CONDUCTOR CHOSEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 150, 27 June 1934, Page 8

CONDUCTOR CHOSEN.

WELLINGTON CHORAL UNION

MR. OLIVER, OF MONTREAL.

(By Telegraph.—P«s3 Association.) WELLINGTON-, Tuesday. Members of tho Royal Wellington Choral Union this evening unanimously elected Mr. Stanley Oliver, of Montreal, Canada, conductor and musical director. Mr. Oliver, who is at present on a visit to New Zealand, was one of 27 applicants. There were ten from England, two from Canada, one from Newfoundland, six from Australia and eight from New Zealand. The chairman, Mr. £T. E. Moston, said Mr. Oliver came from Canada with an exceedingly line record and had a wide experience, both there and in England. Mr. Oliver stated he had been influenced to stay in Wellington by several things, not the least of them being the very high standard of vocal music achieved here. Members of the union had vocal equipment second to none he had heard anywhere in the world.

CANADIAN TRIBUTE. DISTINGUISHED DIRECTOR. Mr; Stanley Oliver is a native of Kent, and was born of parents both of whom wero church organists. He studied music in London under Hennikcr and other eminent masters, and at an early age became a well qualified pianist and organist, and later a choral and orchestra conductor. For the last 20 years he has been living in Montreal, Canada, where he held the appointment of conductor of the Mendelssohn Choir, and organist and- choirmaster of St. James' United Church, one of the great churches born of the great union movement in Canada of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational communities. His inclination lies in the track of modern music, and it was owing to his efforts that Montreal was able to gain an acquaintance with many modern works outside the scope of traditional oratorio, .for which, notwithstanding, he has a tremendous love and veneration. It was through his leadership that such works as Vaughan Williams' "Sea Symphony," Gustav Hoist's "First Choral Symphony," "Job," "Saneta Civitas," and his "Flos Campi," not to mention Lambert's "Rio Grande," were first performed in the big Canadian centre. When Mr. Oliver left Montreal the local "Gazette" said: "With the departure of Stanley Oliver, the cause of music in Montreal suffers a grievous and, so far as can be seen at present, an irreparable loss. In his disinterested efforts to rescue musical activity in the city from tho clutches of a frozen routine, Mr. Oliver has rendered an incalculable service." Mr. Oliver was tho guest conductor for the Royal Wellington Choral Union's concert performance of "II Trovatore," given recently, and created such a favourable impression that ho was chosen from a largo number of candidates, many of whom applied from overseas, to fill the post left vacant by the resignation of Mr. John Bishop.