Dr Dennis Townhill, former organist, choirmaster and composer, has died aged 83.
IN his 30 years as head of music at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Dennis Townhill brought its music to an international stage.
He played a leading role in the development of St Mary's Music School, persuading Sir Yehudi Menuhin to become patron
, and introduced girls as choristers at the cathedral.
He was born and educated in Lincoln, being brought up by his grandparents, and showed an interest in music at an early age. He enrolled as a chorister at Lincoln Cathedral aged eight, and was so dedicated that he often gave up weekends and holidays to sing there. After working at churches in Louth and Grimsby, he moved to Edinburgh at the age of 35 and took up the post at St Mary's.
He showed his huge energy and enthusiasm from his first day in 1961, when he persuaded cathedral authorities to increase the number of lay clerks to six. He went on to develop a weekly programme for his 36 choristers, with two Evensongs every day.
One of his first major tasks was restructuring the Cathedral Choir School to secure its financial future and improve the boys' education. He helped set up the specialist music school based at St Mary's that also accepted choristers from local schools, with cathedral funds paying for scholarships.
The school opened in 1973 with Sir Yehudi Menuhin as patron. Its aim was to help musically gifted children reach their full potential.
Dr Townhill succeeded in admitting girls to the choir and school for the first time, despite opposition. They first arrived in 1976, making St Mary's the first cathedral choir in Britain to admit girls to sing alongside the boy choristers. He took his charges on tour throughout Europe as well as the United States.
He was also lecturer in music at Edinburgh Theological College and a teacher at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. He made regular broadcasts on radio and television as a soloist and conductor.
His silver jubilee in 1986 was celebrated with a programme of concerts. These included a specially commissioned work by Professor Kenneth Leighton, which he composed in tribute to Dr Townhill.
He was honoured with an OBE in 1991, the year he retired. St Mary's appointed him Organist Emeritus and he published his autobiography, which was entitled The Imp and the Thistle.
Dr Townhill is survived by his wife Mabel, children and grandchildren. His funeral was held at St Mary's last month.
The full article contains 434 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
