Edna Marie Hawkin

Hawkin, Edna Marie

Edna Marie Hawkin (b Steele). Pianist, teacher, organist, b Chesterfield, England, 6 Nov 1896, naturalized Canadian 1925, d Montreal 29 Jul 1988; ARCM, LRAM. Following her musical education in England, where she studied with Frederic Lamond, she came to Canada in 1920, living first in Prince Albert, Sask, then in Regina. She taught 1925-32 at Regina College, where Jean Réti Forbes was among her pupils. After a two-year sojourn in England, which included BBC broadcasts, she settled in Montreal, becoming known as pianist, accompanist, teacher, and adjudicator. She gave classes in pedagogy, accompaniment, and piano ensemble 1956-62 at the McGill Cons and then taught privately. Her pupils included Gian Lyman, Joan Glithero, and Irene Husaruk. Several performed as soloists in the MSO Young People's Concerts. Particularly interested in Bach and Beethoven, Hawkin was heard often on the CBC in works of these and other composers and has accompanied artists for Community Concerts in various centres. She was the first president of the QMTA 1942-5, president 1946-51 of the CFMTA, and president 1949-59 of the McGill Chamber Music Society, with which she also appeared as soloist, and a local executive of the RCCO. In 1967 she was one of six recipients of a CFMTA Centennial Citation for outstanding teaching. Hawkin continued to teach privately until the year before her death.