POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Fife probably by Victor McMahon and Boosey & Hawkes

Object No. 2005/173/11

Victor McMahon was one of Australia's leading flautists and educators during the twentieth century. A contemporary of Leslie Barklamb of Melbourne, McMahon's focus was on New South Wales. Born in Ballarat in 1903 he came to Sydney in 1923 and in 1924 became a member of the Prince Edward Theatre Orchestra, remaining with them until 1938. He was appointed Professor of Flute at the NSW Conservatorium of Music in 1932 replacing Albert Arlom and continued there initially until 1944. During this time he became involved with the Department of Education from 1938 and eventually resigned from the Conservatorium in 1944 to take up a full time position at the Department of Education. In 1953 at the request of Eugene Goossens he re-joined the NSW Conservatorium in a full time position and remained there until his retirement in 1972. His main work focussed on introducing the flute and recorder to schools in New South Wales which had a huge effect on increasing the popularity of the flute to generations of students around the state. Many professional flautists owe their early training to Victor McMahon including musicians of the calibre of Don Burrows. Victor McMahon died in Sydney in 1992. McMahon developed a tutor for teaching flute in schools and was also to have a sturdy and serviceable wooden five key student flute commercially made by Boosey and Hawkes and later by Rudall Carte and Besson of London. These were sold in Australia through Palings. (See 2004/115/1 the Linda Vogt Flute Archive for more details). References; Linda Vogt AM, Flute Players of Note, (unpublished work, Sydney c.2000) Michael Lea Curator, music & musical instruments May 2005.