SELECTION MADE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 8, 21 March 1947, Page 6

SELECTION MADE

TRAINEE FOR POST OF CARILLIONIST

RETURNED SERVICEMAN

The Rehabilitation Board together with the Board of Trustees of the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum announce that Mr Selwyn Baker, of Christchurch, has been selected to train in carillon playing, and on qualification will be appointed to the position of carillonist at the National War Memorial Carillon, Wellington. Mr Baker, who is a returned serviceman of the recent war, will proceed overseas for a course of training in carillon playing, a special bursary being provided for the purpose by the Rehabilitation Board.

The position of carillonist at Wellington has been vacant since 1936. It was previously held by the late Miss Gladys Watkins. Since the position became vacant Mr John Randal, of St. Peter’s Church, Wellington, has acted as operator. Mr Baker is an associate of Trinity College, London. For 12 years he was organist and choirmaster for various churches in Christchurch, while he has given organ recitals over the National Broadcasting Service. He is at present a part-time teacher of music. He served for almost four years with a New Zealand infantry battalion in the Middle East and Italy. There were 12 applicants for the position, eight of whom were returned servicemen. Appointment was conditional on the successful applicant being a qualified organist or pianist and having long service with the forces overseas.

The position, which is part-time only, carries a salary of £4OO a year. Part of the duties will be to train at Wellington approved candidates for carillon playing from any part of the Dominion.

Meanwhile Mr Baker will be sent overseas, probably to the Mechlin Carillon School in Belgium. That is where the previous Wellington carillonist, Jef Denyn, who was considered the world’s master carillonist.