Sir George Grove

The first Director of the Royal College of Music, Sir George Grove was one of the most important figures in British musical life in the second half of the nineteenth century. He trained initially as an engineer, but in the 1850s began to turn his attention to music, providing programme notes for the public concerts at the Crystal Palace. The first edition of the Dictionary of Music and Musicians that still bears his name was published in 1879. In 1880 Grove was invited to join the council of the proposed Royal College of Music and was offered the Directorship in 1882.