Hilda Dederich

Hilda Dederich (1901–1969) was an English pianist, composer and piano teacher. She was a child prodigy and was the youngest of the pupils of Tobias Matthay. She was taught by Hedwig McEwen at the Tobias Matthay Pianoforte School on Wimpole Street in Marylebone. Dederich stayed at Matthay’s country house during the Second World War and subsequently taught and became a director of the school. In the 1920s Dederich appeared as ‘Aunt Hilda’ on the BBC radio programme Children’s Hour to talk to children about the basics of piano music. In her obituary in The Times, Ivor Newton wrote that Dederich “never knew her once show any concern for her own aggrandisement” and that “among artists such qualities of modesty and altruism are sadly rare”. Her composition “Moonlight Through the Cedar Tree” was recorded by David Reeves and released on his 2000 album Piano Music of the Unknown Impressionists on Fleur de Son. References External links *