King, Oliver A.
1855-
Piano virtuoso and teacher; born in London. Apprenticed to Joseph Barnby, under whom he learned to play the organ and piano and studied composition and harmony. In 1871 he took piano lessons from W. H. Holmes and from 1874 to 1877 he studied under Reinecke, Hermann, Jadassohn and Paul at the Leipsic Conservatory. In 1877 he toured Germany with Mme. Pesechka-Leutner. In 1879 he became pianist to Princess Louise and was a member of her suite when she went to Canada on the appointment of Marquis of Lome as Governor-General of the Dominion. While in America, Mr. King gave concerts in the principal cities of the United States and Canada and for some months acted as organist in the Church of The Holy Innocents, New York. In 1883 he returned to England and made a concert tour through England, Scotland and Ireland. From 1884 to 1886 he was precentor of St. Marylebone Parish Church, London. He has played the organ at the Novello Oratorio concerts since they began. He has directed many official concerts and some of his more important compositions have been played at the Philharmonic Society concerts and at the Crystal Palace. He is now a professor of piano at the Royal Academy of Music. Among his compositions are the one hundred and thirty-seventh psalm for solo, chorus and orchestra; a symphony, Night; three cantatas, The Romance of the Rose, Proserpina, and the Naiades; violin concerto in G. minor; and two concert overtures.