This is a transcription of the Emilie (Grant) Wilkinson 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 129.
Emilie (Grant) Wilkinson
EMILIE GRANT has been a favorite name in musical circles for many years. A native of Nashua, Miss Grant spent her childhood in Rhode Island, but returned to her birthplace at the age of eleven. She had a natural ear for music and played the piano intuitively. She studied the organ with Eugene Thayer and George Whiting, now of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, in Boston. Meanwhile her education in other directions was completed at Stanwix Seminary, Rome. N. Y. In December, 1870, she went abroad, remaining fourteen months, studying the organ in Berlin, with the noted August Haupt, and piano with Robert Radecke, director of the Royal Opera; later with Mademoiselle Schiller and Carl Baerman. She had before been pianist of the Nashua Choral Union, and continued after her return, serving in that capacity at the second great “Peace Jubilee” in Boston, as she had previously done at the first. She was the pianist of the celebrated “Orpheus Club” of Nashua during its entire existence, and was for several years organist at different churches in that city. Removing to Boston she has filled extended engagements at prominent churches, including the Dudley St. Baptist and Union Congregational, Columbus Avenue; but for some years past has been organist at Berkeley Temple. Meanwhile she has continuously and successfully given instruction upon piano and organ, both in Nashua and Boston. She excels as an accompanist, and has marvelous power in reading and mastering the most difficult music at sight. This was demonstrated in a notable manner, when, in February, 1892, she substituted for Arthur Nikisch, director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, at the presentation of Brahm’s great historical cyclus, “Zigeunerlieder,” for which weeks of preparation had been made, being called in at the last moment through his sudden illness and winning a brilliant triumph. In November, 1894, Miss Grant was united in marriage with Mr. George Ware Wilkinson of Boston.