MISS MARGARET SCHOFIELD

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26204, 30 August 1950, Page 2

MISS MARGARET SCHOFIELD

VISITING AUSTRALIAN PIANIST

An Australian musician, who has had wide and varied experience during her comparatively short career, is Miss Margaret Schofield, who is visiting Christchurch as associate pianist with the celebrated violinist, Alfredo Campoli. Miss Schofield is a graduate of the Melbourne University Conservatorium of Music. After gaining the degree of Bachelor of Music there, she undertook solo recital work and broadcasting, including several engagements with the Australian Broadcasting Commission, for which she toured Australia as associate artist with the American ’cellist, Edmund Kuitz.

After the Second World War Miss Schofield married Mr (now Dr.) Donald Cochrane, who was a.so a graduate of Melbourne University. A fortnight after their marriage Mr and Mrs Cochrane left for England, where Mr Cochrane took up a scholarship which had been granted to him before he entered the Air Force. He studied at Cambridge and his wife continued her musical studies in London under the direction of Solomon, the famous pianist, who visited New Zealand a few years ago.

Then came the next milestone in Miss Schofield’s career. She answered a newspaper advertisement for a staff pianist for the British Broadcasting Corporation. She was selected for the position from a great number of applicants.

“Here I think I was very lucky,” said Miss Schofield, in an interview yesterday. “The 8.8. C. employs only four staff pianists. One has held his poition for 21 years, and another lor 15 years. It was a great piece of good fortune for me that a position fell vacant when I was ready to apply.”

She added that the fact that she had had experience in accompanying and as a solo pianist with the Australian Broadcasting Commission had weighed heavily in her favour when the 8.8. C. appointment was made. But it was not an easy job, Miss Schofield found, although she enjoyed it thoroughly. Through her position, Miss Schofield met musicians, composers and conductors who otherwise would have been little more than names to her. The hours at the 8.8. C. were long and irregular, as she broadcast not only in home progiammes, but also in short-wave programmes. The staff pianists were almost always on call; and often broadcast in three sesions a day.

After spending two years at Cambridge, where he gained a Doctorate of Philosophy, Dr. Cochrane was appointed senior lecturer in mt thematical economics at Melbourne University, and he and his wife returned home.

Miss Schofield said yesterday that she now managed her own home in Melbourne and enjoyed doing the cooking and housework. But she still fulfilled professional engagements. Before coming to New Zealand, she toured Australia with a Viennese soprano, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, who is at present singing at the Edinburgh Festival.

Asked for her advice to young musicians. Miss Schofield said: “If they are getting good teaching at home —that is important—l would advise them not to go too soon to London. There they have to contend against loneliness, the high cost of living, and difficulties of accommodation. No landlady welcomes a pianist under her roof. It requires not only great talent but courage and determination to stick to one’s task among people who are not interested in one or in one’s progress. Opportunities do not open'for many. I advise young musicians to stay at home, study hard under a good teacher, and conserve their finances to launch them in their career later in London.” *