Joyce, Eileen, 1908-1991

Eileen Joyce (1908-1991) was a renowned Australian concert pianist, resident in England for most of her life. Born in Zeehan, Tasmania, Australia, Eileen and her family had moved to Boulder City on the Eastern Goldfields by 1909, where she commenced her piano education at her local convent school. With local support and encouragement by visiting pianists such as Wilhelm Backhaus and Percy Grainger, she completed her education in Perth in 1926, studied in Germany (1927-1930), and settled in England to make her professional debut in September 1930. Joyce was a popular concert pianist and harpsichordist, and a prolific recording artist, from 1930 to 1960, touring the world, including two tours to Australia in 1936 and 1948. She married stock-broker Douglas Legh Barrett in 1937, with whom she had a son John (born in 1939). Douglas Barrett was killed in action in World War 2 in 1942. In 1945, Joyce commenced a long-term relationship with film industry agent Christopher Mann, who also managed her business affairs. Joyce retired from regular public performances in 1960, but continued to play occasionally until her last performance in 1981. Christopher Mann died in 1978. Joyce was awarded three honorary doctorates of music (University of Cambridge in 1971, University of Western Australia in 1979, and University of Melbourne in 1982). In 1981 she was appointed a Companion of St. Michael and St. George (CMG). Joyce made significant endowments to the University of Western Australia relating to music education and performance. Eileen Joyce died on 25 March 1991, in Surrey, England and her ashes were interred at St. Peter's Anglican Church, Limpsfield, Kent.

From the description of Papers of Eileen Joyce, 1920-1989. 1920-1989. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 271578021