GOLDSCHMIDT, NICHOLAS, 1908-
MUS 223

Nicholas Goldschmidt fonds.  - 1932-1993.  - 1.02 m of textual records.  - 523 photographs.  - 8 slides.  - 1 negative.  - 9 audio tape cassettes.  - 3 audio tape reels. 

Biographical sketch
Conductor, administrator, teacher, baritone and pianist of Czechoslovakian origin, Nicholas Goldschmidt became a naturalized Canadian in 1951.  In Vienna, he studied composition with Josef Marx, piano with Paul Weingarten and singing with Corneille de Kuyper.  In 1937, after having conducted orchestras in Europe, he emigrated to the United States, where his positions included director of the opera department at Columbia University.  On the invitation of Arnold Walter, Goldschmidt moved to Canada in 1946 and was appointed the first principal of the Royal Conservatory Opera School.  In the course of his career, he has also worked as an organizer and music director of musical events, including the Vancouver International Festival, Festival Canada, the Edward Johnson Music Foundation, Guelph Spring Festival, and the Algoma Fall Festival in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.  In 1966 he founded the Centennial Choir, serving as its conductor until 1972.  He received the Canadian Music Council Medal in 1976 and the Order of Canada in 1978. 

Scope and content
The fonds contains records pertaining to the professional activities of Nicholas Goldschmidt:  biographical documents; correspondence; diplomas; lectures; records pertaining to the following musical events:  Festival Canada, Toronto and Vancouver International Festivals, Guelph Spring Festival, Festival of the Pacific, Healey Willan Centennial Celebration, and the 1985 International Bach Piano Competition; brochures; concert programmes and publicity; press clippings; financial records; invitation cards; photographs of Nicholas Goldschmidt, artists and musical events; sound recordings of musical events such as the Algoma Fall Festival. 

Immediate source of acquisition:  acquired from Nicholas Goldschmidt in 1993. 

Restrictions:  none. 

Finding aids:  provisional description. .