| Biography | Cyril Stanley Christopher (23 June 23 1897, Oldbury, Worcestershire, England - 31 March 1979, Sutton Coldfield, England), was an English organist and composer.
Christopher was offered, through Dr Alfred Hollins, who had been touring America, an organ appointment at St John, New Brunswick. The offer was renewed in 1930 and declined on both occasions. He was conductor of the Dudley Madrigal Society (1921-1926) and other Choirs; Chorus Master of the BBC Midland Region (1927-1930); organist and Choirmaster of Wretham Road New Church; organist for the BBCs Bach Cantatas; organist and Choirmaster at Carrs Lane Church Birmingham from 1930 for 37 years following Graham Godfrey who went to Canada; conductor of the Oldbury and District Male Choir, and conductor of the Oratorio Choir of the Free Churches of Dudley from 1942.
Christopher was Music Master at King Edwards Five Ways (King Edward's Grammer School) (1944-1945) where he gave eight piano recitals in 1944. The following year the Five Ways Music Club was founded; the Vice-Presidents included Dr Christopher, Paul Beard, Christopher Edmunds and Victor Hely-Hutchinson. The First Annual (music) Festival toolplace in the School Hall, Five ways, in April 1945. He was an extra-mural lecturer at Birmingham University and, from 1947, lecturer for the Birmingham Board of Adult Education. He gave organ recitals periodically and appeared as solo organist at orchestral concerts and with the Birmingham Bach Society (later Club) which had been founded in 1920 by Mrs Minadieu, with the City of Birmingham Choir. In 1950, he adjudicated at the Bournville Works Musical Festival. He was appointed teacher of Theory at the Birmingham School of Music in 1956. He held the title FBSM (Fellow of the Birmingham School of Music).
His considerable output of compositions, some of which were broadcast in the country, Holland, South Africa, USA and Canada, includes Church music, choral and orchestral works and he wrote for various periodicals. |