Another Splendid Quartet Engaged for 3YA

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 26, 13 January 1928, Page 5

Another Splendid Quartet Engaged for 3YA

PROGRAMMES TO COMMENCE IN. FEBRUARY

A quartet, known as the A. G. Thompsen Quartet, was recently formed at 3YA, the personnel being Miss Mary Shaw, A.R.C.M., Miss Nellie Lowe, Mr. A. G. Thompson and Myr. T. G. Rogers. The four make a musical combination of great balance and artistry, and will prove a source of grejat pleasure to listeners. The type of. entertainment proposed to be given by the quartet, and the manner of its presentation, involving as it will considerable dialogue, will be somewhat out of the ordinary. These programmes will commence in February, when the holiday season is over. ,

The leader of the quartet is Mr, A. G. Thompson, B.A., late of London, but now a well-established teacher of singing, violin and elocution in Christchurch. His fine baritone voice has been heard recently from 8YA and has been a great delight to all. Mr. Thompson was trained by Mr. Benham Blaxland, London, and he was also a pupil of Sir Charles Santley and of Mr. George S. Aspinal, the composer. He had the distinction of being a soloist at the Royal Military Chapel, London; the Pro-Cathedral, South Kensington ; St. James’s Church, West Hampstead; aud Tarm Street Church, Grosvenor Square. He was also vocalist. in the City Musical Union of London. In New Zealand Mr. Thompson has been very successful, In 1918 he won the vocal championship at the New Zéaland Competitions Society and a vocal schol-

arship at Christchurch, He was a prize winner at the New Zealand International Exhibition, and has been a gold medallist at several other com--petitions. Mr. Thompson has sung in many parts of New Zealand, and his cultured voice has received high praise from the Press. A few years ago he organised and conducted the Liedertafel in Napier.

Miss Nellie Lowe, one of the most popular contraltos at 3YA, comes from the city of Nottingham, where she was one of the principal singers in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian (Church choir and well known as a vyocalist.. Shie was a pupil of Madame Wilson Mould, whose concert party did such wonderful work at the hospitals during the Great War. No doubt many New Zealand soldiers have pleasant recollections of madame and her good work. Miss Lowe also belonged to the Belgrave Quartet, well known throughout the Midlands. Before coming to New Zealand she did a great deal of singing

at Home, including such oratorios as "Wlijah," "Messiah,’? aud ‘Stabat Mater." For some time now Miss Lowe has been a regular singer at 3YA. Miss Mary Shaw, A.R.C.M., is a brilliant soprano singer from the Old Land too. She is very gifted and highly trained, having received her musical education at the Royal College of Music, London. Miss Shaw was known in broadcasting circles in England, and she had many concert engagements, At Bournemouth Winter Gardens she sang under Sir Dan ‘Godfrey. About three years ago she came to New Zealand, and has been a teacher of singing in Wellington, where she also gave recitals and appeared on the public plat-

‘form. She has now taken up her residence in Christchurch, and is a great acquisition to radio, . ‘The voice of Mr. ‘I. G. Rogers, tenor, has been familiar to listeners at 3YA for some time, and his regular engagement will be a source of satisfaction to all. A Welsh miner, Mr. Rogers was a pupil of Mr. Kivan Williams (father of Mr. T. D. Williams, the well-known 3YA singer and a well-known teacher throughout South Wales), and he has a splendid record in competition work in Wales, England and New Zealand. Coming to New Zealand in 1920, Mr. Rogers for some time followed his trade on the West Coast, but his ability as a vocalist, as demonstrated at the Wellington competitions, diverted his career to Christchurch, where le joined the tramway service. When at Millerton Mr. Rogers formed and con-

ducted the first male voice choir, which gave concerts in various towns on the coast. Once resident in Christchurch, he speedily entered into the musical life of the city. He is the conductor of the Linwood Congregational Church Choir, and for four years has been a soloist in the Male Voice Choir under

‘Dr. J. C. Bradshaw.