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Harry Everitt Loseby.

Born Kettering, Northants., 1859.

Died Dundee, 30 January 1929.

English violinist, conductor and composer.

H E Loseby was one of the most important figures in musical life in the Dundee area over a forty year period, firstly as conductor and leader of Her Majesty's Theatre orchestra, and secondly as a notable teacher.

He studied in London at the Royal Academy of Music, and spent several years as an orchestral player and conductor. During two years as bandmaster on HMS Swiftsure he conducted on many ceremonial occasions. During a goodwill visit to Honolulu he seems to have conducted a performance of Patience before the Hawaiian royal family and a host of civil and naval dignitaries. On his return to Britain in 1890 he spent a season in London, playing in the pit of the Royal Italian Opera.

In 1892 he took up the post of Musical Director of the pit band at Her Majesty's Theatre in Dundee. This made him responsible for conducting from the leader's desk for performances unless the visiting company brought its own conductor, in which case he would simply lead. He was also responsible for advance training of the players to increase their familiarity with future repertoire, a particularly demanding responsibility if an opera company was due to come with a wide selection of works, including some completely unfamiliar operas. At least on those occasions companies such as Carl Rosa used to bring the nucleus of a band with them - section principals at any rate - so the process of rehearsal would be eased.

Another of his responsibilities was to choose, rehearse and conduct appropriate music for the plays, frequently selecting suitable overtures and incidental music. Proceedings usually ended with some sort of March tune to encourage the departure of the audience. Much of this music was perhaps already popular, or at least topical. Some of it may have been familiar then, but is now forgotten. If necessary, or if the opportunity arose, he frequently composed such pieces himself.

He quickly built up an excellent reputation as a teacher, and an orchestra of his pupils used to give an annual concert in the theatre. It is likely that the widely recognised quality of the band may have been due to his having taught many of the players over the years. From the autumn of 1919 when the commercially successful theatre was bought by a cinema  company, he continued to teach violin at Madras College (St Andrews) and at Harris and Morgan Academies in Dundee, in addition to his private pupils. His two daughters also became teachers, one of violin, one of cello, both of piano.