Myles Birket Foster

FOSTER, Myles Birket. b. London, 29 November 1851; d. London, 18 December 1922. He was the son of the Quaker artist Birket Foster. His early interest in music was not encouraged, and after leaving Guildford Grammar School he entered a stockbroker’s office before studying music privately with Hamilton Clarke, and later with Arthur Sullivan*, Ebenezer Prout* and Frederick Westlake at the Royal Academy of Music. He was organist of St James’s, Marylebone (1873-74), St George’s, Campden Hill (1875-79) and the Foundling Hospital (1880-92); at this time he was also choirmaster at St Alban’s, Holborn and organist at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Foster’s only original hymn tune publication was Six Hymn...