William H. M. Wright

Senior Lecturer, Organ

BA (Toronto), MDiv (Toronto School of Theology), FRCCO, DD (Victoria University) 

William Wright completed degrees in English and Theology in the University of Toronto while studying organ with John Sidgwick and Theory with Eric Rollinson. Winner of the Healey Willan prize for highest marks in Canada in the Fellowship examination of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, he continued further studies in Germany with Michael Schneider, Kurt Thomas, Gerd Zacher, and Jens Rohwer. He returned to Canada in 1965 to take up duties as Director of Music & Organist of Deer Park United Church, a position he held until his retirement in 2009. In 1970 he was appointed as instructor to the Faculty of Music of the University of Toronto where he taught Organ Performance, Organ Pedagogy, Organ Literature and Improvisation as well as Keyboard Harmony and Harpsichord. For many years he also taught Choral Techniques, Materials of Music and Sight-Singing as well as teaching the History of Church Music at the Toronto School of Theology. He retired from the Faculty of Music in 2007. For twenty years he was the University Organist for the Victoria University (U of T).

It was for students at the Faculty of Music that he wrote the text, The Organ: the Instrument and it Literature, a text used in several universities in North America. He also completed a second text: Improving Harmonic Skills at the Keyboard, which has also proved successful in universities.

Through his influence, Deer Park United Church acquired the Rathgeb Memorial Organ in 1970, an instrument considered one of Casavant’s most significant installations. Upon the closure of the church in 2008, he assisted in finding a home for this famous instrument in the Church of the Holy Trinity. Under his direction, an annual series of concerts took place in Deer Park Church, featuring organists of international calibre. His choir also achieved an enviable reputation for its ability to perform works from the baroque and contemporary periods with sensitive artistry.

He commissioned a number of works from Canadian artists and has been invited to première works commissioned by others. Two of his compositions have been included in the publication of the United Church of Canada, Voices United. He has served as Chair of the Examination Committee of the RCCO and is annually invited to examine for the College. He was chair of the Toronto Organ Festival in 1975 and co-chair of the Toronto Organ Festival in the summer of 2001 and continues to serve on the Toronto Centre Executive as well as the national Council where he is chair of the Historic Organ Committee and Chair of the Competitions Committee.

He recorded on the Rathgeb Memorial Organ and on the famous historic Hildebrandt organ in Naumburg, Germany, a recording selected by the Organ Historical Society, USA, for inclusion in its catalogue.

He has given concerts and lectures for Conventions of both the Royal Canadian College of Organists and the American Guild of Organists, and continues to lecture and perform.

In May 2009, Victoria University awarded him the Doctor of Divinity for his work in Church Music.