A TRAGIC COINCIDENCE
Death of Ava Symons nouncement from Auckland of the deaths of F. E. Egerton and L. R. Brakenrig, both well known local musicians who had been associated with the Centennial Festival, last week came news of the sudden death of Ava-Symons (Mrs. W. Prouse), who had been touring with the Centennial Symphony Orchestra. She had been taken ill after the orchestra’s final performance in Auckland and died there just before she was to come to Wellington to lead the Wellington Symphony Orchestra during the Centennial Celebrations in the Capital. By a tragic coincidence, the programme of the Wellington season of the "music festival contained Cesar Franck’s "Symphony in D Minor,’ which was the work being rehearsed in Auckland when Mr, Brakenrig died suddenly. At this rehearsal, " Nimrod," one of Elgar’s "Enigma" Variations, was beautifully played as the orchestra’s tribute to Mr. Brakenrig, and in this Ava Symons played with the first violins as usual. At the Wellington concert (on Wednesday, June 26), before Cesar Franck’s Symphony was played, it was preceded by spoken appreciations by Messrs. Wm. Page and D. A. Ewen, and once again the orchestra most expressively played "Nimrod," this time as their tribute to another departed comrade. Ava Symons was undoubtedly one of New Zealand’s outstanding musicians. Her studies in New Zealand had been elaborated on two visits to Europe. Y OLLOWING closely on the an-
Her fame as a musician was not confined to New Zealand. As a member of the Symons-Ellwood-Short trio she was Known as one among three musicians whose performances were regarded as almost unequalled this side of the Equator. It was this trio which first introduced her to broadcasting. They played on the opening night of 2YA, and continued giving regular performances for 18 months before the 2YA Orchestra was formed. Miss Symons became leader, Mr. Ellwood was conductor, and Mr, Short began an eight-year term as official accompanist for 2YA. When this happened the trio had performed no fewer than 80 major musical works, and Miss Symons was to continue with season after season of outstanding recitals,
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 54, 5 July 1940, Page 12
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349A TRAGIC COINCIDENCE New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 54, 5 July 1940, Page 12
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