Mossie Hancock

Mossie Hancock

Mossie (Ida) Hancock (b McCrae). Pianist, teacher, broadcaster, critic, writer, actress, b Mervin, near Lloydminster, Sask, 14 Sep 1915, d Regina 15 Jan 2011; LRSM 1938, LTCL 1941. A student of Lyell Gustin in Canada, Mossie Hancock went on to study piano in England with Iso Elinson, earning diplomas from the Royal Schools of Music and Trinity College, London. With her husband, Gordon Hancock, she formed a piano duo, their performances including Mozart's Concerto in E Flat with the Regina Symphony Orchestra in 1958 and many public and CBC recitals. They were co-hosts 1959-74 for the music appreciation programs "As You Like It" and "The Music of Man" on CKCK radio, Regina. Mossie Hancock was a music and theatre critic for CBC radio for many years and contributed short stories and comedy sketches to such CBC radio programs as "Ambience" and "Mixed Company."

She was a long-time teacher at the Regina Conservatory of Music and adjudicated music competitions throughout Canada. She wrote for the Canada Music Book and Musicanada and in 1988 published the book Music for One, Music for All: The Story of the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association 1908-1988. Hancock served on the Saskatchewan Arts Board and in 1988 was made an honorary life member of the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals.