Frank A. Howson (1841-1926) Summit 366

 Frank Alfred Howson was born in London on March 28, 1841. When he was less than a year old, his parents moved to Australia. His father was a music producer and in 1842 he produced the first complete grand opera in Tasmania, Australia, titled Auber's "Fra Diavolo".

 At the age of 19 Frank Howson conducted a performance of "Il Travatore" in Sydney. In 1866  he brought to America the Howson Opera Company. It consisted of Frank, his parents, a brother and two sisters. After playing in San Francisco, the group started to travel East, but disbanded in Omaha when their father died. Frank and his family came to New York where he became an orchestra conductor at opera performances, at the Academy of Music and later musical director for Daniel Frohman at Madison Square Garden. At different stages of his life, he was musical director at the Lyceum Theatre, The Daly Theatre, and the Garrick Theatre.

 During this time Mr. Howson composed incidental music for many of the theatrical successes of his day, including "The Prisoner of Zenda", "If I Were King", "Richard Lovelace", "An Enemy to the King', "Three Musketeers" and an E.H. Sothern's original production of "Hamlet".

 Although he had retired 8 years before his death, he continued to compose. A year before his death at the age of 84, he wrote new musical settings for Kipling's "Rolling Down to Rio" and "The Gypsy Trail". He was able to play many instruments, but he dedicated himself to the cello.

Up until his death on June 28,1926 at the age of 85, he had never been ill. He resided at 88-47 198 Street in Hollis. He had three children, Mrs. Mildred Howson and Frank A. and Albert S. Howson. He was survived by two sisters, Mrs. H.B. Parsons and Mrs, Emma Howson.