Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 12 February 1938, page 1


MR. W. McKIE

RESIGNS

-A

Appointment at

Oxford

The city organist (Mr. William McKie) received news from Oxford yesterday that he had been elected organist of Magdalen College in

succession to Dr H. C. Stewart.

Mr. McKie, who is at present on leave, has accepted the appointment and handed in his resignation to the town hall committee. He will probably leave for England in August.

Mr. McKie succeeded Dr. W. G. Price as city organist in 1931, and has given magnificent service to music in Melbourne. He has greatly extended the City Council's musical activities in the form of free mid-day and evening concerts and organ recitals.

Music in Schools

His Intensive survey of musical teaching in Victorian schools has been used as a basis by the committee which is working to revise Victorian musical education, and he has set an example to other public schools by his work as music master at Geelong Grammar School.

Mr. McKie was educated at Melbourne Grammar School, and went to the Royal College of Music, London, in 1919, as Clarke Scholar. He became an associate of the college, and later graduated M.A. and Mus. Bac. from Worcester College, Oxford.

Magdalen is one of the few university colleges which maintain a full choral foundation with daily choral service on the model of the English cathedrals. The college is famous for its May morning service, sung at daybreak each May from the top of the Magdalen

tower.

Several famous organists have occupied the position in the past, Including Sir John Stainer, Sir Walter Parratt, and Dr. Varley

Roberts.

King Carol of Rumania, who has become virtually a dictator. (Story

column 3.)