Harold Parsons quietly brilliant cello player, accompanying Adelaide musical progress in the early 20th Century
Harold Parsons (inset) was first cellist in 1923 when the Adelaide Harmony Society choir and Norwood Wesley Choir performed Australia's first full version of the Handel's Messiah at Adelaide Town Hall.
Image courtesy State Library of South Australia
Brilliant South Australian cellist Harold Parsons was born in the late 19th Century at Nairne into a family that was so musical it had its own orchestra. His father Stephan was an enthusiastic violin/cello player with his mother on piano and others in the family on violins and flutes.
A neighbour, C.J. Stevens, who was choral and orchestra conductor, suggested that Harold try the cello and he began studies under Thomas Grigg. He switched to lessons with cellist and pianist Hermann Kugelberg, who was among the German musicians including Hermann Heinicke attracted to the Adelaide College of Music started by Gotthold Reimann in Wakefield Street, Adelaide city, in 1883.
Kugelberg moved to Elder Conservatorium where Parsons studied and won the first Elders scholarship for cello. This enabled him, in 1905, to go to London and the Continent where, at Kugelberg’s suggestion, he studied with professor Hugo Becker at Hoch Conservatorium in Frankfurt on Maine.
Parsons returned in 1907 to the take up a position at the Elder Conservatorium teaching cello. In 1913, with a year’s leave of absence, Persons left for Europe again to study with professor Becker. He lived in Berlin and narrowly escaped being interned when World War I began.
Among Parsons's musical roles outside of the conservatorium, he joined a string quartet formed by Gerald Walenn with Nora Kyffin Thomas and Kathleen Meegan. Parsons was also leading cellist in the South Australian Orchestra.
Adding to his brilliance, he was also an accomplished organist. When Dr Harold Davies resigned as organist to Kent Town Methodist Church to became Elder Conservatorium director, Parsons took his place. A quiet achiever, Parsons was also first cellist in 1923 when the Adelaide Harmony Society choir and Norwood Wesley Choir performed Australia's first full version of the Handel's Messiah at Adelaide Town Hall. The conductor was Samuel Gould, the leader of the orchestra Sylvia Whitington
