The woman known to Preston simply as "Miss Livesey" was a multi-talented and industrious musician, active as a soprano, cellist, pianist, and organist, performing both solo and as soprano with the Cecilian Quartet and as cellist with the Ashton Trio, at recitals and in competitions.
She was organist and choirmaster of St Michael and All Angels church in the Ashton-on-Ribble suburb of Preston for many years, and taught music at Lark Hill Convent School (which later became the core of Cardinal Newman College) in Preston.
In autumn 1927 she set up the Cecilian Ladies Choir for the express purpose of entering competitions, and only six weeks after formation they won first prize at Blackpool Musical Festival. In 1930 the choir was expanded to include men, and went from strength to strength, and continues to this day – read more on our History and Performance History pages. Miss Livesey later also founded the Preston Symphony Orchestra, which often performed with the Cecilians.
At the 1952 Guild Concert, the Mayor told the audience that "No woman in this town has done more for the musical education of our people".
Miss Livesey suffered from ill health from around late 1955/1956. Her last appearance as conductor was in December 1956 when she shared the rostrum for "Messiah" with her deputy, Horatio Waywell. A mark of the esteem in which she was held was the "Benefit Musical Service" held for her in St Michael's in April 1956, which was attended by 600 people.
Mis Livesey died in May 1958, at the age of 61. A Memorial Service was given in St Michael's, at which the Cecilians and the Preston Symphony Orchestra were conducted by Mr Waywell. A collection was taken for the Alice M Livesey Memorial Fund, which raised money for a window depicting St Cecilia at her organ, and dedicated to Miss Livesey, which was installed in November of that year and can be seen in St Michael's to this day.
A number of pictures illustrating Miss Livesey's life can be seen on our Photos page.
