Prize Singers Quartette, first American tour

              First American Tour
The Prize Singers Quartette
Exclusive Management
DICKSON   LYCEUM   BUREAU
PITTSBURG, PA.
The  Prize Singers
First American Tour
MR. EDWARD VAUGHAN, Tenor,
MR. JOSHUA JOHNS, Tenor,
MR. JOHN COEVIIXE DiCKSON,  Baritone,
MR. JOHN THOMAS, (* Taranlais), Bass,
MR. NICHOLAS HOLMES, Pianist,
Prize Winner
Prize Winner
Director
Prize Winner
Gold Medalist
Announcement.
The Management has great pleasure in offering to the public, the Prize Singers as a strictly high class organization. The superiority of this Quartette is revealed in the fact that the individual members are soloists of the highest order, having distinguished themselves in oratorio and recital, as well as having won many prizes on both continents. The Cambrian hills ring with those plaintive airs, sung by all from the collier to the roy¬alist, the Welsh being conceded the greatest glee singers the world knows. With this knowledge, the Director has, with great discrimination, chosen these gentlemen, all born in Wales, who still have the mother tongue well stamped on their speech, for the forth¬coming first American tour.
Specimen   programme
"Sunday on the Ocean"
(a)   "March   Grotesque"     1
(b)   "Rustling of Spring"   J
"Lend Me Your Aid"
Reading
"Honor and Arms"
"What the Chimney Sang"
Scherzo Waltz
"Go, Baffled Coward"
PRIZE SINGKRS
MR. HOLMES
MR. VAUGHAN
MR. THOMAS
PRIZE  SINGERS
MR. HOLMES
MESSRS. VAUGHAN AND THOMAS. "Song of Thanksgiving"           -
MR. JOHNS
(a)   "Drink to Me Only"           -
(b)   "Arabella"                           ....
PRIZE   SINGERS
He in Ice Si tiding
CiUfiod
Selected Handel
Parks
Moszkowski
Handel
Allitson
Old English Old Welsh
I
* Taranlais is a Welsh title, which was conferred upon Mr. Thomas by the  Bard of Wales, and means " voice of thunder."
The Prize Singers
First American Tour
MR. EDWARD VAUGHAN
PRIZE   WINNER
Mr. Edward Vaughan was born and raised in Wales, near Swansea, and competed in many Eisteddfods during his youth and won a score of prizes by the time he was twenty-three years old; the one of particular moment, however, was in his twenty-fourth year, when he entered the big Eisteddfod in London and came out the victor on the great solo "Sound An Alarm," by Handel, where no less a person than the great voice teacher, Wm. Shakespeare, was adjudicator. He then went to Italy, where he remained three years, and gained recognition by his vocal gifts, sailing for America later ; he has held some of the best church positions in this country.
Mr. Edward Vaughan. a comparatively young may, from near Swansea, Wales, won the prize at the Eisteddfod yesterday. His singing of " Sound An Alarm " was flawless and bespeaks a great future for the young tenor.—London Gazette.
While our country has turned out many good tenors, we feel sure that one of the greatest voices we have ever boasted, is that of Edward Vaughan's. It is ravishingly beautiful, of silky texture, and under excellent control. He always sings with great feeling.— Welsh Coast Pioneer.
Mr. Edward Vaughan, the Welsh tenor, gave an informal recital yesterday for a favored few of Wheeling music lovers. His singing aroused the greatest enthusiasm, and it is hoped that he may be heard here in a public programme later in the season. Mr. Vaughan's voice is a pure, lyric tenor, magnetic in quality and seemingly of unlimited power. Such clarion-like high notes, and such delicate pianissimos one rarely has the good fortune to hear from the same singer. He has purity of diction, refinement of style, united with warmth and real abandon. Mr. Vaughan is des¬tined soon to be known throughout the country and Wheeling congratulates him in advance upon a successful musical career.— Wheeling, West Vir¬ginia, Intelligencer.
Several new soloists were introduced last night, among others Mr. Edward Vaughan, the Welsh tenor, who delighted the large audience. His tenor solo was equaled by few who have sung in the Ocean Grove auditorium, and it was re¬marked that his voice resembled very closely that of Evan Williams.—-Journal, Asbury Park.
MR. JOHN   THOMAS
PRIZE   WINNER
There are so many things that might be said, that we scarcely know what to tell in the limted space allotted. But that he possesses one of the greatest bass voices of any living man, is an actual¬ity, resembling very closely that of Van Rooys, in range and power. He could make himself heard above a symphony orchestra, even though Creatore were coaxing a big climax from the trombones. However, it is not on his volume we should dwell, but on the incomparable texture of his voice, its poetic power, its richness of color, its ringing, bell¬like quality. In addition to voice and tempera-ament he is endowed with a splendid physique and a stage presence at once charming and magnetic.
Mr. Thomas sang "Let All Obey," by Leach, in a most thrilling manner. His voice is rich, full and resonant, and his dramatic ability found ample scope in the song selected. The thunderous ap¬plause which followed, brought the genial singer to the front again, when he sang "Honor and Arms," and left the audience more uproarous than ever.—London Times.
John Thomas certainly won by fair means the title bestowed upon him, "Taranlais," for the very chandeliers vibrated as his big voice flooded the vast auditorium. The modesty and dignity with which he sang, "Thus Saith the Lord," was surely a lesson for the students present, nor will they soon forget the impression they received. — Westerfi Border, Wales.
John Thomas, Taranlais, a big man, with a bigger bass voice, was the lion of the hour, iti the character of Will Scarlet, the Armourer. His rich basso created a furore, and he was compelled to repeat the blacksmith song three times before the enthusiastic audience would cease applauding. The Opera has been made famous by the Bostonians, and never was the part acted or sung better.— Account Robinhood, New Castle.
Another Welshman has come to Manhattan, who is creating almost a sensation by the natural power and quality of his voice. He came to study with Savage, the well-known voice teacher, who is so enthusiastic over him that he calls him a second Whitney.—Evening Sun, New York.
Decidedly the greatest voice ever heard in this place, with the possible exception of Plancon.— Brooklyn Eagle.
'' Some to the church repair,
Not for the doctrines, But the music there."
"Let me write the ballads of a nation, And I care not who may make its laws.
'Lulled with sounds of sweetest melody."
The Prize Singers
First American Tour
MR. JOSHUA JOHNS
PRIZE   WINNER
Mr. Johns comes from the land of tenors, and like Ben. Davies, is an example of the excellent quality of voice possessed by the Welshman. He was born near Cardiff, Wales, and as a boy was a great favorite, having a soprano voice. He gave evi¬dence of extraordinary talent at the age of ten, when he won a prize on "Angels Ever Bright and Fair" in his home town. He has won many prizes in Wales as well as this country, winning the prize at Cardiff on "Be Thou Faithful Unto Death," in 1892.
Mr. Joshua Johns delighted the large audience, with the artistic finish in which he sang his group of Schubert songs. He was compelled to re-ap¬pear when he sang an old song, "Mentra Gwen," in our own tongue—The Adjudicator.
Mr, Johns' voice is especially well suited for oratorio work, and his method of singing is so sure and easy that one is quite as well pleased with his tones as his rendition.— Y. Golewad.
The excellent tenor voice of Mr. Joshua Johns, the Welsh tenor, was heard to good advantage in the sextette from "Lucia" in the first part of the programme, but during the second half, when he and Miss Mathews, with the chorus, sang the "Miserere" from "II Trovatore," he met with an ovation.—News, Scran ton.
Mr. Johns was decidedly the favorite of the sing¬ers and his sweet tenor voice flooded the theatre in the old ballad "Margarita." The applause was so persistent that he responded with "Come into the Garden, Maude."—Wyoming County Institute.
If there are any tenors with a more complete equipment for singing than Mr. Johns' we have yet to hear them. He has a real tenor voice of exquisite quality, good range and a warmth of feeling that was felt in his first song, "Oh! that Summer Smiled for Aye."—Tribu?ie, New  York.
The Orchestra gave their fifth pair of concerts, with Joshua Johns, Welsh tenor, as soloist. His old friends packed the house to hear him, and when he had finished "Before the Dawn," by Chadwick, the applause was deafening—Wilkes-barre Daily.
MR. NICHOLAS HOLMES
GOLD    MEDALIST
Up from the South comes another Blind Tom, as far as native ability to play the piano-forte is concerned. But in presenting Mr. Holmes, we beg to say he is a cultured, finished musician, hav¬ing made music a study from mere infancy. In 1900 he had the good fortune to come under the notice and tuition of Sig. Albino Gorno, the famous Italian pianist, who has brought him to a rare state of perfection. His tone poem in D flat, is one of the best from the pen of any American in the last decade.
Few students receiving public honors have as much cause for self-congratulation, or may feel that they have as thoroughly earned applause as the blind musician, Nicholas Holmes, who will receive a certificate and a gold medal with the enconium, "great distinction," this evening at the College of Music commencement exercises.—Com¬mercial Tribune, Cincinnati.
The solo artists were Mr. David Baxter, basso, and Mr. Nicholas Holmes, pianist. * * * Of the latter we can only say that art was ever para¬mount ; while he has gained great technique through long study, the greatest pleasure was his sincere and intelligent rendition. His name will soon be on the scroll of great pianists. —Pittsburg Post.
The Odeon was filled to overflowing last night to hear the orchestra under the direction of Herr Van der Stucken. The most interesting number on the program was the Mendelssohn Caprice in B minor for piano and orchestra, Nicholas Holmes presiding at the piano. As the baton led the orchestra through the mazy, labarynthine move¬ments of this big number, the youthful pianist fell into the spirit and poured his very soul into the work. A perfect ovation followed.—Cincinnati Enquirer.
His big technique and delicate touch, combined with a rare knowledge of the masters, places him in a class of his own.—Evening Press, Columbus.
When the manager led his blind boy to the piano a pathetic feeling went the rounds. But as the pianist led his audience from grave to gay— from sad to joyful, by his rippling, flowing touch, pathos turned to admiration ; and everyone, from the novice to the professional pianist, joined in pronouncing him a prodigy.-Indianapolis Sentinel
" The soul of music, lies slumbering in its cell, 'Till waked and kindled by the master's spell. Feeling hearts, touch them but lightly, pour A thousand melodies, unheard before."
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