Arthur Collingwood

Collingwood, Arthur

Arthur Collingwood. Educator, conductor, organist, composer, b Halifax, Yorkshire, England, 24 Nov 1880, d Montreal 22 Jan 1952; FRCO, honorary FTCL. He studied piano with Claude Pollard and Tobias Matthay, organ with W.H. Garland and Kendrick Pyne, and theory with Charles Pearce and Ebenezer Prout. He moved to Aberdeen where he was the organist-choirmaster 1898-1930 of the Free West Church, conducted the Choral Union and Male Voice and Madrigal choirs, and lectured at Aberdeen U. He emigrated to Canada as the head 1931-47 of the newly formed Dept of Music at the University of Saskatchewan. In 1932 he unified an informal group of Saskatoon musicians, thereby establishing the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, which he conducted until his retirement in 1947. Collingwood was chairman 1934-6 of the first WBM syllabus committee, gave radio lectures for Saskatchewan schools, and adjudicated music festivals across Canada. He was an inspiration to musical organizations and individuals throughout Saskatchewan. He retired to Montreal in 1947 as dean emeritus of the Dept of Music, University of Saskatchewan. The university holds his library. Collingwood's compositions (listed in the Catalogue of Canadian Composers) include choral, vocal, and piano works published by Paterson, J. Curwen, and Thompson. His essay 'Music in education' (Queen's Quarterly, vol 44, Winter 1937) reflects his experience in the field.