THOMAS HENRY JONES
(1855–1929)

Thomas Henry ‘T.H.’ Jones (20 September 1855 – 14 July 1929) was an Australian organist and music teacher. He was one of the outstanding figures in the musical life of South Australia for more than half a century.

Teacher, composer, lecturer, organist, and pianist, T.H. Jones wielded much influence in the development of the higher branches of music, and he trained many students who became professional musicians.

Thomas Henry Jones was born at North Williamstown, Victoria, the only son of noted photographer Henry Jones (1826–1911), and his wife Mary Ann (c.1830–1904).

He was educated at St. Paul’s Grammar School, Melbourne and sang with the choir at the English Church at Williamstown. His father was employed by noted photographer Townsend Duryea, and when Duryea transferred his studio to Adelaide around 1865 Henry followed. Thomas attended the German School, Wakefield Street, Adelaide. He studied piano with Jules Meilhan and harmony with S.P. Needham.

With the appointment of Professor Joshua Ives, the University of Adelaide was able to offer studies for the Bachelor of Music. Jones enrolled, and in 1889 gained the first Bachelor of Music degree to be awarded in Australia. His examination piece, a cantata, was assessed by Dr. Frederick Bridge, the Organist of Westminster Abbey, in the first class.

He was appointed organist at age 16 to the Baptist Church, Norwood, followed by appointments at the Tynte Street Church in North Adelaide, where he served for 19 years, Brougham Place Congregational Church from 1882 to 1902 and, in August 1902 he was persuaded by the Rev. Henry Jones to move to the Pirie Street Methodist Church, where he served for 25 years.

A popular organist, he was offered a variety of posts including, in 1899, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney.

He presided at the Adelaide Town Hall organ in 1884, to favorable reviews, and in 1885 performed a series of recitals at the Adelaide Town Hall. In 1887 he played at a number of concerts in connection with the Adelaide Jubilee International Exhibition. He was considered for the position of City Organist in 1891, but W. R. Pybus won the appointment. Jones succeeded him in 1917 and served until 1923, to be succeeded by W.R. Knox.

From 1917 until 1923, when T.H. Jones was Adelaide City Organist, he inaugurated a series of recitals that did much to raise the standard of music among the public.

He had a preference for orchestral music, and he lost no chance of developing it. Visits to Europe and constant reading kept him in touch with progress abroad. He took a practical interest in orchestral movements in Adelaide, and always found time to attend to their needs.

He was conductor of the Adelaide Harmonic Society, which, during the 1890s, produced Offenbach’s Grand Duchess and other works.

In 1898 he started teaching at I. G. Reimann’s College of Music, which became the Elder Conservatorium, and was with that organization until 1927, when he left for Perth, Western Australia. Jones also founded the North Adelaide School of Music.

He accompanied Dame Nellie Melba at her first concert in Melbourne and his own work also obtained international recognition.

Around 1927 Jones left Adelaide for Perth, where he became Organist of St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and married again.

From various sources including Jones, Thomas Henry (1856–1929) in Obituaries Australia - https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/jones-thomas-henry-16794 and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._H._Jones