MISS EILEEN JOYCE

Evening Star, Issue 22444, 15 September 1936, Page 6

MISS EILEEN JOYCE

GIFTED PIANIST'S VISIT The first public appearance in Dunedin of Miss Eileen Joyce, the worldfamous pianist, who is under engagement to the National Broadcasting Service, will be made at the Town Hall on Monday evening next. Many writers have referred to Miss Joyce as the West Australian pianist, and that is not surprising, for she has spent a great deal of time in West Australia, ft was while she was studying in an Australian convent that Percy Grainger heard her play and described her as the most transcendently gifted child he had heard in 25. years. Her rise to world-wide fame is a story of indomitable courage, and a triumph over insuperable difficulties. Not until she was about 10 was she able to write her own name. It was at Boulder City (about 1923) that Miss Joyce saw a piano for the first time. Her father taught her the notes, and soon she was playing simple tunes, and simple they might have remained if Father O’Hurley, a Catholic priest, had not heard her. He was really the first to recognise her gift, hut later Backhans, while on tour, heard her, and decreed that sho should go to Leipzig, and there she went. Since then this gifted girl has delighted critical audiences in Europe. Miss Joyce will play 1 Symphonic Variations ’ (Cesar Franck) with the 4YA Orchestra, conducted by Mr Gil Dech; ‘ Arabesque ’ (Schumann) ; and ‘ Ballade in G Minor’ (Chopin). The assisting artists will be Mr Wilfred Kershaw (bass), who will sing ‘ln a Churchyard ’ ■ (Brahms) and 1 The Blacksmith ’ (Koenemanac). There will he special concession terms offered to students and pupils in parties of five or more. The box plan will be opened at Begg’s to-morrow, when seats at 3s and 2s can be reserved without tax or booking fee.