John Goss

Goss, John
John Goss. Baritone, teacher, b London 10 May 1894, d Birmingham 13 Feb 1953. A pupil of Victor Beigel and Reinhold von Warlich in London, Goss first performed in Canada at the Vancouver Sea Festival (CPR Festivals) during a North American tour in 1929. He was the dedicatee of four songs written by Healey Willan early that same year. Several Canadian appearances followed in the 1930s, including a CPR-sponsored concert in Toronto 6 Feb 1930 of British and Canadian music, tours 1931-7 as leader of the London Singers (a quintet which included Alan Mills during its final two years), and a performance 5 Feb 1935 of Delius' Sea Drift with the TSO and the TCM Choir. He was soloist with the Winnipeg Male Voice Choir in its 1934 concert at Town Hall, New York. After two years, 1938-9, in London, where he joined the Communist Party and formed the Unity Male Voice Choir, he returned to Canada to adjudicate at musical competition festivals. Impressed by the quantity of young Canadian talent he took up residence in Vancouver, where 1940-50 he gave concerts and radio recitals, participated in the BCMTA, taught privately, and was a director 1948-9 of the Friends of Chamber Music. His Canadian pupils included Beverly Fyfe, May Lawson, Mary Morrison, and Sherwood Robson. In 1949 Goss went to New York but was arrested because of his political sympathies and sent back to Canada. He returned to England in 1950. Goss' publications include An Anthology of Song (London 1929) and Ballads of Britain (London 1937).

Author Florence Hayes