Dame Sister Mary Leo Niccol DBE (3 April 1895 – 5 May 1989) was a New Zealand religious sister who is best known for training some of the world's finest sopranos, including Mina Foley,[1] Dames Malvina Major, Kiri Te Kanawa, Mona Ross and Heather Begg.
Sister Mary Leo initially began her teaching career as a violin teacher.
It was in the late 1930s, after she heard a recording of Deanna Durbin and was so taken with Durbin's natural tone, flexible technique, vocal range, and repertoire that included both opera and light music, that she decided to devote her time to teaching singing.
[2] From 1950 on, honours and plaudits followed the success of such students as Dame Malvina Major, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa,[3] Dame Heather Begg,[4] Mina Foley, Judith Edwards, Elisabeth Hellawell, Patricia Price, Mona Ross and Elaine Dow; Leo's influence extended into the rock music world with student Jan Hellriegel.
[2] In 1980 the Grand Opera Society of Auckland established the Dame Sister Mary Leo Scholarship in her honour.