Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-28
YOUTHFUL MEOAL|ST
A Ten-Year-0ld Girl Wins
Great Honors.
5000 MPETITORS
PRETTY LITTLE MAY HARRISON
SURPRISES EVERYONE.
Plays the Violin Not as a Child
Prodigy, but as a Ma
ture Artist.
5000 MPETITORS
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
The world of music Is astounded by the
recent wonderful and artistic exhibition in
violin playing given by little May Harrison,
ten-year-old daughter of Col J. H C. Har-
rison, late of Royal Engineers, London,
England, who, in competition with 3057
adults for gold medal and open scholar
ship, offered by the Royal College of Mu-
sic of London, carried off first honors. The
coveted prize was offered by the Associated
Board of the Royal Academy, who invited
competitors without age limit from all parts
Of the British empire
Inc musical contest was most severe
and critical one, but the wonderful artistic
playing of the child violinist captivated her
professional hearers, and the judges, after
prolonged discussion on the merits of
the best players, selected from the unsual-
ly large number of performers, finally de-
c1ded unanimously to award the much
sought-for prize to the child player, which
she won on her exceptional ability in being
able to- execute artistieally the difficult Sc
lections or the masters selected for the
competition.
. The child performer received such an
ovation from her generous competitors
after 1t was announced that she had won
first honors In the contest that she became
confused and frightened, never before hay-
ing witnessed anything like it. Today her
praises are being sung all over Europe
ana 1t Is predicted by musical authorities
that the future will reveal in this notable
youngster violin player who will create
still. greater establishment, as her musical
abilities become more strongly developed.
Without Precedent. 50
Her wonderful and exceptional playing is
not that of child prodigy, but rather of a
mature artist. her performances being with
out precedent AS an infant she evinced a
marked discrimination for music refusing
to be lulled to sleep by the lullabies of any
other composers than Schumann and Wag-
ner, and was always much impressed by
the sights and sounds of nature, such as In
sect life and the rich sunsets
She was born in Roorkee in the north
west provinces of India, a small military
station near the foot of the Himalayas. At
the age of three years she was brought to
england by her father, and was at once at
tracted by the street music, as furnished by
the travelling organs and brass bands.
She would invariably return home after
listening to such music, and pick out on the
piano the tunes she had heard, in the exact
key in which she had heard them, and it
was thus that her greatly astonished
mother, who throughout has effectualIy in
f1uenced her musical education, discovered
that she possessed the natural gift of abb
solute pitch.
When less than six years of age she
commenced learning to play the violin I'M
der her mothers tuition, and at the age of
six and a half years began to receive mu-
steal instruction. When seven years old
sh5 played at one OF her masters public
concerts, and three years later found her
under the tuition of a world-famous mas
ter.
Excites Admiration
Subsequently, under the care of two or
three noted professors. her playing both in
ensemble and solo work acquired a very
marked improvement. and she gradually
progressed until today her marvellous play
ing has reached such a stage of proficiency
as to create the wonder and admiration of
the entire musical world.
Only ten years of age, yet this wonderful
child musician speaks French f1uently. is
interested in all subjects of study; is a
graceful dancer and most welcome par
ticipator in all her little sisters nursery
games and amusements.