Olive Mead (1874–1946) was an American classical violinist. She was a successful soloist and chamber player, performing with Amy Beach, among many others. She formed her own well-regarded string-quartet, the Olive Mead Quartet (1903–1917), which featured only women. Its members were

Vera Fonaroff Vera Fonaroff (June 14, 1883, Kiev – July 23, 1962, New York, NY) was an American classical violinist and violin teacher of Russian-Jewish heritage. Personal life Born in Kiev on June 14, 1883, to Alexander and Sonia Hochstein, the family immi ...

, Gladys North, and Lillian Littlehales. She was a student of Julius Eichberg and

Franz Kneisel Franz Kneisel (born January 26, 1865, Bucharest - died March 26, 1926, New York) was a violinist and music teacher. He completed early musical training at the Bucharest Conservatory and moved to Vienna in 1879, where he studied under Jakob Grün. ...

Personal history

She was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and began studying the violin at the age of 7. She began studies with Eichberg and Kneisel in 1888 and made her debut at

Steinert Hall Steinert Hall (est. 1896) of Boston, Massachusetts, stands at 162 Boylston Street on what was called Boston's " piano row",Kahn, Joseph P."Steinert Hall, out of use and far from sight" ''The Boston Globe'', December 13, 2013 opposite the Common in ...

in Boston at the age of 20. She married New York realty professional Merrill Holden Green, who died in 1918. She died at her home in Cambridge in 1946 at the age of 71, survived by two of her three sons.

Professional history

At the age of 25, she made a European tour with Franz Kneisel and his wife, during which she had the opportunity to meet

Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the mid- Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, he spent much of his professional life in Vienna. He is sometimes grouped wit ...

. In 1898 she became a soloist for the

Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...

, and in later years for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She also played at diplomatic receptions in London as well as gatherings hosted by

Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, (; born Lourens Alma Tadema ; 8 January 1836 – 25 June 1912) was a Dutch painter who later settled in the United Kingdom becoming the last officially recognised denizen in 1873. Born in Dronryp, the Netherlands, ...

. Her performance at the Salle Erard in London in June 1900 was noted as being "immensely intelligent". In 1910, the Olive Mead Quartet played a benefit for the Graduate Nurses Association at the Columbia Theater in Washington, D.C.

References

1874 births 1946 deaths American classical violinists American women classical violinists {{US-violinist-stub