CARILLON PLAYER TO BE TRAINED

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25135, 17 March 1947, Page 8

CARILLON PLAYER TO BE TRAINED

MR SELWYN BAKER TO STUDY OVERSEAS Mr Selwyn Baker, of Christchurch, has been selected to train overseas as a carillon player, and on the completion of his training he will be given charge of the National War Memorial Carillon. Wellington. The Rehabilitation Department announces that a bursary has been provided to send Mr Baker overseas, probably to the Mechlin Carillon School in Belgium. That is where the previous Wellington carillonist, the late Miss Gladys Watkins, received her tuition under the late Chevalier Jef Denyn, who was considered the world’s master carillonist. Mr Baker is an associate of Trinity College, London. For 12 years he was organist and choirmaster for various

churches in Christchurch, while he has given organ recitals over the National Broadcasting Service. He is at present a part-time teacher of music. He served for almost four years with a New Zealand infantry battalion in the Middle East and Italy. There were 12 applicants for the. position, eight of whom were returned servicemen. Appointment was conditional on the successful applicant being a qualified organist or pianist and having long service with the forces Overseas

The position, which is part-time only, carries a salary of £4OO a year. Part of the duties will be to train at Wellington approved candidates for carillon playing from any part of the Dominion.