OTAGO CHAIR OF MUSIC

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27669, 27 May 1955, Page 7

OTAGO CHAIR OF MUSIC

RESIGNATION OF DR. V. E. GALWAY (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, May 26. Dr. V. E. Galway, who has been professor of music at Otago University since 1939, has resigned the chair. He inaugurated the music department in 1925. In a letter to the Otago University Council, Dr. Galway said he had hoped to wait until his normal time of retirement in four more years, but he was not making the complete recovery he had hoped for from his illness. Dr. Galway’s resignation will take effect from February next year. Dr. Galway was city organist for a number of years, organist and choirmaster of First Presbyterian Church

and later of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and conductor for varying periods of many of the leading musical societies of the city. He was also conductor of the Royal Dunedin Male Choir and the Dunedin Choral Society. In 1924 he was invited to give a course of lectures on music appreciation at the University of Otago. They proved so successful that a department of music was established under his charge, with the aid of a benefaction from Mr John Blair. Dr. Galway was appointed professor in 1939, when a chair in music was established. As a composer of church music, Dr. Galway is well known in New Zealand and abroad.

He was dean of the faculty of arts in 1947, and chairman of the Professorial Board. He held office on a number of Otago and Senate academic committees at various times.

Dr. Galway has been an adviser to the Government on the award of bursaries to music - students for study overseas and on the appointment of the last two conductors of the National Orchestra.