Frank Robertson-Smith
Dip.Mus., M.Mus. (organ performance), L.Mus.A., LTCL,ARCO, Dip.Ed., TTTC
Born in Ballarat, Frank attended Macarthur Street and Ballarat High Schools, before joining the office staff at the Wendouree Parade Depot of the State Electricity Commission.
Music played a big part in his early life. Pipe organs were a fascination from a very early age, his first introduction to one said to be a visit with his Grandmother to Scots Church in Lydiard Street when very young.
He studied piano with Miss Marianne Lovett, advanced theory with Miss Pat Gleeson and organ with W. H. Keith Young, later travelling on Saturdays to Melbourne for organ lessons with Sergio de Pieri, who had not long arrived in Melbourne from Italy to teach at the Conservatorium and hold the position of organist at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne.
Frank was appointed organist at Christ Church Cathedral, Ballarat at the age of 15. This was an older congregation, and when a year later the position of organist and choirmaster at St. Paul’s Bakery Hill became available, he accepted that. This was a younger congregation with a number of parishioners his age, and he spent ten very happy years here returning to renew many of these friendships at the 140th celebrations of the church a few years ago.
He was also a gifted pianist and exceptional accompanist and was accompanist for the Ballarat Civic Male Choir and the Ballarat City Choir during the late 50s and early 60s – the time when these choirs were at their peak and making commercial recordings. In his spare time, he spent many hours giving coaching and support to many singers, particularly as they prepared for vocal competitions.
In 1960 at the Canberra National Eisteddfod, his work with choirs and soloists won high praise, and he was asked to be the official accompanist at the 1962 competitions. Work commitments unfortunately did not allow him to take up this offer.
He gave an organ recital on ABC radio as part of the “Young Australia” program, and on another occasion a lunch-hour recital on the Sydney Town Hall organ.
In the late 60s he transferred with the SEC to Melbourne, to enable him to continue his studies with Sergio de Pieri, and in 1971, after a period as sub-organist, was offered the position of organist and choirmaster at the prestigious St. John’s Church, Toorak, a position he held for 6 years.
While at the SEC’s Flinders Street office, he saw a vacancy for a music teacher at Mitcham Technical School, and although he had no teaching qualifications at that time, was offered the position. A few years later a new High/Technical school was established at Templestowe – Templestowe College, and he and a number of Mitcham staff transferred to the new college where he stayed until his retirement. He was Music Coordinator at the College for a number of years until the students’ taste in music went away from the classical, at which time he transferred to the English department.
He was held in high esteem by his colleagues and students and was highly regarded for his caring attitude to all students, and in particular his management of difficult and troubled ones.
He passed away at his Melbourne home on 27 December 2001 at the age of 61-62.
Forming part of his deceased estate, a Frank Robertson-Smith trust fund was set up for the Royal South Street Society to be used as prize money for excellence in keyboard performances at the annual Eisteddfod.
In 2025, this trust fund is still going strong and provides great support to the Pianoforte competitors every year.
We are so grateful for the connection to Frank and the part in which he continues to play in the legacy of our Eisteddfod and in promoting the love of piano for generations to come.
