THE "ARIEL" SINGERS

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 24, 30 December 1927, Page 7

THE "ARIEL" SINGERS

BRIGHT, CHEERY ITEMS their first appearance at 2YA. This: talented quartet On Friday, January 13, the "Ariel" Singers will make their first appearance at 2YA. This talented quartet should give much pleasure to listeners. They are aiming at brightness and will welcome constructive criticism of their items. Listeners who would like to hear this quartet in any special numbers should forward requests to the Broadcasting Company, Wellmgton.

Three members of this quartet are ex-champions and scholarship holders at the Wellington competitions and are from the local studio of Madame. Emily Briggs. Miss Jeanette Briggs (soprano), in the Associated Board’s Examination for "Licentiate (Performers)"’ Certificate this year, obtained the highest marks awarded to any candidate in the North Island, for singing, and was chosen therefrom and recommended for a two years" scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music, Lon-. don. Miss Briggs was champion lady vocalist at the Wellington Competitions in 1926 and secured the highest aggregate marks and ladies’) scholarship thereat in 1925. Her church work in Wellington has included Mendelssohn’s "Hymn of Praise." Miss Ngaire Coster (mezzo-con-. tralto) is a promising young | another pupil of Madame Emily Briggs. In the 1925 Wellington Competitions she and Miss J. Briggs. gained an equal number of aggregate marks each, both being awarded a diamond ring therefore. Miss GCoster’s choir and concert work has been extensive. , Mr. W. Roy Hill (tenor), during the »ast musical season alone, has appeared as soloist with the Napier Choral Society, the Wellington professional orchestra, the Wellington Orpheus Choir, the Wanganui Choral Society, the Wellington C.T. Male Voice Choir, the Hutt Orchestral. Society, and the Wellington ‘Society of Musicians" orchestra. Apart from

being previously heard at 2YA, his recent engagements have included’ tenor leads in "The Golden Legend." "Merrie England," and "The Rose Maiden," whilst in Church work he sings "The Messiah," "The Crucifixion,"’ "The Holy City," ete. In 1925 he won twelve first prizes and two gold medals at the Wellington Competitions. . Mr. J. M. Caldwell (bass), already a well known tocal artist, is a recent arrival from Scotland, the songs of which country he interprets beautifully. He was Gold Medallist at the Bute, Cumbrai and Kyles Festival in 1925, and at the Glasgow Festival in 1926, his artistic singing earning high praise from the adjudicator (Dr. Frederick J. Staton of Chester‘field Cathedral}. Mr. Caldwell’s voice is powerful, of wide range, and fine quality, , The "Ariel Singers" are anxious to provide listeners-in with the entertainment they are most likely to enjoy, and therefore would welcome any suggestions or criticisms of their work, Request numbers will be glad> ly "put on the air" from time to time, (Postal address-"‘Care Radio Broadcasting Co., Wellington.") In their initial miscellaneous programme on Friday, January 13, they especially draw attention to two popular items -the bass solo, "The Pride of Tipperary," and the quartet-‘Hey ‘Diddle Diddle." The second recital (February 8) will comprise modern English works by Roger Quilter, R. Vaughan Williams, Coleridge Taylor, ete., and later still an entirely Scottish evening will be provided.

the Bosworth-Ilemus-Towsey Trio, Mr. J. F. Montague and Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Martin (banjo and piano). The quartet-Misses P. Graham, A. Taylor, Messrs. R. Peter and A. Col-ledge-will submit a programme of songs that will be worthy of such accomplished vocalists. ‘ Mr. and Mrs. Wugh Morton hail from Hamilion. ‘They are excellent enterlamers.