William Cusins, born on October 14, 1833 in London, succeeded Sterndale Bennett as conductor of the Philharmonic Society; then was appointed Master of the Queen's Musick by Queen Victoria in 1870.,
Sir William George Cusins (14 October 1833  31 August 1893) was an English pianist, violinist, organist, conductor and composer. Born in London, Cusins entered the Chapel Royal in his tenth year and studied music in Brussels under Francois-Joseph Fetis and later at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, under Cipriani Potter, William Sterndale Bennett, Charles Lucas and Prosper Sainton. In 1867 he succeeded Sterndale Bennett as conductor of the Philharmonic Society and remained in this post until 1883. He was appointed Master of the Queen's Musick by Queen Victoria in 1870, succeeding George Frederick Anderson, who had retired. 
