C.J. Stevens, J.Horner, A.Williamson, W. Silver, O. Taeuber, W. Packer among 15 Adelaide music big contributors

The Adelaide newspaper article selecting 15 notable contributors to Adelaide music in late 19th and early 20th Century. 
 

Fifteen musicians who’d made a notable contribution to South Australia in the late 19th and early 20th Century were named by an Adelaide newspaper. They included prominent figures such as Charles Cawthorne, E. Harold Davies, J.M. Dunn, Frederick Bevan, Thomas Grigg, Hermann Heinicke, Harold Parsons, W.R. Prybus and Gotthold Reimann. The other six also added to the symphonic contribution of that era:

C.J. (CHARLES) STEVENS conducted the Adelaide Orpheus Society in a concert at Adelaide’s Jubilee Oval in 1904 to mark Australian federation.  The choir sang the “Song of Australia”, “Hands all round” and “brought the programme to an end with a splendid rendering of Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus” before crowd of 4,000. (Also featured at the concert were Lillian Davis, May Norman, Oscar Taeuber, D. H. Bottrill and A. R. Mumme's Orchestra.) Stevens’s music students included the young singer Peter Dawson. He promoted orchestral concerts emphasising British music.

JOHN HORNER: A Scottish organist, choirmaster and music teacher, he was appointed to Adelaide University’s Elder Conservatorium staff in 1927 to replace Harold Wylde.  He was one of those who protested at John Dempster being appointed city organist in 1929 without due process. Horner was part-time church organist and choirmaster at St Peter’s, Glenelg; St Augustine’s, Unley; and Stow Memorial, Adelaide. His recitals earned him repute as one of the finest organists in Australia. He helped found the Lydian Singers in 1935 and Stow Music Club. Horner was The Advertiser music critic and music adviser to the Adelaide Festival of Arts. He was state president of the Australian Arts Council and South Australian ambassador to the UNESCO conference that founded the Australian Society for Music Education. Horner was acting director of Elder Conservatorium 1964-66

E.H. WALLACE PACKER came to South Australia in 1888 as organist of St. Paul's Church, Port Adelaide. Later he was choir director and organist of Christ Church, North Adelaide. He was an organ, piano and voice teacher and gave concerts at Adelaide Town Hall and churches throughout Adelaide's suburbs. He composed sacred anthems, services and hymns.

ARTHUR (Art) WILLIAMSON studied the organ at Elder Conservatorium where he won the Elder scholarship for composition in 1908. He was organist at Adelaide churches, including Wellington Square Methodist and Flinders Street Baptist. He played the organ and piano at many performances, and was honorary accompanist and conductor at Adelaide Glee Club. In 1909, Williamson left to study at the Royal College of Music, London, and toured England and the continent with good friend and acclaimed singer Clytie Hine. Williamson was associated with leading music organisations, including four years as president of the Musical Association of South Australia. He also taught music, judged at many competitions, on the advisory committee of Adelaide Music Salon and a vice-president of Adelaide Junior Orchestra.

OSCAR TAEUBER, the son of music professor, composer, piano tuner Carl Taeuber, was an accomplished piano but in  1910 went to studied singing in Berlin.  He returned to Adelaide in 1912 and engaged in singing and music teaching. A president of the Musical Association of South Australia, he formed the Oscar Taeuber Choral and Operatic Society that, with his advanced students, presented annual grand concerts

WILLIAM SILVER taught at the Elder Conservatorium from 1919 to 1947, and a piano scholarship was later established in his name. John Bishop, later to became a music professor and head of the conservatorium was a pupil of Silver.