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Neville Atkinson's parents - marriage 1881
Neville Atkinson's birth 1896 -
It seems that between 1881 and 1896 Neville's father had received training as a teacher. Later, in the first decade of the 20th century, T. L. Atkinson was ordained into the ministry of the Congregational Church, in which denomination he became a prominent figure. More work is needed on the Rev T. L. Atkinson's career.
New England Conservatory of Music, Boston
- while studying in Boston Neville Atkinson was registered for the draft, since the U.S.A. had entered the war in Europe:
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Two Atkinson brothers back from studies in the USA -
Davyton Congregational Church, c 1900
Mandeville Court House Concert, May 6, 1919
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Mandeville Court House
but I have not yet found an account of the concert, after the event!!
Hannah Welsh
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Daily Gleaner, August 11, 1919
COMING PIANO RECITALS
What promises to make a distinct success is a series of piano recitals by Mr. Neville Atkinson of the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Mass, which is being planned to take place at Black River, Sav-la-Mar, Montego Bay, Falmouth, and Port Antonio within the next couple of weeks.
Immediately on leaving school some five years ago Mr. Atkinson went to the States where he entered the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, and after two years' study he carried off the coveted prize of an "Orchestral Grand," a piano offered by the College to the student whose performance on the pianoforte at a public recital makes the grandest hit. On leaving the Conservatory, some time after, he continued his musical studies for eighteen months with Mr. Julius Chaloff, an expert Russian composer and pianist.
Since his return to Jamaica the young pianist has played before large and representative audiences at Mandeville (his home town) and St. Ann's Bay, and all who had the pleasure of listening to his playing then spoke in glowing terms of his musical talent. As stated above, with the aid of local notices a series of musical treats will be given by Mr Atkinson, and it is expected that lovers of music in and around the towns above named will avail themselves of the opportunity of attending these recitals. Further details will be published later.
COMING PIANO RECITALS
What promises to make a distinct success is a series of piano recitals by Mr. Neville Atkinson of the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Mass, which is being planned to take place at Black River, Sav-la-Mar, Montego Bay, Falmouth, and Port Antonio within the next couple of weeks.
Immediately on leaving school some five years ago Mr. Atkinson went to the States where he entered the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, and after two years' study he carried off the coveted prize of an "Orchestral Grand," a piano offered by the College to the student whose performance on the pianoforte at a public recital makes the grandest hit. On leaving the Conservatory, some time after, he continued his musical studies for eighteen months with Mr. Julius Chaloff, an expert Russian composer and pianist.
Since his return to Jamaica the young pianist has played before large and representative audiences at Mandeville (his home town) and St. Ann's Bay, and all who had the pleasure of listening to his playing then spoke in glowing terms of his musical talent. As stated above, with the aid of local notices a series of musical treats will be given by Mr Atkinson, and it is expected that lovers of music in and around the towns above named will avail themselves of the opportunity of attending these recitals. Further details will be published later.
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but things didn't all work out well!
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advert, mid-September, 1919
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- in 1924 he left for New York:
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Crisis, vols 32-33, page 326, 1969
William Edward Burghardt Du Bois
William Edward Burghardt Du Bois
NEVILLE ATKINSON
(Graduate New England Conservatory)
CONCERT PIANIST
Open for Engagements Recitals, Joint Recitals, Concerts
Address: NEVILLE ATKINSON
110 West 140th Street
New York, N. Y.
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As is clear from the items above, I have not been able to find out a great deal about Neville Atkinson's life in the U.S.A., though it seems clear that he did continue his career as a pianist, though not at the level he might have hoped. It is also not entirely clear when and where he died. The two documents presented here seem to refer to him, and would appear to indicate that, like many others, he had returned to Jamaica in his old age, and had died in his home town and parish. I wonder if there are any relatives who could confirm this?
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