James Penberthy

Biography

James Penberthy AM (3 May 1917 – 29 March 1999) was an Australian composer and journalist.

Biography

He was born Albert James Penberthy in Melbourne in 1917. He served with the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. He then studied at the University of Melbourne, where he obtained first class honours in composition. He later studied composition with Nadia Boulanger in Paris, and conducting with Sir John Barbirolli in England. He made his home in Perth, Western Australia, where he founded the West Australian Opera Company and was co-founder of the West Australian Ballet with his third wife, the Monaco-born Russian dancer Kira Bousloff.
In 1975 he moved to the north coast of New South Wales. He founded the School of Arts at Southern Cross University. He died at Maclean, New South Wales, in 1999.

Personal life

Penberthy was married four times, all four marriages ending in divorce. He had a son (David) with Dorothy (née Kerin); a son (Richard) to Barbara (née Paterson); a daughter (Tamara Walters) to Kira Bousloff (née Abricossova), co-founder of the West Australian Ballet; and he was also married to Constance (aka Claire) Bramley.

Honours

Penberthy was awarded the degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Melbourne in 1975, and was appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia in 1986.