Musicians and composers
(Born 1929 in Lower Holloway, London)
She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1948 for her role in Hamlet, the Laurence Olivier version. During the 50s she moved to America and work in Hollywood. She performed in the Londons West End during the 70s.
(Born 1910 in Eshaness, Shetland Islands)
Tom Anderson was a Shetland fiddler, composer and teacher. From an early age he composed fiddle tunes and during his lifetime he composed over 300 melodies. In 1977 he was recognised by being awarded an MBE.
(Born 1899 in Teddington, Middlesex)
Noel Coward was an English playwright, actor, singer, composer and director. From his teens onwards he had more than 50 plays published, composed hundreds of songs, created musical theatre works and wrote poetry and short stories. A few examples of his plays are This Happy Breed, Blythe Spirit and Relative Values
(Born 1872 in Down Ampney, Gloucestershire)
The English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams was born in Down Ampney but spent his childhood in Leith Hill Place in Surrey (now a National Trust property). He is well known for his works such as The Lark Ascending. He attended the Royal College of Music and Trinity, Cambridge. He wrote ballets, symphonies, chamber music and more.
(Born 1861 in Guernsey, Guernsey)
Fanny Davies was a British pianist born in Guernsey, giving her first performances at the age of six in Birmingham. She was particularly admired in Schumann, Brahms and Beethoven and was also a very early London performer of the works of Debussy and Scriabin.
(Born 1857 in Lower Broadheath, Worcestershire)
Elgar was an eminent classical composer. One of his works included the Enigma Variations in 1899, which was very popular at the time.
(Born 1838 in Elgin, Moray)
He is well known as the designer of the Wanamaker Organ but was also an illustrator, architect and writer.
(Born 1748 in Swalwell, Tyne and Wear)
He was the principal violinist at the Opera Covent Garden which is now the Royal Opera House. He was also a composer and got a lot of his music from old Northumbrian folk music.
(Born 1567 in Westminster, London)
He was a composer and wrote more than a hundred songs to be accompanied by the lute. In addition, he wrote Masque for dance.