William Hayman Cummings

1831-1915

Born: August 22, 1831,Sidbury, Devonshire, England. Died: June 10, 1915, London, England.

Cummings’ musical career started at age seven, when he became a chorister at St. Paul’s Cathedral. He studied organ under Edward Hopkins and secured a position playing the organ at Waltham Abbey while still a teenager. In 1847 he was one of the singers when Felix Mendelssohn conducted his Elijah at Exeter Hall. Cummings’ excellent tenor led him to sing throughout the United Kingdom and in America. He served as singing professor at the Royal Academy of Music for 15 years beginning in 1879, then became principal of the Guildhall School of Music. He founded the Purcell Society and belonged to a number of other music organizations. IN 1900, he received an honorary Doctor of Music from the University of Dublin.

Music:

1. Mendelssohn