Internationally acclaimed concert pianist, accompanist, teacher and mentor Maurice Till has died, aged 84.
As a student at Canterbury University, Maurice Till studied music and maths and graduated with a Master of Arts with honours in mathematics.
But an offer from the University of Otago inviting him to be pianist in a chamber music trio, set him off on a musical career.
It was in 1959 that Mr Till began to receive international recognition when he was accompanist for the soprano Victoria de los Angeles during her recital series in New Zealand.
In 1964, he received an Arts Council grant to tour the United States and Europe and recorded recitals for the BBC.
He also taught privately and at Canterbury University where he was Dean of Music and Fine Arts from 1985-88.
Maurice Till was awarded an MBE in 1974 and The Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977.
In 1951 he married Leila Meldrum, who has since died. He is survived by their two children and grandchildren.
