This is a transcription of the Fannie Packard Hoyt biography from New Hampshire Women: A Collection of Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Daughters and Residents of the Granite State, Who are Worthy Representatives of their Sex in the Various Walks and Conditions of Life, The New Hampshire Publishing Co., Concord, NH, 1895, page 101.
Fannie Packard Hoyt
THE beautiful town of Newington, near Portsmouth by the sea, is the birthplace of Fannie Packard Hoyt, the well-known violinist. Miss Hoyt was born May 20, 1869, and is the daughter of Joseph S. and Martha Hoyt. When a child she one day came across an old violin and became so fascinated with its strings that an overpowering desire came over her to master the instrument, which she did by ear, and later under competent instruction. Her first teacher was Mr. Henry Harlow, of Portsmouth, and before twelve years of age she made her debut, in Music Hall in that city. At thirteen she went to Boston, entered the Boston Conservatory, then under the direction of the late Julius Eichberg, and later continued her studies with the well-known violin virtuoso, Bernard Listemann. This was supplemented by a course with Herr C. M. Loeffler. Miss Hoyt developed her musical ability rapidly, and for some years has acted in the capacity of teacher, although studying faithfully, all the while, toward perfection. For five successive summers she led the orchestra at the Isles of Shoals, a portion of whose members were of the male sex. During the season of 1893 Miss Hoyt filled an engagement at Lakeview during the Chautauqua assembly, and in the summer of 1894, she organized an orchestra and played with great success at Sorrento, Me., the rival resort to Bar Harbor. While at this place she had many private pupils, and was much in demand. She is noted beyond the limits of New England, and fills many engagements for concert work in New York. In person she is quite tall, and has a thoroughly honest, intelligent face, with fine, expressive eyes, and the sensitive mouth and chin so often characterizing musicians. She has a cheery nature and has a happy faculty of making and holding her friends. Miss Hoyt is a cousin to Mrs. Phoebe Jenks, Boston’s eminent artist-—a native of Portsmouth.