KNOX CHURCH ORGANIST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13288, 20 May 1905, Page 2

KNOX CHURCH ORGANIST.

MR PAGET GALE APPOINTED. The position of organist of Knox Church, Dunedin, has, wo are informed, boon offered to and acccptod by Mr W. Paget Gale, at presont organist of Napier Cathedral. The following brief skctch of Mr Paget Gale's musical career is of interest:—Mr William Paget Gale was born in Batley, in the West Riding" of Yorkshire, a. county famous for it.? musicians. Ho. was a pupil qf Dr'Spark, tho Leeds Borough organist; of Robert Burton, organist of Leeds Parish Chwch;, and of Dr Hilfis, of Manchester. Ho flns appointed to [lis first organistship at the age of sevon, and played at two exhibitions \> hon only nine years of age. Mr Gnlo ivas apj.oiijted organist and choirmaster of the Wosle*an Church, Heekmondwike, Yorkshire, at tlip ago of W, and in connection therowith conducted a. choir of over 700 voices at its contenary. After competition ho \vas appointed organist and choirmaster of Augustine Church, Edinburgh, in December, 1883, and becamo a pupil and assistant of Sir Herbert S. Oakeley, thon professor of tho university, and played at the Edinburgh Exhibitions of 1886 and 18S9. He removed to Uddingstou, near Glasgow, in 1886, and at once got tho reputation of being one of the first organists in tl|o West of (Scotland, and ga\o organ recitals and opened organs all over the country. Air Gale was conductor of Uddingston Choral Union and Orchestral Society, and also of the ladies' choir, and conductor of Airdrio Sclect Choir and Uddingston Choral Union, and sang at the Glasgow International Exhibition of ISOI More an audience of 5000 Ho gave oigan recitals at Glasgow Exhibitions of 1888, 1901, and 1901 Mr Gale came to New Zealand in Maich, and on leaving Scotland was the reoipiont of a handsome gold premutation watch and othor marks of appreciation of his work. Mr Gala is a Fellow of the London Incorporated Guild of Church Musicians, a Mow of London Yietoria College of Music, a Fellow of t!)o Gmkl of St. Cecilia and Church Oiganists, and was a member of council of the Incorpoiated Society of Musicians (professionals Glasgow section) up to the time of his leaving Home.