Ann Rachlin
Encyclopedia
Ann Rachlin MBE
, founder of Fun With Music, is a pioneer of music appreciation for children in the UK, and the first performer to introduce "fun" to classical music. A gifted storyteller, Ann began teaching music appreciation in London before creating Fun with Music. She is a published author of children's books and an authority on Ellen Terry, the great Victorian actress and her daughter Edith Craig. She is a Fellow of Grey College, University of Durham.
Her work came to public prominence in 1987 when Prince William joined Ann's classes and was followed a year later by his brother, Prince Harry. She has taught the children or grandchildren of other celebrities, including Yehudi Menuhin
's grandson, Judi Dench
's daughter, Spike Milligan
's daughter, Julian Lloyd Webber
's son.http://www.funwithmusic.com/celebrity-whos-who.php among the 260 pupils who attended her weekly sessions in London.
Born in Leeds, England in 1933, she is the widow of the American conductor/pianist Ezra Rachlin
who died in 1995. (see http://www.ezrarachlin.com) She has two daughters and one son, children of her first marriage to Neville Ziff (divorced) and five grandchildren. Children Jan Ziff, journalist and broadcaster, Trisha Ziff, curator and photographer, Max Ziff (see http://www.annrachlin.com)
Following an enquiry from The Princess of Wales, Prince William joined the Juniors and was followed a year later by Prince Harry who entered the Toddlers. They remained with Ann for four years until they went to boarding school. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Dame Judi Dench, Jane Asher, Edward Fox and Joanna David, Barry Humphries, Bob Hoskins, Sir Clement Freud, Spike Milligan and Peter O'Toole also number among other celebrities who have sent their children to Fun with Music.
Ann has given hundreds of public performances around the world, including a year of family “Funtasia” concerts in 1986 with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by her husband, Ezra.
When Ezra died in 1995, Ann was determined to continue her work. Together with colleague Iain Kerr, (see http://www.kerroy.com) a universally experienced musician who has worked with her since 1978, Ann enhanced Fun With Music with several new projects.
An accomplished public speaker, Ann travels all over the world, presenting her audio-visual lectures BELLS ON HER TOES, EDY WAS A LADY and MUSIC THE FOOD OF LIFE.
In 1996 Ann was the subject of "This Is Your Life
" when Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Sir Georg Solti and Lord Runcie joined many celebrities, friends and former pupils to pay tribute to her life's work with children and music.
Ann is also a successful writer and her ten "Famous Children" books are best sellers worldwide. They have been translated into 17 languages, including Indonesian, Finnish, Czech and two Chinese versions. She is an EMI recording artist, specialising in Classsical Music and Stories for children.
Ann Rachlin is an acknowledged authority on the Victorian
actress Ellen Terry
and her daughter Edith Craig
. For more than thirty years, Ann has owned an extensive ongoing collection of Terry memorabilia which includes the as yet unpublished reminiscences of Edith Craig. Her latest book EDY WAS A LADY contains the "lost" memoirs of Edith Craig.
In 2010 at the age of 76, Rachlin was offered and accepted a Fellowship at Grey College in the University of Durham. She spent the Easter Term at the University, living on campus where she was able to research, talk and write about Ellen Terry, the great Victorian actress and her daughter, Edith Craig, whose only memoirs have been owned by Ann since 1978. Rachlin was invited and returned to Grey College in 2011 and will do so again in 2012.
Ann Rachlin now lives near Winchelsea
in East Sussex
where she is still active in theatrical and musical circles.
In the early 1970's Ann founded The Beethoven Fund for Deaf Children (now incorporated with The Elizabeth Foundation for Deaf Children). She is President of both charities. The Beethoven Fund was supported by members of the Royal Family and many famous musicians including Lorin Maazel, Sir Georg Solti, Andre Previn, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Mitsuko Uchida, Yehudi Menuhin as well as Sir Peter Ustinov and Sir Alec Guinness amongst others. Ann and Ezra Rachlin were instrumental in helping Dame Evelyn Glennie in the early stages of her career.
In 1986 Ann Rachlin was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
for her services to music and deaf children.
.
http://www.annrachlin.com
http://www.ezrarachlin.com
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, founder of Fun With Music, is a pioneer of music appreciation for children in the UK, and the first performer to introduce "fun" to classical music. A gifted storyteller, Ann began teaching music appreciation in London before creating Fun with Music. She is a published author of children's books and an authority on Ellen Terry, the great Victorian actress and her daughter Edith Craig. She is a Fellow of Grey College, University of Durham.
Her work came to public prominence in 1987 when Prince William joined Ann's classes and was followed a year later by his brother, Prince Harry. She has taught the children or grandchildren of other celebrities, including Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE was a Russian Jewish American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. He was born to Russian Jewish parents in the United States, but became a citizen of Switzerland in 1970, and of the United Kingdom in 1985...
's grandson, Judi Dench
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
's daughter, Spike Milligan
Spike Milligan
Terence Alan Patrick Seán "Spike" Milligan Hon. KBE was a comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier and actor. His early life was spent in India, where he was born, but the majority of his working life was spent in the United Kingdom. He became an Irish citizen in 1962 after the...
's daughter, Julian Lloyd Webber
Julian Lloyd Webber
Julian Lloyd Webber is a British solo cellist who has been described as the "doyen of British cellists".-Early life:Julian Lloyd Webber is the second son of the composer William Lloyd Webber and his wife Jean Johnstone . He is the younger brother of the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber...
's son.http://www.funwithmusic.com/celebrity-whos-who.php among the 260 pupils who attended her weekly sessions in London.
Born in Leeds, England in 1933, she is the widow of the American conductor/pianist Ezra Rachlin
Ezra Rachlin
Ezra Rachlin was an American conductor and pianist.Rachlin was born in Hollywood and first showed an interest in the piano at the age of three. He gave his first full-length recital at age five. The Rachlins moved to Germany to assist Ezra in his studies...
who died in 1995. (see http://www.ezrarachlin.com) She has two daughters and one son, children of her first marriage to Neville Ziff (divorced) and five grandchildren. Children Jan Ziff, journalist and broadcaster, Trisha Ziff, curator and photographer, Max Ziff (see http://www.annrachlin.com)
Following an enquiry from The Princess of Wales, Prince William joined the Juniors and was followed a year later by Prince Harry who entered the Toddlers. They remained with Ann for four years until they went to boarding school. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Dame Judi Dench, Jane Asher, Edward Fox and Joanna David, Barry Humphries, Bob Hoskins, Sir Clement Freud, Spike Milligan and Peter O'Toole also number among other celebrities who have sent their children to Fun with Music.
Ann has given hundreds of public performances around the world, including a year of family “Funtasia” concerts in 1986 with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by her husband, Ezra.
When Ezra died in 1995, Ann was determined to continue her work. Together with colleague Iain Kerr, (see http://www.kerroy.com) a universally experienced musician who has worked with her since 1978, Ann enhanced Fun With Music with several new projects.
An accomplished public speaker, Ann travels all over the world, presenting her audio-visual lectures BELLS ON HER TOES, EDY WAS A LADY and MUSIC THE FOOD OF LIFE.
In 1996 Ann was the subject of "This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life (UK TV series)
This Is Your Life is a British biographical television documentary, based on the 1952 American show of the same name. It was hosted by Eamonn Andrews from 1955 until 1964, and then from 1969 until his death in 1987 aged 64...
" when Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Sir Georg Solti and Lord Runcie joined many celebrities, friends and former pupils to pay tribute to her life's work with children and music.
Ann is also a successful writer and her ten "Famous Children" books are best sellers worldwide. They have been translated into 17 languages, including Indonesian, Finnish, Czech and two Chinese versions. She is an EMI recording artist, specialising in Classsical Music and Stories for children.
Ann Rachlin is an acknowledged authority on the Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
actress Ellen Terry
Ellen Terry
Dame Ellen Terry, GBE was an English stage actress who became the leading Shakespearean actress in Britain. Among the members of her famous family is her great nephew, John Gielgud....
and her daughter Edith Craig
Edith Craig
Edith Ailsa Geraldine Craig was a prolific theatre director, producer, costume designer and early pioneer of the women's suffrage movement in England...
. For more than thirty years, Ann has owned an extensive ongoing collection of Terry memorabilia which includes the as yet unpublished reminiscences of Edith Craig. Her latest book EDY WAS A LADY contains the "lost" memoirs of Edith Craig.
In 2010 at the age of 76, Rachlin was offered and accepted a Fellowship at Grey College in the University of Durham. She spent the Easter Term at the University, living on campus where she was able to research, talk and write about Ellen Terry, the great Victorian actress and her daughter, Edith Craig, whose only memoirs have been owned by Ann since 1978. Rachlin was invited and returned to Grey College in 2011 and will do so again in 2012.
Ann Rachlin now lives near Winchelsea
Winchelsea
Winchelsea is a small village in East Sussex, England, located between the High Weald and the Romney Marsh, approximately two miles south west of Rye and seven miles north east of Hastings...
in East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
where she is still active in theatrical and musical circles.
In the early 1970's Ann founded The Beethoven Fund for Deaf Children (now incorporated with The Elizabeth Foundation for Deaf Children). She is President of both charities. The Beethoven Fund was supported by members of the Royal Family and many famous musicians including Lorin Maazel, Sir Georg Solti, Andre Previn, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Mitsuko Uchida, Yehudi Menuhin as well as Sir Peter Ustinov and Sir Alec Guinness amongst others. Ann and Ezra Rachlin were instrumental in helping Dame Evelyn Glennie in the early stages of her career.
In 1986 Ann Rachlin was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
for her services to music and deaf children.
.
External links
- Fun with Music website. Retrieved Feb. 25, 2006.
http://www.annrachlin.com
http://www.ezrarachlin.com