Robert Dalley-Scarlett

Dr. Robert Dalley-Scarlett (16 April 1887 – 31 July 1959) was an Australian organist, choirmaster, composer and musicologist.

History Dalley-Scarlett was born Robert Scarlett in Darlinghurst, New South Wales, a son of Robert Campbell Scarlett and his wife Emily Florence Scarlett, née Hancock. The name "Dalley" was added in tribute to his godfather, William Bede Dalley and hyphenated later. and organ under Arthur Mason, organist of St James' Church, Sydney 1898–1907, City Organist 1901–1907, and music correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald.

After several years taking occasional positions as church organist, he was in 1912 appointed organist and choral conductor to Christ Church Anglican Cathedral, Grafton.

He married Gertrude Alice Peir (1886–1970) in Sydney in 1909; they had two sons.

He enlisted with the 1st AIF on 5 May 1916, was gassed in France, transferred to the Pay Corps, London, in February 1917, and returned to Australia where he was honorably discharged in December 1917. While in London, he studied church music under Sir Frederick Bridge and Sir Richard Terry. and Mus. Doc. in 1934, the first Queensland musician to be so qualified.

Dalley-Scarlett served with St. Andrew's Church from 1919 to 1932. He also conducted: South Brisbane City Choir 1920–1925. The University of Queensland Musical Society 1920–1930 and 1938–1941. The University choir gave a Bach festival in 1930. The Valley Methodist Church choir 1932–1934

He founded and conducted the Brisbane Handel Society 1932–1959. They performed at Handel festivals in 1933 and 1934, and broadcast all his oratorios between 1934 and 1942. They gave annual unabridged, historically accurate, performances of Messiah in the 1950s.

He gained further qualifications and distinctions: Licentiate of the Associated Boards, 1922 Licentiate of Music (Australia), 1924 Fellow of Trinity College, London, 1924 He was a founding member of the Music Teachers' Association of Queensland, and its president in 1935. He was an active member of Queensland University's Music Advisory Board 1924–1937. He was a founder of the Queensland Guild of Composers, and their president 1940–1953. He privately taught piano, organ, singing, harmony and composition until 1941; his pupils included Hugh Brandon and Herbert Cannon. Dalley-Scarlett made a programme of recordings to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, collaborating with his Adelaide counterpart Norman Chinner.

He died at his home of a heart attack and was cremated.

Recognition A triennial scholarship dedicated to his memory was inaugurated by the University of Queensland.

Family Dalley-Scarlett married Gertrude Alice Peir (1886–1970) in Sydney on 8 September 1909. They had two sons: Grahame Yorke Dalley-Scarlett (born 8 July 1910) married Joyce Melville in 1939 Hubert St. Pierre Bach Scarlett (born 29 March 1914) was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms of the Legislative Council in 1954. They separated when he moved to Brisbane; the marriage was annulled in 1930. He married again on 11 March 1930, to singer and music copyist Joyce Buckham. He had no further children.