Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1834

Death

:

1916

 

Peter Dodds McCormick was a renowned Australian composer, best known for his composition of the national anthem of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair." Born on July 15, 1834, in Port Glasgow, Scotland, McCormick was the son of a shipbuilder. His family migrated to Australia when he was just six years old, settling in Sydney. McCormick's love for music began at a young age, and he started playing the organ at his local church when he was just 16 years old. He later became the organist and choirmaster at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney, a position he held for over 30 years. During his tenure, he composed numerous hymns and anthems, including "The Australian Hymn," which was later renamed "Advance Australia Fair." In 1878, McCormick entered a competition held by the City of Sydney to compose a national anthem for Australia. His entry, "Advance Australia Fair," was selected as the winner, and it was first performed in public on November 30, 1878, at the St. Andrew's Day concert. The anthem quickly gained popularity and was played at many public events, including the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. Apart from his work as a composer, McCormick was also a respected music educator. He taught music at various schools in Sydney, including the Sydney Grammar School and the Fort Street Model School. He was also a founding member of the New South Wales Institute of Music, which later became the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. McCormick's other notable works include "The Song of Australia," which was written in 1859 and became a popular patriotic song in Australia. He also composed numerous hymns, including "O Valiant Hearts," which is still sung in churches today. Despite his contributions to Australian music, McCormick struggled financially throughout his life. He was often forced to take on multiple jobs to support his family, and he died in relative obscurity on October 30, 1916, at the age of 82. In recognition of his contributions to Australian music, McCormick was posthumously inducted into the Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001. His legacy lives on through his compositions, which continue to be played and sung in Australia to this day.

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