Vernon Handley facts for kids

Vernon George "Tod" Handley (born November 11, 1930 – died September 10, 2008) was a famous British conductor. He was especially known for supporting and promoting music by British composers.

Early Life and Learning

Tod Handley was born in Enfield, London. His father was Welsh, and his mother was Irish. He grew up in a family that loved music. He got the nickname "Tod" because his feet turned inward when he was born. His father simply said, "They toddle." Tod liked using this nickname his whole life.

He went to Enfield Grammar School. While in school, he watched the BBC Symphony Orchestra practice. He learned some of his conducting skills by watching Sir Adrian Boult. Later, he wrote letters to Sir Adrian and met him.

Tod also spent time in the Armed Forces. After that, he went to Balliol College, Oxford, to study English language history. He became the music director for the University Dramatic Society there. He also studied at the Guildhall School of Music in London. He played the double bass, trombone, and violin.

After college, he worked different jobs like a gardener and bricklayer during the day. In the evenings, he studied and led amateur orchestras and choirs. Later, he became a student of Sir Adrian Boult. During their first meeting, Sir Adrian tested him on music theory. He then asked Tod to conduct a piece by Arnold Bax, which Tod had already studied. Tod later conducted this same piece in his first London concert. He remained a strong supporter of Bax's music throughout his career.

Music Career

Vernon Handley's first professional job as a conductor was in 1960. He conducted the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. In 1962, he became the music director of the new Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra. With this orchestra, he played a lot of Bax's music. He even made the first recording of Bax's Symphony No. 4. He also recorded Gerald Finzi's Intimations of Immortality.

He also conducted orchestras outside the UK. These included groups in Amsterdam, Stockholm, and Berlin. In 1983, he became an Associate Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. From 1985 to 1989, he was the main conductor of the Ulster Orchestra. He was given the special title of Conductor Laureate from 2003 until he passed away. He also led the Malmö Symphony Orchestra in Sweden from 1986 to 1988.

Handley was also an assistant conductor for other groups. He was Conductor Emeritus of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. He conducted many other orchestras for concerts, broadcasts, and recordings. In January 2007, he became the main conductor of the English Symphony Orchestra.

He was greatly admired for his strong support of British music. He helped bring attention back to many lesser-known British composers. Even though he said he loved composers from all over, most of his recordings (about 90 out of 160) were of British music. He recorded about a hundred first-time performances of British works. This included successful series of symphonies by Robert Simpson and Sir Granville Bantock. Robert Simpson even dedicated his Symphony No. 10 to Handley.

Handley believed his career might have been harder because he focused so much on British music. But he said, "I believe there are two sorts of conductors – musician conductors and career conductors. I have always tried to be the former... and I really wouldn't have it any other way."

He received many awards for his work. In 2003, The Gramophone magazine gave him a Special Achievement Award for his contributions to British Music. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Classical BRIT Awards in 2007. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2004. He also held an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Surrey.

Vernon Handley passed away at his home on September 10, 2008. He was supposed to conduct a concert at the BBC Proms that year but had to withdraw due to illness. After his death, a Proms concert was dedicated to him.

He had three children from his marriages.

Discography

Vernon Handley made many recordings throughout his career. He recorded works by a wide range of composers, especially focusing on British music. Some of the composers he recorded include:

• Arnold Bax
• Ralph Vaughan Williams
• Edward Elgar
• Malcolm Arnold
• Robert Simpson
• Granville Bantock
• E. J. Moeran
• Charles Villiers Stanford

He recorded symphonies, concertos, and other orchestral pieces. His recordings helped many people discover and appreciate British classical music.