Joseph Mozart Post

Brief description

PER-148

Full description

Joseph Mozart Post was born on 10 April, 1906 in Sydney. He studied at the Conservatorium of Music, Sydney. He returned to his alma mater as professor of piano and oboe form 1925 until 1934. Opera was an abiding interest and he conducted the J.C. Williamson Grand Opera Company, the Fuller Opera Season, the National Opera Company and was the foundation musical director of the Elizabethan Theatre Trust. During 1937-1949 he was a guest conductor in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane and also conducted in England and France. (1) He was conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Director of Music at the Australian Broadcasting Commission from 1963 until 1966. Mr. Post was appointed Director of the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music on 1 June, 1966. During his time in the office he oversaw the completion of the third stage of the Conservatorium building, and other additions and alterations to the premises.. The new wing included accommodation for the Opera School, additional classrooms for the Conservatorium High School, studios and officers for senior administrative staff. A second hall, (posthumously named the Joseph Post Auditorium) alterations to the Main Hall ( Verbrugghen Hall) including the enlargement of the stage and a new organ completed the building. (2) Mr Post took a keen interest in the working conditions for music teachers and lecturers and saw the appointment of permanent salaried staff at the Conservatorium. He worked with the Opera School for which he conducted the main performance each year. (3) He suffered ill health towards the end of his tenure at the Conservatorium and officially retired on 31 December. Mr Post died on 27 December, 1972 (4) The image which accompanies this registration shows Joseph Post conducting during rehearsal possibly at the NSW Conservatorium of Music in 1966 - the year in which he was appointed Director. It is reproduced from an original in the ABC Document Archives. End Notes
(1) Post, Joseph Mozart in The Australian Encyclopaedia. Vol 8 PEA-RUS. 4th edition. The Grolier Society of Australia, 1983 p. 123
(2) Report of the Governors of the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music for 1972 p. 5 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1974-75 Vol. 1 p. 505
(3) Report of the Board of Governors of the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music for 1971 p. 6 in NSW Parliamentary Papers 1972-73, Vol. 1 p. 550
(4) Report pf the Governors of the New South Wales Conservatorium 1972. Op. Cit p. 5

Notes

Associate Director of Music, Australian Broadcasting Commission, 1963-1966
Director, New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music, 1966-1971