Ida Carroll, with an unidentified, smiling little boy. Ida Carroll, lived until the age of 90, passing away in 1995.
(Date estimated)
Ref: CARROLLIGC/11/1/55

With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust

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

Photograph of two women on a beach.
From Ida Carroll's personal collection
(Date estimated)

Ref: CARROLL/GC/11/1/15

With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust

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

Photograph of a woman smiling for the camera!
From Ida Carroll's personal collection.
(Date estimated)

Ref: CARROLL/GC/11/1/11

With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust

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

Photograph of two children on a beach, posing for the camera! From Ida Carroll's personal collection.
(Date estimated)

Ref: CARROLL/GC/11/1/3

With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust

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

Photograph of an unidentified child from Ida Carroll's personal collection.
(Date estimated)

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/1/1

With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust

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

Cute little postcard sent from lake Attersee in Austria, from Clifford Curzon to Hubert Harry.

The note could say something really interesting if only I could read it!

Ref: HH/2/6

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

Clifford Curzon thanks Hubert Harry for sending the programmes by post, and urges him to buy ice creams for his children with any change left over from the postage fee he included. Cute.

Ref: HH/2/5

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

Clifford Curzon quotes Lionel Trilling's introduction to a copy of Keat's poetry, proclaiming that it reminded him of Hubert Harry.

He shares that "Being an artist means being manic-depressive- and we just have to learn to live with ourselves. I can deeply sympathise, because I too suffer from suicidal, cave-like depressions periodically; but I know the pendulum does always swing, however slowly, in the opposite direction."

He relays that he enjoyed spending time with him and his wife and children. "In spite of your present difficulties, I feel you have made a fine and successful life for yourself, and I am happy about it."

Ref: HH/2/4

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

Clifford Curzon writes to Hubert Harry on his way to Paris. He regrets that he could not meet for a preview [of a concert?] and wishes him huge success. Curzon was pleased to meet Hubert's wife but admits that he had no idea he was even married. He asks Hubert if he will become a Swiss citizen.

Ref: HH/2/3

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

Here Clifford Curzon relays that Hubert Harry's success means a lot to Hilda Collens, both personally and for the Northern School of Music, especially given her ill health.

He wishes to hear about his concerts and is impressed with his lecture series. He explains that he is currently on his sixth tour of the USA.

He hopes to take a sabbatical after next season as he cannot imagine staying in America permanently. Working in America, he says, is akin to "carrying a load of burning coals - one can't drop it... and one can't hold it."

Ref: HH/2/2

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

A nice archive-y bundle of notes and letters from Clifford Curzon (1907-1982, pianist) for Hubert Harry re scholarships. Hubert was a former pupil of the Northern School of Music and Curzon wasa strong supporter of its work.

Ref: HH/2/1

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

A sad notice sent to Hubert Harry from his family re the death of his former teacher, Northern School of Music principal Hilda Collens.

Ref: HH/1/61

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

Hilda Collens is delighted in Hubert Harry's success in Italy and asks questions about the performance. She would love to attend his students' concert but fears she is too late.

She relays updates about Vincent Billington and how he does not have many funds, "money is the stumbling-block. What a plague money is, or the lack of it!" She updates him on the Northern School of Music, particularly its finances.

She alludes to the "the 'Royal' institutions" being heavily cash rich in comparison. She relays that the Old Students' Association raised money in a Bring & Buy sale for the School. She says she is often asked about him and people wonder when he will be coming to play in Manchester.

Ref: HH/1/60

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

Hilda Collens relays messages to Hubert Harry, former pupil of the Northern School of Music, from Clifford Curzon and that she had met his two adopted sons. She has heard the Dinu Lipatti recording of Grieg's concerto and thought it was beautiful and is saddened by his death. She updates him on the Northern School of Music. She relays that Vincent Billington leaves the army soon and updates Hubert on his news.

HH/1/59

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

Hilda Collens is pleased to get Hubert Harry's card and to hear of his success in Paris. She relays that Dr. Walter Carroll died recently, "it was a happy passing... He has left a great deal behind him which will never die, perhaps especially his children's pieces." Walter was a successful composer of early children's music to help them learn the piano. He wrote "Scenes at a Farm" which many musicians learned with, including Victoria Wood!

HH/1/58

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

Hilda Collens is enthusiastic about Hubert Harry's proposed tours, especially to the USA. She is dubious about taking his offer of teaching some of his students in Switzerland as she does not speak the language.

Ref: HH/1/57

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

A long letter of planning and strategy. Hilda Collens wanted to go to Preston to see if the county council there would help Hubert Harry with getting concerts, as they paid for his education. She imagines that it should not be difficult except for the fact that he did not complete any national service in the army.

She suggests that he apply for Vincent Billington's position at the Royal Engineers, stating that "he can play any concerto which he likes and the conductor Major Young is an excellent musician and most particular Vincent gets leave for almost any concerts or broadcasts and is free from lunch-time nearly everyday."

She relays the new law that men outside of the UK and under the age of 35 can still be called up for army service if they have not yet served, "so the alternative seems to be to stay out of England permanently or to get into the army as a pianist."

She encourages him that he should be known throughout the world as he is "much too good to remain in Switzerland."

HH/1/54

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

Another gorgeous telegram from Hilda Collens at the Northern School of Music wishing former pupil Hubert Harry the best of luck as he performs again at the Royal Festival Hall.

Ref: HH/1/54

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

Hilda Collens says she understands that Hubert could not visit Manchester during his last visit to England. She explains her plans to meet with him in London. Fingers crossed!

Ref: HH/1/53

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

Hilda Collens hopes to meet with Hubert Harry when he is in England and hopes he will come and perform for the Northern School of Music. Hubert was a former pupil of Hilda, the principal of the Northern School of Music. He was giving solo piano performances for the school's programme as young as 9 years old.

Ref: HH/1/52

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

Hilda Collens is thrilled about Hubert's forthcoming recital and hopes to attend and to have supper with him. She recommends playing to John Barbirolli whilst he is over.

Ref: HH/1/51

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

Heart warming letter in which Hilda Collens asks Hubert Harry to write more, "Are you lost, stolen or strayed?"

She updates him on the Northern School of Music, proud of their production of a full scale Marriage of Figaro at the Lesser Free Trade Hall. She asks if he is not getting as many concerts as he ought due to his modesty, "you do play so beautifully that the world ought to hear you - or so I think!"

She hopes to be able to visit him again and updates him on the Carroll family. She reminisces about her old students as the Northern School of Music gets new ones, "For instance, I still miss you."

Ref: HH/1/50

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

Hilda Collens says she hopes to get a new radio so she can pick up Hubert Harry's broadcasts. She asks to see the "crits" (newspaper clippings/critics) of the concert he gave. She assures him she is not working too hard.

Ref: HH/1/49

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

Hilda Collens with many updates for former Northern School of Music pupil Hubert Harry. She is excited about his recitals in Holland and hopes he goes on to Germany. She tells Hubert about Vincent Billington, a pianist and in an army orchestra. She says he is in Germany in the Spring and wonders if they will meet.

Ref: HH/1/48

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