The founder and editor of two British classical music magazines -
Music and Musicians, and
Records and Recordings, along with another monthly,
Music Magazine, Evan Senior was born in Adelaide. His name has first been connected to a children's party given by Mr and Mrs Alfred Scott at their Adelaide residence in 1921, and at which he is believed to have played the piano (Adelaide
Mail 16 April 1921, p.12). Some four years later he was a guest and possibly accompanist at another private event - an "At Home" put on by Miss Betty Saunders (
Advertiser 20 August 1924, p. 6).
Senior's early professional career saw him employed as a programme director and announcer by Adelaide radio station 5DN around 1927 (
Register 31 May 1927, p.7). 1927 also saw him give evidence into a Royal Commission of inquiry into problems faced by wireless broadcasters in relation to royalties. According to the
Register, Senior "offered to procure written statements showing that the broadcasting of copyright music was an advertisement and assisted the composer" (28 June 1927, p.10).
On 5 August 1931 Senior's musical comedy,
On the Air became the first Australia play to be written and produced for broadcast on radio. Its popularity in South Australia was such that it was re-broadcast two times by 5CL the following year (
Advertiser 2 April 1932, p.11). Another of his comedies,
Appointment at Nine (a one-act comedy) was also broadcast by the station in 1932 (
Advertiser 14 May 1932, p.11).
In 1947 Senior left Australia for Great Britain where he later established himself as a leading editor and critic of classical music. In late 1969 he undertook the position of classical editor for
Music Business Weekly and in 1971 was appointed to the same position with
Record and Tape Retailer. Among his other publications as editor is
The Concert Goer's Annual series.
[Source:
Australian Variety Theatre Archive]
