Frank Thorolfson

Frank Thorolfson (born February 5, 1914 in Winnipeg , † March 26, 1977 in Hamilton , Ontario ) was a Canadian pianist , conductor , music teacher and composer of Icelandic origin.

The son of the singer and choirmaster Halldor Thorolfson studied piano with Eva Clare and Ragnar H. Ragnar and conducting at McGill University . From 1944 to 1946 he served in the Canadian Army, after which he continued his musical training at the Chicago Musical College with Rudolph Ganz , Hans Rosenwald and Paul Nettl .

He taught at the Chicago Metropolitan School of Music and the Chicago Musical College from 1949 to 1951 . After his return to Canada he worked from 1955 to 1958 as organist at the Knox-Metropolitan United Church and taught at the Conservatory of Regina. In 1959 he became music director at McMaster University . From 1965 to 1970 he headed the Faculty of Music and taught music history and aesthetics. From 1972 to 1977 he was Chancellor of the Royal Hamilton College of Music .

Thoralfson founded the Winnipeg Chamber Orchestra which he directed from 1938 to 1942 and conducted a. a. the Chicago Bach Chorus (1947–52), the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra (1942–44), the Regina Ladies' Choir (1953–58) and the Bach Elgar Choir of Hamilton 1960–61. He composed a. a. the opera The Qu'Appelle River Legend (1955) and the Saskatchewan Scenes for piano. Thorolfson's first marriage was to the violinist Irene Diehl .

source

• The Canadian Encyclopedia - Frank Thorolfson