About Ern Arthur

The piano has always played an important role in Ern Arthur's life. He was born in Riverton in 1913, and he received his first lessons there from his Aunt Maud. After his father died in 1927 their farm at Giles Corner was sold, and the following year the family moved to Adelaide. Ern attended Unley High School, but with the Depression imminent and jobs scarce, he left school before completing his final year, and in 1929, at the age of 16, joined the National Bank of Australasia. Ern took private lessons from William Silver, who taught at the Elder Conservatorium, and he became an accomplished pianist. He played at the opening of the enlarged John Shaw Memorial Hall at Westbourne Park Methodist Church in 1934. In subsequent years the Bank posted Ern to a number of country towns, where, being a gifted sight-reader and sympathetic accompanist, he contributed to their musical life by playing accompaniments for local and visiting artists and in many musical events. At Clare in the mid-30s he played for Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and the annual performances of Messiah given by the combined church choirs. At Whyalla in the 40s he was the accompanist for the local singing competitions and the choral society, and also the first organist for the newly opened Peters Street Methodist Church. To entertain the guests at a Masonic Ball in the Jamestown Town Hall in 1953, Ern played Chopin's Grande Valse Brillante, Op 18 in E flat major. His last performance was in 2003 at his 90th birthday concert at Westbourne Park Resthaven, when he played Beethoven's Les Adieux. At 94, Ern regularly attends Westbourne Park Uniting Church for morning service, and he is still an accompanist, playing the hymns for the services at Westbourne Park Resthaven.