Hannah Vincent Operatic Society

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Islington, Middlesex, England

Hannah Vincent (1874 - 1950) was born in Islington, Middlesex, England, and was a teacher of music. She formed the Hannah Vincent Operatic Society and various newspaper reports of her concerts are shown below. It is clear that several of her relatives were also involved,including a brother, 2 nieces, 2 nephews and 7 cousins.

Islington Gazette - Friday 9th October 1908

ISLINGTON DAILY GAZETTE AND LONDON TRIBUNE. FRIDAY. OCT. 9, 1908. MISS VINCENT'S PUPILS. Entertainment at Hornsey. Last night, at the St. Peter’s Parish Hall, Frobisher Road, Wightman Road, Hornsey, Miss Hannah Vincent’s pupils and Operatic Society, of 92, Weston Park, Crouch End, gave a delightful entertainment. There is always freshness about such entertainments that one appreciates. The audience certainly enjoyed this feature of the concert. Often with platform experience comes stereotyping, a set mannerism, that is not, however quite as pleasing in some respects as the spontaneous fragrance and prettiness of young singers. At least that is our experience, and, judging by the frequent and hearty applause of the numerous listeners last night, that is also the opinion of many others. These juvenile players and vocalists -as many them were- was entirely to the taste of crowded room. And not to make the entertainment monotonous, there were other items interlarded, rendered by more mature artistes. It was a judicious intermixture—the juvenile element contrasting in a pleasant way with the adult element. The peculiar flavour of the youthful voice and the youthful touch was only enhanced by the alternation of the richness of the adult voice and touch. Also interspersed in the programme were orchestral selections, which again afforded charming relief. These interludes were of value acting as a foil to the singing, while the singing in turn acted as a foil to the instrumental music. To comment on each who contributed to the evenings enjoyment would be an invidious task. Suffice it to say that one and all who took part in the performance deserve praise. Mr M. Allen gave “Chorus, Gentlemen"; Ernest Millatt, Elsie Brooks, and Willie Pullen gave pianoforte solos; Ruth Mercer rendered a fairy song; Dorothy Strivens, Miss E. Garner, and Rose Pullen played on the piano ; Miss D. McKenzie sang “I come to you”; Mr. R. Nicols gave a polka; Mr. G. A. Mercer sang “The Corporal's Ditty"; Bessie Harrison played a sonata; and May Fletcher a reverie; while Mr. Quinton Dunn (the accompanist) amused the company with humorous songs. Miss F. Holifield sang sweetly, as did Mrs. W. Harrison ; and Mrs. McCanna was heard on the piano. The piece de resistance was the performance of “Kamar-AI-Zaman", a fairy opera by Mr. Percy Nunn and Mr. Cuthbert Nunn. A Moorish Prince, an Emperor of China, a Princess, Peris, and Mandarins—the mention of these characters alone indicates that here were all the ingredients of an entertaining tale of the impossible but pleasing kind. Here is the cast; Kamar-AI-Zaman (Moorish Prince), Mr. R. Burnett Vincent; Hafix (his friend), Mr. Mark Allen ; Emperor of China, Mr. Richard B. Vincent; Wang (his Vizier), Mr. Reginald J. Vincent ; Budor (Princess of China), Miss Florence Holifield; Zelma; (her sister), Miss E. Beatrice Vincent; Likola (their governess), Miss H. Neame Marshall; Peris: Maymounah: Mrs. W. Harrison ; Banou: Miss Violet Hazell; Laila, Miss Amy G. Vincent. Slaves, Peris, and girl companions to the Princess: Misses Clure, May Dunn, Violet Hazell, Daisy McKenzie, Emily Sandeman, Ethel Thompson, Amy Vincent and Beatrice Vincent. Mandarins: Messrs. Wilfred Boreham, Alan Mercer, Charles Vincent, Reginald Vincent and Frank Williams.^[1]

Islington Gazette - Friday 12th February 1909

MISS HANNAH VINCENT'S OPERATIC SOCIETY Last night Miss Hannah Vincent, at Weston Park, Crouch End, held her third soiree at St. Peter’s Parish Hall, Frobisher Road, a very successful gathering, at which the enjoyment was complete. The arrangements had been carefully made and were well carried out. The great event was a humorous operetta, "King Sherwood," by Miss Vincent's Operatic Society, a merry concert, dealing with a limited company without liability, with Robin Hood as managing director, the company's business being to relieve the rich, without their consent, to give the poor. The principal parts were taken Mr. P. Mallet. Miss F Holifield, Mr. Stalker, Mr. A. Mercer, Mr. Dunn, Mr. F. Williams, Mr. M. Allen, Mr. W. Boreham, Miss V Haskell, Miss E. Sandeman, Miss Cluer, Miss D. Mckenzie, Miss M. Hazell and Mr R. Nicols. Miss Vincent conducted the orchestra and nearly every member of the company was a pupil or ex-pupil. After the performance there were dances and games, Mr. Alfred Vincent acting as M.C. The whole the proceeding reflected great credit upon Miss Vincent as teacher and organiser.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Islington Gazette - Friday 9th October 1908 Accessed from the British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001982/19081009/081/0005 accessed by Trevor Pickup on 26 January 2021
2. ↑ Islington Gazette - Friday 12 February 1909 Accessed from the British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001982/19090212/070/0005 accessed by Trevor Pickup on 26 January 2021