Edric Cundell

A judge in the music competitions at the 1948 London Olympics, Edric Cundell was a well-known music teacher, conductor and composer, which he started doing at the age of 15. He was educated at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School in Hertfordshire, and then the London Trinity College of Music, where his chosen instrument was the horn, but in later life, Cundell could play every instrument in the modern orchestra. He also conducted many famous orchestras, like the Royal Philharmonic, London Philharmonic and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Cundell served as a lieutenant in the artillery in World War I and, during service, wrote the symphonic poem “Serbia”. Also, during the hostilities, he once made a cello out of petrol cans and boxes, and used a horse’s tail for the bow. After the War, he joined the staff of the Trinity College of Music in 1920, and in 1937, joined the musical staff at Glyndebourne, where he specialised in the interpretation of Mozart’s music.

Cundell was appointed the principal of the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1938, and held the post until his retirement in 1959. He was awarded the CBE in 1949, and between 1951-53 was the chairman of the Arts Council Music Panel. He was also the director of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden for a while, and served on the committees of the royal Musial Association, Musician’s Benevolent Fund, and the Arts Council.