Vernon Barford

Who was Vernon Barford?

Vernon West Barford was an English photographer, musician, organist, choirmaster and teacher. Barford, nicknamed "Man of Many Talents," was born in Crowthorne in Berkshire, England. He began piano lessons at four and attended the choir school of Worcester Cathedral from 1887-92. Having failed entrance exams to Oxford University, he moved in 1898 to Qu'Appelle, District of Assiniboia in the North-West Territories. He began to farm and after a year, he began to teach piano.

He started piano lessons at age four and attended the Worcester Cathedral choir school from 1887 - 1892. Barford won an organ scholarship to Oxford University in 1896, but after two years, he left to farm in Canada. He moved to Qu'Appelle, Assiniboia, North-West Territories in 1898 where he stayed for two years and taught school. Then on 15 January 1900 he moved to Edmonton, Alberta and became choirmaster for All Saints parish church, which became pro-cathedral of the Church of England in Canada in 1914, and stayed in that post for fifty-six years. In 1903 Vernon Barford organized the Edmonton Amateur Operatic Society, and was Musical Director for seven years.