Mary Ibberson

Ellen Mary Ibberson (13 December 1892 – 6 May 1979) was a British musician and teacher, who founded the first Rural Music School. She was the Founder-Director of the Rural Music Schools Association, which she led for 33 years.

Life Ellen Mary Ibberson was born on 13 December 1892 in Hunstanton, Norfolk.

Ibberson took courses in German and piano in Dresden in 1911. Ibberson took part in activities including folk dancing and the Girl Guides, as well as becoming involved in campaigns for women's suffrage. Ibberson was the sub-warden, and ran a music appreciation course there before founding her Rural Music School. According to Ibberson, the idea grew from the activities of the Educational Settlements Association for promoting adult education, "filling leisure with pursuits of the mind," as well as directly from the request of two young men wanting to play the violin.

Ibberson's original school sought to make music teaching available to adults, who had not had access to it in their youth.

Ibberson's stated aim was "to make good teaching available to amateurs of all ages, not in the large centres of professional music but in country towns and villages". In 1929 there had been one school, two teachers, four classes, and 40 students; in 1937, there were 4 schools and 1,700 students; by 1950, there were 9 schools, 200 teachers, 700 classes and 7,000 students.

In 1953, the Rural Music Schools Association moved to new premises in Hitchin - a house, garden, and cottage bequeathed by Esther Seebohm, "to be used in perpetuity for the support of music-making". The building contained a memorial to Editha Knocker, a violin teacher and co-founder of an instrument loan programme,

Retirement and death On her retirement in 1962, a special concert was held at the Royal College of Music in Ibberson's honour.

In 1977, Ibberson published For Joy That We Are Here: Rural Music Schools 1929-50.

Mary Ibberson died in Dorset on 6 May 1979.