JONES, ROBERT (WILFRID) (1862 - 1929), musician

Born 5 July 1862 at Tyddyn-bach, Arthog, Meironnydd, the son of Meredith and Jane Jones. He joined a band when he was quite young and became a competent player of the cornet. He was sent to Chester to receive music lessons from John Owen (Owain Alaw), and stayed there until his teacher died in 1883. After a course of lessons given him by J. H. Roberts he went to the Royal Academy of Music, London. It was, apparently, at this period that he became ' Wilfrid Jones.' On completion of his course at the Academy he settled in London as a professional singer (baritone); he also became a teacher of voice production at the Richmond School of Arts. In 1893 he settled in Wrexham as a teacher of music, specializing in voice training. He also taught music in secondary schools at Wrexham, Ruabon, Overton, and Llangollen, and he was the conductor of the Wrexham Philharmonic Choir. The Rhos male choir, of which he was conductor, took the prize at the Blaenau Ffestiniog national eisteddfod, 1898 and he, as the best conductor, was awarded the gold medal. He was precentor at Capel Mawr, Rhosllanerchrugog, for some years; he was also very much in demand as conductor of singing festivals and as adjudicator in eisteddfodau. He was one of the editors of Llyfr Tonau ac Emynau y Methodistiaid Wesleyaidd, 1904, and of Llyfr Tonau ac Emynau y Methodistiaid Wesleyaidd a Chalfinaidd, 1929. He died 3 February 1929 and was buried in the Wrexham cemetery.

Author

• Robert David Griffith, (1877 - 1958)

Sources

• Y Cerddor, December 1898

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20734344

Published date: 1959

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