Farley Sinkins

Prof. Farley Sinkins 1845 - Unknown was a leading bass of the 19th century specialising in operatic and choral singing.

Childhood

Farley Sinkins was born in 1845, in Leeds the son of a school master William Sinkins and his wife Susannah. From an early age he showed great promise in singing and he was a musical child. His parents enrolled him in Leeds Parish Chuch Choir where he remained until his voice broke.

Career

His career started in around 1865 when he was appointed bass to St Asaph Cathedral in Wales. In 1870 he moved to Oxford where he became the principal bass in Christchurch Cathedral where he also taught music and was a lay clerk.

In 1877 he left Oxford to take up the position of lay vicar in Exeter Cathedral in Devon where he stayed until 1892 when he was dismissed due to absence without leave to appear in one of his now frequent concerts. Now his married life started to collapse and he began on a series of affairs with various professional singers. This did nothing for his career and the concerts quickly fell apart leaving him a desolute man who died sometime in the early 20th century