Bartholomew, Ann Sheppard (1811–1891)
Bartholomew, Ann Sheppard (1811–1891)
English composer, pianist, organist, and teacher. Born Ann Mounsey in London on April 17, 1811; died in London, England, on June 24, 1891; member of the Royal Society of Musicians.
In 1817, Ann Bartholomew studied under Logier, who then recommended that she study with the eminent German composer Louis Spohr. The latter was so impressed by her musical abilities that he subsequently printed one of her harmonizations of a melody in his autobiography. After further study with Samuel Wesley and Thomas Attwood, Bartholomew became an organist in 1828; appointed to the same position at St. Vedast's in 1837, she remained for 50 years. She wrote many pieces for organ and piano as well as over 100 songs, an oratorio, and a cantata. Bartholomew gave regular concerts of sacred classical music and introduced a number of Felix Mendelssohn's new organ compositions to the public. She became an associate of the Philharmonic Society in 1834 and in 1839 became a member of the Royal Society of Musicians.