MR ROBERT PARKER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 69, 22 February 1937, Page 2

MR ROBERT PARKER

FAMOUS MUSICIAN PASSES. Pci* Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 20. Mr Robert Parker, C.M.G., the organist of St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral for over sixty years, and the doyen of music in New Zealand, passed away to-day. He was in his 91st year. Air Parker was born in London ill 1847, and received his musical training in his native city under some of the best-known musicians of the time. AVhile in his ’teens, at which time Air Parker intended to take holy orders, lie won a scholarship at Queen’s College. Cambridge, and also received the appointment of organist to the college. Because of broken health, however, lie was unable to avail himself of a university career, and in order to recruit he took a ouiet. country appointment as organist and conductor. This position lie relinquished to join the distinguished church hvmn composer, Air AA r . H. Alonk, and, with him, he worked as nrofessional assistant afc King’s College, London and elsewhere. Frail health forced Air Parker to leave England, and in 1869 he arrived in Christchurch. AYlnle there he was organist and choirmaster of the Church of St. John the Baptist from 1869 to 1872, and from 1872 to 1878 he occupied a similar pest at the Church of St. Michael and All Angels. In 1878 his health again began to fail, and ho was advised to seek a change. After » visit to Nelson Air Parker went ta AVellington, where lie was at St. Peter’s Church for a few months. While there he was asked to take over the position of organist at St. Paul’s-Pro-Cathedral, and he decided to make the change. Air Parker’s work in the musical world earned him national recognition, and in 1930 he was honoured by being awarded a C.AI.G. For many years he was instructor in music to school teachers under the AYelI ington Education Board, and he acted also as musical instructor in the high schools of the city. . On the formation of the Music Teachers’ Registration Board, Mr Parker was elected first president, a position he held until his death. He was also representative of the Academv of Music, London, and a member and examiner of the Tonic Sol-Fa College.