© Robin S Stevens 2017
John Percival Ingram (1915-1997) - Musician, Composer,
Music Educator and Music Publisher
Obituary for John Percival Ingram
by May Clifford, President, Victorian Music Teachers Association, with additional material by Robin Stevens
John Ingram died on Sunday, 26 October 1997. He was one of VMTA’s Honorary Life Members, having been President of the Victorian
Music Teachers’ Association from 1958 to 1960.
A graduate of the University Conservatorium of Music, as the Faculty of Music at the University of Melbourne was then known, John
served in the army during World War II along with other well known Melbourne musicians. After the war, he joined the teaching staff at
the University Conservatorium where he became well known as a teacher of theory and harmony. He was also kept busy as a church
organist and choirmaster. He was involved in the music at St John’s Anglican Church in Heidelberg for many years and then at the
Anglican Church in Point Lonsdale.
John was an examiner of piano and theory for the Australian Music Examinations Board for many years and helped many teachers and
students by correspondence.
Amongst his compositions there is a great deal of church music, choral settings for various combinations and other works published
under his own name and pseudonyms including Julia Coquhoun, Robert Coquhoun and Alfred Mott. His book of nearly 600 descants
based on hymns in The Australian Hymn Book which he entitled Angeli in Angelellis - Hymns Enhanced, was first published in 1987.
In the early sixties John Ingram established the Victorian Council for Music Education. He was always an idealist and interested in
helping private music teachers. His publications of analysis of examination material and recordings of teaching pieces etc. are familiar to
many teachers in VMTA. He even set himself the task of building a small seminar centre along the Great Ocean Road where teachers
might hold small seminars and recitals — an opportunity to develop the ideals and strategies of music teaching in a friendly and relaxed
atmosphere. Unfortunately, the house was destroyed by fire in the drastic bushfires which swept through the area surrounding the Great
Ocean Road.
During his latter years, he organised Sunday afternoon recitals held at the Ingram home in Point Lonsdale, with proceeds going to
charitable causes.
by May Clifford, President, Victorian Music Teachers Association, with additional material by Robin Stevens
John Ingram died on Sunday, 26 October 1997. He was one of VMTA’s Honorary Life Members, having been President of the Victorian
Music Teachers’ Association from 1958 to 1960.
A graduate of the University Conservatorium of Music, as the Faculty of Music at the University of Melbourne was then known, John
served in the army during World War II along with other well known Melbourne musicians. After the war, he joined the teaching staff at
the University Conservatorium where he became well known as a teacher of theory and harmony. He was also kept busy as a church
organist and choirmaster. He was involved in the music at St John’s Anglican Church in Heidelberg for many years and then at the
Anglican Church in Point Lonsdale.
John was an examiner of piano and theory for the Australian Music Examinations Board for many years and helped many teachers and
students by correspondence.
Amongst his compositions there is a great deal of church music, choral settings for various combinations and other works published
under his own name and pseudonyms including Julia Coquhoun, Robert Coquhoun and Alfred Mott. His book of nearly 600 descants
based on hymns in The Australian Hymn Book which he entitled Angeli in Angelellis - Hymns Enhanced, was first published in 1987.
In the early sixties John Ingram established the Victorian Council for Music Education. He was always an idealist and interested in
helping private music teachers. His publications of analysis of examination material and recordings of teaching pieces etc. are familiar to
many teachers in VMTA. He even set himself the task of building a small seminar centre along the Great Ocean Road where teachers
might hold small seminars and recitals — an opportunity to develop the ideals and strategies of music teaching in a friendly and relaxed
atmosphere. Unfortunately, the house was destroyed by fire in the drastic bushfires which swept through the area surrounding the Great
Ocean Road.
During his latter years, he organised Sunday afternoon recitals held at the Ingram home in Point Lonsdale, with proceeds going to
charitable causes.
John Ingram’s career in music included being Director of Music, Methodist
Ladies College, Lecturer in Harmony and Counterpoint, University
Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne, Examiner in Piano
and Theory of Music, Australian Music Examinations Board, and Director,
Australian Council for Musical Education Pty Ltd. He graduated as a
Bachelor of Music from the University Conservatorium of Music, The
University of Melbourne, and was a Fellow of Trinity College of Music,
London.
John Ingram was a prolific composer in many musical generas including
church music - most notably his descant arrangements of all the hymns in
The Australian Hymn Book, secular choral music, chamber music and
compositions for young people. In addition, John undertook a detailed
analysis analyses of works included in the examination syllabuses of the
Australian Music Examinations Board as well as his own compositions.
John Ingram’s contribution to musical performance was principally as a
pianist, choir director and church organist.
Ladies College, Lecturer in Harmony and Counterpoint, University
Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne, Examiner in Piano
and Theory of Music, Australian Music Examinations Board, and Director,
Australian Council for Musical Education Pty Ltd. He graduated as a
Bachelor of Music from the University Conservatorium of Music, The
University of Melbourne, and was a Fellow of Trinity College of Music,
London.
John Ingram was a prolific composer in many musical generas including
church music - most notably his descant arrangements of all the hymns in
The Australian Hymn Book, secular choral music, chamber music and
compositions for young people. In addition, John undertook a detailed
analysis analyses of works included in the examination syllabuses of the
Australian Music Examinations Board as well as his own compositions.
John Ingram’s contribution to musical performance was principally as a
pianist, choir director and church organist.
Portrait of John Ingram by C. Nicholls, 1994
