13 Facts About Sidonie Goossens

Annie Sidonie Goossens OBE was one of Britain's most enduring harpists.

Sidonie Goossens made her professional debut in 1921, was a founder member of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and went on to play for more than half a century until her retirement in 1981.

Sidonie Goossens was born in Liscard, Wallasey, Cheshire, a member of the famous Goossens musical family that had emigrated to Britain from Belgium in the 19th century.

Sidonie Goossens's brother Sir Eugene Goossens was a composer and conductor who spent many years working in Australia as the director of the NSW Conservatorium of Music and chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony.

Sidonie Goossens's brother Leon was an eminent oboist and her sister Marie Goossens was a distinguished harpist.

Sidonie Goossens was a founder member of the BBC Symphony Orchestra with whom she played for fifty years.

Sidonie Goossens played under guest conductors such as Arturo Toscanini, Bruno Walter and Arnold Schoenberg.

Sidonie Goossens officially retired from the orchestra in 1980, the year it was celebrating its golden jubilee.

Sidonie Goossens married her first husband, the conductor, violinist and composer Hyam Greenbaum, in 1924.

Sidonie Goossens was a close personal friend of Sir Adrian Boult and Pierre Boulez, who wrote of her: 'Always her presence was reassuring, her professional conscience irreproachable, her attitude faultless.

Sidonie Goossens was honoured with a MBE in 1974, and later an OBE in 1980.

Sidonie Goossens retired officially from the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1980, the year of the orchestra's Golden Jubilee.

Sidonie Goossens died in Reigate, Surrey, on 15 December 2004 aged 105.