Mary Davenport Engberg
Encyclopedia
Mary Davenport Engberg, also referred to as Mary Davenport-Engberg and Madame Davenport-Engberg (15 February 1880 in Spokane
– January 23, 1951 in Seattle) was an American
violin
ist, composer
and conductor
.
Born to George A. and Mary Cornwall in a covered wagon
en route from California to Washington state she was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Santell Davenport following the death of her mother. A cousin of the pianist Ethel Newcomb, she studied in Europe for 5 years, chiefly
in Copenhagen
with Anton Svendsen and Christian Sandby. On August 8, 1899 she married Henry Christian Engberg of Bellingham, Washington
state.
She made her debut as a violinist in 1903 in Copenhagen and
toured extensively in Europe. In 1904 she gave a concert
in New York, and went on to perform largely on the West Coast of the USA. She made her debut as a soloist in Seattle on December 13, 1908, when she soloed with the Seattle Symphony
at a Sunday afternoon pops concert at the Moore Theatre.
In 1912, she returned to Bellingham to teach at the State Normal School there. Engberg went on to organize the 85-member Davenport Engberg
Orchestra in Bellingham. She led its opening concert in 1914.
From 1921 until 1924 she was music director of the Seattle Civic Symphony Orchestra
, an orchestra she founded for the purpose of developing orchestra players for the Seattle Symphony
from the ranks of local students. She also taught violin extensively. Her compositions include pieces for violin.
Spokane
Spokane is a city in the U.S. state of Washington.Spokane may also refer to:*Spokane *Spokane River*Spokane, Missouri*Spokane Valley, Washington*Spokane County, Washington*Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War*Spokane * USS Spokane...
– January 23, 1951 in Seattle) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
Born to George A. and Mary Cornwall in a covered wagon
Covered wagon
The covered wagon, also known as a Prairie schooner, is an icon of the American Old West.Although covered wagons were commonly used for shorter moves within the United States, in the mid-nineteenth century thousands of Americans took them across the Great Plains to Oregon and California...
en route from California to Washington state she was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Santell Davenport following the death of her mother. A cousin of the pianist Ethel Newcomb, she studied in Europe for 5 years, chiefly
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
with Anton Svendsen and Christian Sandby. On August 8, 1899 she married Henry Christian Engberg of Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
state.
She made her debut as a violinist in 1903 in Copenhagen and
toured extensively in Europe. In 1904 she gave a concert
in New York, and went on to perform largely on the West Coast of the USA. She made her debut as a soloist in Seattle on December 13, 1908, when she soloed with the Seattle Symphony
Seattle Symphony
The Seattle Symphony is an American orchestra based in Seattle, Washington. Since 1998, the orchestra is resident at Benaroya Hall. The orchestra's season runs from September through July, and serves as the pit orchestra for most productions of the Seattle Opera in addition to its own concerts...
at a Sunday afternoon pops concert at the Moore Theatre.
In 1912, she returned to Bellingham to teach at the State Normal School there. Engberg went on to organize the 85-member Davenport Engberg
Orchestra in Bellingham. She led its opening concert in 1914.
From 1921 until 1924 she was music director of the Seattle Civic Symphony Orchestra
Seattle Civic Symphony Orchestra
Seattle Civic Symphony Orchestra was an amateur and, for one season, a professional orchestra which held its first concert on April 24, 1921, and held its last concert on May 4, 1924...
, an orchestra she founded for the purpose of developing orchestra players for the Seattle Symphony
Seattle Symphony
The Seattle Symphony is an American orchestra based in Seattle, Washington. Since 1998, the orchestra is resident at Benaroya Hall. The orchestra's season runs from September through July, and serves as the pit orchestra for most productions of the Seattle Opera in addition to its own concerts...
from the ranks of local students. She also taught violin extensively. Her compositions include pieces for violin.