W. H. Hewlett

William Henry Hewlett (16 January 1873 – 13 June 1940) was a Canadian organist, conductor, composer, and music educator of English birth.

Early life and education Born in Batheaston, Hewlett was a treble in the choir at Bath Abbey as a boy. In 1884, at the age of 11, he emigrated to Canada where his family ultimately settled in Toronto, Ontario. As a teenager he studied at the Toronto Conservatory of Music (TCM) where he graduated with the gold medal for organ performance in 1893. Among his teachers were Francesco D'Auria (orchestration), Arthur Elwell Fisher (music theory), Albert Ham (music theory), and A. S. Vogt (piano and organ). He later went to Europe to pursue advanced studies with pianist Ernst Jedliczka and composer Hans Pfitzner in Berlin, and in London with pianist Vladimir Cernikoff. In 1907 he, along with J. E. P. Aldous and Bruce Carey, became co-director of the Royal Hamilton College of Music. He became sole director in 1918, a position he held until 1939. often leading the ensemble in performances with the Cleveland Orchestra. In 1927 he conducted a concert celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation with a 1000-voice choir. In 1928 to 1929 he was president of the Royal Canadian College of Organists. He was also active as an adjudicator and examiner throughout Canada during his career. He died in Bronte, Ontario in 1940.