Phyllida Ashley Everingham (née Phyllida Ashley; 1894 — 1975) was an American pianist who rose to fame after World War I.[1][2]

Phyllida Ashley Everingham
Born
Phyllida Ashley

1894
Died1975
OccupationPianist
Spouse
John Summer Everingham
(m. 2018)
Relatives
  • Anne Everingham Adams (daughter)
  • Patricia Everingham (daughter)

Life edit

Ashley — born and raised in Berkeley, California,[3] whose mother and grandmother had already been pianists, had her first piano lessons with her mother, and played for Ignacy Jan Paderewski when she was five. She studied with Fanny Bloomfield-Zeisler and in New York with Paderewski's pupil Sigismond Stojowski.[4] She then worked as a silent film musician and church organist, and made her debut as a concert pianist at the Aeolian Hall.[5]

On August 18, 1917,[4] Ashley married surgeon John Summer Everingham (1885 — 1959), with whom she would share two children, Anne (born 6 April 1919) and Patricia (born 17 September 1924).[6][7] After the First World War, she settled again in San Francisco with her husband. By 1920, Ashley had become popular as a pianist in the east.[8][9] There she appeared twice a week on a radio show and went on concert tours along the west coast. Her daughter Anne Everingham Adams became known as a harpist.[10][11]

References edit

  1. ^ "Phyllida Ashley, Pianist, Applauded". The New York Times. 1928-03-20. p. 20. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  2. ^ "20 May 1927, p.16". The Sacramento Bee. 1927-05-27. p. 16. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  3. ^ "19 Feb 1911, Page 34". Oakland Tribune. 1911-02-19. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  4. ^ a b "A wedding of interest to Topeka people took place Saturday evening". The Topeka State Journal. Topeka, Kansas. 1917-08-23. p. 6.
  5. ^ "Phyllida Ashley Plays Again". The New York Times. 1921-12-04. p. 22. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  6. ^ "John Sumner EVERINGHAM b.1885". 2010-01-23. Archived from the original on 2010-01-23. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  7. ^ 1940 U.S. CENSUS Berkeley, Alameda, CA (Sheet 6A, family #124)
  8. ^ "Miss Phyllida Ashley Wins East Fame". The San Francisco Examiner. 1920-10-24. p. 10. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  9. ^ "7 Jul 1927, p.18". The Fresno Morning Republican. 1927-07-07. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  10. ^ "30 Jul 1933, Page 31". Oakland Tribune. 1933-07-30. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  11. ^ "28 Aug 1933, p.13". The San Francisco Examiner. 1933-08-28. Retrieved 2021-05-06.

Further reading edit