Olive Smith
Encyclopedia
Olive Smith was a lifelong campaigner on behalf of classical music
in Ireland
. She co-founded the Music Association of Ireland
, was the first director of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, and was a conductor of the Olivian Singers and the Culwick Choral Society.
. Olive was educated at Alexandra College
and Trinity College, Dublin
. In 1932, she married Lyall Gilchrist Smith, a chemist.
In 1948, Smith co-founded the Music Association of Ireland
and became its first treasurer. Over the following three decades, she held in turn each position on the MAI's management committee, including chairman, and was responsible for many of the association's initiatives to promote classical music, especially among young people. In July 1978, after her term as chairman had ended, Smith was awarded an honorary doctorate by Trinity College, Dublin, in recognition of her "devoted service to the Music Association of Ireland".
In May 1957, Smith founded the Olivian Singers, a female choir, which she conducted at their inaugural concert on January 6 1958 in Alexandra College. In March 1963, the Olivian Singers participated in the first performance in Ireland of Benjamin Britten
's War Requiem
, which took place in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
. For several years in the early-1960s, Smith was also chorus mistress of the Culwick Choral Society, a Dublin choir founded in 1898. She was succeeded in that role by Seoirse Bodley
.
In 1970, Smith and violinist Hugh Maguire
founded the Irish Youth Orchestra (now the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland). She was the orchestra's first director until her retirement from that position in 1982.
Smith was appointed to the Cultural Relations Committee in January 1982. Set up in 1949, the committee advised the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the administration of funds allocated for the development of cultural relations with other countries.
churchyard.
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. She co-founded the Music Association of Ireland
Music Association of Ireland
The Music Association of Ireland was set up in 1948 to improve the position of classical music within the cultural life of Ireland. It was instrumental in setting up the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and played a leading role in the long-running campaign to establish Ireland's National...
, was the first director of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, and was a conductor of the Olivian Singers and the Culwick Choral Society.
Early life
Born Mabel Olive Richardson, she was the third daughter of a Dublin merchant, Charles E. Richardson and his wife, Alice Maud Metcalfe. The family lived in RathgarRathgar
Rathgar is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, lying about 3 kilometres south of the city centre.-Amenities:Rathgar is largely a quiet suburb with good amenities, including primary and secondary schools, nursing homes, child-care and sports facilities, and good public transport to the city centre...
. Olive was educated at Alexandra College
Alexandra College
Alexandra College is a private, single-sex school located in Milltown, Dublin, Ireland. It serves girls from ages 4 to 19 as boarding or day pupils. The school is one of the most prestigious in Ireland and ranks highly in Leaving Certificate results tables...
and Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. In 1932, she married Lyall Gilchrist Smith, a chemist.
Career in music
Smith combined her fulltime job as an administrator in Trinity College with her voluntary work in a variety of roles in Ireland's musical life.In 1948, Smith co-founded the Music Association of Ireland
Music Association of Ireland
The Music Association of Ireland was set up in 1948 to improve the position of classical music within the cultural life of Ireland. It was instrumental in setting up the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and played a leading role in the long-running campaign to establish Ireland's National...
and became its first treasurer. Over the following three decades, she held in turn each position on the MAI's management committee, including chairman, and was responsible for many of the association's initiatives to promote classical music, especially among young people. In July 1978, after her term as chairman had ended, Smith was awarded an honorary doctorate by Trinity College, Dublin, in recognition of her "devoted service to the Music Association of Ireland".
In May 1957, Smith founded the Olivian Singers, a female choir, which she conducted at their inaugural concert on January 6 1958 in Alexandra College. In March 1963, the Olivian Singers participated in the first performance in Ireland of Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
's War Requiem
War Requiem
The War Requiem, Op. 66 is a large-scale, non-liturgical setting of the Requiem Mass composed by Benjamin Britten mostly in 1961 and completed January 1962. Interspersed with the traditional Latin texts, in telling juxtaposition, are settings of Wilfred Owen poems...
, which took place in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
Saint Patrick's Cathedral , or more formally, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Patrick is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Dublin, Ireland which was founded in 1191. The Church has designated it as The National Cathedral of Ireland...
. For several years in the early-1960s, Smith was also chorus mistress of the Culwick Choral Society, a Dublin choir founded in 1898. She was succeeded in that role by Seoirse Bodley
Seóirse Bodley
Seóirse Bodley is an Irish composer and former associate professor of music at University College Dublin . He has been Saoi of Aosdána since 2008.-Biography:...
.
In 1970, Smith and violinist Hugh Maguire
Hugh Maguire (violinist)
Hugh Maguire is an Irish violinist, leader, concertmaster and principal player of the London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra , leader of the Melos Ensemble and the Allegri Quartet, a professor at the Royal Academy of Music, and violin tutor to the National Youth Orchestra of...
founded the Irish Youth Orchestra (now the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland). She was the orchestra's first director until her retirement from that position in 1982.
Smith was appointed to the Cultural Relations Committee in January 1982. Set up in 1949, the committee advised the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the administration of funds allocated for the development of cultural relations with other countries.
Personal life
Smith's husband, Lyall, predeceased her in January 1969. They had a daughter, Gillian. Olive Smith died in Highfield Private Hospital aged 87 and is buried in EnniskerryEnniskerry
Enniskerry is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It had a population of 2,672 at the 2006 census.- Location :...
churchyard.