William Hawes (composer)

He was the Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal and musical director of the Lyceum Theatre bringing several notable works to the public's attention.

Hawes was born in London, and was for eight years (1793–1801) a chorister of the Chapel Royal, where he studied music, mainly under Edmund Ayrton.

[4] Hawes was for many years musical director of the Lyceum Theatre, London, then devoted to English opera.

In this capacity (on 23 July 1824), he introduced Weber's Der Freischütz for the first time in England, at first slightly curtailed, but soon afterwards in its entirety.

Winter's Interrupted Sacrifice, Mozart's Così fan tutte, Marschner's Der Vampyr and other important works were also brought out under his auspices.