Kelly, Frederick Septimus [Sep, Cleg]

Extract

[Sep, Cleg]

(b Sydney, May 29, 1881; d Beaucourt-sur-Ancre, Nov 13, 1916). Australian composer and pianist. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School (1891–2), Eton College (1893–9) and Balliol College, Oxford (Nettleship Scholar, 1900–03). There he took an active part in the Balliol Concerts, and indulged his lifelong passions, rowing and music. Three times winner of Henley's Diamond Sculls and a member of the victorious England crew at the 1908 Olympic Regatta, he was an Edwardian sporting legend. Athletic achievement and private means always cast the seriousness of Kelly's musical career into doubt despite studies with Ernst Engesser and Iwan Knorr at the Hoch Konservatorium, Frankfurt (1903–8), and promising solo appearances. He travelled widely, and in 1911 he played in Sydney, making his London début the following year. As chairman of the Classical Concert Society (1912–14), Kelly turned towards chamber music, performing with Tovey, Jelly d'Arányi and Casals. He joined the Royal Naval Division in ...