Alfred Hill(1870-1960)
- Composer
- Actor
- Music Department
Alfred Hill spent most of his early life in New Zealand. As a child he
learned cornet and violin. With his brother John, he traveled to
Leipzig in Germany, where both brothers studied at the Royal
Conservatorium of Music between 1887 and 1891. Alfred Hill studied
under Gustav Schreck, Hans Sitt and Oscar Paul during this time, and
was the winner of the Helbig Prize. Hill returned to New Zealand, and
worked as a violin teacher, recitalist, chamber musician, and
conductor. From 1902-11 Hill traveled between Australia and New Zealand
regularly, writing and conducting operas. From 1937 he devoted himself
solely to composition. He was made an Officer of the Order of the
British Empire in 1953 and was appointed Companion of the Order of St
Michael and St George (CMG) in 1960. His wife, Mirrie Solomon Hill
(1892-1986) was also a composer who scored Australian
documentaries.