WELLINGTON ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 84, 3 January 1930, Page 8

WELLINGTON ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY

SOMETHING OF ITS HISTORY

It is true that Mr. Robert Parker, C.M.G., did at one time conduct the old Wellington Orchestral Society, but it was only for a limited period (writes “W.H.”). The original society was founded in 1889 with Herr L. Mosch as conductor. At its second concert Mr. J. B. Connolly (of Carneau and Connolly, photographers) was the conductor. In 1890 the late Mr. Tallis Trimnell conducted at the first concert, but at the next two Mr. J. H. Otto Schwartz took the baton. From May, 1892, to June, 1896, Mr. Alfred Hill ■ (now in Wellington) was the conductor. Mr. Schwartz came forward once more after Mr. Hill’s departure, and was succeeded by Mr. J. Maughan Barnett (now city organist at Auckland). He remained in charge until April, 1902, and for a year afterwards Mr. Robert Parker conducted.

After a period of recess the society was resuscitated by the late Mr. Herbert Bloy, but such were the restrictions against professionalism that the attempt failed. Another attempt was made to revive the society by Mr. Bernard F. Page in 1915, but the changed conditions of music and musicians in Wellington militated against the success of the effort.