John Hopkins (conductor)
Encyclopedia
John Hopkins OBE
(born 19 July 1927) is a Yorkshire
-born, British
conductor
and administrator
. Hopkins moved to New Zealand
in 1957 and to Australia
in 1963. He conducted the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
in 1987 in one of New Zealand
's first Orchestral Composers' Reading Workshops. His current position is as head of conducting at the University of Melbourne
.
John Hopkins founded in 1959 the New Zealand National Youth Orchestra in 1959, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009. John Hopkins was present for the New Zealand NYO season in 2009. As part of his contribution to youth music he also conducted the South African National Youth Orchestra
.
As the Federal Director of Music for the Australian Broadcasting Commission
, Hopkins began a number of innovations within the Commission's Concert Music Division, such as starting an Australian Promenade (Proms) series in Sydney in 1965 and broadcasting international avant-garde classical music. As a part of the Proms concerts, Hopkins programmed a variety of music, from the Renaissance, performed by the Sydney group The Renaissance Players, the then rarely performed music of Hector Berlioz
, Gustav Mahler
and Sir Edward Elgar
, avant-garde music from overseas and Australia. The Australian composers who wrote music for the concerts included Peter Sculthorpe
, Nigel Butterley
and Richard Meale
. Hopkins resigned from the Director's post in 1973 due to a number of factors, including tensions with staff within the ABC Concert Music Division. In 1974 he became the inaugural Dean of the School of Music at the newly formed Victorian College of the Arts
.
In 1974 he led the world premiere of Sculthorpe's opera/music theatre work Rites of Passage
.
He was Director of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
from 1986 to 1991.
He currently is professor of conducting at the Victorian College of the Arts and Music, and still does some guest conducting with community and youth orchestras.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 19 July 1927) is a Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
-born, British
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...
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and administrator
Academic administration
An academic administration is a branch of university or college employees responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution and separate from the faculty or academics, although some personnel may have joint responsibilities...
. Hopkins moved to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1957 and 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...
in 1963. He conducted the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra was established in the early 1980s and has become one of New Zealand's major performing organisations. The instigation of its Composer-in-Residence programme in 1990 has made the orchestra an important force in the promotion of New Zealand composed...
in 1987 in one of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's first Orchestral Composers' Reading Workshops. His current position is as head of conducting at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
.
John Hopkins founded in 1959 the New Zealand National Youth Orchestra in 1959, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009. John Hopkins was present for the New Zealand NYO season in 2009. As part of his contribution to youth music he also conducted the South African National Youth Orchestra
South African National Youth Orchestra Foundation
The South African National Youth Orchestra Foundation is a non-profit organisation in the music education and development sector. The Foundation supports the training and development of South Africa’s young musicians through national courses, national and international tours and workshops, and...
.
As the Federal Director of Music for the Australian Broadcasting Commission
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
, Hopkins began a number of innovations within the Commission's Concert Music Division, such as starting an Australian Promenade (Proms) series in Sydney in 1965 and broadcasting international avant-garde classical music. As a part of the Proms concerts, Hopkins programmed a variety of music, from the Renaissance, performed by the Sydney group The Renaissance Players, the then rarely performed music of Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts . Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation. He specified huge orchestral forces for some of his works; as a...
, Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler was a late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. He was born in the village of Kalischt, Bohemia, in what was then Austria-Hungary, now Kaliště in the Czech Republic...
and Sir Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
, avant-garde music from overseas and Australia. The Australian composers who wrote music for the concerts included Peter Sculthorpe
Peter Sculthorpe
Peter Joshua Sculthorpe AO OBE is an Australian composer. Much of his music has resulted from an interest in the music of Australia's neighbours as well as from the impulse to bring together aspects of native Australian music with that of the heritage of the West...
, Nigel Butterley
Nigel Butterley
Nigel Henry Cockburn Butterley AM is an Australian composer and pianist.-Life and career:Butterley learnt to play the piano at the age of five. He attended Sydney Grammar School, but as music wasn't taught at the school at that time, he also sought training from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music....
and Richard Meale
Richard Meale
Richard Graham Meale, AM, MBE was an Australian composer of instrumental works and operas.-Biography:Meale was born in Sydney and studied piano with Winifred Burston at the NSW State Conservatorium of Music, as well as clarinet, harp, music history and theory, before studying at the University of...
. Hopkins resigned from the Director's post in 1973 due to a number of factors, including tensions with staff within the ABC Concert Music Division. In 1974 he became the inaugural Dean of the School of Music at the newly formed Victorian College of the Arts
Victorian College of the Arts
The Faculty of the VCA and Music is a faculty of the University of Melbourne, in Victoria . VCAM is located near the Melbourne central business district, on two campuses, one - the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music - on the Parkville campus of the University of Melbourne, and the other - the...
.
In 1974 he led the world premiere of Sculthorpe's opera/music theatre work Rites of Passage
Rites of Passage (Sculthorpe)
Rites of Passage is a music theatre work written by the Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe in 1972-73. It is often categorised as an opera, but it does not conform to the traditional concept of opera...
.
He was Director of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia...
from 1986 to 1991.
He currently is professor of conducting at the Victorian College of the Arts and Music, and still does some guest conducting with community and youth orchestras.
Career
- Assistant conductor, BBC Scottish Orchestra, 1949–52
- Conductor, BBC Northern Orchestra, 1952–57
- Conductor, New Zealand Symphony OrchestraNew Zealand Symphony OrchestraThe New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is the national orchestra of New Zealand. It is a crown entity owned by the Government of New Zealand, with 90 full-time players....
, 1957–63 - Director of Music, Australian Broadcasting CommissionAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
, 1963–73 - Dean of School of Music, Victorian College of the ArtsVictorian College of the ArtsThe Faculty of the VCA and Music is a faculty of the University of Melbourne, in Victoria . VCAM is located near the Melbourne central business district, on two campuses, one - the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music - on the Parkville campus of the University of Melbourne, and the other - the...
, MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, 1973–86 - Director, Sydney Conservatorium of MusicSydney Conservatorium of MusicThe Sydney Conservatorium of Music is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia...
, 1986–91