Frederic Beard

Frederic William Beard (c. 1865 – 5 May 1912)[1] was an English organist and choirmaster, remembered in Australia for his influence on choral and symphonic musicianship.

After an invitation was extended by organiser W. D. Hill, Beard adjudicated at the 1906 South Street Competitions, the annual eisteddfod in Ballarat,[1] at which St. Augustine's Orphan Boys Band of Geelong won the band contest, to universal acclaim, and their leader, Percy Jones, as a cornetist was considered the equal of John Paley, champion cornet player of England.

A performance by the choir of Beethoven's Choral Symphony on 26 November 1910 with the Victorian Professional Orchestra, led by George Watson, was praised.

Concerns were raised when he failed to reply to telegrams left for him at Fremantle and further enquiries revealed that he had died of appendicitis en route at Colombo.

Frank Brennan MHR deputized for the Archbishop at the dedication, praising the work of stonemason M. P. Jageurs, mentioning that he had informed Sir Edward Elgar of the great loss to Melbourne's music circles.