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NORMAN FINLAY Mr Norman Finlay was a member of the Academy staff for more than thirty years and Head of the Music Department since 1981. During his time at the Academy he made an immeasurable contribution to the musical life of the School, establishing many traditions in the Music Department that we now take for granted. Educated at Belfast High School, he gained a place at the Royal College of Music in London in 1966 where in his final year he won second prize in the Royal College of Organists performance examinations after competing against organists from the USA, Canada, UK and Australia. Over the next twenty years he became one of the best known organists throughout the land. He specialized in performing organ music by living 20th century Irish composers, with twenty‐one commissioned first performances to his name. Also, during this period, he broadcast regularly as an organ soloist on local and national radio and frequently collaborated as a harpsichordist and organist with the Ulster Orchestra. In 1983 he was the first prize winner of the annual Bass Arts Awards scheme, which facilitated the production of an LP recorded in St Anne's Cathedral of 20th century music. In 1985 he jointly performed with Professor Desmond Hunter of The University of Ulster the complete JS Bach organ works in St George's Church to mark the tercentenary of the composer's birth. Belfast Royal Academy was indeed privileged to have such an eminent musician on the academic staff for the past thirty‐three years. In this capacity, he taught music throughout the school to GCSE, Advanced Level and Oxbridge and directed many musical ensembles. Norman Finlay started his teaching career at Campbell College and Annadale Grammar, subsequently being appointed to BRA in 1974. In 1981 he succeeded Keith Rogers as Head of Music and worked alongside Donal McCrisken (1981 – 85), now Head of Music at St Malachy's College, Stephen Cairns (1985 – 2002), now Head of Music at Belfast High School and of course myself since 2002. It was during his time at BRA that Mr Finlay established many events that have now become traditions in the Music Department. In 1975 he started what was to become the Annual Carol Service at St Peters' Church and in 1982, after a long fought battle by Mr Finlay, the first Arts Honours Awards for Music were presented. It was perhaps his work with the Senior Choir that he will be most remembered for. Throughout the years he tackled many stalwarts of the choral repertoire with this group, including Byrd's Four Part Mass and Faure's Requiem (several performances led to an excellent CD recording in 1998). In 1985, for the bi‐centennial celebration service in St Anne's Cathedral, he formed a massive choir, involving both past and current members, with performances of Byrd's '0 Sing Joyfully' and Parry's coronation anthem 'I Was Glad' forming some of the highlights of this occasion. As part of the wider programme of those celebrations he conducted a performance of Mozart's Requiem in St Peter's. Many past pupils will remember the annual Senior Choir Trip to Scotland, where they performed in venues such as Dunfermline Abbey, St Gile's Cathedral, Edinburgh, along with St Cuthbert's Church and Greyfriars Kirk, also in that capital city. He also organised eight annual weekend residential courses for the Senior Orchestra during the 1980's. Mr Finlay also collaborated in school drama productions, directing the music for "The Gondoliers" by Gilbert and Sullivan and "West Side Story" by Bernstein, as well as directing incidental music for many other productions. Mr Finlay has left an abiding mark on our school and we have been enriched by his presence. I personally shall miss his ability to play anything on the piano in any key and our conversations about Brahms’ Piano Concerto No.1 in D Minor! During the last thirty‐three years he has guided and introduced many pupils to the merits of classical music. I shall miss his independence of mind and shrewd judgement but I know that retirement is not the end of Mr Finlay's career, but only the start of something new. I know that all the pupils and staff who have worked with him during his time at BRA will join me in wishing Norman Finlay well for the future and in thanking him for his loyal, dedicated service and friendship. M.M.M.