Bennett, George John

1863-

Contemporary English organist and composer, since 1895 organist and choirmaster at Lincoln Cathedral. He was born at Andover, Hampshire, England. From 1872 to 1878 was chorister in Winchester College Choir, won a scholarship at the Royal College of Music, London, studied there under Sir George Macfarren and Dr. Steggall, and then went to Germany to continue his work. At the Berlin Hochschule of Music he studied piano under Kiel and Barth and in Munich was a pupil of Rheinberger in organ and composition and of Bussmeyer in piano. On his return to London he was elected Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and later was appointed professor of harmony and composition at the Academy. For a while he held the post of organist of St. John's Church, Wilton Road, London, and served as organist in various places prior to his appointment to the post at Lincoln Cathedral. For several years he has been conductor of the Lincoln Musical Festival and he has conducted the Lincoln Musical Society and the Lincoln Orchestral Society. In 1888 he received the degree of Bachelor of Music from the University of Cambridge and in 1893 the degree of Doctor of Music. He is Examiner of the Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music and has acted as Examiner for musical degrees at the universities of Cambridge, Durham and London. Dr. Bennett is the author of church music, songs, part-songs, pieces for the piano, organ transcriptions, and orchestral compositions.