What were you doing April 2-5?
If you were like me, you were in isolation. But for COVID-19, you may have been attending, participating in or volunteering for the Huntsville Festival of Music. On April 2 and 3, participants would have been receiving coaching by qualified adjudicators/teachers. On April 5, we would all have had the pleasure of enjoying the festival’s “Concert of the Stars”.
Spearheaded by Alana Nuedling, Carol Gibson and Kyung-a Lee, and supported by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, it would have been fashioned after the Kiwanis Festival.
Now my mind is exploding with memories!
In 1953, the first Huntsville and District Music Festival was presented at Huntsville High School, with at least nine subsequent ones to follow annually in the spring, each greater and more exciting than the last. Thanks to the efforts of the Huntsville Music Club, including such members as Allan Miller, Bruce Werry, Dorothy Peacock, Jean Rogers, Muriel Briggs (my mother), Nadine (Ysaye) Mosbaugh, Norma Young, and Wilfred Brown, this festival was always a tremendous success and a musical highlight for participants, families, and teachers.
Participants entered from throughout Muskoka and Parry Sound in a wide variety of categories: piano solos, duets, trios; singing solos, duets, trios, choirs; instrumental solos, and band. It was always a time of great excitement and butterflies in the stomach—to perform in front of a large audience and to receive adjudication by such talented musicians and educators as Boris Berlin, John Dewdney, G. Roy Fenwick, Richard Johnston, Charles Peaker and Eldon Brethour, all in good-natured competition. On a special evening to follow, many participants were privileged to perform at the “Stars of the Festival” concert, some to receive scholarship awards from generous donors.
All this reminds me of some of the stellar teachers in our own town.
Mr. Bruce Werry was the first vocal teacher I remember. He visited all the classrooms at Huntsville Public School. He entered my friend Susan Kellock and me in the festival when we were in grade one, something we did every year from grade one until grade eight as I remember. We were coached by the finest! We had so much fun practising together, each day on the way to and from school, taking turns singing the soprano and alto part.
Mr. Wilfred Brown entered the scene in the middle grades. My most vivid memory was of him, in his very soft-spoken gentle and humorous way, coaching his daughter Sandra, Susan Kellock, and me in singing trios. We received some top-notch adjudication from Mr. Eldon Brethour, a well-known music educator in Toronto.
(Above left) Martha Briggs, Susan Kellock and Sandra Brown received a mark of 92 and first place for Vocal Trio – Open at the 1958 Huntsville and District Music Festival. “Eldon Brethour, the adjudicator, was an esteemed educator in Toronto…so this mark is remarkable, if I do say so,” says Martha Briggs Watson. “Mr. Brown (above right) was our wonderful teacher.”
Mr. Charles Garcia was our music teacher in grades seven and eight. By then, there was a separate classroom for music in the basement of Huntsville Public School. (The very room where many of us had spent our kindergarten year). Incidentally, he was married to a sister of Carl Tapscott, tenor, arranger, organist, founder of the vocal group the Commodores and later the Carl Tapscott Singers. Mr. Garcia introduced us to various kinds of music. He even had an artist come into our classroom to paint a picture inspired by a vinyl recording of an excerpt from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Lo and behold, the resulting painting was a swan on a lake! We were gobsmacked! Later on, we wondered if the artist actually knew the piece was from Swan Lake beforehand. As it turns out, that artist was Hugo Ohlms, known worldwide as a muralist. Mr. Garcia also taught us vocal music as well as the recorder. No doubt that caused him some hearing loss!
Bruce Werry became our high school music teacher. He coached us on individual instruments as well as directing the Huntsville High School Band for performances in the festival. He also took our band to the Kiwanis Music Festival in Toronto each year, as well as on band exchanges with schools in Toronto and one with a school in Rochester, where we were billeted with members of the band exchange, and they with us. We were always very proud to show off Huntsville in the winter, such a different experience for city kids. It was a terrific bonding experience, and some of us kept in touch with each other for years later.
We were also a marching band. In the spring and fall, Mr. Werry would take us out at lunchtime to march around the Lookout hill (the road went all the way around then). Some of us chipped a tooth, caused by potholes as we marched, but we cared not! We just loved to march…lots of Sousa as well as Colonel Bogey!
But…it was piano that was the main focus for me.
My first piano teacher was Noreen Spencer, who later married Phil Nimmons, renowned clarinetist, composer, arranger and educator and bandleader of the jazz band Nimmons ‘n’ Nine. Noreen was a high school student at the time and I was a four-year-old who was desperate to take piano lessons like my older sister. No other music teacher would take me on, as they said I was too young. I loved Noreen. She was as beautiful as she was talented.
When I was deemed old enough, I had the good fortune to have as my piano teacher, Mr. Fred Wigglesworth, a jolly, good-natured gentleman, who taught with great joy and aplomb. If I was learning to play a minuet, he would teach me to dance the minuet; if it was a waltz…the same, and so on. A huge bonus was that while he was doing this, his wife was in the kitchen preparing fudge for all of his students. Every week each of us left with a piece of fudge and a nickel! Mr. Wigglesworth was a delight.
Caricatures of Fred Wigglesworth (above left) and Charles Garcia (above right), created by then-schoolgirl Martha Briggs
Sadly for me, there came a time when he needed to retire. He had also been organist at Trinity United Church for a very long time, and while there, he had “discovered” the voice of young James Milligan, the minister’s son. James continued his vocal studies to become one of the most accomplished baritones in the world. It was during a rehearsal for an opera in Basel, Switzerland, that he collapsed from a heart attack and died, at the young age of thirty-three. Such a loss for the world of opera.
Thankfully, Mrs. Nadine Mosbaugh agreed to take me on to continue. Nadine was the granddaughter of the famous Belgian composer/violinist Eugene Ysaye. She became a concert pianist, touring with the great pianist Jose Iturbi in Europe before coming to Canada. She also hosted and performed on a classical radio program on CKAR radio in Huntsville.
I remember my first lesson with Nadine like it was yesterday. I was in tears for the whole lesson, just overcome with gratitude that I was studying with the amazing Nadine Ysaye Mosbaugh! This she couldn’t understand, and kept questioning me: “Why are you crrrrrying?” (Her rolling “r”!) Weekly lessons with her were the highlights of my life. She was so very feisty, joyous, kind and demanding all at once. I loved to sneak in early to try to catch her playing before my lesson was to begin. I could always tell her mood by the piece she was playing—one time her angry piece, another time a quiet lullaby. I was so very sad, but so very happy for her that she had the opportunity to move to Barbados. I will forever feel gratitude that I had the privilege of studying under incredible tutelage.
Mrs. Norma Young was another wonderful piano teacher. I knew her by her son and daughters, and her pupils at the festivals. I was always an admirer of hers. She was a great supporter of music in Huntsville and was a member of the Huntsville Music Club, contributing a great deal to music in our town.
Mrs. Isabella Conway, who acquired her piano teaching certificate from the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music, was another piano teacher of note. Several of my friends studied with her. Her son Doug reminded me that it was she who invited Marcus Adeney, a cellist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and his string quartet from Toronto to perform here.
The annual music festival was a time when so many of us could come together to participate and enjoy the camaraderie that brought us together through music.
I know there was at least one other music festival in Huntsville after I had left in 1963. One was the Muskoka Music Festival undertaken by Mr. Kenneth McDowell. Were there others?
Clearly, Huntsville has a very rich musical history, from at least the early 1900s with the formation of the famous Anglo Canadian Leather Company Band to this day. And I look forward to next year’s Huntsville Festival of Music.
I am indebted to my dear friend, Susan Kellock, who filled in some details I couldn’t remember, and verified others. Thank you, Susan!
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Lynn Montgomery says
Wonderful article, Martha. Some of these people I knew of along the way but not the history since I only moved here in 1967 although started coming to Huntsville in 1958. It is great to see how music has sustained our town and will continue to do so with more and more participation of people old and new to our musical community. Such talent we have!
George Young says
Nice story. Brought back many memories of Mom teaching piano lessons in our home at the Locks. And yes the music festivals were a passion of hers. She took great pride in seeing her students develop their skills.
Vern Vince says
I took piano lessons from Mrs Norma Youngin the mid 50 she was also a neighbour of my family I also was a member of the junior band at HHS 59/60 thanks for the memories
Rosemary Hall (Young) says
Mrs Young was my piano teacher and neighbour also. I was in the HHS band also. I also sang in the music festival one year, and remember winning for the girl’s and Doug Ezard won the boy’s. Look how young Rhena Tebby was at Mrs. Young’s. Thank you for this memory Martha.
Robert Udell says
Wilf Brown grew up in Meaford Ontario and served as a member of the RCAF Command Band in Trenton during WWII, where he met and married his wife Nona. He taught me music beginning in Grade 1 at the one-room Melissa school, and then through most of my public school years. He also taught me to play cornet in the Salvation Army Band. He was a great teacher and musical mentor. The Huntsville Salvation Army band was considered one of the best bands outside of Toronto, in fact was often referred to as the “Earlscourt of the North”. The Toronto Earlscourt SA band was renowned in Canada. Sandra, his daughter, and I married in 1966 and split up in 1983 but remain in touch through our children and grandchildren.
Bruce Werry was my high school music teacher from 1957 to 1962 and I enjoyed being a member of his high school band, travelling to various festivals and exchanges. He was an inspirational teacher.
allen markle says
I remember Mrs. Young teaching music at the Locks, always wanting to put together a choral group. One year, maybe 55 or 56, she put four of us in a little group and taught us to ‘one sing base and the other sing tenor’ and who knew it could sound like that! Then she proceeded to visit us to different clubs and such around town and apparently we were pretty good.
One of the other boys was Eric Bionda. He delivered his part with gusto and when he touched some of those way down notes, you could feel the resonance in your socks.
Thanks Mrs. Young and here’s to you Eric. Good stuff.
P.S. Vern! you played piano?
Dan MacDonald says
Thank you Martha for more Memories !! I to took lessons from Mrs. Young. Unfortunately I didn’t inherit any of my Grandmother Annie ( Mrs. Mac ) MacDonald ,or my Uncle Ken MacDonald’s talents. The MacLeods on my Mothers side were also musical,mostly by Ear. Guess that’s why I enjoy a lot of Music.. Again keep those Memories coming !!’
Bruce Stimers says
My wife Linda and I chaired the Muskoka-Parry Sound Music Festival in 1997. It was the last such festival held in Huntsville. It was chocked full of many amazing local musicians. It is wonderful to hear that it may be coming back.
Glennice Barton (nee Smith) says
Bruce Werry was my music teacher in high school as well! He pulled my hair up so that I could reach the high notes! Didn’t like that much but I did like him as a music teacher. Sandra Brown and I sang a duet in the music contest and I think we came in third! Memories, keep them coming!
Shirley Ferron (Young) says
Thanks so much for the memories Martha! Wonderful years! Brought a few tears too!
Mom loved teaching music…second only to loving the students she taught, …encouraging their best as they progressed, prepared, and performed at the Music Festival!
Some of my apex memories too are playing trumpet in the Junior and Senior HHS Bands under the awesome Conducting/Directing of Bruce Werry! Special Thanks!
Ross and Susan Beattie says
What an interesting article Martha – such talent in Huntsville
Sonja Garlick says
Thank you Martha for the lovely article which brought back fond memories for me as well. I took lessons from Fred Wigglesworth who taught from his home in the west end of town. I do remember him giving me a nickel and a piece of fudge at the end of every piano lesson. He was a great teacher! I too remember participating in competitions, shaking like a leaf, as I was very shy at the time and not a ‘solo’ performer by choice!
Judith Mills says
Lovely, Martha. Yes, music was always a big part of Huntsville and I remember the Kiwanis Festival in the huge high school gym. Music wasn’t a great interest of mine so I was a bit of a frustration to various piano teachers. Mr Wigglesworth it was in Huntsville…nicknamed Uncle Wiggly by my family. I always received the fudge but rarely the nickel. If I did get the nickel I would detour via Tricky’s on my way home. Keep them coming, Martha.
Harry Seto says
I am one of the band members in that photo. I play the flute.
Harry Seto
david johns says
Great Martha. What could be better. Playing the snare drum to the Colonel Bogey March in the H.H.S Band and marching through Memorial Park. I have to admit, we had a good Band. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES.