Born: 20 May 1856, United Kingdom
Died: 19 November 1945
Country most active: International
Also known as: Helen Wilson
The following is republished from the Library of Congress. This piece falls under under public domain, as copyright does not apply to “any work of the U.S. Government” where “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties” (See, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 105).
1856 May 20 Born in Edinburgh, Scotland
circa 1865 Began to study piano
1876-1878 Attended the Leipzig Conservatory and studied under Dr. Louis Maas, Carl Reinecke, Salomon Jadassohn, and Ernst Richter
1878 November 28 Performance debut at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Germany
1879 March 15 London debut at the Crystal Palace
1882 August 4 Married William A. Wilson
1883 December 7 United States debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
1887 March Moved to Vienna to study under Theodor Leschetizky
1890-1892 Toured the United States and Canada during the fall and winter concert seasons, returning to Vienna between tours
1892 Moved to Paris to study composition and orchestration with Richard Mandl
1894 November Performed Concertstück for the first time with the Scottish Orchestra in Edinburgh and Dundee
circa 1895 Moved to London
1897 William Wilson was struck by a car in London, which resulted in Hopekirk’s return to teaching to financially support them both. Moved to Boston to teach at the New England Conservatory of Music per the request of George Whitfield Chadwick
1897-1901 Taught at the New England Conservatory of Music
circa 1899 Moved to Brookline, Massachusetts
1900 December Performed Concerto in D major for the first time with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Cambridge, Massachusetts
1901 Began teaching privately in her home
1904 April Performed Concert Piece in D minor for the first time in the United States with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
1918 March 12 Hopekirk and William Wilson became United States citizens
1919 Moved to Edinburgh, Scotland
1920 Returned to the United States permanently
1926 William Wilson died in Brookline, Massachusetts
1939 April Final concert performance with the Pianoforte Teachers’ Society of Boston
1945 August Moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to live with a close friend
1945 November 19 Died in Cambridge, Massachusetts