Volume III - ElectricCanadian.com

452 IVLEISJ OF"TX/ILLIAM CAVEN BARRON,r rPrincipal of the London Conservatoryof Music and Elocution, wasborn in 1864, in St. Mary's, Ont. Hisparents were James and Agnes Perrie(Jackson) Barren, highly respectedresidents of that place. Mr. Barrenwas educated at the Collegiate Institute,London, Ont., but having felt an earlyand strong predilection for music, hedecided to make that his life work. Atseventeen years of age, he went to Boston,Mass., where he remained twoyears, during which time he receivedthe best tuition and training that citycould afford. On his return to London,he was appointed professorof music in Hellrnuth College,a position he filledwith much acceptance forseveral years. In 1888,having decided to obtain thevery best training possible,he went to Leipzig, Germany,where, for two years,he^ studied under the bestEuropean masters. On hisreturn to Canada, in 1891,Mr. Barren established theinstitution above named,one of the very best in theDominion. His success hasbeen far beyond his most sanguineexpectations. Froma small beginning of oneteacher and a few pupils,eleven teachers and professorsare now required, andthe attendance has increasedmore than ten fold in thepast three years, and is stillgrowing. The pupils comefrom all parts of the Provinceof Ontario, and fromthe United States, as farwest as Chicago. His graduatesare granted certificates,and many of them arealready very successful teachers. Mr.Barren has obtained for his institutiona very high standing, both in the musicaland elocutionary departments, andhis thorough qualification enables himto hold what he has succeeded in buildingup. In religion, Mr. Barren is aPresbyterian, and is organist in theFirst Presbyterian Church, London.He is also a member of the A.F & A.M.,being connected with Tuscan LodgeNo. 195. On the twenty-fourth ofSeptember, 1890, he was married toMiss Ella A. Leonard, a daughter ofthe late Senator Leonard, of London,Ontario.