Alfred Hollins

Alfred Hollins (1865-1942) was a respected English organist, composer and teacher.

Hollins was born a Yorshireman, however he traveled and concertized heavily throughout Scotland.

Hollins was blind from birth. Hollins' mother died while he was very young. Very little is known about Hollins' father. After his mother's death Hollins was sent to live with his "Aunt Mary," who gave him his first piano lesson. It is rumored that Hollins had perfect pitch and upon hearing any two notes on the piano could name them and give their relationship.

In 1878 Hollins enrolled at the Royal Normal College for the Blind at Upper Norwood. He impresses the principal of his potential as a musician such that he was given the opportunity to study with Fritz Hartvigson on the piano and Dr. E.J. Hopkins on the organ. Hollins then presented several successful concerts including one at the Crystal Palace where he performed the solo part of the Emperor Concerto and a concert at Windsor in the presence of Queen Victoria.

the opportunity arose for Hollins to study in Berlin under Hans von Bülow. While in Germany Hollins presented a series of concerts - at one time playing three concerti in the one evening - The Liszt Eb, the Schumann A minor and the ‘Emperor’. He played before the royal families of Germany and the Low Countries.

In 1884 Hollins was given his first professional appointment as an organist, at St. John's Redhill. In 1885 Hollins appeared at the Music and Inventions Exhibition in 1885 – this time playing the concert organ. Shortly afterwards another period of study presented itself at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt.

In the ensuing eleven years, Hollins was organist at Upper Norwood Presbyterian, at the People's Palace (Crystal Palace)and teaching piano and organ at the Royal Normal College for the Blind. During this period Hollins also made a tour of the United States, and visited major concert halls at the time.

Soon the Reverend Hugh Black, assistant minister at the Free St. George's Church in Edinburgh persuaded the Presbyterian kirk to allow the installation of an organ at St. George's. An organ was procured. According to some stories, Black traveled to Nottingham to hear Hollins play, and offered Hollins the position there and then. Hollins accepted the offer and was then committed to St. George's for the rest of his life.

Hollins did make multiple concert tours. In 1904, Hollins toured New Zealand and Australia. IN 1907, 1909 and 1916 he went to South Africa to give a series of concerts at Johannesburg and Cape Town, giving the opening recital for the organ at the new Town Hall in Cape Town. He had been instrumental in developing the specification for the organ.

In 1922, Hollins was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Edinburgh University in 1922. This was in addition to being made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Organists in 1904.

In 1925/26 Hollins gave a major tour of the United States, during which he visited sixty-five cities. It has been estimated that Hollins traveled some 600,000 miles on his concert tours.

In later years, Hollins wrote "A Blind Musician Looks Back", in which Hollins wrote a collection of his memories as an organist and teacher.