My great-grandmother, Connie Ritchie, was musically talented. While at school she was acknowledged on the merit list for singing, an accomplishment she continued to demonstrate in the years to come. She was a soprano, occasionally a contralto, and played the piano.

I’ve been able to learn more about Connie’s musical activities and achievements in the Scottish town of Montrose and the surrounding region, from newspaper reports of social and community events. It’s through them I discovered some of what she sang, including “The Memory of a Song” by Horatio Nicholls (Lawrence Wright) and “Goodbye” by Paolo Tosti.

Amateur dramatics and choirs

Demonstrating her musical ability while still at school, Connie was part of the Montrose Academy Choir who performed The Pirates of Penzance in the Burgh Hall.

[The] sweet and cultured singing of Miss Ritchie showed that Montrose possessed talent already of great value and marked promise. This young lady’s singing has been heard to be very highly and frequently commended upon since the performances, and it was indeed a treat that many, however sanguine and high their expectations, hardly looked for.

‘Operatic Performances By Montrose Academy Choir. “The Pirates of Penance”’, Montrose Review, 2 May 1919, p. 4.

Later, as a member of the Laurencekirk Operatic Society, Connie starred as “a charming Josephine”, one of the main characters in a 1921 production of H.M.S. Pinafore. She was again noted for her musicality.

Her singing was one of the outstanding features of the evening, and her soprano voice of great range, sweetness, and power was equal to every demand made upon it.

‘“H.M.S. Pinafore.” Performance of Opera at Laurencekirk.’, The Aberdeen Journal, 22 January 1921, p. 9.

Concerts, fundraising and other social events

Following World War One, in May 1919 Montrose held what may have been one of the biggest events in the town for many years, a demobilisation afternoon tea, concert and dance attended by an estimated 850 guests. Connie featured in the evening concert programme, singing “God Send You Back to Me“.

She regularly performed solo pieces for musical programmes at concerts and other events. Amongst her many appearances, Connie sang with the Montrose Town Band at Sunday evening concerts at the King’s Playhouse and the Burgh Hall, and was one of the Montrose Orchestral Minstrels.

She sang at the Montrose Railwaymen’s Festival, various Christmas entertainments, and a concert and dance for New Year’s. She was also part of musical programmes presented at regular gatherings organised by the Scottish National Brotherhood Union.

Fundraising events often involved musical performances, and as one of the “favourite local artistes” Connie was a frequent guest, including at events for the Royal Surgical Aid Society, the Chief Constable’s fund for clothing poor children, and the Fettercairn Girl Guides.

She also took part in a concert for the Hillside Flannel Fund, part of the Hillside Women’s Working League, where she sang and played the piano in a musical sketch of a Black Watch Sergeant’s wartime experience in hospital. Another cause she supported was funding a new clubhouse for the South Links Golf Club. She was highly praised for her performances.

Miss Connie Ritchie is a young singer with a fine clear voice, which was heard to advantage in Cowen’s “Children’s Home” and Tate’s “Roses of Picardy”, and in her encore piece, sung with an artless simplicity which captivated her hearers, “Ye Banks and Braes”.

‘South Links Golf Club Concert’, Montrose Review, 5 September 1919, p. 8.

Musical inheritance

Connie’s daughter, my grandmother Margaret, inherited her musical talent. She was also a singer, and like her mother she performed at concerts and social events, but in Australia, where the family had emigrated. Margaret’s favourite song to sing was “Begin the Beguine“, a Cole Porter classic. She was best known for singing live with Denny Doran and his Blue Star Dance Band on evening broadcasts for 2AY Radio, and a photo of her and the band was displayed in the foyer of the radio station.

I wish I could find a recording of either Connie or Margaret singing, but have not had any success so far. I’m glad, however, to have learned something of their musical achievements.

Selected references

‘Montrose Academy. Medallists for Session 1916-1917.’, Montrose Review, 13 July 1917, p. 4.

‘Concert and Dramatic Sketch by Montrose Academy Pupils’, Montrose Review, 4 January 1918, p. 2.

‘Concert at Hillside’, Montrose Review, 8 November 1918, p. 3.

‘Montrose Demobilised Soldiers Entertained. Tea, Concert, and Dance. A Great Gathering.’, Montrose Review, 2 May 1919, p. 4.

‘Operatic Performances By Montrose Academy Choir. “The Pirates of Penance”’, Montrose Review, 2 May 1919, p. 4.

‘South Links Golf Club Concert’, Montrose Review, 5 September 1919, p. 8.

‘Laurencekirk’, Montrose Review, 9 January 1920, p. 8.

‘“H.M.S. Pinafore.” Performance of Opera at Laurencekirk.’, The Aberdeen Journal, 22 January 1921, p. 9.

‘Christmas Entertainment at Rossie Reformatory’, Montrose Review, 29 December 1921, p. 2.

‘Variety Entertainment at Montrose’, Montrose Review, 31 March 1922, p. 5.

‘The Orchestral Minstrels’, Montrose Review, 7 April 1922, p. 5.

‘Concert by Montrose Minstrels’, Dundee Courier, 15 April 1922, p. 7.

‘Band Concert’, The Montrose Guide, 20 October 1922, p. 4.

‘Minstrel Entertainment at Dorward’s House of Refuge’, Montrose Review, 19 May 1922, p. 5.

‘Fettercairn’, Montrose Standard, 27 October 1922, p. 2.

‘Local Occurrences. Brotherhood.’, Montrose Review, 27 October 1922, p. 2.

‘Grand Concert’, Montrose Review, 24 November 1922, p. 1.

‘Concert on Behalf of Royal Surgical Aid Society’, Montrose Review, 24 November 1922, p. 5.

‘Scottish Concert in Montrose. Burns’ Clubs’ Successful Enterprise’, Montrose Review, 24 November 1922, p. 3.

‘King’s Playhouse concert’, Montrose Standard, 1 December 1922, p. 5.

‘Sunday Concert in Montrose. In Aid of Royal Surgical Aid Society’, Montrose Review, 8 December 1922, p. 7.

‘Band Concert’, The Montrose Guide, 22 December 1922, p. 6.

‘Band Concert’, Arbroath Herald, 19 October 1923, p. 2.

‘Musicians’ Ball Outstanding Success’, Border Morning Mail, 24 July 1941, p. 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article255057146, accessed 17 January 2024.

OperaVision, ‘Voice Types’, https://operavision.eu/feature/voice-types, accessed 17 February 2024.