Marie Himmelman Smyth, L. Mus., BA, BEd

(1928-2021)

Marie Himmelman Smyth.  Marie was born in 1928 in Rose Bay, Lunenburg County, and she died in Halifax on August 3, 2021 at the age of 93.

Marie showed musical promise at a very early age and later enrolled at the Maritime Academy of Music.  Not surprising, given the Academy’s strength in piano and music theory, these became the focus of her study.  Marie’s primary teachers were all familiar names: Harry Dean (piano), Rita Morton (theory), and Mary Dee Gerroir (voice).

During this period both the Maritime Academy of Music and the Halifax Conservatory of Music were associated with Dalhousie, with the university awarding Bachelor of Music degrees or Licentiates of Music for study at the music schools.  Marie was awarded the L. Mus. (Dal) in 1948, and she gave her graduation recital piano in February of that year.  The recital was held in the Ballroom of the Nova Scotia Hotel, a venue often used for concerts in part because its large pipe organ.  In her recital, Marie was assisted by fellow student Paul Benedict Syberg, baritone, accompanied on the piano by Mary Dee Gerroir, whom many of you will remember as the long-time conductor of the Armdale Chorus (later Choir).  Marie’s programme was ambitious and included works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, Schuman, and Shostakovich; it concluded with Mendelssohn’s Concerto in G Minor, Op.25 accompanied on the organ by her teacher, Academy President Harry Dean, A.R.C.O., R.C.M. (Leipzig).

The following day, the newspaper headline read “Halifax Pianist Scores Brilliant Recital”, commenting that the performance “drew highest praise from a large gathering of music lover…. The pianist proved herself a capable musician both technically and emotionally.  Her style was clean and expressive and she played with an intensity that was remarkable for so young an artist.”

Mr. Syberg also came in for his share of praise.  “Paul Benedict Syberg, baritone, assisted Miss Himmelman with three groups of selections.  His rich, full voice was most expressive and he handled it with excellent control throughout”.

After further study at Dalhousie and St. Mary’s universities, Marie Himmelman Smyth made her career in music.   She taught music throughout the Halifax School System.  For many years she conducted school choirs in music festivals throughout the region.  Marie also was a long-time member of the Maritime Conservatory of Music that had been created in 1954 when the Maritime Academy and the Halifax Conservatory amalgamated.  In addition to piano, Marie continued to teach theory, harmony, and counterpoint at the Conservatory until her retirement in 1991.   Her students have been known to recount stories of their teacher’s requirement that they remove their shoes at the door with the demand that they be lined up neatly before the lesson began.

Marie Himmelman Smith was active in both the Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers Association and the Maritime Conservatory Alumni Association.   In 2015, in recognition of her long service to both the Conservatory and what had formerly been called the Alumni Association, she was elected by Bravura Nova Scotia as an Honorary Life Member.