Margaretta Williams Brown

Margaretta is truly a child of the Conservatory: when she was born, her father Ifan Williams was its Director and her mother Eileen was already active in what was then called the Alumni Association.  The Conservatory and the Association have continued to be central to Margaretta’s life, the scope and duration of her involvement so extensive as to be unprecedented.  How many people can note with pride that they have worked continuously in support of an arts organization for seven decades?

As a youth Margaretta was a voice student of Teodor Brilts, and a good one. She also studied the violin with her father —but says she was always a reluctant performer.  Socially skilled even when very young, Margaretta mentioned to me recently that she remembers helping her mother at Conservatory events when she was ten!  She has childhood memories of Faculty parties at her family home in Glen Haven: her job was to make pan after pan of dinner rolls—surely good practice for what was to come. It is difficult to imagine the number of functions Margaretta has been involved with over the years, first as helper, then as organizer.  Year after year—while her father was Director, then during the fifteen years her husband Ross was chair of the Board of Governors or, more recently, the decade when her brother Ifan assumed the position of Director—Margaretta has graciously and effectively played her role.  Highly organized, a delight to work with, efficient and effective, always a Lady.....

Throughout all these years Margaretta Brown has been a central figure of the Association—as a Member, serving on the Board of Directors, sometime President, and the convener of events without number: card parties, teas, dances, fashion shows, gala concerts, luncheons, and—most of all—the Association’s dinners.  When the Brown’s redesigned the kitchen in their condo, special attention was taken to ensure that it would be a suitable place where Margaretta, aided by her loyal band of helpers, with Ross always there to pitch in when needed, could prepare the delicious meals for which the Association’s dinners have always been noted. 

Who better personifies the qualities of someone deserving of this honour?  A lifetime of service, generous with her time as well as financially, ever the enthusiastic supporter of the Conservatory, I would like you to join me in congratulating our newest Honorary Life Member of the MCPA Association, Margaretta Williams Brown.

Dr. Gary Brooks
President, MCPA Association
October 21, 2016