Florence Culwick

Florence Culwick was born at 21 Upper Lesson Street, Dublin on 4 November 1877. She was the daughter of James Cooksey Culwick, professor of music, and Mary Jane (née Richardson), his second wife. She attended Alexandra College, Dublin, excelling at music. She would go on to teach music at Alexandra. Her father held a number of positions as organists in Dublin, finally at Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle where he remained until his death in 1907. Following his death, Culwick re-established his choral society after a hiatus, called Miss Culwick's Choral Society. This made her Dublin's first female conductor.[1]

During World War I the choir was just female, but in 1919 it was back at full strength and flourishing. It was Culwick who attracted artists like Dorothy Silk and John Goss to Dublin while also encouraging local talent. Among the notable performances was the first performance in Dublin of Bantock's Vanity of vanities and Vaughan Williams's mass in G minor. In 1927, the choir won the Welsh Eisteddfod at Holyhead. Following this the choir was renamed in honour of her father and her success, the Culwick Choral Society.[1]

Culwick died 30 August 1929 in a nursing home in Portobello, Dublin.[1] The Florence Culwick Memorial Cup was established in her honour as part of the Feis Ceoil.[2]

• The First 100 Years of the Culwick Choral Society