Maude Mary Puddy
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Puddy was born in Brompton, South Australia on 27 March 1883.[1] She was the third daughter of Cornish-born Jane (née Coombe) and Devon-born Albert Puddy.[2][3]
She was educated at the Currie Street Model School[4] and then Advanced School for Girls in Grote Street, Adelaide.[1] From the age of eight she was taught piano by her father. In 1893, competing against girls of 15, she won the annual Public School Exhibition for piano. She performed a public concert in August 1894 and was praised for both her technique and "con amore style of playing".[5] She won the Public School Exhibition for piano again in 1894.[4] She began lessons with Gotthold Reimann at the Adelaide College of Music in 1895 and continued under his tuition when the college merged with the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide.[6] In 1898 Puddy received special mention by the examiners assessing the competitors for the Elder pianoforte scholarship.[7] The following year she won that three-year scholarship.[8] In 1900 she was awarded the first diploma of associate of music[9] and in 1905 she graduated with a bachelor of music.[10]
