Winifred Purnell
Australian-born pianist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]