{{Short description|Australian musician}} {{Use British English|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} '''Rex Hobcroft''' [[Member of the Order of Australia|AM]] (12 May 1925{{spaced ndash}}23 September 2013)<ref name=nla/><ref name=death/> was an Australian pianist, conductor, composer, teacher, competition juror and music administrator. He was the first Australian pianist to play the complete cycle of [[Beethoven's piano sonatas]] in public; he directed both the [[Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music|Tasmanian]] and [[Sydney Conservatorium of Music|New South Wales State Conservatoria of Music]]; and he co-founded the [[Sydney International Piano Competition]].
==Biography== Rex Kelvin Hobcroft was born in [[Renmark, South Australia]] in 1925. During World War II he flew in the [[Royal Australian Air Force|RAAF]], and when over joined then small emerging [[Ansett Airways]] to pilot for them for several months. He slipped into studying part-time at the [[University of Melbourne Faculty of VCA and MCM|Melbourne Conservatorium of Music]],<ref name=nla/><ref name=Suzuki>[http://www.suzukimusicwa.com.au/rexhobcroft.htm Suzuki Talent Education Association of Australia (WA) Inc.] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121230222722/http://www.suzukimusicwa.com.au/rexhobcroft.htm |date=30 December 2012 }}</ref> full-time from 1946 and graduated in 1948 with First Class Honours.<ref name=nla/><ref name=griff/> He travelled to Paris for further study at the [[École Normale de Musique de Paris|École Normale de Musique]] in 1949–50.<ref name=nla/><ref name=Suzuki/>
In 1952 he became an Examiner for the Australian Music Examinations Board, and from 1952–56 he worked as a school music specialist with the Music, Speech and Drama Branch of the Western Australian Education Department.<ref name=nla/>
In July 1957 he wrote [[incidental music]] for a production in [[St George's Cathedral, Perth]] of [[T. S. Eliot]]'s play ''[[Murder in the Cathedral]]''.<ref>[http://www.ecu.edu.au/foundation/our-initiatives/path-of-honour/honourees/profiles/bell-ronald-barnett ECU Foundation]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==Queensland Conservatorium of Music== In 1957 Rex Hobcroft was appointed foundation head of the keyboard department of the [[Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University|Queensland Conservatorium of Music]] in [[Brisbane]]. He was only the second pianist appointed to a full-time teaching position at a conservatorium in Australia.<ref name=Suzuki/> He retained this position until 1961.<ref name=griff/>
During these years he was also active as a solo, concerto and chamber music pianist and vocal accompanist, and travelled widely in Australia. He also presented a series of music appreciation programs on [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC Radio]].<ref name=griff>{{Cite web |url=http://www.griffith.edu.au/development-alumni/awards-recognition/dunivs/rex-hobcroft |title=Griffith University |access-date=24 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081125001833/http://www.griffith.edu.au/development-alumni/awards-recognition/dunivs/rex-hobcroft |archive-date=25 November 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Tasmania== In 1961 Hobcroft became Foundation Head of the Music Department of the [[University of Tasmania]] in [[Hobart]].<ref name=nla/><ref name=griff/><ref name=utas/> In 1962 he presented the complete cycle of [[Beethoven's piano sonatas|piano sonatas]] of [[Ludwig van Beethoven]] in a series of weekly recitals in Hobart, a first for an Australian pianist.<ref name=utas>[http://www.alumni.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/50766/No.-28-Midyear2005.pdf University of Tasmania Alumni News 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317173344/http://www.alumni.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/50766/No.-28-Midyear2005.pdf |date=17 March 2012 }}</ref> Among the audience was the poet [[Gwen Harwood]], and she was inspired to dedicate a number of poems to Rex Hobcroft (including ''Four Impromptus''<ref name=wood>[http://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/49219/1/02whole.pdf Alison J E Wood, ''The Poetics of Libretti: Reading the Opera Works of Gwen Harwood and Larry Sitsky''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413084716/http://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/49219/1/02whole.pdf |date=13 April 2012 }}</ref> and ''Estuary''<ref>[http://allpoetry.com/Gwen_Harwood AllPoetry: Gwen Harwood]</ref>). The following year, Hobcroft introduced Harwood to the composer [[Larry Sitsky]], which proved to be the start of an artistic collaboration that eventually produced six operas: ''The Fall of the House of Usher'' (1965), ''Lenz'' (1970), ''Fiery Tales'' (1975), ''Voices in Limbo'' (1977), ''The Golem'' (1980, performed 1993), and ''De Profundis'' (1982)<ref name=wood/>
He organised a National Composers' Seminar in Hobart in 1963. This was attended by a majority of Australia's then recognised composers.<ref name=griff/> In conjunction with a similar seminar in 1965, he conducted the world premieres of three Australian operas.<ref name=Suzuki/> These included ''The Fall of the House of Usher'' (19 August 1965, [[Theatre Royal, Hobart]]).<ref>[http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/artist/hobcroft-rex Australian Music Centre]</ref> He was later a co-founder and conductor of the Tasmanian Opera Company.<ref name=Suzuki/>
===Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music=== In 1964, Rex Hobcroft was appointed the founding Director of the [[Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music]], a position he retained until 1971.<ref name=griff/>
During that time (1967), he travelled to the United States, Canada, England and Asia as a Tasmanian [[Winston Churchill Memorial Trusts|Churchill Fellow]], studying music education methods.<ref name=nla/><ref name=church>{{Cite web |url=http://www.churchillfellowstas.org.au/cfat/Hobcroft,%20RK%201967.jpg |title=Churchill Fellows |access-date=24 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112040518/http://www.churchillfellowstas.org.au/cfat/Hobcroft,%20RK%201967.jpg |archive-date=12 November 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.churchillfellowstas.org.au/FellowsYears.htm Churchill Fellows Association of Tasmania] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112035512/http://www.churchillfellowstas.org.au/FellowsYears.htm |date=12 November 2009 }}</ref>
In 1968 he studied at the [[Tokyo University of the Arts]].<ref name=nla/>
==New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music== Hobcroft directed the [[Sydney Conservatorium of Music|New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music]] (now known as the Sydney Conservatorium of Music) between 1972 and 1982. The year after he took over, the first [[jazz]] course to be offered by an Australian tertiary institution commenced there. This followed an approach by the jazz musician [[Don Burrows]].<ref>[https://www.myspace.com/peterboothman/blog/340371470 Peter Boothman, ''A Story of Jazz in Sydney'']</ref> He also oversaw the first courses in [[church music]] and [[electronic music]], a rich visiting artists program, and the establishment of regional music centres.<ref name=griff/> Other courses and activities expanded on an unprecedented scale, and Hobcroft's influence over ten years is considered as significant as that of [[Eugene Goossens (composer)|Sir Eugene Goossens]] in the 1950s.<ref name=Suzuki/> During his leadership, the Conservatorium adopted the modern educational profile recognised today. His vision of a "Music University" was realised, in which specialised musical disciplines including both classical and jazz performance, music education, composition and musicology enriched each other.
In 1973 he conducted Larry Sitsky's ''The Fall of the House of Usher'' in what was the first evening performance of an opera in the [[Sydney Opera House]].<ref name=Suzuki/>
From 1972 to 1982, he was President of the [[Federated Music Clubs of Australia]].<ref name=nla/>
==Sydney International Piano competition== In 1976 Rex Hobcroft initiated and co-founded the [[Sydney International Piano Competition]], along with [[Claire Dan]] and Robert Tobias.<ref>[http://www.sipca.com.au/2012competition/100906_2012aab.pdf SIPCA 2012] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913144756/http://www.sipca.com.au/2012competition/100906_2012aab.pdf |date=13 September 2012 }}</ref> He was Chairman of the Jury for the inaugural competition in 1977, and again for the 1981, 1985 and 1988 competitions.<ref name=griff/> In that time he introduced many innovations that have been adopted by several other international competitions.<ref name=Suzuki/>
In 1981, [[Peter Sculthorpe]] dedicated to Hobcroft his piano piece ''Mountains'', which had been commissioned by the Piano Competition.<ref>[http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/work/sculthorpe-peter-mountains Australian Music Centre, Sculthorpe: Mountains]</ref> [[James Penberthy]]'s ''Bedlam Hills'' for chorus and piano is dedicated "to horny Hobcroft".<ref>[http://epress.anu.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/whole8.pdf Larry Sitsky, ''Australian Chamber Music with Piano'']</ref>
After retiring from the New South Wales Conservatorium, he returned to [[Perth]], Western Australia. But formal retirement did not mean an end to his musical activities. He chaired the Western Australian State Government's Conservatorium Committee. This recommended the establishment of a Conservatorium of Music in that state, which was implemented in 1985 as the [[UWA School of Music]].<ref name=Suzuki/><ref name=griff/>
From 1992 to 1998 he was Patron of the [[Australian International Conservatorium]].<ref name=nla/><ref name=church/>
Hobcroft was a supporter of the [[Suzuki method]] of music teaching for many years. He introduced it to the Tasmanian and Sydney conservatoria, and was the Patron of the New South Wales and later the Western Australian arms of the Suzuki Talent Education Association of Australia.<ref name=Suzuki/>
==Music competition juror== In addition to his chairmanship of the jury of the [[Sydney International Piano Competition]] 1977-88, Rex Hobcroft was invited to join the juries of a number of other significant international music competitions. These included: * X [[International Chopin Piano Competition]], [[Warsaw]], 1980 * 54th World Piano Competition, [[Cincinnati]], 1989<ref>[http://www.cincinnatiwpc.org/Docs_Forms/WPC_CompetitionProgram_2011_Web.pdf World Piano Competition] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417181114/http://www.cincinnatiwpc.org/Docs_Forms/WPC_CompetitionProgram_2011_Web.pdf |date=17 April 2012 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.cincinnatiwpc.org/Docs_Forms/WPC_Program_2010_Web.pdf World Piano Competition] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217005920/http://www.cincinnatiwpc.org/Docs_Forms/WPC_Program_2010_Web.pdf |date=17 February 2012 }}</ref> * X [[Paloma O'Shea International Piano Competition]], [[Santander, Cantabria|Santander]], 1990;<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.santanderpianocompetition.com/C_Concursos_Premiados.aspx |title=Santander Piano Competition |access-date=24 June 2012 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716004813/http://www.santanderpianocompetition.com/C_Concursos_Premiados.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Adviser to the XVII competition in 2012<ref>[http://www.santanderpianocompetition.com/C_QuienesSomos.aspx Santander Piano Competition]</ref> * 1st [[China International Piano Competition]], 1994<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FIRST+CHINA+INTERNATIONAL+PIANO+COMPETITION+SET+FOR+SEPTEMBER-a015655384 TheFree Library]</ref> * XIV [[International Tchaikovsky Competition]], Moscow, 1998<ref>[http://www.tchaikovsky-competition.com/en/history/1998/the_jury XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition]</ref> * 9th UNISA International Piano Competition, [[Pretoria]], South Africa, 2000<ref>[http://www.alink-argerich.org/results2000.htm Competition Results 2000]</ref> * [[International Ettore Pozzoli Piano Competition]], [[Seregno]], Italy<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.concorsopozzoli.it/sites/default/files/dwl/pozzoli_bando-2011.pdf |title=Concorso Pozzoli |access-date=24 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102200/http://www.concorsopozzoli.it/sites/default/files/dwl/pozzoli_bando-2011.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * [[Liszt-Bartok Competition]], [[Budapest]] * [[Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition]], USA
==Honours== In 1977 Rex Hobcroft was awarded the [[Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal]].<ref name=church/> In the Queen's Birthday Honours of June 1990, he was named a Member of the [[Order of Australia]] (AM).<ref>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/870309 It's an Honour: AM]</ref>
In December 2004, the [[University of Tasmania]] awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Letters.<ref name=utas/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/165767/Honorary-Graduates-@-Sept-2011.pdf |title=UTAS, Honorary Doctorates |access-date=24 June 2012 |archive-date=9 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809044455/http://www.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/165767/Honorary-Graduates-@-Sept-2011.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2007 [[Griffith University]] honoured him as a Doctor of the University.<ref name=griff/><ref>[http://www.griffith.edu.au/music/queensland-conservatorium/partnerships-collaboration/honorary-fellows-doctors Doctors of the University] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331094351/http://www.griffith.edu.au/music/queensland-conservatorium/partnerships-collaboration/honorary-fellows-doctors |date=31 March 2012 }}</ref>
==Personal== Rex Hobcroft was married and divorced three times,<ref name=nla/> to Victoria, Loretta (Lory) Lightfoot and Perpetua Durack-Clancy. He was father of four children and grandfather of six.
He wrote an unpublished autobiography, titled ''Australia's Con man''. The manuscript forms part of the [[National Library of Australia]]'s holdings of Rex Hobcroft papers.<ref name=nla>[http://www.nla.gov.au/ms/findaids/8019.html National Library of Australia, Papers of Rex Hobcroft]</ref>
He died in Perth on 23 September 2013, aged 88.<ref name=death>[http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/musical-pioneer-hobcroft-mourned/story-fnj4f7k1-1226727248872 Musical pioneer Hobcroft mourned, The Mercury, 26 September 2013]; Retrieved 26 September 2013</ref>
==References== {{reflist|33em}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hobcroft, Rex}} [[Category:1925 births]] [[Category:2013 deaths]] [[Category:Australian male classical pianists]] [[Category:Australian male composers]] [[Category:Australian composers]] [[Category:Australian music educators]] [[Category:Piano educators]] [[Category:Members of the Order of Australia]] [[Category:Academic staff of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music]] [[Category:University of Melbourne alumni]] [[Category:École Normale de Musique de Paris alumni]] [[Category:20th-century Australian classical pianists]] [[Category:Sydney International Piano Competition]] [[Category:Australian commercial aviators]] [[Category:20th-century Australian conductors (music)]] [[Category:20th-century Australian male musicians]] [[Category:20th-century male pianists]]