John Waterhouse

Waterhouse, John

John (Fereday Preston) Waterhouse. Violinist, teacher, conductor, b Bilston, near Birmingham, England, 28 Oct 1877, d Winnipeg 22 May 1970; FRAM 1947, LL D (Manitoba) 1965. One of Canada's distinguished teachers, he taught violin privately in Winnipeg for over 50 years. He studied violin with Émile Sauret and harmony and counterpoint with Ebenezer Prout and Stewart Macpherson at the RAM, London, and performed as soloist, orchestral player, and conductor in England. He played in the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra before moving in 1914 to Winnipeg, where, with his wife, Cecilia, a pianist who had studied with a pupil of Clara Schumann, he taught and performed, introducing to Winnipeg many English compositions. He conducted the Winnipeg String Orchestra 1934-6. He was also concertmaster 1923-7 of the Winnipeg Orchestral Club (a forerunner of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra). He was an honorary life member of the MRMTA, the Winnipeg Men's Music Club, and the MMEA. In 1967 he was one of six recipients of the CFMTA centennial citation. His pride was in the achievements of his pupils, among whom were Michael Barten, Armand Ferland, Frederick Grinke, Ben Loban, Leslie Malowany, Palmi and Pearl Palmason, Anne Pomer, Hugo Rignold, Patricia Shand, Gwen Thompson, and his son William.