Henri Verbrugghen (1873-1934), violinist and conductor.
A native of Brussels, Verbrugghen had a talent for playing the violin which was obvious while he was still a boy. After winning several prizes as a soloist, he turned to orchestral music, playing in 1899 in Berlin with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Henry Wood.
In 1904 Verbrugghen was appointed leader and assistant conductor of the Scottish Orchestra, based in Glasgow. Concerts at St Andrew's Hall regularly sold out. Verbrugghen also appeared with the Queen's Hall Orchestra at the Promenade concerts in London, and founded the Verbrugghen Quartet, an extremely successful string quartet.
Verbrugghen was also chief of staff at the School of Music at Glasgow Athenaeum, where he held classes in orchestral playing, chamber music and opera. He conducted the Glasgow Choral Union from 1911 to 1915, after which he emigrated to Australia, before settling in the United States in 1923.
Reference: Mitchell Library, Gf 920.04 WHO
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
Belgians, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, chamber music, choirs, conductors, Glasgow Athenaeum, Glasgow Choral Union, immigrants, moustaches, musicians, opera, orchestras, Queen's Hall Orchestra, School of Music, Scottish Orchestra, St Andrew's Hall, string quartets, Verbrugghen Quartet, violinists