Article

Cyril Hampshire

Published Online July 9, 2007

Last Edited December 15, 2013

Cyril Hampshire. Pianist, organist, choir conductor, adjudicator, b Wakefield, England, 12 Oct 1900, d Hamilton, Ont, 18 Nov 1963; ATCM organ 1925, FTCL 1920s. He was assistant organist at 14 at Wakefield Cathedral, and his studies at Leeds College of Music led to other church positions in England.

Hampshire, Cyril

Cyril Hampshire. Pianist, organist, choir conductor, adjudicator, b Wakefield, England, 12 Oct 1900, d Hamilton, Ont, 18 Nov 1963; ATCM organ 1925, FTCL 1920s. He was assistant organist at 14 at Wakefield Cathedral, and his studies at Leeds College of Music led to other church positions in England. He came to Canada in 1921, settling in Moose Jaw, Sask, where he was a church organist and choirmaster. He served 1928-34 as principal of the Regina College Conservatory of Music (Conservatory of Music, University of Regina) and 1934-8 as music director for the Regina Board of Education. In 1939 he moved to Ontario to take an appointment as principal of the Hamilton Conservatory of Music (RHCM). He left that position in 1945 to become director of music for the Hamilton public schools. He served 1942-4 as president of the ORMTA and 1947-8 as president of the Ontario Educational Association (see OMEA). Hampshire wrote or arranged several songs for school children and an Introduction to Practical Sight Singing (1951), all published by Jarman. He conducted the Bach-Elgar Choir 1948-55, examined for the RCMT, adjudicated competitions, and directed the Stelco Male Chorus 1941-8.