Harry Dean

Dean, Harry

Harry Dean. Teacher, organist-choirmaster, pianist, conductor, b Yorkshire, England, 22 Feb 1879, d Halifax, NS, 30 Oct 1955; ARCO 1898. After studies in England with Tobias Matthay and at the Leipzig Cons with Robert Teichmüller (piano) and Paul Homeyer (organ), he served 1906-8 as head of the keyboard and theory department and 1908-34 as director of the Halifax Conservatory. He founded (and directed 1934-54) the Maritime Academy of Music (see Maritime Conservatory of Music), and examined 1909-25 and lectured 1925-32 at Dalhousie University. An important figure in the development of music teaching in Halifax schools (see School music), Dean also served 1937-8 as founding president of the NSRMTA and held the office again 1945-6 and 1949-51. In nearly 50 years of teaching his many pupils included Howard Brown, HaroldHamer, Georges and Carl Little, Gordon MacPherson, Jocelyn Pritchard, and Marguerita Spencer. One of the most versatile musicians in the Halifax of his day, Dean was organist-choirmaster 1906-53 at Fort Massey United Church, a piano recitalist, and the accompanist for many of the city's visiting soloists. He conducted the Orpheus Club 1907-17 and its successor, the Halifax Philharmonic Society, 1919-54, and assisted in the organization of the Community Concerts series in 1931.