Ann Rachlin

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Ann Sybille Rachlin MBE (born 1933), is a musician, author of children's books and the founder of "Fun with Music", a stream of online stories for children with music. She is an authority on Dame Ellen Terry, the great Victorian actress, and her daughter Edith Craig.

Life and career[]

Rachlin was born in Leeds, England in 1933, as Ann Lyttleton. She is the widow of the American conductor and pianist Ezra Rachlin, who died in 1995.[1] She has two daughters and one son, children of her first marriage to Neville Ziff (divorced).[2] Most of Rachlin's family were Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe[2][3]

In the early 1970s Rachlin founded The Beethoven Fund for Deaf Children (now incorporated with The Elizabeth Foundation for Deaf Children). She is President of both charities.

Rachlin's work came to public awareness in 1987 when Prince William joined her classes. He was followed a year later by his brother, Prince Harry. The princes studied with Rachlin for four years until they went to boarding school. She has taught the children or grandchildren of other celebrities, including Yehudi Menuhin, Judi Dench, Spike Milligan, and Julian Lloyd Webber,[4] among the 260 pupils who attended her weekly sessions in London. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Jane Asher, Edward Fox and Joanna David, Barry Humphries, Bob Hoskins, Sir Clement Freud and Peter O'Toole also sent their children to her school.

Rachlin's public performances around the world included family "Funtasia" concerts in 1986 with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by her husband, Ezra. When Ezra Rachlin died in 1995, Ann Rachlin continued her work with colleague Iain Kerr[5].In 1996 she was the subject of "This Is Your Life" when Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Sir Georg Solti and Lord Runcie joined many celebrities, friends and former pupils to pay tribute to her life's work with children and music.[6]

Rachlin is also a children's writer whose "Famous Children" books have been translated into languages including Indonesian, Finnish, Czech and two Chinese versions. She is an authority on the Victorian actress Dame Ellen Terry and her daughter Edith Craig; her collection of Terry memorabilia includes the as yet unpublished reminiscences of Edith Craig.

In 2010, Rachlin was awarded a Fellowship at Grey College in the University of Durham. She now lives near Winchelsea in East Sussex where she is still active in theatrical and musical circles.

In 1986, Rachlin was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II for her services to music and deaf children.

References[]

  1. ^ Ezra Rachlin site
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Ann Rachlin site
  3. ^ Jarrow and Hebburn Gazette
  4. ^ Fun Wiyh Music
  5. ^ Kerroy.com
  6. ^ "Ann Rachlin". Bigredbook.info. Retrieved 23 November 2020.

External links[]

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