Eda Kersey

Who was Eda Kersey?

Eda Kersey was a British violinist who was renowned for her brilliant playing. She premiered a number of important works but her career was cut short by her early death.

Eda Kersey was born in Goodmayes, Essex in 1904. She studied the violin from the age of six, winning an honours certificate from the Trinity College of Music when only eight. She studied with Edgar Mouncher, a pupil of Otakar Ševčík; under him, she prepared the first movement from Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, which she played in Southampton when only ten. At 13, she commenced studies with Margaret Holloway, a pupil of Leopold Auer. She gave her first London recital at age 16 at the Aeolian Hall. The BBC engaged her to play the Mendelssohn, Beethoven and Elgar concertos and she gave the first broadcast of Dohnányi's Violin Concerto No. 1. She also performed the Beethoven concerto at the 1930 Proms under Sir Henry J. Wood. Later Proms performances included the Brahms and Bach A minor concertos.

In 1930 she gave the first two performances of Stanley Wilson's Violin Concerto.

In 1931 she formed a piano trio with Gerald Moore and Cedric Sharpe, while continuing her solo career. She also played in a trio with Howard Ferguson and Helen Just for some time.