Derek Holman
Encyclopedia
Derek Holman, CM
(born 16 May 1931 at Illogan
, Cornwall
in the United Kingdom
) is a choral conductor, organist, and composer.
Holman attended the Royal Academy of Music
from 1948 to 1952 and studied with Sir William McKie, Eric Thiman
, and York Bowen
. He holds the degree of Doctor of Music from the University of London
, and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music
, the Royal School of Church Music
, and the Royal College of Organists
. He was an instructor in the Royal Army Educational Corps
with the British Army of the Rhine from 1952 to 1954, master at Westminster Abbey Choir School
from 1954 to 1956, assistant organist at St Paul's Cathedral
from 1956 to 1958, then an organist at Croydon Parish Church
from 1958 to 1965. In 1960 he founded the Croydon Bach Society. He also held positions at the Royal School of Church Music
from 1956 to 1965.
Holman moved to Canada
in 1965, working as choirmaster at Bishop Strachan School
until 1970 and organist and choirmaster at Toronto's Grace Church on-the-Hill until 1979. He began teaching music at the University of Toronto
in 1966. He directed the Concord Singers of Toronto from 1973 to 1975 and the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus
from 1975 to 1985. He was organist and choirmaster at Church of St Simon the Apostle in Toronto from 1981 to 1998.
Holman was a consultant for The Hymn Book published in 1971 by the Anglican and United churches of Canada. His compositions include commissioned works for the National Arts Centre Orchestra
, the Ontario Choral Federation, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir
, the Canadian Brass
and the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus
, to name a few.
Holman collaborated with Robertson Davies
on the children's opera Doctor Canon's Cure and the oratorio Jezebel.
Holman won two National Choral Awards from Association of Canadian Choral Conductors:
Holman is an associate of the Canadian Music Centre
and a member of the Canadian League of Composers
.
Holman is a Professor Emeritus of the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto
, and was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2002.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born 16 May 1931 at Illogan
Illogan
Illogan is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated two miles northwest of Redruth.Originally a rural area supporting itself by farming and agriculture, Illogan shared in the general leap into prosperity brought about by the mining boom, which was experienced by the...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
) is a choral conductor, organist, and composer.
Holman attended the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
from 1948 to 1952 and studied with Sir William McKie, Eric Thiman
Eric Thiman
Eric Harding Thiman was an English composer and organist.Thiman was born in Ashford, Kent. Largely self-taught, he was awarded an FRCO in 1921. From 1930 he was Professor of Harmony at the Royal Academy of Music and later, from 1956 to 1962, was Dean of the Faculty of Music at the University of...
, and York Bowen
York Bowen
Edwin York Bowen was an English composer and pianist. Bowen’s musical career spanned more than fifty years during which time he wrote over 160 works. As well as being a pianist and composer, Bowen was a talented conductor, organist, violist and horn player...
. He holds the degree of Doctor of Music from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
, the Royal School of Church Music
Royal School of Church Music
The largest church music organisation in Britain, the Royal School of Church Music was founded in 1927 by Sir Sydney Nicholson and has 11,000 members worldwide; it was originally named the School of English Church Music. It seeks to enable church music in the present and invest in its future,...
, and the Royal College of Organists
Royal College of Organists
The Royal College of Organists or RCO, is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, but with members around the world...
. He was an instructor in the Royal Army Educational Corps
Royal Army Educational Corps
The Royal Army Educational Corps was a corps of the British Army tasked with educating and instructing personnel in a diverse range of skills...
with the British Army of the Rhine from 1952 to 1954, master at Westminster Abbey Choir School
Westminster Abbey Choir School
Westminster Abbey Choir School is a British boarding preparatory school and the only school in the United Kingdom exclusively for the education of boy choristers. It is located in Dean's Yard, by Westminster Abbey...
from 1954 to 1956, assistant organist at St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
from 1956 to 1958, then an organist at Croydon Parish Church
Croydon Parish Church
Croydon Minster is the parish and civic church of the London Borough of Croydon. There are currently more than 35 churches in the borough, with Croydon Minster being the most prominent.-History:...
from 1958 to 1965. In 1960 he founded the Croydon Bach Society. He also held positions at the Royal School of Church Music
Royal School of Church Music
The largest church music organisation in Britain, the Royal School of Church Music was founded in 1927 by Sir Sydney Nicholson and has 11,000 members worldwide; it was originally named the School of English Church Music. It seeks to enable church music in the present and invest in its future,...
from 1956 to 1965.
Holman moved to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1965, working as choirmaster at Bishop Strachan School
Bishop Strachan School
The Bishop Strachan School is Canada’s oldest day and boarding school for girls. The School has approximately 820 day students and 80 boarding students ranging from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 . The school seeks to nurture the academic, social, emotional, spiritual, creative and physical...
until 1970 and organist and choirmaster at Toronto's Grace Church on-the-Hill until 1979. He began teaching music at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1966. He directed the Concord Singers of Toronto from 1973 to 1975 and the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus
Canadian Children's Opera Chorus
The Canadian Children's Opera Company was founded in 1968 by Ruby Mercer and Lloyd Bradshaw. The Chorus consists of five divisions of approximately 240 boys and girls aged 6 to 19. The Principal Chorus has over 80 choristers, and they participate as the children's chorus in productions by the...
from 1975 to 1985. He was organist and choirmaster at Church of St Simon the Apostle in Toronto from 1981 to 1998.
Holman was a consultant for The Hymn Book published in 1971 by the Anglican and United churches of Canada. His compositions include commissioned works for the National Arts Centre Orchestra
National Arts Centre Orchestra
The National Arts Centre Orchestra is an orchestra in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada's capital. It is a classically-sized ensemble currently conducted by Pinchas Zukerman.-Description:Since 1998, Pinchas Zukerman has been the Music Director. Mario Bernardi C.C...
, the Ontario Choral Federation, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir
The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir is a Canadian large vocal ensemble based in Toronto.The choir was co-founded in 1894 by Augustus S. Vogt and W. H. Hewlett. The ensemble was originally an extension of the choir of Jarvis St. Baptist Church in Toronto which Vogt directed and Hewlett accompanied. The...
, the Canadian Brass
Canadian Brass
The Canadian Brass is a brass quintet founded by Dr. Charles Daellenbach and Gene Watts in 1970. In addition to maintaining a heavy international touring schedule, the Canadian Brass have recorded over 80 CDs and DVDs...
and the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus
Canadian Children's Opera Chorus
The Canadian Children's Opera Company was founded in 1968 by Ruby Mercer and Lloyd Bradshaw. The Chorus consists of five divisions of approximately 240 boys and girls aged 6 to 19. The Principal Chorus has over 80 choristers, and they participate as the children's chorus in productions by the...
, to name a few.
Holman collaborated with Robertson Davies
Robertson Davies
William Robertson Davies, CC, OOnt, FRSC, FRSL was a Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor. He was one of Canada's best-known and most popular authors, and one of its most distinguished "men of letters", a term Davies is variously said to have gladly accepted for himself...
on the children's opera Doctor Canon's Cure and the oratorio Jezebel.
Holman won two National Choral Awards from Association of Canadian Choral Conductors:
- Night Music (1988), written for Toronto Mendelssohn Youth ChoirToronto Mendelssohn ChoirThe Toronto Mendelssohn Choir is a Canadian large vocal ensemble based in Toronto.The choir was co-founded in 1894 by Augustus S. Vogt and W. H. Hewlett. The ensemble was originally an extension of the choir of Jarvis St. Baptist Church in Toronto which Vogt directed and Hewlett accompanied. The...
- Sir Christëmas (1990), written for the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus
Holman is an associate of the Canadian Music Centre
Canadian Music Centre
The Canadian Music Centre holds Canada's largest collection of Canadian concert music. The CMC exists to promote the works of its Associate Composers in Canada and around the world....
and a member of the Canadian League of Composers
Canadian League of Composers
The Canadian League of Composers is an organization formed in 1951 of Canadian composers primarily interested in raising awareness and acceptance of Canadian music. The activities of the League are overseen and directed by an executive and a National Council...
.
Holman is a Professor Emeritus of the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, and was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2002.