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Celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of one of Australia's most accomplished musicians at this special presentation by Dr Jeanell Carrigan AM. Discover the extraordinary story of composer, concert pianist, poet and educator Miriam Hyde AO OBE, whose prolific career helped shape Australia's musical landscape for more than seven decades. Through engaging commentary and rare musical performances from Hyde's own compositions—including recordings of Hyde herself—Dr Carrigan will illuminate the artistry, achievements and enduring influence of this exceptional Australian woman.
Miriam Hyde was a supremely artistic woman. Not only a brilliant pianist with a strong technique, playing difficult repertoire well into her 80s but a composer of hundreds of works, a writer and a poet. Born in Adelaide, Hyde’s first piano tuition came from her mother. She attended the University of Adelaide receiving the University’s Diploma (AMUA) in 1928 and graduating with the Mus.Bac. in 1931. Hyde was the youngest graduate of the university faculty and won the Elder Scholarship which enabled her to study at the Royal College of Music, London.
When she returned to Australia, she lived in Sydney where she was active as composer, recitalist, teacher, examiner, lecturer, and writer of numerous articles for music journals. She was a patron of the Music Teachers’ Association of NSW and South Australia, the Blue Mountains Eisteddfod Association, the Australian Musicians Academy, honorary life member of the Fellowship of Australian Composers and of the Strathfield Symphony Orchestra. Her musical output includes many works for piano, more than fifty songs, for which she often wrote the lyrics, chamber music, sonatas for viola, clarinet, flute, four overtures and various other orchestral works. Apart from this prodigious output she wrote nearly 500 poems and published her autobiography Complete Accord in 1991. Special awards include OBE (1981), AO (1991), International Woman of the Year (1991-1992), and honorary F. Mus. A. awarded to her in 1995.
This presentation will demonstrate the importance of Miriam Hyde to Australian musical life discussing her many achievements and playing musical examples from her many compositions including performances by Hyde herself.
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