Una Mabel Bourne

Una Mabel Bourne (23 October 1882 – 15 November 1974) was an Australian pianist and composer. Early life Una Mabel Bourne was born at Mudgee, New South Wales, the daughter of James George Bourne and Margaret Webber Bourne. Her father was a shopkeeper. She was raised in Melbourne. Una Bourne’s musical abilities were evident early in life; she performed on piano in professional venues before her teens. She studied with Benno Scherek in Australia, and in several European cities as a young woman. Career “Miss Bourne has an excellent technique and plays with refinement and distinction,” an English critic wrote of a performance at London’s Bechstein Hall in 1906. Bourne joined Nellie Melba’s touring entourage in Australia in 1907, 1909, and 1912, both as an accompanist and performing solo. In 1915 she began making recordings with the English Gramophone Company. She also made player-piano rolls in the United States, and gave performances for women’s clubs and radio audiences. During World War II she was based in Melbourne again, where she performed and opened a conservatory. Personal life Una Mabel Bourne lived for many years with her friend and colleague, soprano Mona McCaughey, who died