Researching Harry Isaacs

Harry Isaacs (26 January 1908, in Johannesburg – 13 September 1961) was a South African boxer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam.

In his first Olympic bout, he defeated Aage Fahrenholtz of Denmark in a points decision. In his second Olympic bout, he defeated Canadian boxer Vince Glionna on points. In his third Olympic bout, he lost to John Daley of the United States on a points decision in the semi-final round.

In his last Olympic bout, he took the bronze medal in the bantamweight class after defeating Frank Traynor of Ireland in a points decision.

He died on 13 September 1961 in Johannesburg.

Isaacs had an absorbing interest in chamber music, and from 1929 until 1943 often played with the Griller String Quartet, performing quintets by Brahms, Schumann, Dvorak, Elgar, Bax and Bloch. He also performed many recitals at the Wigmore Hall with members of the Griller, and with Jean Pougnet, William Primrose, Lionel Tertis, Elsie Owen (violin), Winifred Copperwheat, Maurice Eisenberg, Douglas Cameron (cello) and others. During the 1930s Isaacs also performed as a duo with fellow RAM pianist York Bowen, a partnership that lasted until Bowen's death in 1961.

The Harry Isaacs Trio, formed in 1942, consisted of Isaacs with Leonard Hirsch (violin) and Norina Semino (cello). James Whitehead and Vivian Joseph also took the cello chair in the Trio. The Trio commissioned York Bowen to compose his Trio in E minor op. 118, first given at the Wigmore Hall on April 4, 1946. Arnold Bax also wrote hs final chamber work, the Piano Trio in B flat, for the Isaacs Trio, who performed it at the Wigmore Hall on 21 March 1946.

Isaacs also worked as an examiner for the Associated Board of Music. During the war he was a full time air-raid warden. In the 1950s and into the 1960s he continued performing chamber music, including performances with the violinist Ralph Holmes. With Dennis Brain he premiered Peter Racine Fricker's Horn Sonata, Op 24 at the Conway Hall, on 20 March 1955.