Farewell, Tony – your legacy lives on
Tony Harmar was a very talented musician and a keen choral singer – with an impressive bass voice.
21 years ago, he was frustrated because the choirs he was a member of were insufficiently demanding. Tony’s solution was ambitious – to create an entirely new Edinburgh choir. He planned the enterprise with a few friends and approached our first musical director, Graham Lovett. The name “Cadenza” came from Tony’s copy of the Oxford Dictionary of Musical Terms and the planning for the new choir started in Doctors pub in Forrest Road, over a few beers.
Tony was the choir’s first chair person and also took on the role of treasurer at one point.
In his spare time away from choir, Tony was a medical researcher, developing a strong reputation for his work. He started Cadenza when he was humble Doctor Harmar but he rose to become Professor of Pharmacology at Edinburgh, a member of the University Court and on his retirement due to ill health, he was awarded the distinction of Emeritus Professor.
Cadenza is Tony’s legacy – over 21 years since he came up with his plan, the choir is stronger than ever. Under Jenny’s directorship it does what Tony wished – stretching its members to perform at their best and it has entertained many, many people.
(extract from oration at Tony’s funeral by friend, best man and Cadenza member, Steven Torrie)
Posted: Saturday 3 May 2014 at 7:26 pm