Russell Standing

Standing, Russell

Russell (Elmer) Standing. Teacher, pianist, composer, b Belmont, Man,10 Apr 1893, d Toronto 21 Jun 1977; ATCM 1919. He studied piano with Leonard Heaton and singing with James Isherwood. Although confined to a wheelchair from the age of seven (because of the effects of polio) he established his own piano studio and also, for 50 years, was one of Winnipeg's best-known theory teachers. He sang ca 1916-25 in the choir of St Paul's Church and later in that of the Home Street United Church, and was a member of the Winnipeg Choral Society. An active member of the MRMTA, he was president 1935-6 and 1948-50 and later was made a life member. He was a member of the CFMTA and the editor of its news bulletin 1951-67. Standing served as an examiner for the WBM and on the music selection committee of the Manitoba Music Competition Festival. After retiring and moving to Toronto he continued, on a limited basis, to teach theory by correspondence and was made a life member of the ORMTA. Hugh McLean was a pupil. Standing composed a number of pieces for piano, several songs, and sacred choral works, none published