© Royal College of Music/Arenapal

Celebrating the life and works of the accomplished nineteenth-century composer, Samuel Coleridge Taylor. In collaboration with Learning Through the Arts.

This exhibition recaptures the extraordinary life of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 -1912) as we commemorate the 110th anniversary of his death, this year, 2022.

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was born in Holborn in 1875 to an English mother and a father from Sierra Leone, yet he defied all odds in the 20th Century, creating music and composition which exposed his talent and musical ability on an international scale.

He worked with musical icons such as Edward Edgar and Charles Stanford.  More significantly, his music composition received so much adulation in Britain and America that he even had the opportunity to meet President Theodore Roosevelt at the White House.

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor is best known for 'The Song of Hiawatha'.  He was also the first black recipient of a blue plaque in 1975, which was erected on his former home in South Northwood.

This exhibition reignites one of the most remarkable stories in the history of British music.

The opening event will take place on Thursday 6th September, 6-8pm. To attend, please RSVP to gallery@morleycollege.ac.uk

The project will also include three performances throughout October and November:

• October 11 – 1pm: a free lunchtime piano recital of his compositions, held in the Holst room, performed by Advanced piano students. This will be part of the weekly Tuesday Lunchtime Concert series during Black History Month in October.

• October 20 – 6pm: a short talk on Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and concert of Coleridge-Taylor’s work performed by the Morley Chamber Orchestra held at the Emma Cons Hall. To book, click here

• November 4 - 7:30pm. Songs of Sun and Shade: a recital of songs and solo piano works by Samuel Coleridge Taylor. To book, click here