Another fantastic Distribution of Awards programme, loaned from Gladys Williams, Northern School of Music alumna. Anyone recognise these names?

Ref: GWilliams

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Official magazine of the Northern School of Music, covering the academic year 1953-54
This particular publication highlights the growing popularity of the school, its progression and the obstacles that accompany this, a precursor to the future developments to come. The editorial vividly describes the lack of space and resources for students and staff, noting the common sight of ‘violin lessons in the secretary’s office’, ‘trumpet lesson in the student’s study or a trombone lesson in the staff canteen’. Former head teacher and founder of the NSM Ida Carroll notes the increased total of 9 to 560 students in 30 years.
1954 marked the first generation of graduates of the Northern School of Music awarded with said status. Further expression of the School’s progress over the years is detailed on page five with ‘The Work of the Northern School of Music’ – Ida Carroll’s contribution to “Music in Manchester” by South Manchester Halle Club.
Numerous concerts and public events are also included, with the annual picnic, Christmas and Opera party providing an insight into student life at the Northern School of Music.
Pages 20-25 have been censored to protect personal data.

Many thanks to Gladys Williams for the loan of these fantastic programmes! The Northern School of Music was able to grant their own degrees from 1952. This Distribution of Awards programme shows the school students in 1963, these ceremonies were given in the Houldsworth Hall on Deansgate.

Ref: GWilliams

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll thanks Hubert for his letter and photograph, enclosing a photo of his own of himself and his daughter Ida Carroll. He is pleased with Hubert's news to stay on course. "Go ahead - and win."

Ref: HH/4/19

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll expresses "great pleasure" to hear about how happy Hubert is in his new home. He hopes he still practices "joint reading" and relays that he does not see Dr. Scholes often but hopes to see him again. He encloses a photograph of himself and his daughter Ida Carroll. He hopes his concerts will be a success and this music is useful.

Ref: HH/4/18

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll wishes of Hubert Harry that he "could call once more for a long talk and a short meal as in olden days." He relays that he has shared Hubert's address with Percy Scholes "the famous Music Man of Oxford" who is shortly to visit Switzerland. He believes that Hubert "may help me in my final effort to achieve a real system based on Nature for young pupils."

Ref: HH/4/17

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll updates Hubert Harry on his wife's health. He shares that a student helps him in writing and reading.

Ref: HH/4/16

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll congratulates Hubert on his successes. "You and I did good work in training your mind in life and character; your music developed through Miss Collens and the Masters who followed."

Ref: HH/4/15

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Copy of a letter from Hubert Harry in which he relays how excited he is about meeting up with Ida Carroll after many years before he leaves for Switzerland. He hopes to be able to see him on another visit. He explains that is the conductor Stanley Pope who has given him the opportunity to play at the Royal Festival Hall. He is going to give a recital in November also, and begin a series of five lectures in German on "Virtuoso Piano music from the 18th century to the present." In January, he will have two recitals in the Hague and Amsterdam. In February he is playing one of his favourite pieces, Rachmaninoff's 2nd Concerto, in Geneva. He shares that "quite a number of of my pupils are playing your wonderful 'Sea Idylls' they just adore them. The will be playing a number of them at a student's concert in the near future."

Ref: HH/4/14

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll praises Hubert for making a good life and career for himself. He is pleased by Hubert's interest in his compositions and booklets and asks him to share them with his new circle. The household is celebrating Mrs. Carroll's birthday today, she is "a lesson to all who admire British grit and energy."

Ref: HH/4/13

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll updates Hubert on his health and wishes for his remaining days, " I am awaiting that peace which cannot now be found in Life." He references a booklet he sends to Hubert which he finished writing in 1950. He hopes that Hubert is happy and "working hard to make the power of Music a help towards a better world."

Ref: HH/4/12

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll thanks Hubert for the gift he sent, "the six small boxes of cheese are indeed welcome visitors in a strange land which gave all to win the war and now is able to get the least possible foot at the highest possible price." He hopes his radio broadcast was a success and asks about the result of his examination. He reminisces about their regular Wednesday talks and that their memory comforts him as he gets weaker.

Ref: H/4/11

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll shares his great pleasure at receiving Hubert's "beautiful" letter. He shares that he is growing weaker, and must dictate his letters, that he "can no longer walk, read or write; but I can get great pleasure from thought, memory, and the love of my friends."

Ref: HH/4/10

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Letter from Hubert Harry to Walter Carroll in which Hubert thanks Carroll for the advice. He is pleased that Carroll liked the cheese he sent. He updates Carroll on his news: he has been broadcast on the radio and describes the programme. He hopes to soon take the examination for the Prix de Virtuosite in April and June. He has a concert coming up in April. "I am well, woking hard, thinking well - and deeply, deeply grateful (even if I procrastinate horribly with my letters!) for my dear friedn Dr. Carroll." He reminisces about their Wednesday night talks.

Ref: HH/4/9

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll reminisces about talking with Hubert at the spot where is is writing, "Our meetings gave us both much pleasure and seem almost to belong to dreamland!" He writes about politics, proclaiming that "Parliament are the only people who have plenty."

Ref: HH/4/8

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll is pleased to hear Hubert's judgement about his future is "steady" and that "a wide and varied view now is better than a too sudden decision." He advises Hubert to carry on, doing stead work every day and not to panic about the future. He shares with Harry that she should not "change a vital principle because of a temporary clash of method: and never believe that any one interpretation is necessarily the last and best. Art is infinite."

Ref: HH/4/7

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll informs Hubert Harry that the letter is dictated and not in his hand as "my hands will not bear long usage." He thanks Hubert for the letter and advises him not to leave Switzerland before midsummer 1947. He encourages him to continue to work with "X" until Christmas, and that he would "greatly benefit by visiting other towns, meeting musicians, hearing fine players and gaining precious knowledge by this experience." Hubert should continue to practice and he advises him to consult with Hilda Collens about what to do after Christmas. He further advises Hubert to believe in himself and to "face everything cheerfully."

Ref: HH/4/6

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll confesses that his writing is getting weaker, and on his work. "Life is a real game of chess: always striving: making blunders: then striving again." He is pleased that Hubert seems optimistic about his time at the Lucerne Conservatoire and predicts that "1946 will be a great star in your firmament."

Ref: HH/4/5

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll thanks Hubert Harry for the fruit he sent and hopes Hubert's Latin is improving.

I can now only read this letter in "expectant yet disappointed teacher voice."

Ref: HH/4/4

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll confesses to Hubert Harry that in later life, the greatest pleasure is to be of service to someone, to be helpful and that "every time you feel joy in giving pleasure to others you are furthering the welfare of all." In younger years the urge is to lead.

Ref: HH/4/3

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll here talks about some unidentified object - an instrument maybe? - marketed at £303, in his letter to Hubert Harry. He says that he can be found in his room on Albert Square. Now, this might indicate that Walter Carroll worked with the Manchester School of Music. This school was a private venture offering private music lessons in the basement of one of the buildings at Albert Square. The school no longer exists and there is very little information about it.
If you remember the school, please do get in touch!

Ref: HH/4/2

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Walter Carroll (1869-1955, father of Ida Carroll, teacher, composer and music education professional) sends a note to Hubert Harry thanking him for a gift. He writes from Portpatrick, a favoured holiday spot for him and his family, which inspired some of his most successful compositions for children.

Ref: HH/4/1

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ida Carroll, in her late 80s, writes that she is "fit as a flea" but that her sister Elsa and friend Griff are weakening. She is grateful to think that she has continued the legacy of Hilda Collens and Walter Carroll and that she is "still FIGHTING FIT!!"

Ref: HH/3/19

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

How time flies! Ida Carroll reflects on the years and updates Hubert Harry on friends health.

Ref: HH/3/18

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.