Maisie Ringham

Maisie Ringham MBE (June 1924[1] – 3 December 2016), later Maisie Ringham-Wiggins, was a British musician. She was the first woman to be a principal trombonist in a British orchestra.

Maisie Ringham

MBE
BornJune 1924
Woolwich, London
Died3 December 2016
Other namesMaisie Ringham-Wiggins
OccupationMusician
Known forFirst female principal trombonist in a British orchestra

Early life

Ringham was born in Woolwich, London. Her parents were both musical, as were two uncles and several male cousins. Having taught herself the basics of how to play the euphonium at the age of 6 she began to study the trombone at the age of 10 with her father as her first teacher.[1] A year later, she took part in a Divisional Young People's Festival in Ipswich, giving an impromptu performance of "Unfathomed Love". The solo was such a success that she was regularly appearing in Salvationist concerts and other events as "The Wonder Girl Trombonist".[2]

Ringham began to take lessons with George Maxted, principal trombone of the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Junior department of Trinity College of Music (now Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance) however her studies with Maxted were disrupted due to her evacuation from London during World War II. In 1941 she was awarded the Candlin Wind Scholarship to study at the Royal Manchester College of Music (now the Royal Northern College of Music) where she studied until 1944.[3][4] Whilst still a student Ringham featured as a soloist on several recordings and was the college's first trombonist to earn a performer's diploma.[5][6]

She lived with relatives in Cardiff during World War II.[6]

Career

Ringham played in the BBC Midland Light Orchestra after college. She was invited to join the Hallé Orchestra in 1944[7] by John Barbirolli,[8] and in that context became the first woman to be a principal trombonist in a British orchestra.[4] She remained with the Hallé Orchestra until 1955.[4] She made several recordings in 1946, and had several trombone compositions written for her, including works by Erik W. G. Leidzén and Ray Steadman-Allen.[6][9]

Ringham taught trombone and continued performing with Salvation Army bands into her later years.[10] For a time she was the denomination's only female bandmaster in the British Territory, and was bandmaster of the London Ladies Brass. She was made a Member of the British Empire in 2011,[11] "for services to music",[12] and accepted the honor "on behalf of all female trombonists, everywhere!"[4][9] In 2016, she received the Sheila Tracy Award from the British Trombone Society.[13]

Trombonist Edward Solomon was one of her students, and was invited to play at her funeral.[13]

Towards the end of her life she ran the Herga Swing Band in Northwood. She once told off a trumpeter for ‘flourishing’ during a performance of The Muppet Show theme tune. He replied that this was a swing band and improvisation was part of the ethos. Uniquely Maisie would conduct the big band like an orchestra and hit the table with her stick whilst doing so to keep the tempo.

Personal life

Ringham married a fellow trombonist, Ray Wiggins, in 1950.[6] They had two children.[12] She died in December 2016, aged 92 years.[4][9] Trombonist Dudley Bright recalled Ringham as "a remarkable lady trombonist in a man's world."[14]

Maisie was a keen football fan and would often go and watch Tottenham Hotspur Ladies.

References
  1. Salmon, Jane (2014). Happy Birthday Maisie! in The Trombonist. p. 15.
  2. Wallace, John (2019). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Brass Instruments. Cambridge University Press. pp. 338–9.
  3. Kennedy, Michael (1971). The History of the Royal Manchester College of Music, 1893-1972. University of Manchester Press. p. 201.
  4. Smith, Jeremy. "First British Female Principal Trombonist Dies at 92" Last Row Music (December 7, 2016).
  5. Kennedy, Michael (1971). The History of the Royal Manchester College of Music, 1893-1972. Manchester University Press. p. 201. ISBN 978-0-7190-0435-3.
  6. "International Trombone Association: Maisie Ringham Wiggins" Windsong Press.
  7. Herbert, Trevor (2006). The Trombone. Yale University Press. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-300-10095-2.
  8. Kennedy, Michael (1982). The Hallé, 1858-1983: A History of the Orchestra. Manchester University Press. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-7190-0921-1.
  9. "Death of Maisie Ringham Wiggins". 4barsrest. 2016-12-07. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  10. Davie, John; Riddell, Alison; Stafford, Sally (4 January 2017). "Tributes to Maisie Wiggins". The Salvation Army Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  11. "MAISIE RINGHAM MBE". North London Musicians and Teachers. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  12. "Northwood trombonist gets MBE". MyLondon. 2010-12-31. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  13. "Maisie Ringham Wiggins (1924-2016)". Edward Solomon. 2016-12-15. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  14. "Summer 2014 Magazine Preview". British Trombone Society. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
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