Background
Macmillan, Ernest Campbell was born on August 18, 1893 in Mimico, Ontario, Canada. Son of Review Alexander and Wilhelmina (Ross) MacMacmillan.
organist composer conductor educator
Macmillan, Ernest Campbell was born on August 18, 1893 in Mimico, Ontario, Canada. Son of Review Alexander and Wilhelmina (Ross) MacMacmillan.
Student Rosedale school and Jarvis Collegiate Institute, Toronto, and Viewpark School, Edinburgh, Scotland. Bachelor of Arts with honors in Modern History (in absentia), U. Toronto, 1915. B. Museum, Oxford (England) University, 1911, Museum D. (in absentia), 1918.
Doctor of Music (honorary), Laval U., 1947, U. Rochester, 1956. Doctor of Laws, University B.C., 1936, Queen’s U., Kingston, 1941, U. Toronto, 1953, Mount Allison U., N.B., 1956. Doctor of Letters (honorary), McMaster U., 1948, U. Ottawa, 1959.
Studied under Frederick Niecks, Alfred Hollins and Warner Bros. Ross, Edinburgh.
Appointed organist and choirmaster Knox Church, Toronto, 1908, later held similar positions in other churches. Visited Wagner Festival, Bayreuth, summer 1914. Interned in prison camp Ruhleben, Berlin, Germany, for duration World War I, acted as conductor prison mus. prodns.
Organist, choirmaster Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, Toronto, 1919-1925, conducted 1st regular annual performances Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. Principal Toronto Conservatory of Music, 1926-1942. Dean faculty of music U. Toronto, 1927-1952.
Appeared as concert organist throughout United States and Canada. Conductor Toronto Symphony Orchestra, 1931-1956, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, 1942-1957. Conducted choral and orchestral broadcasts in England, 1933-1937.
Guest conductor Hollywood Bowl, 1936, Ford Sunday Evening Hour and with Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, NBC, Vancouver, Montreal orchs. Toured Australia conducting orchestras of Autralian Broadcasting Commission in five cities, 1945. Conducted series of concerts, Rio de Janeiro, 1946.
Knighted by George V for services to music in Canada (1st musician in British Dominions so honored), 1935. Chairman, Canadian Music Council, 1947-1966, later honorary president. President Canadian Music Centre, 1959-1970, later honorary president.
President Les Jeunesses Musicales du Canada, 1961-1963, later honorary president.
Composer: String Quartet in C Minor, 1914-1921. England Code for solos, chorus and orchestra, 1917-1918. Overture (orchestra), 1924.Two Christmas Carols (voice, string trio or piano), 1926. Two Sketches (string quartet or string orchestra), 1927. Three Indian Songs of the West Coast, 1928.Six Bergerettes du Bas Canada (voices, oboe, viola, cello, harp), 1928. Three French Canadian Sea Songs (for voice, string orchestra), 1930. Sonnet (voice and piano), 1934.Te Deum Laudamus (chorus and orchestra), 1944. A Song of Deliverance (chorus and orchestra), 1945. Cortege academique (organ), 1953.Editor, mus. arranger for several song books, including A Canadian Song Book, 1928, Vingt-et-une chansons candiennes, 1928. Author, collaborator, editor several educational works.
Member Canada Council, 1957-1963. Fellow Royal College Music (1st Canadian so honored), Royal College Organists (Carte Lafontaine prize 1910, vice president 1936). Member Royal Academy Music (honorary), Composers.
Married Laura Elsie Keith, December 31, 1919. Children: Keith Campbell, Ross Alexander.