Hopekirk, Helen

Scots-American composer and pianist Helen Hopekirk (1856-1945) was considered one of the great concert pianists of her generation. She taught at the New England Conservatory in Boston, and in 1900 she premiered her Piano Concerto in D with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Her recitals often included her own compositions which demonstrated the strong influence of Celtic folk music on her work.

Pianist, composer, and educator; born in Edinburgh, Scotland, 1856; married William Wilson; died in Massachusetts, 1945.

Helen Hopekirk (May 20, 1856-November 19, 1945) was a concert pianist, composer and teacher who was born in Scotland. She studied with many well-known artists, including Karl Muck, who later conducted the Boston Symphony, as well as American composer George Whitefield Chadwick. In 1882 Hopekirk married William A. Wilson, who became her manager. Hopekirk traveled throughout Europe, and made her American debut in 1883 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. One of Hopekirk's most notable works is her edition of Seventy Scottish Songs (1905), which reflects her interest in folk material. She became an American citizen in 1918, and made her last public appearance in 1939 in Boston.