Ada Baker

Ada Winifred Weekes Baker (11 December 186624 July 1949), known professionally as Madame Ada Baker, was an Australian soprano, vaudeville star and singing teacher. Born in Strawberry Hills, Sydney, she moved with her family to Wagga Wagga where she taught singing. Upon returning to Sydney she received further training under Albert Fisher. She debuted to much acclaim at the Promenade Concerts in 1886 at Surry Hills. She married Charles Hall, a law clerk, in 1887 and had two children. The couple filed for divorce in 1897, which was not granted, but they had already separated.

As part of the Willard Opera Company, Baker toured China and India in the early 1890s. Back in Sydney she joined Harry Rickards' vaudeville circuit. The company toured Western Australia in 1898, where Baker established herself in Perth as a singing teacher and performer. She moved back to Sydney in 1907 where she reestablished herself as a well-respected and influential singing teacher, and joined Sydney's musical society. Her influence as a teacher was such that she was later made vice-president of the Australian Music Teachers' Alliance. Baker also gave concerts and was a fund-raiser for charities, later becoming a life governor of the Rachel Forster Hospital. She continued teaching until a few months before her death at the age of 82.

Early life and career Baker was born on 11 December 1866 in Strawberry Hills as the ninth child of English-born parents: George Frederick Baker (c. 18271900), auctioneer, and Sarah Wilkinson Baker, (died 1885).