Portrait of Professor Sir Jack Westrup by George Herbert Buckingham Holland

oil on canvas, size: 30.00 x 25.00

Education Alleyn's School, Dulwich, Balliol College, Oxford

Death At his home in Headley, Hampshire Spouse Solweig Maria (died 1984), daughter of Per Johan Gustaf Rösell

Sir Jack Allan Westrup, 1904-1975, musician, author, and conductor, was born in Dulwich, London, 26 July 1904, the second of the three sons (there were no daughters) of George Westrup, insurance clerk, of Dulwich, and his wife, Harriet Sophia Allan. He was educated at Alleyn's School, Dulwich, where he was a scholar, and then gained a Nettleship scholarship in music to Balliol College, Oxford. There was no honours degree in music at that time, so he first read classics in which he gained first class honours in moderations (1924) and second class honours in literae humaniores (1926) before proceeding to the B.Mus. degree in 1926. He took an active part in music in the university both as a keyboard and brass player. However, his most important contribution to Oxford music was his part in the foundation of the University Opera Club whilst still an undergraduate to which he returned later as conductor, when he was elected to the Heather professorship in 1947.In spite of a research grant on going down from Oxford when he worked on ‘Noëls Provençaux’ in Avignon appointments for musical scholars were then so scarce that he went back to his old school and taught classics.

Jack Westrup was an assistant classics master at Dulwich College from 1928 to 1934.Then in 1934 he returned to music as a critic on the Daily Telegraph until the war virtually put an end to concerts in London, whereupon he did another short stint as a schoolmaster. From 1933 to 1945 also editor of the Monthly Musical Record. He gave classes at the Royal Academy of Music in London in 1938-1940. His chance to enter academic life came in 1941 when he was offered and accepted a lectureship at King's College, Newcastle upon Tyne, and this was followed by his election to the Peyton and Barber chair of music at Birmingham University in 1944. He flourished at Birmingham, making full use of the excellent facilities offered by the Barber Institute library, and the opportunities for conducting.

He was lecturer at Wadham College, Oxford (1947-1971). Oxford conferred upon him the degree of honorary D.Mus. in 1944, and in 1947 he returned to his old university as Heather professor of music. Much as this pleased him, it was not an easy time for him, as there were some Oxford musicians who did not welcome his election. In 1947 he was named chairman of the editorial board of The New Oxford History of Music. In 1959 he succeeded Eric Blom as editor of Music & Letters. From 1958 to 1963 he was president of the Royal Musical Association. He was also active as a conductor; he conducted the Oxford Opera Club (1947-1962), the Oxford University Orchestra (1954-1963), and the Oxford Bach Choir.