Alexander Clark (1843-1913) - South Australia

Alexander Clark, a trained tonic sol-fa-ist, became an Inspector of South

Australian schools in 1884.  Under his guidance music secured a place in state

supported schooling.  Clark was an enthusiastic, committed educator who led

by example and encouragement.  He was warmly regarded and respected by

his peers, teachers and school pupils.  He championed the cause of music,

pushed for teacher training in the subject, and was its strongest advocate in the

public domain.  Despite retrenchment from the inspectorate he continued his

fight for music and was still teaching and conducting at the time of his death in

1913.  In 1890 he co-founded the Public School Decoration Society and

inaugurated the annual Thousand Voices Choir concerts, which he skilfully

conducted until his death.

Biographical summary by Jane Southcott.

 

References:

Southcott, J. E., Music in State-Supported Schooling in South Australia to 1920

(PhD thesis, Deakin University, 1997).

Southcott, J. E., 'The Establishment of the Music curriculum in South Australia:

The Role of Alexander Clark', Research Studies in Music Education, no.5,

(December 1995), pp.1-10.