Lina Drechsler Adamson (1876 – 28 February 1960) was a Canadian violinist, conductor, and music educator.
Early life and education Adamson was born in Brockville, Ontario, the daughter of James Robertson Adamson and Bertha Drechsler Adamson."Miss Lina Drechsler-Adamson" The Conservatory Bi-Monthly 11(1)(January 1912): 9-10. via Internet Archive. Both of her parents were born in Scotland. Her mother was a violinist and music educator. She trained as a violinist in Leipzig with Hans Sitt, and in Switzerland with . Career Back in Toronto after her European training, Adamson was considered one of the city's "prominent violinists".Hubbard, William Lines. History of Foreign Music, with introduction by Frederick Starr (Toledo: The Squire Cooley Co., 1910): 250. "She produced a good tone and showed good artistic judgment in phrasing and rhythm," reported a 1910 reviewer. She taught at the Toronto Conservatory of Music,"Toronto Conservatory of Music" Musical Canada 8(10)(February 1914): 288. and played in the conservatory's string quartet and string orchestra.
Adamson also played with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra,"The Toronto Symphony Orchestra" The Conservatory Bi-Monthly 7(6)(November 1908): 166. via Internet Archive and gave solo recitals."The Toronto Conservatory of Music" Musical Canada 8(8)(December 1913): 213. She accompanied contralto Eva Mylott at a concert in New York in 1908."Conservatory Announcements and Events" The Conservatory Bi-Monthly 9(1)(January 1910): 23. via Internet Archive. During World War I, she organized a musical program for a recruiting event at Toronto's Hippodrome. Later in her career, she conducted the conservatory's well-regarded junior orchestra, and the Toronto Ladies Ensemble. "Miss Adamson's skilful bow-arm conducting at rehearsals was the prime cause of so many various young players doing such a crisp, lively performance, without juvenile string-scratching," noted a Toronto Star reviewer in 1939.
Personal life Adamson died in 1960, in her eighties, in Toronto. References
External links Elliott, Robert William Andrew. "The String Quartet in Canada" (PhD dissertation, University of Toronto 1990).