them to the best possible use. Following a brief stay in London Miss McGruer proposes to study singing, pianoforte and languages in Vienna, where German and the German operas will be her principal quest. It is also interesting to note that in Vienna she will place herself under the same teacher that taught Friedman, the eminent pianist who toured New Zealand a season or two ago.

For a good speaking knowledge of the language and a first-hand knowledge of Italian opera, Miss McGruer will go to Milan, the home of Italian

opera, finishing with a grounding in French opera in Paris. POPULAR ARTIST Miss McGruer has had a sound training in New Zealand in both singing and pianoforte, and at the present time is in charge of the musical training at the Seddon Memorial Technical College. The advice has been given many times by artists from New Zen land and Australia who have succeeded abroad that before venturing overseas young artists should first prepare themselves thoroughly in their own country. This Miss McGruer certainly has done, and she will have the advantage not only of a properly receptive mind, but also with a proper appreciation of the extent and value of the further studies that lie ahead. Auckland audiences will remember Miss McGruer particularly for her fine performance recently with the Auckland Choral Society in “Klijali,” “Hiuemoa” and “Messiah.” Miss McGruer has also had notable engagements with societies in other centres, and has also been a popular performer on local concert platfo and over the air from IYA. Miss McGruer is also the soprano member of the popular Auckland combination, the Clarion Quartet. The esteem in which Miss McGruer is regarded by her fellow artists is being indicated by the assistance to be given by prominent Auckland artists at a farewell concert at the Town Hall on Thursday, April 10. An equally generous measure of support from the musical section of the public is also anticipated. Miss McCruer will leave Auckland on April 17.