| Biography | William Hayman Cummings was born at Sidbury, in Devon, on August 22, 1831. Throughout his life it was towards the vocal side of music that he devoted the greater part of his attention. As a boy he received his early training in singing as a chorister in the choir of St. Paul's Cathedral, and afterwards in that of the Temple Church, on leaving which he was appointed organist of Waltham Abbey. He did not remain an organist, for he was soon after admitted as a tenor in the choirs of the Temple, Westminster Abbey, and the Chapels Royal, and eventually made his appearance as an oratorio singer, his first important engagement in this capacity being in Judas Maccabus under G. W. Martin, when he sang a substitute form Sims Reeves. In 1864 he took the tenor part in Sullivan's cantata Kenilworth, when it was produced at the Birmingham Festival, on this occasion taking the part originally assigned to Mario. Seven years later he made the first of his appearances as a singer in the United States. In England he took the vhief tenor parts for many years in oratorios and cantatas, and constantly sang in the provinces as well as in London. In 1879 he was appointed the professor of singing at the Royal Academy of Music, and held the post till 1896. In 1882 he became chorus-master at the Sacred Harmonic Society, and eventually was made the conductor. The other chief appointment that he held was the post of Principal of the Guildhall School of Music, to which he was appointed in 1896, in succession to Barnby, and where he remained until 1910, when he retired. He was alsoc associated, in a less degree, but in the capacity of an official, with the Philharmonic Society, the Musical Association, the Incorporated Society of Musicians, and the Royal Society of Musicians. |