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Something New Is Added-* ’By LOUISE JESCHIEN WRIGHTAlthough Sisks' Xavier Mary of Holy Names Order wears a black habit, the accepted mode of dress tcf Catholic nuns for centuries, she proves that many of the c-d rrjsfs end must nets are 90*09 by the boards.A gifted violinist m her early 40's, she is giving numerous public concerts In Spokane, Seattle, Porttenc, Ore., and Aibany, N.Y., and furthermore is receiving rave notices from the critics. Some are urging her to launch our on a nation-wide recital tour.Sister Xavier Mary is In the first violin section o? Spokane Symphony Orchestra, one of the first nuns sn the country to p'sy in a professional orchestra. She was the only nun at Juilhard School of Music in New York where she graduated with a master's degree last year and studied under the famous Joseph Fuchs.Holy Names Order net on?/ urged S?stsr Xavier Mary to attend juiiiiard's *od footed the b»Ji, but allowed her to go to New York alone, contrary to the ancient custom of travelling in pairs.No longer does it mean 'when a young 'woman lakes the veil, she relinquishes the world end ahearthly ihings.New horizons among religious orders, with Holy Names leading, are making room for more freedom, allowing for individual differences and special talents, and recognizing the need for self-fulfillment/* says Sister, who attributes her musical success to two peo-ote: her 78-year-old mother, Mrs. Leila B. Ccurvoisier of San Leandro, with whom she is visiting, and Mother M. Joan, a former provincial superior in Spokane.Mrs. Courvcisier, a piano teacher for 40 years, gave Sister music fundamentals at an early age and Mother Joan re-rouled her career back into music after it had been side-tracked for 15 years in science.Elizabeth Courvoisier, Sister's name before she took her vows, started piano with her mother at the age of three. Part of her artistic temperament she inherited from her father, the late c. 8. Courvoisier, a Ssn ft*n» cisco art deafer.At six she entered S.F. Conservatory of Music. At seven she joined S.F. Junior Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of the great concert violinist, MischelPiastfo. As a young girl she took private lessons from Jascha Yeissi and was a student in violin of the late \Wli«m F. L$r«*a of $.r. Symphony Orchestra and inpteno of his wife, Madame c‘$;e Cock Lar«;a.!o h;gh school she d*d advance work ?n piano andp'ayec :r*e v:offn y/‘:h U C. Symphony Or-M,'v V : W*Shortiy after enrolling ai U.C., S'-ster gave a large p;ano rechat then dropped everything fcr an iilnest that las'ed 13 months. Urrer she became engrossed in biological sciences, which she studied at College of Ho-y Names in Oakland, U C. and Maryihursf College* subsequently becoming a science teacher.Except for a rare holiday v/hen she and a fev/ Sisters played for fun, ii never entered Sister Xavier Mary's mind to co music again until she me! Mother Joan. Recognizing a latent talent, the latter snatched her from science classes and sent her to Seattle to teach mus*c and study under Emanuel Zetlm, University of V/ashiogton's noted violinist, before S°^S Juiihard's.Sister Xavier Mary refers to her hfe as ' variegated and sporadic in music. Next month she will give a 'cnata viclm recital at College of Hc?y Names in Fort Wrioht. Wash.SAT., Jnna IS flfri Sat., Jana tk Uicapt Maaday)LWiteBi1'His B.q Bond end ---'/?AX
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Oakland Tribune
Oakland, California, US
Thu, Jun 13, 1963
Page 39
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USA 13 Jul 2021
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