Kate Lee
Encyclopedia
Kate Lee, born Catharine Anna Spooner, (9 March 1858 - 25 July 1904) was a singer and folksong collector.
She was born in Rufford, Nottinghamshire, the daughter of Lucius and Margaret Spooner; her cousins included William Archibald Spooner
, who gave his name to the "spoonerism".
She entered the Royal Academy of Music
in January 1876 with the ambition to become a singer; but her studies were at this time not completed and she married Arthur Morier Lee (1847–1909) in December 1877. She had two children, in 1879 and 1881, but retained the desire to become a singer. She studied at the Royal College of Music
from 1887 to 1889 and became a professional singer in 1895. She also collected folksongs, notably from James and Thomas Copper
. She was one of the leading figures in setting up the Folk-Song Society
and became its first secretary. In 1900 however, she became ill with cancer, of which she died at Stubbings
near Maidenhead
in 1904.
She was born in Rufford, Nottinghamshire, the daughter of Lucius and Margaret Spooner; her cousins included William Archibald Spooner
William Archibald Spooner
William Archibald Spooner was a famous Oxford don whose name is given to the linguistic phenomenon of spoonerism.-Biography:...
, who gave his name to the "spoonerism".
She entered the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
in January 1876 with the ambition to become a singer; but her studies were at this time not completed and she married Arthur Morier Lee (1847–1909) in December 1877. She had two children, in 1879 and 1881, but retained the desire to become a singer. She studied at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
from 1887 to 1889 and became a professional singer in 1895. She also collected folksongs, notably from James and Thomas Copper
Copper Family
The Copper Family are a family of singers of traditional, unaccompanied English folk song. Originally from Rottingdean, near Brighton, Sussex, England, the nucleus of the family now live in the neighbouring village of Peacehaven.-History:...
. She was one of the leading figures in setting up the Folk-Song Society
English Folk Dance and Song Society
The English Folk Dance and Song Society was formed in 1932 when two organisations merged: the Folk-Song Society and the English Folk Dance Society. The EFDSS, a member-based organisation, was incorporated as a Company limited by guarantee in 1935 and became a Registered Charity The English Folk...
and became its first secretary. In 1900 however, she became ill with cancer, of which she died at Stubbings
Stubbings
Stubbings is a hamlet in the civil parish of Bisham, west of Maidenhead, in the English county of Berkshire.Stubbings House mansion was very briefly the home of Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, the Governor of Quebec and later, during World War II, of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. It is...
near Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
in 1904.