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{{Short description|New Zealand singing coach (1895–1989)}}
{{Refimprove|date=September 2009}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2019}}
'''Dame Sister Mary Leo Niccol''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|DBE|size=85%}} (3 April 1895{{spaced ndash}}5 May 1989) was a New Zealand [[religious sister]] who is best known for training some of the world's finest [[soprano]]s, including [[Mina Foley]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Julie |title=The Sunday Essay: The 'voice of the century' who wound up in a psych hospital for 16 years |url= https://thespinoff.co.nz/the-sunday-essay/10-03-2024/the-sunday-essay-the-voice-of-the-century-who-wound-up-in-a-psych-hospital-for-16-years |access-date=10 March 2024 |work=[[The Spinoff]] |date=10 March 2024}}</ref> Dames [[Malvina Major]], [[Kiri Te Kanawa]], Mona Ross and [[Heather Begg]].


⚫
She was born as '''Kathleen Agnes Niccol''' in [[Auckland]] and educated by the [[Sisters of Mercy]]. She had a talent for music and eventually adopted the vocation of a teacher of music. She took private classes in dancing, elocution, and singing.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4n8/niccol-mary-leo|title=Niccol, Mary Leo|last=Taonga|first=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu|website=teara.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2018-06-06}}</ref>
'''Dame Sister Mary Leo''', [[Order of British Empire|DBE]], [[Sisters of Mercy|RSM]] (3 April 1895{{spaced ndash}}5 May 1989) was a [[New Zealand]] nun who is best known for training some of the world's finest [[soprano]]s, including Dames [[Malvina Major]], [[Kiri Te Kanawa]] and [[Heather Begg]].


⚫
She joined the Sisters of Mercy at the age of 28, taking the religious name Sister Mary Leo. She occupied herself in the work of her [[religious institute]] in tending to the sick and needy. Sister Mary Leo initially began her teaching career as a [[violin]] teacher. She never received formal training in vocal technique. It was in the late 1930s, after she heard a recording of [[Deanna Durbin]] and was so taken with Durbin's natural tone, flexible technique, vocal range, and repertoire that included both opera and light music, that she decided to devote her time to teaching singing.<ref name=":0" />
⚫
She was born as '''Kathleen Agnes Niccol''' in [[Auckland]] and educated by the [[Sisters of Mercy]]. She began to show a musical talent and eventually adopted the vocation of a teacher of music, and took private classes in dancing, elocution, and singing.


⚫
She developed the already strong musical tradition of [[St Mary's College, Auckland|St Mary's College]] in Auckland, with its orchestra, choirs, and individual tuition, and also conducted the Sisters' Choir. From 1934, the college offered private tuition, and her reputation as a vocal coach flourished.<ref name=":0" />
⚫
She became a nun herself with the Sisters of Mercy at the age of 28, taking the religious name Sister Mary Leo. She occupied herself in the work of her [[religious institute]] in tending to the sick and needy. Sister Mary Leo initially began her teaching career as a [[violin]] teacher. She never received formal training in vocal technique. It was in the late 1930s, after she heard a recording of [[Deanna Durbin]] and was so taken with Durbin's natural tone, flexible technique, vocal range and repertoire that included both opera and light music, that she decided to devote her time to teaching singing. {{citation needed|date=September 2009}}


From 1950 on, honours and plaudits followed the success of such students as Dame [[Malvina Major]], Dame [[Kiri Te Kanawa]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/search?commit=Search&search_term=sister+mary+leo&utf8=%E2%9C%93|title=NZ On Screen|last=Screen|first=NZ On|language=en|access-date=2018-06-06}}</ref> Dame [[Heather Begg]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11575563|title=Mixed response to Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's 'beaten by nuns' claim|last=@cath_gaff|first=Catherine Gaffaney Reporter, NZ Herald catherine gaffaney@nzherald co nz|date=2016-01-17|work=NZ Herald|access-date=2018-06-06|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}}</ref> [[Mina Foley]], Judith Edwards, Elisabeth Hellawell, Patricia Price, Mona Ross and Elaine Dow; Leo's influence extended into the [[rock music]] world with student [[Jan Hellriegel]].<ref name=":0" />
⚫
She developed the already strong musical tradition of [[Saint Mary's College Auckland]], with its orchestra, choirs, and individual tuition, and also conducted the Sisters' Choir. From 1934, the college offered private tuition, and her reputation as a vocal coach flourished.
{{citation needed|date=September 2009}}


In 1980 the Grand Opera Society of Auckland established the Dame Sister Mary Leo Scholarship in her honour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.operaschool.org.nz/dame-sister-mary-leo-scholarship/|title=Dame Sister Mary Leo Scholarship|website=Welcome to the New Zealand Opera School|language=en-NZ|access-date=2018-06-06}}</ref> She was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]], for services to music, in the [[1963 New Year Honours (New Zealand)|1963 New Year Honours]],<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=42872 |date=1 January 1963 |page=40 |supp=3}}</ref> and elevated to [[Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] in the [[1973 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)|1973 Queen's Birthday Honours]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45985 |date=2 June 1973 |page=6508 |supp=2}}</ref> She died in 1989, aged 94.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnzb.govt.nz/DNZB/alt_essayBody.asp?essayID=4N8|title=New Zealand gvmt essay|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}}</ref>
From 1950 on, honours and plaudits followed the success of such students as [[Malvina Major|Dame Malvina Major]], [[Kiri Te Kanawa|Dame Kiri Te Kanawa]], [[Heather Begg|Dame Heather Begg]], [[Mina Foley]], [[St Peter's College, Auckland|Judith Edwards]], [[Elisabeth Hellawell]], [[Patricia Price]] and Leo's influence even extended into the [[Rock Music]] world with student [[Jan Hellriegel]].


==References==
She was named a Member of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in 1963, and appointed a Dame Commander of the Order (DBE) in 1973. She died in 1989, aged 94.
{{Reflist}}


{{Authority control}}
==External links==
*[http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/DNZB/alt_essayBody.asp?essayID=4N8 Sister Mary Leo biography]


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Leo, Mary
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1895
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 1989
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leo, Mary}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leo, Mary}}
[[Category:1895 births]]
[[Category:1895 births]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:New Zealand music teachers]]
[[Category:New Zealand music educators]]
[[Category:Voice teachers]]
[[Category:Voice teachers]]
[[Category:Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:New Zealand Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Musicians awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:Musicians awarded knighthoods]]
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[[Category:New Zealand dames]]
[[Category:New Zealand schoolteachers]]
[[Category:New Zealand schoolteachers]]
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[[Category:New Zealand Roman Catholic religious sisters and nuns]]
[[Category:People from Auckland]]
[[Category:People from Auckland]]
[[Category:Sisters of Mercy]]
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[[Category:20th-century New Zealand Roman Catholic nuns]]
⚫
[[Category:New Zealand women music educators]]
[[Category:20th-century New Zealand women educators]]
[[Category:20th-century New Zealand educators]]

Latest revision as of 01:35, 14 September 2024

Dame Sister Mary Leo Niccol DBE (3 April 1895 – 5 May 1989) was a New Zealand religious sister who is best known for training some of the world's finest sopranos, including Mina Foley,[1] Dames Malvina Major, Kiri Te Kanawa, Mona Ross and Heather Begg.

She was born as Kathleen Agnes Niccol in Auckland and educated by the Sisters of Mercy. She had a talent for music and eventually adopted the vocation of a teacher of music. She took private classes in dancing, elocution, and singing.[2]

She joined the Sisters of Mercy at the age of 28, taking the religious name Sister Mary Leo. She occupied herself in the work of her religious institute in tending to the sick and needy. Sister Mary Leo initially began her teaching career as a violin teacher. She never received formal training in vocal technique. It was in the late 1930s, after she heard a recording of Deanna Durbin and was so taken with Durbin's natural tone, flexible technique, vocal range, and repertoire that included both opera and light music, that she decided to devote her time to teaching singing.[2]

She developed the already strong musical tradition of St Mary's College in Auckland, with its orchestra, choirs, and individual tuition, and also conducted the Sisters' Choir. From 1934, the college offered private tuition, and her reputation as a vocal coach flourished.[2]

From 1950 on, honours and plaudits followed the success of such students as Dame Malvina Major, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa,[3] Dame Heather Begg,[4] Mina Foley, Judith Edwards, Elisabeth Hellawell, Patricia Price, Mona Ross and Elaine Dow; Leo's influence extended into the rock music world with student Jan Hellriegel.[2]

In 1980 the Grand Opera Society of Auckland established the Dame Sister Mary Leo Scholarship in her honour.[5] She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to music, in the 1963 New Year Honours,[6] and elevated to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1973 Queen's Birthday Honours.[7] She died in 1989, aged 94.[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hill, Julie (10 March 2024). "The Sunday Essay: The 'voice of the century' who wound up in a psych hospital for 16 years". The Spinoff. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Niccol, Mary Leo". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  3. ^ Screen, NZ On. "NZ On Screen". Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  4. ^ @cath_gaff, Catherine Gaffaney Reporter, NZ Herald catherine gaffaney@nzherald co nz (17 January 2016). "Mixed response to Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's 'beaten by nuns' claim". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 6 June 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Dame Sister Mary Leo Scholarship". Welcome to the New Zealand Opera School. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  6. ^ "No. 42872". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 1 January 1963. p. 40.
  7. ^ "No. 45985". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 2 June 1973. p. 6508.
  8. ^ "New Zealand gvmt essay".
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