Emmeline M. D. Woolley

Woolley was a talented pianist but had little access to high culture in Sydney, so she was sent to Florence, where she became familiar with the masses of Palestrina, Pergolesi and Cherubini.

She studied under Alessandro Kraus the Elder (1820–1904), Carlo Duccè (Ducci) and Pietro Romani (1791–1877),[1] later with Julius von Kolb,[b] from whom she learned much of Liszt's approach to composition and performance.

[4] In 1882 a close personal and artistic collaboration developed between Woolley and Ethel Pedley, a niece and pupil of Mme Sainton-Dolby, supplying piano accompaniment to Pedley's choir of amateur vocalists[7] who contributed to popular concerts à la "People's Concert"[c] at the Sydney Sailors' Home.

[2] In 1880 she suggested moving the organ and choir from the loft to the floor, believing it would result in better singing by the congregation, a presumptuous proposal, some thought.

[21] It was installed[22] by the Sydney firm of Layton Brothers,[23] and 'opened' by the newly-appointed church organist Fred Morley, in August 1886.

Woolley died at her home, 27 Upper William Street south, Darlinghurst or North Sydney,[d] after months of painful illness, having lost the use of her hands.