Wilma Neruda
Wilma Neruda, known in her later years as Lady Hallé (1839-1911), was an English violinist.
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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.
May Beatty
May Beatty was one of several New Zealand performers who rose to prominence with the famed Pollard Opera Company during the 1890s.
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.
Susanna Hanan
A concern about the lack of early educational opportunities for children prompted Susanna Hanan to turn her attention to the New Zealand Free Kindergarten Union in 1912. She worked to secure government subsidies for kindergartens and was the first secretary and treasurer. She maintained a lifelong interest in the free kindergarten movement and was honoured with a life membership of the union.
Catherine Foley
For most of the 15 years she resided in New Zealand Mrs W. H. Foley was a star. She introduced many people to dramatic productions and whenever she appeared settlers crowded into the little halls which passed for theatres to experience the much-publicised magic of her performances.
Blanche of Castile
Blanche of Castile (1187-1252), Queen of France
Vittoria Colonna
Vittoria Colonna (1490-1547), an Italian poet
Doris Gertrude Sheppard
For more than two decades she gave pleasure to thousands of radio listeners with her eclectic and intelligently planned radio recitals, but her most important contribution to her adopted country was as the first woman to gain a measure of national repute as a composer. By writing successfully for symphony orchestra she effectively dispelled the myth that women could only produce small-scale works for drawing-room performance. Together with the younger Dorothea Franchi and Dorothy Freed, she led the way for many other women who have made their mark as composers in New Zealand since the mid 1960s.
Hildegard von Bingen
German abbess and mystic who organized a school of nurses for service in the hospitals; noted composer whose works are still performed today, as well as a brewer and herbalist who described using hops in beer.