Chinner was born in
Malvern, South Australia, a son of Charles Williams Chinner (18 July 1866 – 21 March 1953) and Winnifred Maud "Winnie" Chinner née Cowperthwaite ( –1964), a daughter of Rev. John Cowperthwaite (c. 1847–1904). Music was in his family: his mother was a distinguished
Elder Conservatorium violinist and singer, and a member of the South Australian Orchestra. Chinner received his initial musical training from Mrs. Smedley Palmer
AMUA (née Ethel Rose Ridings, died 1966, and mother of concert pianist Peggy Palmer), and in piano from Miss A. Hodge, then in 1926 began taking organ lessons from Fred Pilgrim (1885–1942), organist at the
Flinders Street Baptist Church for 13 years then at Malvern Methodist Church, where Chinner took his lessons. He was educated at
Prince Alfred College. In 1928 he won the Elder scholarship for organ playing. In 1932 he was admitted Licentiate of the Associated Board of the Royal Academy and College of Music, London (LRSM), the first organist in South Australia to be so accredited, and that same year appointed organist and choirmaster of Kent Town Methodist Church. In 1934 he was appointed music master at Prince Alfred College, which he served concurrently with his church duties until May 1939 when he resigned, to be replaced by Arthur Brewster Jones. He also found time to write a few pieces of his own: his
A Mood Fantasy was played by
Harold Wylde on the
Town Hall organ in October 1934. He returned to the Malvern Methodist Church, where he served as choirmaster and organist for four years, before taking on the same roles at the
Pirie Street Methodist Church in 1939. From 1937 to 1939 he lectured on musical appreciation at the
Adelaide Technical High School. From January 1938 Chinner was employed by the
Australian Broadcasting Commission as deputy conductor (to
William Cade) of the Adelaide Wireless Chorus, remembered for their Sunday evening programme
In Quires and Places (Where They Sing), and the Adelaide Studio Orchestra. In 1945 their functions were separated: Cade was given the orchestra and Chinner made choirmaster. In 1946 the Adelaide Singers supplanted the Adelaide Wireless Chorus, In the 1950s he made several highly praised appearances as guest conductor in other Australian capital cities: •
Messiah with the Hurlstone Choral Society and the
Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the
Sydney Town Hall on 19 December 1951. and reprised on 23 December 1952. •
The Song of Hiawatha with the Queensland State and Municipal Choir in the
Brisbane City Hall on 13 June 1953. •
Messiah with the
Royal Philharmonic Society and the
Victorian Symphony Orchestra at the
Melbourne Town Hall on 20 December 1952. Chinner was involved with
Robert Dalley-Scarlett's programme of recordings to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. He supervised the public musical performances given during her visit to Adelaide in 1954, and a similar programme for the Queen Mother's visit in 1958. Chinner died of a
coronary occlusion on 5 November 1961 at the
Netherby home of his sister. His remains were buried in
Centennial Park Cemetery. ==Family==