Sister Mary Leo
Encyclopedia
Dame Sister Mary Leo, DBE, RSM
(3 April 18955 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 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 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 order
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.
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.
From 1950 on, honours and plaudits followed the success of such students as Dame Malvina Major
, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
, Dame Heather Begg
, Mina Foley
, Judith Edwards
, Elisabeth Hellawell and Patricia Price.
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.
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
(3 April 18955 May 1989) was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
nun who is best known for training some of the world's finest soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
s, including Dames Malvina Major
Malvina Major
Dame Malvina Lorraine Major, GNZM, DBE is a New Zealand opera singer. She was born in Hamilton, New Zealand into a large musical family. As a child she performed at various concerts, singing mainly country and western pop and music from the shows. She received her first classical training in 1955,...
, Kiri Te Kanawa
Kiri Te Kanawa
Dame Kiri Jeanette Te Kanawa, ONZ, DBE, AC is a New Zealand / Māori soprano who has had a highly successful international opera career since 1968. Acclaimed as one of the most beloved sopranos in both the United States and Britain she possesses a warm full lyric soprano voice, singing a wide array...
and Heather Begg
Heather Begg
Dame Heather Begg, DNZM,OBE was a New Zealand-born operatic mezzo-soprano who spent most of her career in the United Kingdom and Australia. She was renowned in roles such as the title role in Bizet's Carmen, Amneris in Verdi's Aida and in lighter operas such as The Gondoliers...
.
She was born as Kathleen Agnes Niccol in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
and educated by the Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
. 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 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 order
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
in tending to the sick and needy. Sister Mary Leo initially began her teaching career as a violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
teacher. She never received formal training in vocal technique. It was in the late 1930s, after she heard a recording of Deanna Durbin
Deanna Durbin
Deanna Durbin is a Canadian-born, Southern California-raised retired singer and actress, who appeared in a number of musical films in the 1930s and 1940s singing standards as well as operatic arias....
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.
She developed the already strong musical tradition of Saint Mary's College Auckland
Saint Mary's College Auckland
St Mary's College is a year 7 - 13 integrated Catholic girls' high school situated at 11 New Street, Ponsonby, Auckland.-History:St Mary’s College is the oldest existing secondary school for girls in Auckland and one of the oldest existing schools in New Zealand...
, 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.
From 1950 on, honours and plaudits followed the success of such students as Dame Malvina Major
Malvina Major
Dame Malvina Lorraine Major, GNZM, DBE is a New Zealand opera singer. She was born in Hamilton, New Zealand into a large musical family. As a child she performed at various concerts, singing mainly country and western pop and music from the shows. She received her first classical training in 1955,...
, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
Kiri Te Kanawa
Dame Kiri Jeanette Te Kanawa, ONZ, DBE, AC is a New Zealand / Māori soprano who has had a highly successful international opera career since 1968. Acclaimed as one of the most beloved sopranos in both the United States and Britain she possesses a warm full lyric soprano voice, singing a wide array...
, Dame Heather Begg
Heather Begg
Dame Heather Begg, DNZM,OBE was a New Zealand-born operatic mezzo-soprano who spent most of her career in the United Kingdom and Australia. She was renowned in roles such as the title role in Bizet's Carmen, Amneris in Verdi's Aida and in lighter operas such as The Gondoliers...
, Mina Foley
Mina Foley
Mina Foley was a New Zealand coloratura soprano, who rose to prominence in the 1950s. She was the first of many to study under the acclaimed singing teacher Dame Sister Mary Leo...
, Judith Edwards
St Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College is a Catholic college for year 7 to 13 boys . The school, located in Auckland, is one of the largest Catholic schools in New Zealand and is an integrated school under an integration agreement entered into by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland and the Government of New Zealand in...
, Elisabeth Hellawell and Patricia Price.
She was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(MBE) in 1963, and appointed a Dame Commander of the Order (DBE) in 1973. She died in 1989, aged 94.