Biography

Robert William (Bob) Burch, born Lyttelton, New Zealand, 28 Jan 1929. Family moved to Timaru. Chorister St. Mary’s Anglican Church, cornet Municipal Band.
DISCOVERED MUSIC.
Moved to Wellington, mid 1940s. Secondary education. Studied under Frederick Page and Douglas Lilburn at Victoria University. Graduated Mus.B 1950. To London 1951, with Government Bursary. At the Guildhall school Burch studied composition with Benjamin Frankel and also Horn with Raymond Bryant of the BBC Symphony.

Burch returned to New Zealand in 1953, where he joined the NZ Symphony Orchestra as second horn. He held the same chair (more or less) for 34 years! Burch married Leah Tozer and has two children – Susan (distinguished ballet career) – Geoffrey (computer wiz). He has retired to the Marlborough Sounds, with views of beloved sea. He is still composing, mostly chamber music, on request or under threat from former friends and colleagues.

Robert Burch died on 11 January 2007 in Wellington.

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