Doctorate for Vincent Aspey

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33527, 7 May 1974, Page 10

Doctorate for Vincent Aspey

Mr Vincent Aspey, until • recently leader of the N.Z.B.C. Orchestra, received the honorary degree of doctor of music from Victoria University on Friday. I Reading the citation for the degree, the university’s Vice-Chancellor (Dr D. Tay-j lor) said iMr Aspey had been a superb interpreter, leader and performer of music. He had led the orchestra for a record 21 years, during which the orchestra had become firmly established as an integral and essential part of New Zealand life. Although MrAspey’s musical background was less academic than that of his colleagues, his leadership was

[always accepted without ■ challenge, Dr Taylor said. “For he has an intuitive understanding not only of music itself but, equally importantly, of the people play- . ing the music, and in this . rested the genius of his I leadership.” Mr Aspey was born in a ! coal-mining town in Lancashire, and emigrated when a child with his family to New ! Zealand. I- His first job was to pro- : vide music for silent films. : He trained for a brief period at the Sydney Conservatorium, and was for a short : time lead violinist with the : Australian Broadcasting Com- ; mission Orchestra.