Looks like Hubert Harry had another performance broadcast on the radio - getting very popular! Hilda Collens is apologetic that she could not listen to his radio broadcast as her wireless was being repaired.

Ref: HH/1/47

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 asks Hubert Harry if he has had any thoughts about playing at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester and the Wigmore Hall in London, "it is high time you took a few risks."

She is looking forward to watching the Coronation (Queen Elizabeth II) on the television at Ida Carroll's house.

Ref: HH/1/46

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 Hubert Harry managed well in Holland despite the floods and gales (sounds familiar to Manchester!).

She sends updates about her home and asks about any news regarding Madame Rachmaninoff and her housekeeper that Hubert visits.

She enthuses that it would be lovely for him to come and play for the School but should wait until he is 26 so that "the army cannot touch you then" (in order to avoid conscription).

Ref: HH/1/45

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 push to contact Ibbs and Tibbet (music management and publisher) so that Hubert Harry doesn't get forgotten about.

Ref: HH/1/44

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 Hubert Harry left the country without being stopped by the police. (Because of conscription, not because of any skulduggery.)

Ref: HH/1/43

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 saying how much she liked seeing Hubert Harry play the evening before and hopes he returned safely with "no difficulty over army service." Conscription was still in place to 1960 and Hubert was able to navigate it by studying and then teaching in Switzerland. She enjoyed the party and reminds him that it will be hard work to progress but that she is sure he will achieve it.

Ref: HH/1/42

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

The most adorable thing! Northern School of Music pupils and staff sending best wishes to Hubert Harry (1927-2010, pianist, student of the Northern School of Music) as he performs at the Royal Festival.

Ref: HH/1/41

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 little confession from Hilda Collens (1883-1956, founder and principal of the Northern School of Music) here that she has been ill and has not written to Hubert Harry in order to not worry him. She is feeling better but, "I suppose I have been over-working and my heart decided to make its presence felt!" She reminds him that he needs to perform more and is enthusiastic about a tour through South America. She hopes to be able to visit him next year.

Ref: HH/1/40

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

Some encouragement from Hilda Collens (1883-1956, founder and principal of the Northern School of Music) to Hubert Harry (1927-2010, pianist, student of the Northern School of Music) that he should write more often, and take active steps to get wider known "in the concert world".

Ref: HH/1/39

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 lengthy read from Hilda Collens to Hubert Harry, former pupil of the Northern School of Music. She wonders whether he should start playing in other places such as the Hague. She relays that Clifford Curzon was in Manchester playing with the Halle and wishes that Hubert would play in the reconstructed Free Trade Hall. She worries that he is not performing in enough concerts and suggests a few conductors to contact.
The Free Trade Hall in Manchester was the biggest music venue for the city but was bombed in WW2 during the Manchester Blitz of 1940. A new hall was built behind the remaining elevation on Peter's Street and opened in 1951.

Ref: HH/1/38

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 on holiday with Walter Carroll (1869-1955, father of Ida Carroll, teacher, composer and music education professional) and Ida Carroll (1905-1995, student, secretary and then principal of the Northern School of Music).
She's checking up on her former pupil Hubert Harry.
The Carrolls went to Portpatrick for their holidays almost religiously. We have some cute seaside pics of them in the archive.

Ref: HH/1/37

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

Just a charming little check in between teacher and former pupil from the Northern School of Music.

Ref: HH/1/36

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 here relaying an opinion that Hubert Harry should have won first prize at the Geneva Festival that year.

She shares a story Clifford Curzon told her about Alfred Dennis Cortot: he was playing a performance in London and the great and good were in attendance. After, a chap was heard to say outside how many wrong notes Cortot played, the reply to which was "Does it ever occur to you that many of us would sooner hear Cortot play wrong notes than hear you play right ones?"

Burn!

Ref: HH/1/35

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 sweet note from Hilda Collens to Allen Harry (Hubert Harry's brother) about Hubert winning the 2nd prize at the Geneva Festival that year for his piano performance.

Ref: HH/1/34

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 lovely encouraging letter from Hilda Collens (1883-1956, founder and principal of the Northern School of Music) to Hubert Harry (1927-2010, pianist, student of the Northern School of Music) here she inspires him to not dwell on not winning first prize (at the Geneva Festival).

She suggests that he should ask one of the judges, Cortot (Alfred Dennis Cortot, pianist, conductor), how he could have improved his performance. She is thrilled at all of his performances and reminds him to "keep clear of petty jealousies and strife or they will inevitably affect your character and then your music."

Ref: HH/1/33

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

"Always make music, so many people now a days just play notes."

Gorgeous sentiment bu Hilda Collens.

Ref: HH/1/32

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

I absolutely love the curls in Hilda Collens' handwriting. I think the "notices" she mentions are press cuttings about his 2nd Prize place at the Geneva Music Festival that year. Unfortunately those haven't made it to the archive :(

Ref: HH/1/31

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 sends many hearty congratulations to Hubert Harry on an unknown event (possibly a Geneva Festival performance?) and regrets that she could not get the broadcast of it.

Ref: HH/1/30

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 telegram! Love a good telegram.

Ref: HH/1/29

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's missed Hubert Harry's radio broadcast but is chuffed he's passed the first part of what we assume is the Geneva Festival requirements?
Some lovely personal updates and as always, Hilda makes sure Hubert is updated on all things Northern School of Music back in Manchester.

Ref: HH/1/28

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

Happy New Year! Hilda Collens is chuffed Hubert Harry, former pupil of the Northern School of Music, is attending the Geneva Festival again and that she would love to come to an orchestral concert.

Ref: HH/1/27

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 commiserates Hubert Harry's unsuccessful performance at the Geneva Competition and alludes to it being unfair. She is pleased that the conservatoire has given a scholarship and hopes he will be getting lessons from someone new. She updates him on the Northern School of Music's progress and that they have been visited by the Ministry of Education for an inspection.

(Spoiler: the chap who inspected them from MoE was so impressed with the school that he acted as personal support, even giving talks at their Summer Courses in education).

Ref: HH/1/26

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 (1883-1956, founder and principal of the Northern School of Music) has lots to be exited about here! Her former pupil Hubert Harry (1927-2010, pianist, student of the Northern School of Music) has a performance with an orchestra in Switzerland as well as at the Geneva Festival. With lots of advice and support, she wishes him the very best of luck.

Ref; HH/1/25

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

Back from her jolly jaunt to Switzerland to visit her former pupil, Hilda Collens advises Hubert Harry to rethink the Bach piece that he has included in a "syllabus" as "you may feel it quite differently now." She hopes he enjoys his lessons with Baumgartner.

Ref: HH/1/24

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