Sir Hugh S. Roberton

Sir Hugh S. Roberton was born in Glasgow in 1874 and went on to found and conduct the Glasgow Orpheus Choir – possibly the most famous choral group the city has ever produced. He initially went into the family business as an undertaker, but was so inspired by the growth of choral music’s popularity in the United States that he wanted to bring that same vivacity to Glasgow.

He was self-taught as a choir master, but soon gained a reputation for the hold that he could command over a group of singers. The Glasgow Orpheus also became a testing ground for Roberton’s compositions. He wrote and arranged music to compliment the particular talents of the choir, using the music to stretch and hone the technique of the group.

The choir garnered an international reputation through its broadcasts (the British Empire was at its largest and the BBC its principal broadcaster) and toured to Canada and the USA. It also gave a number of Royal Command performances and performed at the funeral of Ramsay MacDonald – the first Labour politician to be elected prime minister.

He was knighted in 1931 for his services to music. Roberton was a pacifist and a member of the Peace Pledge Union. He and the Orpheus were therefore banned from any broadcasting during the Second World War.

Sir Hugh led the Glasgow Orpheus until 1951, when he retired and the choir decided to disband; it would not be the same without their founder-conductor. He died only one year later in 1952.