Conductors Baton presented to Sir William George Cusins

A decorated conductor's baton. The baton is 44 cm long. It has decorated silver fittings at each end and a central fitting which is engraved:

W.G. CUSINS
Sarasate
May 1885

The baton is desplayed on a wooden plinth (from which it can be easily removed). This has a metal plate engraved:
BATON
PRESENTED TO
SIR WILLIAM GEORGE CUSINS
MASTER OF THE QUEENS MUSIC
TO
H.M. QUEEN VICTORIA 1885
MANUFACTURED BY GEORGE POTTER & CO. (MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS)
ALDERSHOT

Sir William George Cusins (1833-1893) was born in London and entered the Chapel Royal aged 10. He studied music in Brussels and then the Royal Academy of Music in London. He was a noted pianist, viloinist, organist, conductor and composer. He toured Europe as a pianist and conductor. In 1849 he was appointed organist to Queen Victoria's private chapel and became a professor at the R.M.A. In 1867 he was appointed conductor of the Philharmonic Society. In 1870 he was appointed 'Master of the Queen's Musick' and was knighted in 1892. During a visit to Budapest in 1871, Cusins met Franz Liszt, who composed "Go not happy day" for him in 1879. Among his own compositions was a serenata for the wedding of The Prince of Wales to Princess Alexandra of Denmark. Sir William Cusins died in France in August 1893 and is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, London.