Margot MacGibbon (13 March 1906 – 4 September 1998) was an Australian violinist and teacher, who was in the "top echelons" of

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of Musical instrument, instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a Great chamber, palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music ...

ians. Her MacGibbon string quartet existed for almost 50 years.

Early life

Margot MacGibbon was born in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia on 13 March 1906. As a child, she received lessons from her aunt in both piano and violin, before settling on the latter and performing solo in local concerts. In 1927, MacGibbon was awarded an Associated Board Scholarship to the

Royal Academy of Music The Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, England, is one of the oldest music schools in the UK, founded in 1822 by John Fane and Nicolas-Charles Bochsa. It received its royal charter in 1830 from King George IV with the support of the firs ...

in London. She studied violin with Spencer Dyke, piano with Frank Britton, and harmony with

Harry Farjeon Harry Farjeon (6 May 1878 – 29 December 1948) was a British composer and an influential teacher of harmony and composition at the Royal Academy of Music for more than 45 years. Early life and studies Harry Farjeon was born in Hohokus Township, ...

. Later, she studied under the pianist

Clifford Curzon Sir Clifford Michael Curzon CBE (né Siegenberg; 18 May 19071 September 1982) was an English classical pianist. Curzon studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and subsequently with Artur Schnabel in Berlin and Wanda Landowska and ...

, and violin with Sascha Lasserson. While at the academy, she won a number of prizes, and while still a student was made sub-professor in ensemble playing. In 1931 she married Frederick Jackson, who she had met while at the Royal Academy of Music. Jackson was a pianist and choirmaster. Following their marriage, the couple toured Europe, Australia, and New Zealand - described as "musically inseparable". He died in 1972, while conducting a performance.

Career

MacGibbon formed her string quartet in 1936, going on to perform regularly around the UK, and frequently broadcast on the BBC. The MacGibbon Quartet gave regular concert series at London's

Conway Hall Conway Hall in Red Lion Square, London, is the headquarters of the Conway Hall Ethical Society. It is a Grade II listed building. History The building was commissioned by the South Place Ethical Society, which had previously been accommodated ...

from 1936 to 1969. As well as in her own quartet, MacGibbon performed many times with others over the course of her career, including with well-known ensembles such as the

English Chamber Orchestra The English Chamber Orchestra (ECO) is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and their ensemble performs at Wigmore Hall. With a limited performance size, the orchestra spe ...

. She was a founding member of the

London Mozart Players London Mozart Players (LMP) are a British chamber orchestra founded in 1949. LMP are the longest-established chamber orchestra in the United Kingdom. Since 1989, the orchestra has been Resident Orchestra at Fairfield Halls, Croydon. History Begin ...

under

Harry Blech Hirsch "Harry" Blech CBE (June 1909 – 9 May 1999) was a British violinist and conductor. He founded the London Mozart Players in 1949, and was known also as a conductor of studio recordings for His Master's Voice and Decca Records. Life Harr ...

. Blech praised MacGibbon as an excellent player, saying: “I always liked to have her near the front". ''The Musical Times'' wrote that:

For Margot MacGibbon, versatility was both a professional strength and source of personal pride; but perfectionism of craft was no less central to her approach music.

In 1979, MacGibbon co-founded The Sascha Lasserson Memorial Trust, serving on the panel of adjudicators for the international Lasserson Memorial Violin Competition. Margot MacGibbon continued playing into her nineties, even after suffering a stroke. She still taught, and prepared pupils for exams, at the age of 90. She died in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

on 4 September 1998. ''The Times'' remembered her as "a musician of formidable character, and natural talent", and "a tiny, colourful and complex person". In 1999, the Margot MacGibbon Award for an Australian violinist was established at the Royal Academy of Music, in her memory.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:MacGibbon, Margot 1906 births 1998 deaths Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music Australian emigrants to England Australian violinists People from Bendigo 20th-century Australian musicians 20th-century English musicians