Caryl Florio
William James Robjohn, better known by the pseudonym Caryl Florio, (2 November 1843 - 21 November 1920) was an English-born American composer, pianist, organist, conductor, music critic, and actor.
Life and career[edit]
William James Robjohn was born on 2 November 1843 in Tavistock, Devon. He left England with his family for the United States, arriving in New York City at the age of 14.[1] He was a boy soloist at Trinity Church in Manhattan as a teenager.[2]
After working as church choir director and organist at several different churches, Robjohn took up a career on the stage as an actor in 1862; touring the northern part of the United States for a six-year period. In 1868 he returned to New York City where he was active as music critic, music teacher, pianist, and conductor.[1] In 1870 he adopted the name Caryl Florio in response to his family's objections to his career choice. His the music textbook A Textbook of Practical Harmony was published by the London music publishers Morgan & Scott in 1892.
In 1896 Florio left New York City for Asheville, North Carolina to take a position as organist at the newly built Cathedral of All Souls; a church established by George Washington Vanderbilt II. He remained in that position through 1901, and was afterwords active as a music teacher and choir conductor in Asheville. He died in Morganton, North Carolina on 21 November 1920.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Slonimsky, Nicolas; McIntire, Dennis (2001). "Florio, Caril (Real Name, William James Robjohn)". In Kuhn, Laura (ed.). Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. G. Schirmer, Inc.
- ^ a b "Caryl Florio Dead, In Real Poverty". The Buffalo News. November 22, 1920. p. 15.