Whitehead, Alfred (Ernest)

Whitehead, Alfred (Ernest), English-born Canadian organist, choirmaster, teacher, and composer; b. Peterborough, Ont., July 10, 1887; d. Amherst, Nova Scotia, April 1, 1974. He was a pupil of Haydn Keeton and C. C. Francis of Peterborough Cathedral, and then of A. Eaglefield Hull. In 1912 he emigrated to Canada, and in 1913 became the first fellow by examination of the Canadian Guild (later Coll.) of Organists; in 1916 he obtained his B.Mus. at the Univ. of Toronto and in 1922 his D.Mus. at McGill Univ. in Montreal. In 1924 he became a fellow of the Royal Coll. of Organists and winner of the Lafontaine Prize. He was organist and choirmaster at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Truro, Nova Scotia (1912-15). He then was organist and choirmaster at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Sherbrooke, Quebec (1915-22) and at Christ Church Cathedral in Montreal (1922-47); he also taught organ, theory, and composition at the McGill Cons. (1922-30). After serving as head of the music dept. at Mt. Allison Univ. (1947-53), he was organist and choirmaster at Trinity United Church in Amherst (1953-71). He was president of the Canadian Coll. of Organists (1930-31; 1935-37) and was honorary vice-president (1971-73) and honorary president (1973-74) of the Royal Canadian Coll. of Organists. He wrote a number of distinguished sacred works, excelling as a composer of motets and anthems. He was also a painter and philatelist.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire