COMPETITIONS.

A BIG DAY.
SONGS OF THE EMERALD ISLE.

With the finer weather, matters brightened considerably at the Town Hall yesterday, and large audiences were the rule throughout the day. The Irish song contest, which induced a generous entry, lured a large audience to the big hall in the afternoon, and the costume sketches in the Concert Chamber drew a packed house. Among the other attractions for the day were the prepared readings for ladies and gentlemen (separate classes), the mezao soprano solo, cornet solo, and piano duet, and impromptu speech for ladies. .....

THE RESULTS

Humorous Song.

Humorous Song (Lady or Gentleman; own selection, in character. First prize, £2; second, £1; third, Certificate.

Entrants - Mr. Arthur M'Donald ("Inverary"), Christchurch; Mr. William Booth Lambert ("Tobermory"), Wellington; Miss Coralie Stanley ("Femme de Chambre"), Wellington; Mr. Rowland F. Digby ("Are You Asleep"), Seatoun; Mr. Zante Wood ("Our Bazaar"), Wellington; Mr. Arty Smith, Petone.

Result — Miss C. Stanley (127 marks); Mr. Zante Wood (120 marks); 3, Mr. Arty Smith (122 marks).

THE EVENING CONCERT.

Another large audience attended the feast of music and elocution provided last evening by the competitors who had been recalled in the various classes held during a long day. The programme included a capital variety of music and elocutionary items, which were on the whole interpreted with a good deal of ability. ..... The humorous song contest elicited some highly-amusing contributions. The best of the performers were: Miss Coralie Stanley, Mr. Z, Wood, and Mr. Arty Smith, of Petone, a good comique in the rough. .....

THE JUDGE'S DECISIONS.

Mr. Wolf, in giving his decisions, stated in regard to the pianoforte duet that the Misses Shepherd had played without music, but had not played the last part at all. What they had played was remarkably well done. Misses. White and Mitchell did not play so well that evening as they had during the day. They were awarded first prize, with 133 marks, and the Misses Shepherd were second with 132 marks. Respecting the Irish song he said that most of the ladies had selected "The Last Rose of Summer," and most of the men "The Minstrel Boy." One had sung "Off to Philadelphia" without any Irish at all. He did not know whether a fortnight's competitions had exhausted all the humour of the competitors, but there wasn't much exhibited that evening. Miss Coralie Stanley ("Marie Louise") was awarded first prize, Mr. Zante Wood second, and Mr. Arty Smith third.

.....

Source: The Dominion (Wellington), 28 November 1912, Page 6.

VOCAL CHAMPIONS

COMPETITIONS "AT HOME"
CLOSE OF THE CONTESTS.

The New Zealand Competitions Society's Festival of 1912 came to an end last night, when once again the Town Hall was crowded. There were left two or three tests to dispose of then the declaration of their results and finally the announcement of the champions for 1912.

Three delightful drawing-room entertainments were furnished by competitors and their friends, and although the programme all through was a long one it manifestly "filled a public want" for the audience was in the mood to recall every performer. .....

..... Miss Coralie Stanley both sang and danced (as well as the hobble skirt would permit). She was encored. .....

Source: Evening Post (Wellington), 29 November 1912, Page 3.

MADAME MUELLER'S CONCERT

The steady grind of the conscientious teacher of vocal production throughout the year counts for a good deal more than most people think. It stands, to reason that all who try to sing may not succeed, as a certain natural gift is required as a basis, as in any other art, and if that is absent all the teaching in the world is of little or no avail, and teachers would do well in accepting pupils not to encourage those devoid of voice altogether to attempt to learn singing. The conscientious would do this, but there are some, not only in Wellington, who make a practice of giving singing lessons to anyone who comes along. This charge cannot be laid to the door of Madame Mueller, whose pupils gave a concert at tho Concert Chamber last evening. The opening chorus, "From Oberon in Fairyland" (Stevens), introduced about forty fresh young voices, who sang nicely in-time and very correctly. The female voices predominated on account of the few tenors and basses, but apart from tonal balance, the chorus was well sung. Cowen's chorus, "Come to Me, Gentle Sleep," placed appropriately at the end of a lengthy programme, was also acceptably treated. Madame Mueller wielding the baton. ..... Miss Coralie Stanley, who has a good deal of vivacious charm sang Aylward's "Sweet Bird of Summer" archly, but was inclined to deviate from true pitch. .....

Source: The Dominion (Wellington), 19 December 1912, Page 6.