A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Powell, Walter

POWELL, Walter, born at Oxford in 1697 was on July 1, 1704 admitted a chorister of Magdalen College. In 1714 he was appointed a clerk in the same college. On April 16, 1718 he was elected Yeoman Bedell of Divinity and on Jan. 26, 1732 Esquire Bedell of the same faculty. He was also a member of the choirs of Christ Church and St. John's Colleges. In July 1733 he sang in the oratorios given by Handel during his visit to Oxford, and later in the year at the Meeting of the Three Choirs at Gloucester. He is said, but erroneously, to have been afterwards appointed a gentleman of the Chapel Royal. His voice (countertenor) and singing were greatly admired. He died Nov. 6, 1744, and was buried at St. Peter's in the East, Oxford.

[ W. H. H. ]