Oscar Ferdinand Telgmann

Who was Oscar Ferdinand Telgmann?

Oscar Ferdinand Telgmann was a Canadian composer of operettas, conductor and educator, and violinist best known for his operetta Leo, the Royal Cadet.

He was born in Mengeringhausen, Waldeck, Germany, and at an early age emigrated with his parents to Kingston, Ontario. He began his musical studies in Canada. In 1882, with his siblings, he formed the Telgmann Concert Party, a touring ensemble. He founded, in 1892, the Kingston Conservatory of Music and School of Elocution of which he was principal for over 25 years. In 1914, he founded the Kingston Symphony Orchestra, which he conducted until his retirement in 1936. Alida Jackson was his wife. Their daughter Mignon Telgmann was a violin teacher.

He composed three operettas, The Miller and the Maid, King of Siam and Leo, the Royal Cadet. The latter achieved over 1,700 performances between its premiere in 1889 and 1925 and has recently been revived in a revised version. Other compositions included marches such as Boo Hoo's Queen's Dominion Victory March and The Mascot: Boo Hoo's March to Queen's Rugby Team. He composed songs such as The Nutcracker Mazurka, Mr. Craig, The Laird of Glenburne, and Scotch Country Dance.