Sidonie Goossens

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Sidonie Goossens with Igor Stravinsky

Sidonie "Sid" Goossens (October 19, 1899 in Liscard - December 15, 2004 in Reigate) was one of Britain's most enduring harpists. She was a member of the famous Goossens family that emigrated to England from Belgium in the 19th Century.

She made her professional debut in 1921 and went on to play for more than half a century, retiring in 1980. As a child, she wanted to become an actress but was encouraged by her father to play the harp. When she joined the London Symphony Orchestra in 1921 she was the only female performer. In 1923 she became the first harpist to be broadcast on the radio, and followed this up in 1936 by becoming the first to be broadcast on television. She was a founder member of the BBC Symphony Orchestra with whom she played for fifty years (1930-1980) Her final performance was in 1991 during Last Night of the Proms when she accompanied Dame Gwyneth Jones singing The Last Rose of Summer.

Sidonie Goossens is the sister of the late musician, composer and conductor Sir Eugene Goossens, who spent many years working in Australia as the director of the NSW Conservatorium of Music and chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.