Protheroe, Daniel, 1866-1934.

Person

Protheroe, Daniel, 1866-1934.

Daniel Protheroe (1866-1934), composer and conductor, was born in November 1866 in Ystradgynlais, Breconshire, the son of Daniel and Eleanor Protheroe. He emigrated to Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA, in 1885. He graduated in music in 1890, and was later awarded a doctorate. He conducted various choral societies at the Scranton Cymmrodorion Choral Society, Milwaukee, and Chicago, Illinois, where he lived until his death, teaching at the Sherwood Music School, and was Musical Director of the Central Church, Chicago. He visited Wales frequently to adjudicate and conduct. He composed anthems and hymn-tunes which continue to be popular with congregations and male voice choirs. He was the author of Arwain Corau (1914) and Nodau damweiniol a d'rawyd o dro i dro (1924). Rhys Morgan ('The Welsh Tenor', 1892-1961), singer and conductor, was born at Ynysmeudwy, Glamorgan, the son of John and Mary Thomas Morgan, and grew up at nearby Gelli-nudd. He emigrated to the USA in 1913, with his wife, Mary Ellen Gabe, and their three month old son, settling in Chicago, where he became a pupil of Daniel Protheroe. He later moved to New York, winning acclaim as an operatic singer, and was known as the 'Welsh Caruso'. He toured the USA and Canada with a varied repertoire including Welsh folk songs. He made several recordings, conducted at singing festivals in the USA, and composed works for his own choirs, as well as arranging Welsh folk songs.