David Sonin
Encyclopedia
David Sonin was a music critic and arts journalist.
He was born in Whitechapel
, East London, in 1935, but his father Isidore moved his family to Australia
shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. He was educated at a Jesuit primary and Sydney Grammar School
, then read mathematics and physics at the University of Sydney
. He began a journalistic career at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
.
Sonin returned to London in 1963, where he met and married the pianist Gillian Sack. Sonin had brief turns at VisNews and ITN, then became publicity director for the Jewish National Fund
and the Joint Israel Appeal. He returned to print journalism in 1978, writing for the Jewish Chronicle, and was ultimately appointed arts editor. Until he retired in June 2000, demonstrated enthusiasm for the arts, particularly classical music and performance. Sonin was passionate about the place of music in the local community and supported the Hampstead and Highgate Music Festival, and the Highgate Choral Society. He also worked for the Jewish Music Institute (now part of the School of Oriental and African Studies
at the University of London
).
His final work was the music critic for the Hampstead & Highgate Express. Sonin died of cancer in May 2008, aged 72.
On 28 February 2009 a memorial concert was given in David's honour at University College School
, Hampstead. Performers included Jennifer Bate
and Cecilia McDowall
.
He was born in Whitechapel
Whitechapel
Whitechapel is a built-up inner city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England. It is located east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Fashion Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and The Highway on the...
, East London, in 1935, but his father Isidore moved his family to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. He was educated at a Jesuit primary and Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, selective, day school for boys, located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliff and St Ives, all suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, then read mathematics and physics at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. He began a journalistic career at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
.
Sonin returned to London in 1963, where he met and married the pianist Gillian Sack. Sonin had brief turns at VisNews and ITN, then became publicity director for the Jewish National Fund
Jewish National Fund
The Jewish National Fund was founded in 1901 to buy and develop land in Ottoman Palestine for Jewish settlement. The JNF is a quasi-governmental, non-profit organisation...
and the Joint Israel Appeal. He returned to print journalism in 1978, writing for the Jewish Chronicle, and was ultimately appointed arts editor. Until he retired in June 2000, demonstrated enthusiasm for the arts, particularly classical music and performance. Sonin was passionate about the place of music in the local community and supported the Hampstead and Highgate Music Festival, and the Highgate Choral Society. He also worked for the Jewish Music Institute (now part of the School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
at 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...
).
His final work was the music critic for the Hampstead & Highgate Express. Sonin died of cancer in May 2008, aged 72.
On 28 February 2009 a memorial concert was given in David's honour at University College School
University College School
University College School, generally known as UCS, is an Independent school charity situated in Hampstead, north west London, England. The school was founded in 1830 by University College London and inherited many of that institution's progressive and secular views...
, Hampstead. Performers included Jennifer Bate
Jennifer Bate
Jennifer Lucy Bate OBE is a British concert organist.Born in London, Bate is the daughter of H.A. Bate, organist of St James's Muswell Hill from 1924 to 1978. She is especially regarded as an authority on the organ music of Messiaen, having befriended him within the last twenty years of his life...
and Cecilia McDowall
Cecilia McDowall
Cecilia McDowall has been described by the International Record Review as having ‘a communicative gift that is very rare in modern music’ and Gramophone has said of her that ‘she has an instinctive understanding of the medium allied to the ability to speak directly to the listener wholly without...
.