Victor Harris (April 27, 1869 – February 15, 1943) was an American

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

conductor Conductor or conduction may refer to: Music * Conductor (music), a person who leads a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra. * ''Conductor'' (album), an album by indie rock band The Comas * Conduction, a type of structured free improvisation ...

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music educator Music education is a field of practice in which educators are trained for careers as elementary or secondary music teachers, school or music conservatory ensemble directors. Music education is also a research area in which scholars do original ...

Biography

He was born in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, and educated under Charles Blumm, William Courtney (singing), F. K. Schilling (composition), and Anton Seidl (conducting). He was a successful organist, and from 1889 to 1895 held appointments in Tuxedo Park, Brooklyn, and New York. He was one of the first staff members at the Metropolitan Opera where he worked as a vocal coach for three years beginning in 1893. For one season he was conductor of the Utica Choral Union, and served as assistant conductor under Seidl at the Brighton Beach summer concerts (1895–96). He took up his residence in New York, and established himself as a vocal instructor and composer. He published compositions for piano, organ, and chorus, but was principally known for his songs. Helen Tretbar translated at least one of his songs (''A Madrigal'') into German. In 1906, he founded the St. Cecilia Chorus, now known as the Cecilia Chorus of New York.

References

1869 births 1943 deaths American male composers American male conductors (music) 20th-century American composers 20th-century American conductors (music) 20th-century American male musicians {{US-composer-19thC-stub