Winifred Purnell

Winifred Purnell (born 1893) was an Australian-born pianist in England.

History

Winifred was the only daughter of Edward Purnell (c. 1853 – 22 February 1899)[1] and Edith Morland Purnell, née Webb (3 November 1868 – 19 November 1950)[2] who married in 1888.[3] She had three brothers: Edward, Reginald (1890) and Cecil (1894). They had a home at Hill Street, Leichhardt, a suburb of Sydney.

She took lessons with Arthur Mason, Sydney's City Organist, and during this period acted as accompanist to the Sydney Choristers at the Sydney Town Hall.[4] and gave concerts at the YMCA Hall[5]

In 1908 she became a protégée of Mrs Arthur Popplewell (the soprano Rosa Bird), who took her to Hanover, Germany,[6] and to London. She later had financial support from Sir Robert and Lady Lucas Tooth.[7]

In 1912 Purnell and young Australian violinist Godfrey Ludlow gave a command performance at Buckingham Palace for Queen Mary.[8] In 1913 her mother joined her in London.[9]

During the Great War she crossed the Channel nine times, giving concerts for the troops in England, France and Belgium.[10]

In May 1939 she returned to Australia, to visit her mother[11] and to give a ten-week concert tour of Australia for the ABC.[7]

References
  1. "Family Notices". The Australian Star. No. 3441. New South Wales, Australia. 23 February 1899. p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 35, 231. New South Wales, Australia. 20 November 1950. p. 16. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 15, 655. New South Wales, Australia. 28 May 1888. p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "The Sydney Choristers". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 21, 028. New South Wales, Australia. 29 July 1905. p. 12. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Miss Winifred Purnell's Recital". The Daily Telegraph. No. 8709. New South Wales, Australia. 1 May 1907. p. 12. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Australians Abroad". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 22, 031. New South Wales, Australia. 26 August 1908. p. 5. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "For Broadcasting Tour". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 31, 601. New South Wales, Australia. 13 April 1939. p. 24. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Young Australian Musicians". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 23, 191. New South Wales, Australia. 10 May 1912. p. 9. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "World and His Wife". The Sunday Times. No. 1428. New South Wales, Australia. 1 June 1913. p. 25. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Pianist to Give Recital". The Courier-mail. No. 2019. Queensland, Australia. 21 February 1940. p. 18. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Personal Items". The News (Adelaide). Vol. XXXII, no. 4, 942. South Australia. 27 May 1939. p. 5. Retrieved 23 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
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