Hester Dickson Martineau

Hester Dickson Martineau
Hester Dickson Martineau
Born	Hester Dickson 1924 Edinburgh
Died	2015 Edinburgh
Nationality	United Kingdom
Occupation	pianist

Hester Dickson Martineau (22 July 1924 - 10 December 2015) was a celebrated pianist and pedagogue who was born in Edinburgh.

Her mother Mari was married to lawyer Douglas Dickson, and Hester was one of four children in the family. Hester came from a very musical family whose father was also a gifted musician whose close friends included Sir Adrian Boult and Donald Tovey.

Hester had two marriages: the first to Laurence Poole, with whom she had a son, Adrian. She was widowed at a young age, and remarried in 1959 to Canon George Martineau, with whom she had another son, Malcolm. George died in 1969.

Her son, Malcolm Martineau, is an accomplished pianist and accompanist who performs regularly at the Edinburgh International Festival.

Martineau died at the age of 91, at Cluny Lodge Care Home, in Edinburgh.

Martineau graduated with a B Mus at Edinburgh University before attending the Royal Academy of Music In London, where she studied under Harold Craxton. In 1969 she became a teacher at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama, now known as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, retiring at age 90.

Hester and her sister Joan, a cellist, would often perform at Wednesday lunchtime concerts held at the National Gallery in Edinburgh, and hosted by Tertia Liebenthal. Joan appeared as a cellist at the 699th of these concerts, during which Tertia died, following her announcement that the 700th would feature Peter Pears and Benjamin Britten.

On the first anniversary of her death, a concert was held in celebration of her life at the Queen's Hall in Edinburgh. The concert featured John Mark Ainsley, Lorna Anderson, Katie Bird, Karen Cargill, Nigel Cliffe, Rebecca Evans, Warren Gillespie, Janis Kelly, Jamie MacDougall, Patricia MacMahon, Ann Murray, Christopher Nairne, Linda Ormiston, Nicky Spence, Damien Thantrey, and Catherine Wyn-Rogers. The orchestra was directed by Tim Dean and led by Ruth Crouch, and organised by her son Malcolm.