The Wilmington morning star., 1945-10-28

Lenoir; Harold T. Parry, Rocky
Mount; W. r. Hearne. Henderson:
Carl G. N. Cronstedt, High Point;
Mrs. Sara All Abernethy, New
Bern; H. Hugh Altvater, dean Of
the school of music, and John c.
Lockhart, business manager, both
Of The Woman's college.
Eleven district contests, cover
ing the state geographically, and
with a chairman in charge OF each
area, are planned. Winners Of high
ratings in the district events will
become eligible for entrance In the
state contests.
All instrumental solos, small in
strumental ensembles and orches-
ira will be heard in the state
contests on April %. The second
day has been designated as Band
Day, and all band events will be
run off at that time. Vocal solos,
small vocals ensembles and the
larger choral groups will be heard
April Is and 20.
Because Of the serious housing
shortage in Greensboro, the Choral
association will not this year at
tempt to hold the choral festival,
introduced with great success a
number Of years ago, and, before
the war, participated in by massed
choruses OF five to six hundred
students. To resume the festival
would mean holding overnight In
Greensboro choral groups which
have finished competing on the In
itial day Of this phase Of the pro-
gram.
In the choral contests, choruses
will be given a choice Of singing
for contest ratings or for criticism
only.
The annual contest-festival bulle-
tin, giving details Of contest opera
ton, is now in preparation and
will be issued by Dean Altvater
as soon as it is published in order
that music teachers may begin
readying their soloists and en-.
sembles.
The contest-festiva1, an institu-
ton in North Carolina, reached a
peak of attendance in 1910 when
more than 5000 girls and boys
from hanlets and cities in I'LL
parts of the state descended on
the college. In the following year,
greater stress was placed on the
district divisions to relieve Green's
boro Of some Of the housing bur-
den. Even 80, attendance is ex-
pected to be between 1000 and
5000.
Started by the college in 1920
as a piano contest in which IA
students participated, the move
ment, which has perhaps contri-
buted more than anything else to
development of a public school
music program and appreciation
of music in the state, grew slowly
at first and then phenomena11y.
The contests were held annually
for % consecutive years, and were
regretfully cancelled in 1914 and
again in 1915 because of the war.
With expansion of the contest to
include not only instrumental and
vocal solo and small ensemble
events, but also bands, orchestras
and large choruses, the State High
School Music contest-festival asso-
citation was set up and several at
filiate groups were formed to give
those responsible for teaching
music to youth responsibility with
the college and its school OF music
for administering the great under
taking. North Carolina Bandmas-
ters' association, North Curolina
School Orchestra association and
North Carolina Choral association
are the three affiliates co-operat-
ing with the general association In
matters pertaining to their respec-
i've fields.
During the two years and dis
trict and state contests and festi-
val events were cancelled, local
contests and festivals were held
at the urging Of the state associa-
ton as a substitute for he larger
meetings and to carry forward the
purposes Of the association. The
annual bulletins were prepared as
usual, listing events. compositions
to be performed in each, regula-
ton and, In addition. suggestions
on how to hold local events.