"STARS OF TO-MORROW" AT 2ZB NEXT SUNDAY

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 56, 19 July 1940, Page 48

"STARS OF TO-MORROW" AT 2ZB NEXT SUNDAY

N_ Saturday, July 6, there was great activity at 2ZB. A very important event was taking place-the "auditioning" of young artists to choose those who are to take part in the first presentation of "Stars of To-morrow" next Sunday at 6.30 p.m.

Youth is indeed the essence of this big "Talent Show," as all the aftists must be under. 19 years of age. Some of those. selected have never been heard over the air before, and are delighted with the chance to make their radio debut. Station 2ZB’s lounge ‘seemed crowded with eager little. girls clutchiag music and ‘songs in their hands, while several’ husky lads strolled round ‘with ‘ trombones, © guitars or mouth. organs. All eyed the- studio clock anxiously, and valiantly endeavoured to assume a nonchalant: air, for the "auditioning" was timed to start at 10 a.m., and it was very neat the fateful hour. At length, all» the performers were shepherded into the studio, and before a special committee the tests began. The standard: was so high that the critics had a very unenviable task in making their selection, which was announced amid breathless excitement. Doreen Dickinson, one. of the selected: artists, is 13 years of age, and a pupil at the Island Bay School. Doreen, who posseses a splendid voice, sang "Over the. Rainbow" delightfully. It was a very excited little girl who said that this was her first experience in radio, though she kas appeared a lot in public. Doreen, who plays basketball for her school, ‘has been learning singing for four or five years, but cherishes an ambition to be: a dancing teacher. Another chosen was Pauline Tozer. A pupil of the Newtown School, Pauline’s favourite sport is skating. Her ambitions are divided between nursing and dressmaking, but with the talent and voice Pauline possesses, it is safe to predict a different future, even though she is only eleven. The third girl chosen for the "Stars of Tomorrow" show was Natalie Wallace, who is also a pupil of the Island Bay School. Though only twelve years of age, Natalie gave a highly skilled performance of film star impersonations. The voices of Greta Garbo, Gracie Fields, and Bobbie Breen were uncannily lifelike. Her hobbies are singing and knitting, and her ambition is to be a teacher of singing and elocution. The two lads chosen for "Stars of Tomorrow" were Mervyn Piaggi and Roy Smith. Mervyn, who is fourteen years old, and is a pupil at the Technical School, is a veritable wizard on the mouth organ. His hobby is music, and his favourite sport football. Roy Smith, who played the piano-accordion, is the senior of the five young artists, for he owns to seventeen years; Roy belongs to 2ZDs

Musical Army and the Mouth Organ. Band. His hobby, too, is ‘music, though he enjoys various sports, such as football, hockey, soccer and cricket. The remaining artists of the show had not been chosen when The Listener went to press. Asa climax to an exciting morning for the chosen youngsters, came the experience of signing their first contracts in the Station Direc‘tor’s office. This was their initial experience of. the radio world, and was the opening of the. door of .opportunity. K.. W.. Kilpatrick, ‘Station. Director of 2ZB, congratulated each of the young «artists, and wished them very ‘good’ fortune’ in their future careers, ‘And ‘so.the first performers for 2ZB's big venture, the "Stars ‘of To-morrow," were chosen. _ This programme is a genuine attempt to. present the cream of juvenile talent to listeners, and it is believed that, with the encouragement and experience. that these young artists, get from 2ZB, they will go far in the world .of entertainment. The "Stars of To-morrow" will broadcast from 2ZB next Sunday, July 21, at 6.30 p.m. It will be. well worth while to mee to these talented youngsters,