ROYSTON NASH

NASH, Royston Of Cotuit, 82, former conductor of the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, died on April 4, 2016 at the McCarthy Care Center after a period of declining health. Royston is survived by his loving wife, Lois Barry, a son Kelvin Nash and his wife Tilly in Surrey, England, a granddaughter, Laura Nash, in Jersey, Channel Islands, and a sister Pauline Chatterton in Basingstoke, England. He is also survived by a step-daughter, Andrea Todd, of Bloomington, IN, and her children Zahavah Carter and Forrest Fiedler. He was predeceased by his son Adrian, his sister Margaret and his brother Kenneth. Born in Southampton England to the late Ellen and Sydney Nash, Royston grew up in Bournemouth, England, where the family moved in 1942 to avoid the bombing in Southampton. He was always interested in music, and started playing trumpet at the age of 7. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 1958, and at the age of 26 was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Royal Marines as a Director of Music. He served in the Far East, the Mediterranean, and the Naval Home Command in Portsmouth, completing his 10 years' commission service as a Captain and Executive Director of the Royal Marines School of Music. On leaving the Royal Marines, he joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in London as Music Director, where he stayed until 1979. During that time, he toured with the opera company throughout the UK and in the USA for two 6-month tours. It was during these tours that he visited Cotuit while the company was performing in Boston. During his time with the company, they made a film of HMS Pinafore and seven recordings of the operas including works by Arthur Sullivan, which had never been recorded before. 1976 was the Centenary of the first performance of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and the celebrations included a performance at Windsor Castle for the Queen, and celebratory performances were held throughout the UK. Also to complete the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, Utopia Ltd and The Grand Duke were brought back into the repertoire. In 1980, he moved to Cape Cod as Conductor and Music Director of the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, and he led the orchestra for 27 years. During this time, the orchestra greatly extended its repertoire, including performances of Elgar's Dream of Gerontius where the orchestra was joined by the 100 person chorus from the Royal Choral Society of London. The music of Elgar, Mahler and Shostakovich were brought into the programming of the orchestra for the first time on Cape Cod during his years with the orchestra. He also held appointments as Conductor of the Nashua Symphony Orchestra and the chamber orchestra, Symphony by the Sea. His home was a great joy in retirement and his greatest pleasure was to be at home with Lois and his three dachshunds. Memorial donations may be made to the Cape Symphony or the Cotuit Library. A memorial service will be held at 11am on Thursday, April 14th at Cotuit Federated Church, 40 School Street, Cotuit. For online guestbook and directions please visit www.johnlawrence funeralhome.com John-Lawrence Funeral Home 508-428-5704 Marstons Mills