John Amis
The British administrator, broadcaster, critic, tenor and writer John Amis was born in London on 17 June 1922. His cousin was the novelist Kingsley Amis. At Dulwich College, John Amis began a lifelong friendship with Donald Swann. Other friends included Felix Aprahamian, Peter Pears and Benjamin Britten.
He began working in music, taking on various administrative roles, including being Thomas Beecham's manager for several years, and working as an orchestral manager. His first job as a music critic was with The Scotsman in 1946. Two years later, he was helping William Glock to run a summer school in Dorset which later became the Dartington Summer School. Amis continued there as administrative director until 1981, attracting musicians such as Paul Hindemith, Igor Stravinsky and Michael Tippett.
He worked briefly as a tenor, singing on a recording of Bernard Herrmann's cantata Moby-Dick appearing as the Emperor in Turandot and performing at the 1961 Hoffnung Music Festival.
He broadcast regularly for the BBC in various capacities, and had his own programme on BBC Radio 3.
John Amis died on 1 August 2013, aged ninety-one.