Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Cecilia Beaux DRINKER
Cecilia Beaux Drinker Saltonstall, 92, died peacefully at the Ridge at Riverwoods on April 2, 2009. She was born on January 16th, 1917, and raised in Philadelphia. Her parents organized musical gatherings and sponsored the Trapp Family Singers in their first years in the US. Cecilia studied music at Bennington College, graduating in 1938. With a college friend she compiled an international Catalog of Music for Small Orchestra, the first of its kind. For more than thirty years of teaching and researching, she collected folksongs from around the world and used them to inspire language skills and self-confidence in pre-school children, in hearing-impaired children, in Head Start, and at the Exeter Day School. "To be able to teach someone to know and to sing a good song is one the happiest experiences of my life. There is no wiser way to teach a child how to handle problems than by singing a simple song whose words illustrate greed, joy, sorrow, merriment, thanksgiving, love, or any other emotion. A good song has an effect on every sensitive human being."
She and her husband, Dr. Henry Saltonstall, moved to Stratham in 1947 to raise their four children and to found the Exeter Clinic. During these years she taught recorder and piano lessons. She formed and played in local chamber music groups, as well as in the Phillips Exeter Academy orchestra. Her primary instrument was the viola, but she also played the recorder, piano, flute, violin and double bass. She actively participated in the Association of Chamber Music Players for more than 20 years. In addition to editing their annual directory many times, she served on the ACMP Board of Directors, including two years as Chairperson. This organization provides an international network for players to locate each other worldwide in order to make music together. Serving on the Board of Directors of the Harvard/Radcliffe Orchestra as well gave her the opportunity to travel with them to Russia on a tour, and to participate in board meetings with Leonard Bernstein, whom she advised to stop smoking.
In addition to her musical activities, her primary focus was her devotion to her children and support of her husband's medical and community work. After her children left home, she enrolled at UNH to study Botany, following her life-long interest in trees.
Cecilia and her husband Henry moved to Riverwoods in 1994, where she formed and served on the Music Committee, organizing concerts for the residents. She is survived by their children Kent of Edmonds WA, Henry of Ashland OR, Caroline of Stratham NH, and Ellen of New York, NY; nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
| HOME | EMAIL | SURNAMES |
Return to The Pennocks of Primitive Hall website.
The information in this database may contain errors. If you find any questionable data, or if you have something to add my findings, please feel free to e-mail me by clicking on the "E-MAIL" link above. Thank you!
Page built by Gedpage Version 2.21 ©2009 on 07 July 2020