| Code | DS/UK/395 |
| Name | Amadio; John (1883-1964); New Zealand-born Australian flautist |
| Variations of Name | John Bell Taylor |
| Dates | 15 November 1883-4 April 1964 |
| Gender | Male (cisgender) |
| Place of Birth/Origin | Christchurch, New Zealand (born) |
| Relationships | Son of Samuel Biddle Taylor and Eliza Taylor
Step son of Henry Antonio Amadio (carpenter and amateur flute player)
Former husband of Leonora Soames Roberts (pianist) and Florence Austral (Australian operatic soprano) |
| Biography | John Amadio was an Australian flute player, born in New Zealand, who performed with orchestras around the world and made a career as an international soloist and operatic accompanist.
In 1900 the family moved to Australia where Amadio gained his first position as a professional flute player. During the war years he mostly performed in London orchestras and for the Armed Forces in support of the war effort. In 1947, he returned to Australia, toured with the Australian Broadcasting Commission, joined the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and then the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra from 1949 and stayed in the country for the rest of his life.
From 1959 Amadio lived in Melbourne in semi-retirement to care for an invalid sister, Evelyn Gunderson. He died in Melbourne in 1964 at the age of 80, a few moments after finishing a performance (with Hector Crawford conducting) of Mozart's D major flute concerto at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. |