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Weisse, Sophie, 1852-1945 (Scottish music teacher)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1852 - 1945

Biography

Sophie Weisse was born in Edinburgh in 1852 to a German father and Lithuanian mother. Little is known of her early life and education. In 1892, she founded the all-girls school of Northlands in Surrey, which she ran for twenty-five years. Although Northlands was a school of general education, music was given a particularly prominent place in the curriculum, and musical celebrities were often invited to visit and perform. Weisse employed the young Donald Tovey as a pianist at the school’s concerts, which provided a launch for his career as a musician and composer. Weisse had discovered Tovey’s talent at the age of four and had managed all aspects of his education. She further supported his career by funding the publication of his works between 1903 and 1913. Weisse and Tovey maintained a lifelong relationship. When Tovey was appointed to Edinburgh University’s Reid Chair of Music in 1914, Weisse followed him to Edinburgh. As Reid Professor, Tovey bestowed on Weisse an honorary degree of Doctor of Music in 1936. Weisse died in Guildford in 1945.

Weisse was a major benefactor of the University of Edinburgh. On Tovey’s death in 1941, she gifted 18 Buccleuch Place to the University as 'The Tovey Memorial Rooms', with the intention that it be used for student study. She also gifted the University portraits of Tovey and herself by Philip de Laszlo and endowed the Tovey Memorial Prize as an annual award for the most promising undergraduate composer or performer in the Faculty of Music. Her collection of around 600 books and scores relating to Beethoven was purchased by the University in 1948.

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 23 July 1890

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2353
Scope and Contents

Letter, 23 July 1890, London, Hubert C. Parry to Sophie Weisse. Informing Miss. Weisse of the cost of lessons, commenting on Tovey's improvement and plans for his development. Holograph signed.

Dates: 23 July 1890

Letter to Sophie Weisse from Unknown, c 26 March 1900

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2754
Scope and Contents

Letter, 26 March [n.y], London, Unknown to Sophie Weisse. Enclosing a fee for a concert performance by Tovey of his own work, and praising the music. Holograph incomplete.

Dates: c 26 March 1900

Receipt to Sophie Weisse from James Higgs, 29 March 1890

 Item
Identifier: Coll-411/1/1/L2216
Scope and Contents

Receipt, 29 March 1890, James Higgs to Sophie Weisse. Receipt for ú3.30, the cost of Tovey's music lessons. Holograph signed.

Dates: 29 March 1890

Filtered By

  • Subject: Fees, Professional X

Additional filters:

Subject
London (England) 2
Instruction and Study 1
Performances 1
Professional Interaction 1