Arthur Loam (1896-1976) - Victoria

Arthur Loam was a highly respected piano teacher and composer of choral music

and piano music, the latter being mainly for pedagogical purposes as list pieces

of public music examinations conducted by the Australian Music Examinations

Board.  Much of this music was published by Allans Music Australia Ltd. Aside

from publishing under his own name, he used the following pseudonyms: Felix

Darrell, Henri Delsaux, Julia Clayton, Philip Dale and Vernon Stratton.

Born at Weymouth, Dorset in the United Kingdom, Loam emigrated to Australia in

1914.  After military service as a Bandsman in the 38th Battalion of the Australia

Imperial Forces in Northern France.  On returning to Australia, Loam spent most

of his professional life in rural New South Wales and Victoria, living at

Narrandera, Wagga Wagga and Bendigo.

His biography, a catalogue of his compositions and a scholarly assessment of his

contribution to Australian music and music education was completed by Sue

Ciantar as a Professional Research Project for the degree of Master of Music

Studies at The University of Melbourne in 2011. Her research report, entitled

“Arthur Stedman Loam (1892-1976), Australian Composer: His contribution to

musical culture and music teaching”.