Holst’s father attempted to steer his son from composition, with hopes that Gustav would become a pianist. However, Holst was oversensitive and miserable, it was noted that he had weak eyes, but often did not wear glasses. His health played a great part in his musical future. Holst had never been strong, and also suffered from neuritis, which further made performing on the piano difficult. After leaving school in 1891, Holst went to study counterpoint with George Sims, the organist of Merton College. Upon returning home, Holst acquired his first professional occupation, as the age of 17, he was the organist and choirmaster of a village. Holst then applied for a scholarship at the Royal College of Music in London, but did not receive the honor. He was then accepted as a non-scholarship student, and began classes in 1893. While at the college Holst had professors that included, George Case, Hubert Parry, and George Jacobi. After initial lessons with W. S. Rockstro Holst began to study with Charles Villiers Stanford. Stanford found him hardworking but not at all brilliant and their lessons were often frustrating. …show more content…
Holst left college in 1898, playing the trombone in the Carl Rosa Opera Company and later Scottish Opera. He married Isobel Harrison in 1901 and taught at the James Allen's Girls' School in Dulwich for two years before being appointed Director of Music at St. Paul's Girls' School in Hammersmith in 1905. It was shortly after this that Holst began work on his first suite for Wind