John Nicholls (5)

Australian organist, teacher, examiner and conductor. (Born 16th of October - Died 18th April 2009) John Nicholls was born 1916 in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. His family moved to Melbourne in 1926. As a teenager, Nicholls studied the piano with the Melbourne pedagogue Roy Shepherd. In January 1934 Nicholls was appointed Deputy Organist and Choirmaster to Dr Floyd at St Paul's Cathedral. He was also Organist of St. Mary's Anglican Church, North Melbourne. In December 1935, at the age of 19, Nicholls won the Clarke Scholarship from the University of Melbourne, to study for three years at the Royal College of Music in London. During his time in England, Nicholls gained the Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists, and became an Associate of the Royal College of Music. In October 1939 John Nicholls was appointed to the position of Organist of St. David's Cathedral, Hobart, Tasmania. He was also City Organist of Hobart.