John Hosier
Encyclopedia
John Hosier CBE
, was a musical educator. He was born with stunted fingers so was unable to play a musical instrument himself, but nonetheless he devoted his life to music and music education. Later in life, when asked about his hands by children, he would say that he used to bite his fingernails too much.
, Middlesex
. His father was Harry Hosier, the founder of the building firm Hosier and Dickenson, and his mother was Constance, a violinist. She overcame the problem of how he could play a musical instrument in childhood by having him learn the xylophone. He attended Fryent Primary School, Kingsbury, Preston Manor County Grammar School, now Preston Manor High School
, Wembley
and St John's College, Cambridge
where he also served as a director of Footlights
from 1950-1951.
for schools, a position he held until 1959. Then from 1960 until 1973 he worked in BBC Television
for schools. He was producer of the Schools Television programme Music Time.
From 1973 until 1976 he was the Inspector for Inner London Education Authority
and the Director of the Centre for Young Musicians
.
From 1978 until 1989 he was the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
at the Barbican Arts Centre. Here he developed its reputation into one of the world's leading conservatorories and started courses in opera and Jazz. In 1986 he worked with Leonard Bernstein
for the Barbican Centre
's Leonard Bernstein Festival.
He became a Commander of the British Empire
(CBE
) in 1984.
In 1989 he was appointed Director of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
, a position he held for 5 years until 1993.
He was director of the Early Music Centre in London from 1994 until his death in 2000.
He was married to Biddy Baxter
, the editor and producer of Blue Peter
on BBC
TV.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, was a musical educator. He was born with stunted fingers so was unable to play a musical instrument himself, but nonetheless he devoted his life to music and music education. Later in life, when asked about his hands by children, he would say that he used to bite his fingernails too much.
Early life
John Hosier was born in the NW London suburb of KingsburyKingsbury
Kingsbury is an area in the London Borough of Brent, northwest London. The name Kingsbury means "The King's Manor".-History:Kingsbury was historically a small parish in the Hundred of Gore and county of Middlesex. Until the nineteenth century it was largely rural with only scattered settlements....
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
. His father was Harry Hosier, the founder of the building firm Hosier and Dickenson, and his mother was Constance, a violinist. She overcame the problem of how he could play a musical instrument in childhood by having him learn the xylophone. He attended Fryent Primary School, Kingsbury, Preston Manor County Grammar School, now Preston Manor High School
Preston Manor High School
Preston Manor High School is one of the largest high schools within the London Borough of Brent, located in the Preston area.-Admissions:It has 1354 students in High School and roughly 260 students in Sixth Form. Its current headteacher is Mr M. Lantos, who recently took over from Mrs. Andrea...
, Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
and St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
where he also served as a director of Footlights
Footlights
Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club, commonly referred to simply as the Footlights, is an amateur theatrical club in Cambridge, England, founded in 1883 and run by the students of Cambridge University....
from 1950-1951.
Career
John Hosier's professional career started in 1953 when he became a music producer for BBC RadioBBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
for schools, a position he held until 1959. Then from 1960 until 1973 he worked in BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
for schools. He was producer of the Schools Television programme Music Time.
From 1973 until 1976 he was the Inspector for Inner London Education Authority
Inner London Education Authority
The Inner London Education Authority was the education authority for the 12 inner London boroughs from 1965 until its abolition in 1990.-History:...
and the Director of the Centre for Young Musicians
Centre for Young Musicians
London's Centre for Young Musicians, or CYM, is a Saturday music centre for children up to 18 who play an instrument, currently run by Stephen Dagg...
.
From 1978 until 1989 he was the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
at the Barbican Arts Centre. Here he developed its reputation into one of the world's leading conservatorories and started courses in opera and Jazz. In 1986 he worked with Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
for the Barbican Centre
Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Located in the City of London, England, the Centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. It also houses a library, three restaurants, and a conservatory...
's Leonard Bernstein Festival.
He became a Commander of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
) in 1984.
In 1989 he was appointed Director of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts , located near the north coast of Wan Chai on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong, is both an academic institution and a venue for performances....
, a position he held for 5 years until 1993.
He was director of the Early Music Centre in London from 1994 until his death in 2000.
He was married to Biddy Baxter
Biddy Baxter
Biddy Baxter MBE is best known as the former editor of the long-running popular BBC One children’s magazine show Blue Peter, a position she held from 1965 to 1988. She was also its producer from 1962 to 1965...
, the editor and producer of Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
TV.