Guide to the Papers of Ernest Llewellyn, 1911-2004

Summary

Collection number:

MS 9215 et al

Creator:

Ernest Llewellyn

Extent:

14.55 metres and (51 boxes, 4 cartons, 1 small carton, 1 volume)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Ernest Llewellyn, National Library of Australia [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The papers are a record of the career, in part, of one of Australia's finest musicians. They document Ernest Llewellyn's career as a solo violinist, chamber music player, orchestral leader, conductor, teacher and music administrator. There are, unfortunately, no papers from the Melbourne and Sydney periods of his career. However, Llewellyn's Canberra appointments are well documented and the papers would be a good source for the study of the history of music in Canberra. Invitations to be a juror at the prestigious Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow, to advise on teaching methods in China, and to conduct and advise on the establishment of a conservatorium in Ottawa, show his high international standing.

The papers include correspondence, personal documents, appointment books, invitations, cuttings, reports, programs dating back to the 1930s, and music scores with his markings and annotations.

Biographical Note:

Date	Event
1915	Born in Kurri Kurri, NSW
1921-30	Educated at Kurri Kurri State School, Maitland High School, and for six months, at the NSW Conservatorium of Music
1934	First violin lesson with Jascha Gopinko
1934-37	Violist, Sydney String Quartet Deputy leader, viola section, Sydney ABC Orchestra
1936	Established reputation as soloist under Sir Malcolm Sargent
1939	Declined offer of deputy leader of Scottish National Orchestra
1939	Married Ruth Smith, daughter of A. E. Smith, luthier
1940-42	Deputy leader, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Teaching staff, Melbourne University Leader, Melbourne University String Quartet
1942-44	Service in RAAF
1944-48	Leader, Queensland State String Quartet
1948	QSSQ tour of New Zealand
1949	Toured the eastern states with Hephzibah Menuhin presenting complete violin and piano sonatas of Beethoven
1949-64	Concertmaster, Sydney Symphony Orchestra (Assistant Conductor, 1959-64)
1949-55	Leader of ABC String Quartet
1952	Toured New Zealand with Llewellyn Kennedy Trio
1956	William Kapell Memorial Scholarship Fulbright Research Award, affiliated with Juillard School of Music
1958	Music director, Chamber Music Festival at Mittagong
1964	Resigned as Concertmaster and Assistant Conductor, Sydney Symphony Orchestra
1965	Founding Director, Canberra School of Music
1966-80	Musical Director and Conductor, Canberra Symphony Orchestra
1968	MBE for services to music
1970	CBE for services to music
1974	Invitation to attend fifth International Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow as an 'honoured guest'
1976	Canberra School of Music building opened by the Governor General
1978	First Australian to serve on a jury in the Tchaikovsky competition
1979	Visited China to advise on teaching methods
1980	Second visit to China
1980	Retired as Director, Canberra School of Music
1981-82	Established Wollongong Branch Conservatorium of Music Plans in hand for third visit to China, exchange visit to Ottowa as conductor
1982	Died on 12 July in Sydney

Provenance:

The papers were donated to the Library by Mrs Ruth Llewellyn in 1990 and 1994

An addition of papers relating to pianist Hephzibah Menuhin (Series 23) was donated to the Library by Mrs Ruth Llewellyn in 2001.

Indexed terms

Names:

Ernest Llewellyn

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2097173).

Conditions Governing Use:

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Ernest Llewellyn, National Library of Australia [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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