William Ifor Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Ifor Jones
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Carnegie Hall program photograph.
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| Background information | |
| Born | 23 January 1900 Merthyr Tydfil, Wales |
| Died | 11 November 1988 (aged 88) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1920–mid-1980s |
William Ifor Jones (born January 23, 1900 – died November 11, 1988) was a talented Welsh conductor and organ player. He grew up in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, in a large family connected to coal mining.
From 1920 to 1925, Jones studied music in London at the Royal Academy of Music. He earned a scholarship to attend this famous school. He learned to play the organ from Sir Stanley Marchant at St. Paul's Cathedral. He also studied how to lead an orchestra with Ernest Read and Sir Henry Wood. He even became Sir Henry Wood's assistant for a while.
After his studies, he worked in several important musical roles. He was an organist at a church and helped singers at the Royal Opera House. He also worked as an Assistant Choir Master at St. Paul's Cathedral.
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Life in America
In the early 1930s, William Ifor Jones moved to the United States. He continued his musical career there.
Conducting and Teaching
In America, Jones led several musical groups. He conducted the New Chamber Orchestra in Philadelphia. He also led The Tudor Singers in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
He shared his musical knowledge by teaching at two well-known schools. He taught at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland. He also taught at Rutgers University - Douglas College in New Brunswick, New Jersey. While at Rutgers, he started a glee club, which is a singing group. He also performed all the organ music written by Johann Sebastian Bach.
At the Union Theological Seminary in New York City, he taught classes for people who lead choirs. He was also involved with the Berkshire Music Festival at Tanglewood. He led many summer workshops and seminars for musicians.
Church Organist Roles
Ifor Jones also served as an organist at several churches. He played at the Presbyterian Church in Bound Brook, New Jersey. He also played at the Broadway Tabernacle in New York City. Later, he was the organist at the Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
He worked with other musical groups too. He helped the Handel Choir in Westfield, New Jersey. He also worked with the Bach Youth Chorale and led the Cantata Singers in Pennsylvania.
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
In 1939, William Ifor Jones became the third conductor of The Bach Choir of Bethlehem. This was a very important part of his career.
Famous Performances
On February 18, 1946, the Bach Choir performed Bach's Mass in B minor at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Ifor Jones conducted the choir, along with The Philadelphia Orchestra.
On April 13, 1947, a huge crowd of about 9,200 people came to hear The Mass in B Minor. This performance took place at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. Ifor Jones again led The Choir and members of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Key Moments with the Choir
- 1948 – The Bach Choir recorded a piece called Cantata #78 for Victor Records.
- 1956 – They performed the Mass in B minor again at Carnegie Hall on March 27.
- 1957 – The choir celebrated its 50th Bach Festival. Ifor Jones opened the Thursday evening rehearsal to the public.
- 1959 – The Bach Festival Orchestra played for the first time at the May Festival. They took the place of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
- 1962 – The 55th Bach Festival was dedicated to Albert Schweitzer. A letter from Schweitzer was printed in the program.
In October 1965, the choir sang at the International Choral Festival in Boston. This event celebrated 150 years of the Handel and Haydn Society.
- 1969 – Ifor Jones retired as the conductor of the choir.
His only known appearance on television with the choir was on The Bell Telephone Hour. He conducted a piece called "Going to Bethlehem."
Ifor Jones retired in 1969. He passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Honors and Awards
William Ifor Jones received several important honors for his musical work.
- He was named an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in London.
- He became a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in London in 1948. He was the first person from another country to receive this special honor from the Royal Academy of Music.
Honorary Degrees
He also received special honorary doctorates from two colleges:
- The American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, Illinois.
- Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
