Lorne Matheson Betts was a Canadian composer

Composer

A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...

, 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...

, organist

Organist

An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...

, and music critic. 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...

 and 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....

, many of his original scores and writings are part of the collection at the National Library of Canada. His compositional output includes two opera

Opera

Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...

s, two symphonies

Symphony

A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...

, two piano concerto

Piano concerto

A piano concerto is a concerto written for piano and orchestra.See also harpsichord concerto; some of these works are occasionally played on piano...

s, three string quartet

String quartet

A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...

s, many songs and choral pieces, and other orchestral and chamber works.

Life and career

Born in Winnipeg, Betts began his musical training in his native city with W.H. Anderson

W.H. Anderson

William Henry Anderson was a Canadian composer, choir director, tenor, and voice teacher of English birth. He produced a large amount of vocal music, including more than 150 songs and 40 anthems as well as a significant amount of carols and other choral works...

, Filmer Hubble

Filmer Hubble

Filmer Edwin Hubble was an Canadian organist, choir conductor, adjudicator, and music educator of English birth.-Life and career:...

, and Hunter Johnston. He was one of the founding singers in Anderson's The Choristers

The Choristers

The Choristers was a Canadian chamber choir based in Winnipeg that gave weekly nationally broadcast programs on CBC Radio from 1942 through 1969. According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, the choir achieved "a national reputation for their fine choral blend and sense of style"...

 in 1936. He went to England where he earned a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music

Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music

ABRSM is an internationally recognised educational body and charity that provides examinations in music The organisation, based in London, UK, runs exams in centres all over the world...

 in 1941. In 1947 he entered The Royal Conservatory of Music where he studied music composition with John Weinzweig

John Weinzweig

John Weinzweig, OC, O.Ont was a Canadian composer of classical music.Born in Toronto, Weinzweig went to Harbord Collegiate Institute, and studied music at the university. In 1937, he left for the United States to study under Bernard Rogers...

 through 1953. He also studied with Ernst Krenek

Ernst Krenek

Ernst Krenek was an Austrian of Czech origin and, from 1945, American composer. He explored atonality and other modern styles and wrote a number of books, including Music Here and Now , a study of Johannes Ockeghem , and Horizons Circled: Reflections on my Music...

, Alan Rawsthorne

Alan Rawsthorne

Alan Rawsthorne was a British composer. He was born in Haslingden, Lancashire, and is buried in Thaxted churchyard in Essex.-Career:...

, and Roy Harris

Roy Harris

Roy Ellsworth Harris , was an American composer. He wrote much music on American subjects, becoming best known for his Symphony No...

 during the summers of 1950-1953.

Betts served as the music director of St Paul's Presbyterian Church in Hamilton from 1950-1964. He was then organist-choirmaster at Melrose United Church in Hamilton for many years. He served as the director of the Royal Hamilton College of Music

Royal Hamilton College of Music

The Royal Hamilton College of Music was a Canadian music conservatory in Hamilton, Ontario that was actively providing higher education in music during the late 19th century and 20th century...

 from 1953-1959 and was music critic for The Hamilton Spectator

The Hamilton Spectator

The Hamilton Spectator, founded in 1846, is a newspaper published every day but Sunday in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The paper has a daily circulation of 105,000 and a daily readership of nearly 260,000.-History:...

from 1965-1979. He was married to contralto Jean Macleod, notably serving as her accompianist on three commercial recordings. He died in Hamilton at the age of 67.