Ernest White

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Ernest F. White (born June 20, 1901 in London / Ontario ; † September 21, 1980 in Fairfield / Connecticut ) was a Canadian organist and organ builder, choir director and music teacher.

White had violin lessons and after 1920 studied at the Toronto Conservatory of Music with Ernest MacMillan and Healey Willan . He was organist at Howard Park Methodist Church and Alhambra Ave United Church in Toronto before taking lessons with Lynnwood Farnam in New York in 1926 . After an acclaimed appearance at the St Louis Organists' Convention , he became organist and choirmaster at the St. James Episcopal Church in Philadelphia in 1927 . Until 1937 he worked at Trinity Church in Lenox, then until 1962 first as organist, later as music director at the New York Church of St. Mary the Virgin , where two annual organ concert series were among his responsibilities. From 1963 to 1970 he was organist and choirmaster at the Church of the Nativity in Indianapolis, then at St. Joan of Arc Church and from 1973 at St. George's Church in Bridgeport.

White also worked as the person responsible for intonation for the organ building company MP Moller in Hagerstown / Maryland. In this capacity he was responsible for the design and installation of numerous organs in the USA and Canada - including the New York Church of St Mary the Virgin , St George's Episcopal Church and the Interchurch Center Chapel . The transfer of the organ from St. Mary to the Aeolian Hall in London / Ontario, initiated by Gordon Jeffrey , also took place under his direction.

As a music teacher had White at Bard College of Columbia University and the New York Pius X School of Music Litrgical (1935-1938), at the Music Teachers' College of the University of Western Ontario (1948-1951), the Jordan College of Butler University and the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis (1963–1971) and at the University of Bridgeport (1971–1973). In his career he has given more than 1,000 organ concerts, became known as an interpreter of early and contemporary organ music and made a number of recordings, including Olivier Messiaen's La Nativité du Seigneur .

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personal data
SURNAME White, Ernest
ALTERNATIVE NAMES White, Ernest F.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Canadian organist and organ builder, choir director and music teacher
DATE OF BIRTH June 20, 1901
PLACE OF BIRTH London (Ontario)
DATE OF DEATH September 21, 1980
Place of death Fairfield , Connecticut