Hitting the High Notes

Presbyterian Church, diligently stretching whatever she earned to help keep the house going during lean times. She helped to organize the music festivals which came to play such an important part in Island life, and later she played a major role in helping to organize the Women’s Music Club and the Community Concert series on Prince Edward Island. She befriended artists, encouraged them, and blossomed in their company.

Canada owes a debt to women of my Mother’s ilk. They laid the foundations of the arts in Canada as we know them today. While men generally took on the role of building the nation’s trade, commerce and industry, women voluntarily fostered music, drama and art. It is not surprising then that mother assumed the role of musical authority in Dad’s early broadcasts.

One person who featured very strongly in these early broadcasts throughout 1926—1928 was Miss Kathleen Hornby, a well-known vio- linist and music teacher who launched many on a musical career. She was very versatile and was equally at home playing dance music or light classical selections with her younger sister, Eleanor, or with Mother. Each week The Guardian would write an account of the programs:

The radio program broadcast last evening by CF C Y, the Island Radio Company Station, was received clearly in Charlottetown and vicinity at least, many telephone calls being received at the Station and Studio during and after the program.

Miss Kathleen Hornby, violinist, played several selections among which were Souvenir and Serenade by Drdla, which were beautifully rendered and elicited particular mention from the many members of the radio audience. Several duets were rend- ered by Miss Kathleen Hornby and her younger sister, Miss Eleanor, aged eleven years, were particularly enjoyed and among those may be particularly mentioned, Moonlight and Roses by Lemare and Melody in F by Rubenstein.

The agriculture talk given by Mr. Walter Shaw of the Provincial

Department of Agriculture, was very interesting and instructive, and was particularly well-delivered.

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