NOTED SINGING TEACHER

Grey River Argus, 27 May 1938, Page 6

NOTED SINGING TEACHER

DEATH IN LONDON. LONDON, May 10. The death has occurred of Miss Anne Williams, formerly head of the Melbourne Conservatorium. She was Dame Nellie Melba’s assistant there, and was well known asl a singer and as a teacher of singing. Miss Williams was a well-known[ musician and teacher, who was a guide, adviser, and friend to many young Australian singers. She was born in Ballarat, and early was noted for her attractive voice and love of music. She went to Melbourne and studied at the University Qonservatorium under the late Madame Jansen.

Dame Nellie Melba showed a keen' interest in the work of Miss Williams, and chose her to play minor parts in one of her Melbourne opera seasons, and also to lead the chorus. It was, however, as a teacher that Miss Williams excelled. When Melba inaugur-[ ated her special singing school at the 1 Melbourne (Albert Street) Conserva-| torium in 1915, she invited Miss Wil-, liams to be one of her two chief study teachers. | In 1920, Miss Williams went to London, where she established her-| self as one of the foremost singing teachers and exponents of the “Melba method.” Among well-known Aus-; tralian singers who studied under her were Miss Gertrude Johnson, Browning Mummery, Miss Madge Elliott, Miss Strella Wilson, Miss Mar-' garet Jewell and Miss Jessie McMichael.