Llewela Davies (February 1871 – 22 August 1952) [1] was a Welsh pianist and composer who toured with Dame Nellie Melba. [2]
Llewela Tegwedd Davies was born at Talgarth, near Brecon, in South Wales. [3] Her father was Rhys Davies, a justice of the peace. [4] [5] At age 10 she won a medal and a cash prize at the National Eisteddfod, and earned a scholarship to attend the North London Collegiate School for Girls. [6]
She attended the Royal Academy of Music on a John Thomas Welsh scholarship awarded in 1887, and as a student there won many awards for composition and musicianship, [7] including the " Worshipful Company of Musicians Medal for the Most Distinguished Student in the Academy." [8] [9] As a pianist Llewela Davies was often an accompanist for student vocal recitals during her college years. [10] She later earned a music degree from London University. [11]
Her instructor at the Royal Academy, Walter Macfarren, was the brother of composer George Alexander Macfarren and brother-in-law of composer Emma Maria Macfarren; his other students included notable musicians Ethel Mary Boyce, Dora Bright, Stewart Macpherson and Agnes Zimmermann. [12]
Llewela Davies' most prominent performances were with Nellie Melba; Davies and her husband toured with the singer, though North America, Australia, and New Zealand. [13] [14] She performed twice at the Three Choirs Festival, and as a pianist at the National Eisteddfod. She also performed at the Annual Reid Concert in Edinburgh in 1899. [15] She was welcomed in Welsh villages as a guest performer at special events. [4]
Davies taught at London University after earning her degree there. [11] Later in life she was a professor of piano at Guildhall School of Music. [16] Her compositions include Three Sketches (for orchestra), [17] a string quartet, and a Violin Sonata in E (1894). [14]
Miss Davies married fellow Welsh musician Frederic Griffith (or Griffiths) in 1898, [18] [19] and lived in London thereafter. She was widowed when Frederic Griffith died in 1917. She died in London in 1952 at the age of 81. [15]
Llewela Davies (February 1871 – 22 August 1952) [1] was a Welsh pianist and composer who toured with Dame Nellie Melba. [2]
Llewela Tegwedd Davies was born at Talgarth, near Brecon, in South Wales. [3] Her father was Rhys Davies, a justice of the peace. [4] [5] At age 10 she won a medal and a cash prize at the National Eisteddfod, and earned a scholarship to attend the North London Collegiate School for Girls. [6]
She attended the Royal Academy of Music on a John Thomas Welsh scholarship awarded in 1887, and as a student there won many awards for composition and musicianship, [7] including the " Worshipful Company of Musicians Medal for the Most Distinguished Student in the Academy." [8] [9] As a pianist Llewela Davies was often an accompanist for student vocal recitals during her college years. [10] She later earned a music degree from London University. [11]
Her instructor at the Royal Academy, Walter Macfarren, was the brother of composer George Alexander Macfarren and brother-in-law of composer Emma Maria Macfarren; his other students included notable musicians Ethel Mary Boyce, Dora Bright, Stewart Macpherson and Agnes Zimmermann. [12]
Llewela Davies' most prominent performances were with Nellie Melba; Davies and her husband toured with the singer, though North America, Australia, and New Zealand. [13] [14] She performed twice at the Three Choirs Festival, and as a pianist at the National Eisteddfod. She also performed at the Annual Reid Concert in Edinburgh in 1899. [15] She was welcomed in Welsh villages as a guest performer at special events. [4]
Davies taught at London University after earning her degree there. [11] Later in life she was a professor of piano at Guildhall School of Music. [16] Her compositions include Three Sketches (for orchestra), [17] a string quartet, and a Violin Sonata in E (1894). [14]
Miss Davies married fellow Welsh musician Frederic Griffith (or Griffiths) in 1898, [18] [19] and lived in London thereafter. She was widowed when Frederic Griffith died in 1917. She died in London in 1952 at the age of 81. [15]