M. Henri Verbrugghen Passes

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 268, 15 November 1934, Page 9

M. Henri Verbrugghen Passes

DISffINGUISHED MUSICIAN United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. NEW YORK, Nov. 12. At Nortkfield, Minnesota, M. Henri Verbrugghcn, the noted musician, aged sixty-one, died on Mondaj’. He formerly directed orchestras in the British Isles and Australia before taking charge of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra.

M. Henri Verbrugghen, violinist and conductor, was born in Belgium iu 1873 and studied at the Brussels Conscrvatorium under Hubay and Ysaye. There ho won the first prize with distinction and at fifteen Ysaye took him to England. M'aking his first appearance, at. the age of eight, Verbrugghen later appeared under Lamoureux, Sir George Henschel, Sir Frederic Cowen, and Sir Henry Wood. For three years ho was conductor of the Colwj-n Bay orchestra and choir, then he succeeded Dr. Coward as conductor of the Glasgow Choral Union, and for tcu years he was chief of the staff of the Athenaeum School of Music in Glasgow. Later ho taught at (ho Royal College of Music, Dublin, for a year. When the New South Wales State Conservatorium was created he was brought out to found it and became its director, and he also conducted the NjS.W. State Orchestra which' toured New Zealand shortly after the war. He remained in Australia for eight years and for five years of that time the orchestra was in existence. Ho formed a string quartet in Australia and this also gave performances in New Zealand. On leaving Australia, M. Verbrugghen becamo guest conductor of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra for a season, and in 1923 was appointed permanent conductor, also founding tho Minneapolis Symphony Chorus. During his career ho directed many concerts in European capitals and conducted at Beethoven, Brahms, and Bach festivals at the Queen’s Hall, London. He maried an English woman, Miss Alice Beaumont, and had four sons and two daughters.