G. Roy Fenwick

Fenwick, G. Roy

G. (George) Roy Fenwick. Educator, writer, adjudicator, broadcaster, b Hamilton, Ont, 11 May 1889, d Ottawa 8 Jul 1970; LTCM 1911, B MUS (Toronto) 1927, D MUS (Montreal) 1950. His mother was Maggie Barr, a Scottish soprano. After studies at the Hamilton Conservatory of Music he became supervisor of music for Hamilton public schools in 1922 and was supervisor and later director of music 1935-59 for the Ontario Department of Education. Leslie Bell said of him, 'His greatest achievement has been the musical development of the rural school' (Toronto Daily Star, 25 Jul 1959). Fenwick's school broadcasts, 'Music for Young Folk,' were popular for 18 years (1946-64) and his competition adjudications were considered kind and fair. He served 1934-5 as president of the music section of the Ontario Educational Association (see OMEA), 1959-60 as first president of the CMEA, and 1960-1 as first president of the Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators' Association. He represented music graduates 1948-60 on the Senate of the University of Toronto. After retirement he served 1964-70 on a committee for the revision of the Presbyterian Book of Praise. His memoirs, Singers upon Earth, were published in Toronto in 1961.

See also School music; School music broadcasts.

See also John Fenwick (his son).

Writings

- Hymns for Schools (Toronto 1935, 1942)

- et al. High Road of Song, 3 vols (Toronto 1943)

- and Gibbon, J.M. Songs of the Commonwealth (Toronto 1945)

- ed. Carols of Christmas (Toronto 1946)

The Function of Music in Education: incorporating a History of School Music in Ontario (Toronto 1951)

- ed The New High Road Music Series, 8 vols (Toronto 1954-60)

- et al. Let's Explore Music, 13 vols (Toronto 1954-63)

'Music in the Schools,' Music in Canada

'The luxury of looking back,' CME, vol 8, Jan-Feb 1966

- ed. Music for Young Canada, vols 3-8 (Toronto 1967, 1968)