Kevin Raymond Siddell OAM (14 March 1924 – 2004) was a New Zealand-born[1][2] Australian pianist, composer, and public service official, active mostly in the states of Queensland and Victoria, Australia.
For his services to music, in 1982, Siddell was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division (OAM) in the 1982 Australia Day Honours.[3][4]
Kevin Siddell was a Life Member of the Accompanists Guild of Queensland, Inc.[5]
Early years edit
Public service roles edit
In 1970, Siddell became Queensland’s first Supervisor of Music with the Queensland Department of Education (now known as the Department of Education and Training (Queensland).[6][7]
This role required overseeing the State’s school music programs, and travel to regional and rural centres in order to carry this out. Meanwhile, Siddell continued to compose. During this period, music teachers in Queensland state schools employed the autoharp in the classroom, and Siddell composed music for this instrument.[8] Siddell also wrote the introduction to Betty Beath’s children’s opera, The raja who married an angel[9]
Siddell was co-director with John Curro of the National Music Camp held in Brisbane in 1982.[10]
During the 1980s, Siddell became Director of Cultural Activities, and in that role, among other achievements, Siddell provided government funds for the expansion of the Noosa Arts Theatre facilities, and attended the opening in 1982.[11]
Siddell meanwhile continued to be involved in music concerts, including a performance as co-reader of the Passion performance for the Bach Society of Queensland on 23 and 26 March 1986.[12]
Siddell’s commitment to the promotion of the arts in Queensland was recognised in state parliament during the discussion of the Queensland Theatre Company Act and Another Act Amendment Bill, 26 November 1985. Mr Palaszczuk (Archerfield) commented, “One had only to read the monthly cultural affairs diary to realise how widely Mr Siddell travelled to promote the arts in Queensland … whenever the arts are discussed, the name of Kevin Siddell is spoken with great admiration and respect.”[13]
Music and faith edit
Siddell’s compositions include liturgical music and settings of sacred text.
His St Cecilia’s Jubilee Mass dates from 1957 and includes the usual components of the Mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei).[14]
In 1994, Siddell published Till the moon fails: thirty two psalm settings, two canticles, an Easter blessing with Alleluia and a hymn, held in the National Library of Australia.[15]
Siddell composed music for Catholic liturgical services (Mass (liturgy) which are still in use for Catholic Mass at the parish of St Ignatius, Toowong, in Brisbane.[16]
He wrote several articles for Brisbane's Liturgy News [1] ,[17] and following his death, an "In Memoriam" to Kevin Siddell was published in the same title in 2004.[18]
References edit
- ^ Pleskun, Stephen, ed. (2012). A Chronological History Of Australian Composers And Their Compositions (Volume 1: 1901-1954). [The Oaks, NSW]: Xlibris. ISBN 978-1-4653-8226-9. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ a b "Kevin Raymond Siddell". Geni. 14 March 1924. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "The awards and recipients". The Canberra Times (newspaper). 26 January 1982. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ Smith, David I. (Official Secretary to the Governor General) (26 January 1982). "Australia Day 1982 Honours" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. S 13 Tuesday 26 January 1982: 6. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
{{cite journal}}:|volume=has extra text (help) - ^ "Deceased Life Members". Accompanists' Guild of Queensland. Accompanists Guild of Queensland, Incorporated. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ Richards, Michael John (2005). Arts Facilitation and Creative Community Culture: A Study of Queensland Arts Council (PhD thesis) (PDF). Brisbane, Australia: Queensland University of Technology. p. 104. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- ^ Stevens, Robin S. (compiler). "History of Music Education in Australia". History of Music Education in Australia. Robin S. Stevens. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ Siddell, Kevin (1973). The autoharp. Sydney, Australia: J. Albert & Son. ISBN 978-0909700331. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ Beath, Betty (with illustrations by David Cox) (1979). The raja who married an angel. Brisbane, Australia: Playlab Press. ISBN 978-0908156061. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- ^ "[Australian] National Music Camp Participants [1980s]" (PDF). Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- ^ Oswell, Gwen, and Bronnie Norman, and Margaret Courtney. "History of the Noosa Arts Theatre". Noosa Arts Theatre. Noosa [Queensland] Arts Theatre. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Listing of concerts" (PDF). The Bach Society of Queensland. The Bach Society of Queensland, Incorporated. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "Legislative Assembly Tuesday 26 November 1985" (PDF). Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]. Tuesday 26 November 1985: 130–31. 26 November 1985. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- ^ Siddell, Kevin (1957). St. Cecilia's Jubilee Mass. Glen Iris, Victoria [Australia]. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Siddell, Kevin (1994). Till the moon fails. Brisbane, Australia: Morton Music. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
- ^ "Parish of St Ignatius" (PDF). St Ignatius Toowong. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "Liturgy News author search". Liturgy News. Liturgy Brisbane. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "In Memoriam (Kevin Siddell)". Liturgy News. Liturgy Brisbane. Retrieved 15 November 2018.