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Central Library - Newcomer Learning Centre, Temporary Closure
From Wednesday, November 13 to Friday, November 15, the Newcomer Learning Centre will be closed due to off-site Staff training. The Centre will reopen on Monday, November 18.
Kenilworth Branch - Roof Repairs
From November 11 to 29, the parking lot may not be available at certain times of the day due to repair maintenance. There may also be some noise disruptions in the branch. Thank you for your understanding.
Mount Hope - Delayed Opening
Due to Staff training, the Mount Hope Branch will have a delayed opening of 2 pm on Wednesday, November 20. Please visit the Turner Park Branch as the next nearest location for your library needs.
Delayed Opening - Ancaster Branch
Due to Staff training, the Ancaster Branch will have a delayed opening of 10 am on Wednesday, November 20. Please visit the Dundas or Terryberry Branch as the next nearest locations for your library needs.
Ending support for OverDrive's desktop apps and website MP3 downloads
On November 13, 2024, the MP3 audiobook format will be retired from HPL's OverDrive website and support for OverDrive's desktop apps for Windows and Mac (which only work with MP3 audiobooks) will not be available.
After this change, you can listen to audiobooks using the following options:
- In Libby (available for Android, iOS, or Amazon Fire devices or at libbyapp.com in a web browser)
- On HPL's OverDrive website using the Listen now in browser option
- In the OverDrive app (only available in select countries)
A Short History of Music and Music Education in Hamilton
Hamilton Conservatory of Music
In 1888 the Hamilton Musical Institute was formed by D.J. O'Brien. Prior to this, musical instruction was carried out in private educational institutions such as the Wesleyan Ladies College or Loretto College. Public schools also offered some musical instruction as part of their curriculum. The institute was renamed the Hamilton College of Music in 1889 and remained in operation until 1899 when the property at Main and Charles streets became the new home of the Hamilton Conservatory of Music. This music school had been founded in 1897 by C.L.M. Harris while acting as organist-choirmaster at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church in Hamilton. In 1904 the Conservatory was incorporated and moved to James St. South. Musical instruction has taken place almost continuously at this address ever since. In 1906, affiliation with the University of Toronto allowed the conservatory to prepare its students for the Bachelor of Music degree granted by that institution with 'disaffiliation' occurring in 1918 when the conservatory set up its own system of examinations.
Over the next six decades the conservatory thrived. Student enrollment expanded into the thousands and several branches of the school were opened throughout the city and within other communities in Southern Ontario. The conservatory received a royal charter in 1965 and was renamed the Royal Hamilton College of Music. Sadly the College closed in 1980 due to financial problems.
In 1997 after 17 long years, the beautiful old structure on James St. South was reopened as the Hamilton Conservatory of the Arts and once again offers music instruction along with art, performance and dance.
Hamilton has a rich history of musical performance from its earliest days with many concerts, festivals and pantomimes featuring local talent as well as guest musicians and singers. In the early 19th century, Hamilton had an abundance of good music and good musicians but as the city was "almost entirely populated by people from the British Isles, where a singing tradition always has been strong" , a lot of the music presented was of a vocal and choral nature.
However, Hamilton possessed a wealth of military bands and talented church organists where the seeds of rich instrumental musical tradition were sown. Often musically inclined individuals and families dominated the music scene as both performers and teachers. Names like Littlehale, Stares, Nelligan, Carey, Robinson, Aldous, Ambrose and Hewlett are frequently mentioned in any discussion of Hamilton's musical past.
G. Roy Fenwick, Some Musical Memories, 1964 Wentworth Bygones, No. 6
Hamilton Musical Organizations
13th (Royal Regiment Bugle Band) Battalion Band (1866)
Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (1903), formed by Harry Stares
Bach Choir (1932), formed by Graham Godfrey
Bach Elgar Choir (1946)
Canadian Orpheus Male Choir (1977), formed by Lyn Harry
Chamber Music Hamilton (2000)
ChamberWORKS (1993)
Czech Quartet
Dofasco Male Chorus (1945)
Elgar Choir (1905) , founded by Bruce Carey
East Hamilton Conservative Club Brass Band
East Hamilton Progressive Association Band
Fred Purser and the Washingtons
Hamilton All-Star Jazz Band (1984)
Hamilton Chamber Music Society (1951-1977)
Hamilton Children's Choir
Hamilton Choral Society (1883) , later known as the Hamilton Philharmonic Society
Hamilton Duet Club (1889 - ) founded by Ellen Ambrose
Hamilton Firefighters Drum Corps (1961)
Hamilton Male Quartet
Hamilton Musical Union
Hamilton Orchestral Society (1884)
Hamilton Orchestral Club (1885), founded by J.E.P. Aldous
Hamilton Opera Company (1898)
Hamilton Operatic Society (1926)
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (1949 - 1996), (2000-)
Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (1965)
Hamilton Symphony Orchestra (1900)
Hamilton College of Music
Hamilton Conservatory of Music (1897-1965)
Handel Society
Harlequin Singers (1967), founded by Marilyn Alex
Harris Orchestral Club (1887), founded by C.M. Harris
Harry Waller and his Orchestra
John Laing Singers (1981)
Ladies String Orchestra (1908-)
McMaster Chamber Orchestra
Mendelssohn Society
Opera Hamilton (1980)
Ron Wicken Band
Royal Hamilton College of Music (1965-1980)
Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Band (1866)
Sacred Harmonic Society
Sons of Temperance (1851)
Stelco Male Chorus (1941), formed by Cyril Hampshire
Symphony Hamilton
Te Deum Orchestra & Singers
Third Canadian Machine Gun Brigade Band
Vox Nouveau Singers (1990)
Waddington Venetian Orchestra
Wally Mack and his Orchestra
Early Music Venues of Hamilton
In the nineteenth century most musical performances took place in the larger churches of the city or in the concert hall located on the top floor of the Mechanics Hall on James St. North. In 1880, the Grand Opera House with a capacity to seat 1100 people was opened also on James St. North and provided the city with a "proper auditorium for theatrical and musical presentations". Other early venues were the auditorium of the YMCA, the Masonic Hall and larger school halls.
In 1973 a new concert hall, Hamilton Place, was officially opened as part of the city of Hamilton's massive urban renewal project. The hall seats 2193 and has been a popular venue in Southern Ontario ever since.
During the era of the big band, Hamilton was a destination for many of the top North American bands as well as local talent, like the Wally Mack Orchestra. Many of these later venues are also found here.
Association Hall (top of YMCA) 1889-1914
The Alexandra - James St. S. (1906 - 1964)
Duke's Lounge - Royal Connaught Hotel
Grand Opera House - James St. N. - opened in 1880
Mechanics Hall - James St.
Brant Inn, Beach Blvd., Burlington
Duke's Lounge - Royal Connaught Hotel
Oakwood Place
Winter Gardens
The Royal
The Downstairs Club- McNab St.
The Flamingo Lounge - McNab St. S.
The Grange Tavern - King St. W.
Golden Rail - King St. E.
The Junction
The Jockey Club - Barton St. E.
St. Nick's - Barton St. E.
The Silhouette Club - corner of Main St E. and Walnut St. S.
The Sportsman Lanes and Lounge
Wondergrove - Parkdale & Main
Hamilton Musicians, Composers, and Personalities with Notable Connections to Hamilton
Teenage Head
Conway Twitty
Richard Newell aka "King Biscuit Boy" (1944-2003)
Robert Ambrose (1824-1908)
George Washington Johnson (1839-1917)
George Roy Fenwick
Gordie Tapp
Jackie Washington (1919-2009)
Related Materials and Works cited in this Article
Bailey, Thomas, Hamilton Chronicle of a City, 1983
Wentworth Bygones, No.6
Hamilton Spectator
Canadian Digital Collections
Canadian Encyclopedia of Music
Carter, Doug, Cool Fool Blues Rockin' In The Hammer, 2010