John Ritchie was born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1921. Professor Ritchie graduated in music at the Otago University and trained as a teacher at Dunedin Teacher’s College. Ritchie served in the navy in World War II and subsequently undertook post-graduate study with Walter Piston at Harvard University during 1956-57.
In 1946 he was appointed to Canterbury University, becoming Professor and Head of Music in 1962. Ritchie served as acting and Deputy Vice-Chancellor from 1973-83. During 1967-68 he held a Visiting Professorship at Exeter University and served on the board of Trinity College of Music, London.
Professor Ritchie has conducted many choirs and, in 1959, formed the John Ritchie String Orchestra and later the Christchurch Civic Orchestra. He has guest-conducted the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the New Zealand Ballet. In 1974 he was Music Director of the 10th Commonwealth Games and, in 1986, directed the music for the Papal Visit of John Paul II. Ritchie was Secretary General of the International Society for Music Education from 1976-84 and its President 1990-92. He was elected an Individual Member of the International Music Council in 1979.
As a composer Professor Ritchie is known for choral music, music for brass, concerto-type works, carols and church music. His work includes “Concertino for Clarinet and Strings”, “Concerto for Saxophone and Small Orchestra”, “Threnody” (brass band), “The Snow Goose” (flute and orchestra), and “Papanui Road Overture” (full orchestra). A recording of some of his choral works, Winter and Rough Weather, has been made by the Jubilate Singers.
John Ritchie is currently Professor Emeritus at Canterbury University. He was awarded the CANZ Citation for service to New Zealand music in 1992. He has a family of three daughters and two sons. His wife, Anita, a nationally recognised soprano, died in 2001.
EXECUTIVE Jubilate Singers is an incorporated society, administered by an Executive. The choir seeks to:
perform choral music to its highest achievable standard;
challenge members to continually improve their musical standards;
provide audiences in Christchurch and further afield with proven and new choral repertoire.
John Ritchie was born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1921. Professor Ritchie graduated in music at the Otago University and trained as a teacher at Dunedin Teacher’s College. Ritchie served in the navy in World War II and subsequently undertook post-graduate study with Walter Piston at Harvard University during 1956-57.