ORGANIST RETIRES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 37, 13 February 1943, Page 7

ORGANIST RETIRES

DR. W. E. THOMAS

After serving for about 14 years as organist at St. Paul's Church, Lower Symonds Street, Dr. William Edwin Somerset-Thomas is to retire. He will.be succeeded by Mr, .T, F. Savage, of Dunedin. Dr. Thomas had a distinguished musical career in England, where he gained his doctorate in music at Oxford. He was appointed professor of music at Auckland University College in 1900, in succession to Professor Carl Schmitt, and was for many years organist at St. Mary's Cathedral, Parnell.

In 1905, Dr. Thomas was appointed conductor of the Royal Auckland Choir,, and was continuously in charge for 32 years. His talents as a composer are well known, and some of his compositions for yoice, organ and violin have gained great praise overseas.

Mr. T. F. Savage, who is to succeed Dr. Thomas at St. Paul's, was for nine years organist. and choirmaster at the Holy Trinity Church, Greymouth, and was assistant choirmaster and organist at St. Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin, for three years. He is a past member of the Royal Choral Society, London, and of the Westminster Choral Society. . For four years he wsis conductor for the Philharmonic Society, Greymouth, and also conducted the Greymouth Male Choir for two years. He is connected with the -printing trade, and holds the diploma, of a licentiate of the Royal-School of Music.