Biography of Alfred Hollins

Hollins, Alfred. Hon.Mus.D. (Edinburgh, 1922); Hon.F.R.C.O. Blind organist. Had absolute pitch at the age of two. Studied at the Wilberforce Institution, York, 1874-77 under William Barnby; Royal Normal College for the Blind, Upper Norwood, 1878, under F.J. Campbell, Fritz Hartvigson (piano), and Dr Edward John Hopkins (organ); in Berlin under Hans von Bülow who described him as one “of those rare and true musicians among pianoforte virtuosi”, 1885. Played the Beethoven Pianoforte Concerto in E-flat under Manns at the Crystal Palace. Played before Queen Victoria at Windsor in 1882. Organist of St. John’s, Redhill, Oct. 1884-88; St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Upper Norwood, 1888-97; St. George’s United Free Church, Edinburgh, 1897. Went to the United States with Campbell in 1886. Appointed professor of piano and organ at Norwood, 1888. Was responsible for the specifications of the organ in Johannesburg Town Hall, built by Norman & Beard (giving opening recital, 1916), and Caird Hall, Dundee, built by Harrison & Harrison; also organs in Belfast and Edinburgh. Played a series of recitals at Sydney Town Hall in 1904; made a tour of New Zealand, 1904; South Africa, 1907, 1909; U.S.A., 1885, 1888, 1926. Composed organ music, songs, anthems, piano music, &c. Author of “A Description of Johannesburg Town Hall Organ”, 1916; “A blind musician looks back an autobiography”, 1936. b. Hull, England, Sep. 11^th, 1865; d. Edinburgh, Scotland, May 17^th, 1942.

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