Lili Kraus

Hungarian-born pianist Lili Kraus (1903–86) was another musician whose flight from the horrors of the Second World War enriched New Zealand’s musical life. She was imprisoned by Japanese forces in Indonesia in 1942. After the war she made New Zealand her home for some years and became a citizen. Kraus resumed her international touring career in 1948.

Continue reading

Lucy Anderson

Mrs. Anderson was the first female pianist who appeared at the Philharmonic concerts, and the first to introduce into England many of the great works of Beethoven and other composers.

Continue reading

Jennie Macandrew

Painist Jennie Macandrew accompanied singers and instrumentalists, notably the violinist Edith Whitelaw, and performed as a soloist with local orchestras. She was official accompanist to the competitions society in Gisborne for some years from 1913, and toured New Zealand for five months as accompanist to the tenor Philip Newbury. She was also a pianist at Auckland cinemas, and gave radio broadcasts.

Continue reading

Mary Manson Dreaver

In 1941, she won the Waitematā seat in a by-election, becoming the third woman to enter the New Zealand Parliament. Her particular triumph there was to introduce the Women Jurors Bill, which became law in 1942.

Continue reading