Hester Dickson

Hester was born in Edinburgh into a musical family where chamber music was a regular part of her life until the advent of the second world war. Two years evacuation to the country was followed by studying for a Mus. Bac. degree at Edinburgh University. She was lead Viola in the Reid orchestra under Sidney Newman and was involved in many concerts for the troops. After graduation, she attended the Royal Academy of Music on a Caird scholarship to study piano with Harold Carxton and viola with Bernard Shore for two years before coming back to Scotland to marry.

Her eclectic career has been built mainly as part of a duo with her sister Joan, including regular concerts for the Edinburgh International Festival, BBC broadcasts, and music clubs with many distinguised visiting artists including Peter Pears, Jelly d'Aranyi, Nancy Evans, with the performance of Brittens charm of Lullabies in Scotland, Janet Craxton, Steven Isserlis et al. Her career has included concerto performances with Sir Adiran Boult and Sidney Newman.

Adjudicating, examining, being an official accompanist in major competitions and scholarships and running Nelson Hall concerts became a busy part of her life. Hester also worked as a freelancer, playing viola with orchestras in central Scotland.

After the death of her second husband, she was invited to join the staff at the Academy in 1969 to coach and accompany the senior students both in the Strings Department and was later asked by Rod Bryden to work with senior vocalists in opera and lieder disciplines. Nowadays, the Academy has grown to such an exciting extent that it is no longer possible to work in two departments except on rare occasions which is a sadness. Hester is entering her 41st year at the Academy.

Hester has two sons, her eldest Professor Adrian Poole, is an English specialist at Cambridge unversity and younger son, Malcom Martineau, is a well known accompanist, himself an honorary doctor and international professor in accommpaniment in the Academy.