Sidonie "Sid" Goossens (19 October 1899 in Liscard, Wallasey - 15 December 2004 in Reigate) was one of Britain's most enduring harpists. She made her professional debut in 1921, was a founder member of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and went on to play for more than half a century until her retirement in 1981.
She was a member of the famous Goossens family that emigrated to England from Belgium in the 19th century. Her father and grandfather were bot...
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Sidonie "Sid" Goossens (19 October 1899 in Liscard, Wallasey - 15 December 2004 in Reigate) was one of Britain's most enduring harpists. She made her professional debut in 1921, was a founder member of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and went on to play for more than half a century until her retirement in 1981.
She was a member of the famous Goossens family that emigrated to England from Belgium in the 19th century. Her father and grandfather were both conductors, both called Eugene. Her brother Sir Eugene Goossens made an international conducting career in the mid-twentieth century and was also a composer. He spent many years working in Australia as the director of the NSW Conservatorium of Music and chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony. Her brother Leon was an eminent oboist and her sister Marie was also a distinguished harpist.
As a child, she wanted to become an actress but was encouraged by her father to play the harp. Taught by Miriam Timothy, she was already playing in public by...
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