Pic: Moira Birks with equally well-known colleague, pianist Glyn Townley. (Photograph by Arthur Dixon)
Well-known pianist, composer and teacher dies at her home in Durban at the age of 91.
One of Durban’s finest music personalities – well-known concert pianist, composer and teacher Moira Birks (Kearney) - died on February 19 at her home in Durban at the age of 91.
Also an organist; radio broadcaster; arranger; lecturer and mentor, she was renowned and respected for her formidable technique and was the first head of Piano Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, teaching there for 13 years. Her talent has been passed on to her daughter Annette Kearney Servadei who is also a pianist.
“I was privileged to have had private lessons with her for four years from which I gained a renewed personal self-confidence and enthusiasm for playing, for which I am extremely grateful,” explained Arthur Dixon.
Honorary secretary of the South African Music Teachers Association (SASMT), he paid tribute to Moira Birks at her 90th birthday concert in 2007 which was presented by the SASMT and the UKZN School of Music to celebrate her milestone birthday and her contribution to Durban's musical life.
“For me, her teaching style was characterised by attention to the harmonic structure or "architecture" of the piece, the use of systematic fingering and hand-shapes, and of course "phrasing" - the soul of interpretation,” Arthur Dixon said at the time. “After all this, one still had to find one's own inner love for the music and regard every performance as a privilege. She always stressed that there was a huge difference between just "presenting" a piece of music and "performing" it!
“Her most endearing personal attributes I believe are a unique smile and sense of humour, ability to empathise with the student for the trials of life that are sometimes beyond one's control, giving praise for the smallest improvement, always making sure you left the lesson knowing what needed to be done and how to work on it, and encouragement to always aim for the best of which you were capable.”
A lifelong member of the SASMT, a Unisa examiner and Unisa competition panel judge, she taught at University of Port Elizabeth from 1969 to 1970 flying down weekly to do a full day’s work. A prodigious performer, she gave many SABC studio recitals and live symphony concert broadcasts. During the early years of music in Durban, she worked with the SABC Studio Orchestra, accompanying the violin pupils of the leader Stirling Robins, as well as many visiting artists and doing many radio broadcasts - on average one a month. At one stage, she also presented radio broadcasts of examination pieces with discussion on their interpretation. Performances of two-piano works with the well-known Glyn Townley are also noted.
She also produced five Messiah's at the Emmanuel Cathedral, and was instrumental in the revision of the catholic hymnal which now contains three of her own compositions.
The funeral will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Musgrave, on Thursday.
(UKZN tribute from Professor Chris Ballantine to follow)
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