Wallace Michael Ross

Wallace Michael Ross (19 September 1920 – 20 January 2010) was the founder of the Derby Bach Choir. He was also the Master of Music at Derby Cathedral, assistant organist at several great English Cathedrals and a teacher of languages and music at several schools, including Sturgess School in Derby. He also founded the Derby Cathedral Brass Ensemble and the Derby Sinfonia.

For the rower, see Wallace Ross.

Ross conducting

Life and achievements

Wallace Ross was born in Yeovil. His father was a businessman with a pharmaceutical firm in Cambridge.

He attended King’s College Choir School, not as a chorister but as an ordinary pupil.[1] After this, Wallace attended Rugby School and he followed Edward Heath at Balliol College, Oxford as Organ Scholar. World War II interrupted his studies and Wallace served as a gunner in Dover and Northern Ireland becoming a sergeant and an instructor in aircraft recognition. It is believed that at this time he met his "sweetheart", never to find a life together with her. After the war he continued at Balliol but did not achieve the doctorate he sought.

After Balliol, Wallace articled at Chichester Cathedral to Horace Hawkins, also known as Daddy Hawkins, where Wallace’s eccentricities were hinted at by Hawkins’ nickname for Wallace, Buffalo Bill. Apparently Wallace was not daunted when he had been locked out of the organ loft. He climbed up in an unregulated way to the loft “up and over”. Posts of assistant organist were to follow, at Beverley Minster, Leicester Cathedral and Gloucester Cathedral. During these appointments Wallace was pursuing his career as teacher of music, classics, PT and rugby at various schools.

At Leicester, he was music master at Alderman Newton's School. His talent for performing and teaching music was established. Joining the Railway Working man’s club, Wallace extended his expertise playing with the band on the bass tuba. His hobbies of a glass of ale, and railway mania were fulfilled.

In 1958, Wallace was appointed as organist at Derby Cathedral. Working as a teacher of languages, history and music at Sturgess School he rapidly became well loved in the city. He coached and refereed Rugby Football over the years in Derby.

Wallace’s work as organist and master of music at the Cathedral took off at the enthronement of Bishop Allen in 1959. He wanted a fanfare to greet the Bishop; but he knew of no local musicians that might undertake the task. He got on to his network to get up a team of brass players from ex pupils and acquaintances. Bishop Allen was greeted by what became the Derby Cathedral Brass Ensemble.

In 1969, Wallace founded the Derby Bach choir. This body made joyous sounds and improved the singing skills of many in Derby. Soloists were national singers from London. The choir’s repertoire included challenging works of many modern composers.

Ross driving a traction engine

Wallace frequently displayed eccentricities some of which derived from his love of railway steam engines. Many pupils and colleagues witnessed him walking along and pretending to be an engine (and its driver). Finding it hard to adapt to a changing world, he liked to do things in his own way. This caused problems and some were not very tolerant. Wallace found himself out of a job or two during his career. The last occasion of this was at the Cathedral when a new Provost felt that a new broom was required. The Parish of Kegworth gained from this as Wallace became organist there. Wallace later spoke warmly of his time there and of the Rector.

Although he had not married and had no family Wallace formed, in later life, a strong and lasting family bond with the Cartwright family.[2]

Appointments
  • King’s Coll. S., Cambridge; Rugby S. (Sch.) 1933–1938; R. Coll. Music
  • 1938–1939: Balliol
  • 1939: Organist at Balliol College, Oxford
  • 1939–1940 and 1945–1947: Sch; Kitchener Sch; Organ Sch; Jasper Ridley Prize; Masefield Studentship; MA 1946; BMus. 1949
  • Army 1940, gunner RA Light AA; 199th Bty. in Kent and Essex
    • 1941–1942: N. Ireland
    • 1942–1943: Sergt.
    • 1943: Instr., 7th AA Gp School in aircraft recognition, mines, and demolition
  • 1944–1946: Articled Pupil, Chichester Cathedral
  • 1947–1948: Director of Music, Pocklington School, Yorkshire
  • 1948: Assistant Organist, Beverley Minster
  • 1948: Limpus and Dr Read Prizes, FRCO 1950, CHM
  • 1951–1954: Music Master, Alderman Newton’s Boys’ School, Leicester and 2nd Asst. (organist) Leicester Cathedral
  • 1951: Dep. Bandmaster, Leicester Railwaymen’s Silver Band
  • 1952: Guest Conductor, `British United’ Male Voice Choir
  • 1953: Second Assistant Organist, Gloucester Cathedral and Director of Music, King’s School, Gloucester
  • 1954–1958: Assistant Organist at Gloucester Cathedral
  • 1954: Dep. Conductor, Gloucester Festival Chorus and Glos. Orchestral Soc.
  • 1958–1982: Organist and Master of the Music, Derby Cathedral[3]
  • 1958–1980: Music Master, Sturgess School (later Woodlands Community School), Derby
  • Founder/Conductor, Derby Cath. Brass Ensemble 1959 (Derby St John’s Brass Ensemble from 1982), Derby Bach Choir 1959–1990, Derby Cath. Orchestra 1966 (Derby Sinfonia 1982–1991)
  • 1983: Organist, St Andrew’s Church, Kegworth
  • 1980: Engineman, Cadeby Steam Centre

References
  1. Henderson, RJ (1981). A History of King's College Choir School Cambridge. ISBN 978-0950752808.
  2. Parts of the above were adapted from the address given by Fr Michael Brinkworth, Canon Emeritus of Derby, at St John's Church, Derby on the occasion of Wallace Ross' funeral Feb 2010, gleaned from documents in the possession of the Garners.
  3. The Succession of Organists. Watkins Shaw.
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