Neil Chapman, former pianist, conductor and teacher

NEIL CHAPMAN, who died last week, lived a life devoted to music and family.

Born to a farming family in Underberg in what is now KwaZulu Natal in 1933, the youngest of four children, his family m ove d to Pietermaritzberg while he was young.

After attending Merchiston Preparatory School and Maritzberg College, where he was dux, he trained as a maths teacher.

But his real passion was music, and he used the money he saved while teaching to fund study in Europe, with a view to a career in music.

He studied in Vienna and later in Italy.

As an accomplished pianist, he was an expert accompanist, and excelled as a voice coach and conductor.

His career saw him become head of music for the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

He met the love of his life, Emma, whom he married in 1971.

Their eldest daughter, Catherine, was born in 1976.

Having had enough of the internal politics of the SABC and seeking a better quality of life, he moved with his family to what is now Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1978.

His younger daughter Margaret (Maggie) was born in 1979 and he enjoyed the majority of two decades as head of the Zimbabwe College of Music in Harare.

He was central to much of the musical life of the country, running the City of Harare Orchestra with his characteristic precise conducting.

He became a Chevalier of the Legion D’Honneur for services to music and was commended for his work on the new national anthem.

He also created courses on the traditional Shona and Ndebele music of Zimbabwe and on enthnomusicology.

An imposing but humane man, Mr Chapman was incredibly proud of his two daughters and two grand-daughters.

After retiring from the College of Music, he enjoyed his garden, travelling to see his daughters in the UK and his continued teaching of piano and voice.

He particularly enjoyed several productions at the Edinburgh Festival, and took great pride in the role Maggie played on the Edinburgh International Festival Board.

Mr Chapman died after complications from an operation.

He is survived by wife Emma, his two sisters, his daughters and his grand-daughters.