Jackson, George Stoney
Born on the 2nd October 1910 at St David’s, Wales; died in 1978 in Kloof, Natal. Musicologist.George Jackson came to South Africa in 1913 when his parents emigrated from England to live in Johannesburg. His father instructed him in pianoforte, harmony and musical history, until he matriculated at the Jeppe High School in 1928. After a short period as a part-time student at the University of the Witwatersrand, George Jackson became a full-time student in 1931 and in 1933 he graduated with History of Music and English as his major subjects. During these years Otto Menge was his viola teacher. Jackson completed the requirements for a B.A. Hons. degree in English Literature and History of Music in 1938, did military service in the war and in 1945 entered the same university for the M.A. degree in History of Music (1945-1947).
During 1948 and 1949 he studied at Oxford University and when he returned he became a school-teacher, first in Krugersdorp and from 1950, in Durban . There he started research into the early musical life of Natal, with special reference to Durban and Pietermaritzburg, which in 1961 led to a D.Phil. at the University of the Witwatersrand. This has been Jackson’s most substantial contribution to musicological research in South Africa . He has also prepared a series of six broadcasts on the early musical life of Durban and over the years has often lectured on this subject. He was Vice-Principal of Kloof High School (1962-1971) and then became a lecturer at the Edgewood College of Education in Pinetown, where he taught English and Music Appreciation. He is a licentiate of Trinity College and teaches pianoforte and theoretical subjects privately.