Lina Drechsler Adamson

Lina Drechsler Adamson (1876 – 28 February 1960) was a Canadian violinist, conductor, and music educator.

Lina Drechsler Adamson
A white woman with hair in a bouffant style, wearing a white lace-trimmed top or dress
Lina Drechsler Adamson, from a 1912 publication
Born
Emily Caroline Adamson

1876
Brockville, Ontario, Canada
Died28 February 1960
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)Violinist, conductor, music educator
Parent

Early life and education edit

Adamson was born in Brockville, Ontario, the daughter of James Robertson Adamson and Bertha Drechsler Adamson.[1] Both of her parents were born in Scotland. Her mother was a violinist and music educator.[2] She trained as a violinist in Leipzig with Hans Sitt,[3] and in Switzerland with André de Ribaupierre [de].[4]

Career edit

Back in Toronto after her European training, Adamson was considered one of the city's "prominent violinists".[5] "She produced a good tone and showed good artistic judgment in phrasing and rhythm," reported a 1910 reviewer.[6] She taught at the Toronto Conservatory of Music,[7] and played in the conservatory's string quartet and string orchestra.[8]

Adamson also played with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra,[9] and gave solo recitals.[10] She accompanied contralto Eva Mylott at a concert in New York in 1908.[11] During World War I, she organized a musical program for a recruiting event at Toronto's Hippodrome.[12] Later in her career, she conducted the conservatory's well-regarded junior orchestra,[13][14][15] and the Toronto Ladies Ensemble.[16] "Miss Adamson's skilful bow-arm conducting at rehearsals was the prime cause of so many various young players doing such a crisp, lively performance, without juvenile string-scratching," noted a Toronto Star reviewer in 1939.[17]

Personal life edit

Adamson died in 1960, in her eighties, in Toronto.[18]

References edit

  1. ^ "Miss Lina Drechsler-Adamson" The Conservatory Bi-Monthly 11(1)(January 1912): 9-10. via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ "Well-Known Musician Dies Very Suddenly". The Toronto Star. 1924-05-12. p. 29. Retrieved 2023-10-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Coming and Going". The Buffalo News. 1903-02-25. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-10-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Bertha Drechsler Adamson". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  5. ^ Hubbard, William Lines. History of Foreign Music, with introduction by Frederick Starr (Toledo: The Squire Cooley Co., 1910): 250.
  6. ^ "Trio of Brahms Gave Great Concert". The Toronto Star. 1910-01-13. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-10-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Toronto Conservatory of Music" Musical Canada 8(10)(February 1914): 288.
  8. ^ "Orchestra Concert and Violin Recital". The Toronto Star. 1910-03-21. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-10-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "The Toronto Symphony Orchestra" The Conservatory Bi-Monthly 7(6)(November 1908): 166. via Internet Archive
  10. ^ "The Toronto Conservatory of Music" Musical Canada 8(8)(December 1913): 213.
  11. ^ "Conservatory Announcements and Events" The Conservatory Bi-Monthly 9(1)(January 1910): 23. via Internet Archive.
  12. ^ "Miss Lena Adamson". The Toronto Star. 1916-02-19. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-10-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Society Highlights". The Toronto Star. 1939-05-03. p. 26. Retrieved 2023-10-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Junior Orchestra to Play". The Toronto Star. 1942-04-11. p. 28. Retrieved 2023-10-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Junior Orchestra Again Acclaimed". The Toronto Star. 1943-05-08. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-10-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Bridle, Augustus (1928-12-03). "Toronto Ensemble Gives Good Program". The Toronto Star. p. 28. Retrieved 2023-10-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Bridle, Augustus (1939-05-06). "Juvenile Orchestra Plays Fine Program". The Toronto Star. p. 19. Retrieved 2023-10-01 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Obituary for Lina Adamson". The Toronto Star. 1960-02-29. p. 29. Retrieved 2023-10-01 – via Newspapers.com.

External links edit