Competitions

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 39, 12 April 1929, Page 7

Competitions

bene An Interesting Talk English Adjudicator Speaks AN interesting lecture will be given from 3YA on May 9, by Mr. W. H. Dixon, L.R.A.M. (London), A.R.C.M., professor of singing, on the subject of musical competitions and their value to students, teachers und the naticn. Mr. Dixon, who is conductor of the Christchureh Royal Choral Society, has recently arrived in Christchurch’ from the Old Land. He comes with the highest. credentials. After much experience with competitions in England he will be able to give valuable advice to students and teachers. Mr. Dixon will make his first radio appearance in New Zealand next Wednesday evening, when he will describe and narrate the story of "Rigoletto." Mr. Dixon will be musical judge at the Wellington Competitions in August. ME. DIXON is a nativ. of Laneashire. In the early days of his musical career he won the open tenor solo at Oxford Berks’ and Bucks’ Festival, at Slough, and also the gold medal at Bristol Eisteddfod; afterwards securing the Acott Singing Scholarship at Oxford. Following this training he was awarded the diplomas of L.R.A.M., and A-R.C.M. After this he was appointed principal tenor at Mansfield College. He organised choirs at St. Nicl.olas Congregational Church, and was for many years conductor of the Telixstowe Choral Society. At ‘the Ipswich Social Settlement, in collaboration with the late Rt. Hon. Sir Daniel

Goddard, ‘.2., he for.nzed a ehovir which performed some of the finest musie ever heard in Ipswich. In the operatic world he also ddded distinetion to his activities, and the performances of the Ipswich Amateur Uperatic Society and Ipswich Players at the Lyceum, with a week’s preseutation of five or six different operas, will Jong be remembered. After the death of Sir Daniel Goddard, Mr. Dixon was offered the post of musical director at Tacket Street Congregational Church, the "Cathedral" of Noncomformity in Ipswich. The music of this church had always

been of a high standard, and uuder the new conductor the choir improved from "strength to strength." On one occasion its singing in the county competition caused the adjudicator to temporarily forget he was judging a competition, and just to lean back in his chair and listen to the superb singing of this choir. He trained choirs for the L. & N.E. Rly. Musical Society, and in 1920 was selected to coach the whole of the eastern area for tL. London concerts. At the Suffolk County Musical Competition Festivals at both Ipswich and Bury St. Sdmunds his pupils won distinction after distinction-1S pupils winning first prizes, and 25 second prizes-and his choirs won premier honours over all comers whenever they were entered. A large proportion of his successful pupils became members of the Ipswich Choral Society. In addition to the great oratorios, he has tackled some of Elgar’s masterpiccc.;, such as "The Dream of Gerontius" and "Caractacus," with conspicuous success. The splendid performance of "The Dream" is remembered as a con-. cert never to be forgotten in musical annals in the town. Many ::naller works, presenting nearly as many dif=culties, have been given and Mr. Dixon has never let the society or the public down by a second-rate per. -..uce.