The British Musical Biography

[E] Matthews, John Alexander, organist
and conductor, born at Gloucester, June 17,
1841. Educated at King's College School,
having entered the Cathedral Choir in 1850.
Articled pupil of, and assistant organist to,
John Amott, and after his death, 18G5, acting
organist at the Cathedral, until the appoint-
ment of Dr. S. S. Wesley. In 1866 he went
to Cheltenham, and has been organist and
choirmaster of the parish church of St.
Matthew since that time. He started a
choral society which is now known as the
Festival Society, and in 1887 organised a
Musical Festival, which is celebrated trien-
nially, and at which several works of impor-
tance have been produced. This is under his
own management. In 1893 he founded the
County of Gloucester Musical Festival Asso-
ciation, numbering more than 2,000 members.
He was for 15 years connected with the
Gloucester Choral Society, as choirmaster,
organist, and conductor. In 1876 he received
a public testimonial from this society at the
hands of the then Mayor of Gloucester,
Anthony Jones, Esq., and in 1890, a similar
token of regard through the Mayor of
Cheltenham, Colonel Thoytes, at the close
of the Festival. He has had a busy life as a
teacher ; is hon. local representative of
R.A.M., and hon. examiner for R.C.M. ; and
prominent in the work of the Incorporated
Society of Musicians. Hon. life member of
Trinity College, London. Of his composi-
tions, the songs, The Language of the Heart ;
God is Love ; Church Bells ; and The Merry
May, are the best known.

entry id: 275-R-34