1882-1971
Ivy was born 10 October 1882, in Dunedin, parents Elizabeth Henry and William Poppelwell (V). She was the only girl among four brothers George, Henry, Colin and Cecil. Her first school was St Joseph’s, Dunedin and on 8 August 1896, she enrolled at the High Street School.
In her teens she lived with her Aunt Fenwick, her mother’s sister in Dunedin who fostered and financed her musical education, and when she died, she left a bequest which enabled her to continue her singing training overseas. She was a member of St Joseph’s Cathedral in Dunedin with her brothers Henry and Colin.
From her Aunt Fenwick’s bequest, she became a protege of Dame Nellie Melba at the Melba Conservatorium in Richmond, Australia. And in her twenties, she went to Germany to study Italian and German the Lieder Technique with Elena Gerhardt.
She had a fine Mezzo soprano voice and had a long career as a pianist, accompanist, solo concert singer, as well as a music and voice teacher. Her pupils used to call her ‘Madam’. She was ‘on par’ with Sister Mary Leo, Auckland.
1912 She met George Alfred Ginn on the ship ’Manuka’ and married 26 December 1914 in Dunedin. George was a prosperous Tea Merchant who had tuberculosis and was supposed to die within 2 years but lived another 12. He died 18 May 1926, Wellington at 52. Had one son, Russell Henry Ginn, 23 November 1916, Wellington. After she married, she used her middle name Anna for the rest of her life.
They had lived in a double storey house at 3 Park Terrace (now called Collina Tce), Wellington, just off Molesworth Street. St Mary’s College was at the back of the house, where her Aunts Catherine and Elizabeth were early boarders.
Anna had a housekeeper Nola Hopley, Mr Nippert handy-man / gardener and Jeanie Weenie her maid. Anna had many monthly tea parties with the best china, a large silver teapot and always asked her pupils ’would you like to be Mother?’ Meaning ‘pour the tea’.
She taught singing for 50 years from 9am to 6pm. One of the many scales she used were ’gone-doubt- gone- fear’ which used all the ‘o’ sounds also the Bel Canto method. Anna had many pupils and some went on to win Mobil Song Quest’s and joined Musical Theatres.
Anna was also involved in arranging many Concerts including League of Mother’s, Pioneer Club, YMCA, British Music Society, Free Ambulance, Ladies Auxiliary, St Mary’s Church of England Homes Karori, Girls Choirs, Recitals and more plus, Adjudicator for Wellington Boys and Girls Choir, Recitals, accompanied or sang.
Anna (Ivy) died 18 January 1971, Wellington. Chronic Heart Disease,
Ivy Fenwick Ginn
Plot: Ch England 2/H/227
By Margot Stuart
