Phyllis Kinney (1922)

Their Story

Phyllis Kinney was born in Pontiac, Michigan on 4 July 1922. She became lead solo with the Carl Rosa Opera Company in 1947 and met Welsh folk musician Meredydd Evans during a tour stop in Bangor, Wales. She learned to speak, read and write Welsh and introduced Evans to folk music from around the world. The couple married on 10 April 1948 and had a daughter, Eluned, in 1949. Like Evans, Kinney worked for the BBC, often performing duets with her husband. In 1960, the family moved back to Wales, where they settled. With Evans, Kinney edited collections of Welsh songs described as "definitive reference-works for this genre of national song." When Meredydd Evans died aged 95 in 2015, he and Kinney had arranged to donate their archives to the National Library of Wales, where they are now part of the Welsh Music Archive. Kinney turned 100 on 4 July 2022. On that date, the National Library hosted Phyllis Kinney: 100, an event featuring her daughter Eluned and harpist Elinor Bennett, to celebrate the centenary.</bio> <parameter name="timelineEvents">[ { "date": "1922-07-04", "title": "Born in Pontiac, Michigan", "description": "Phyllis Kinney was born in Pontiac, Michigan on Independence Day." }, { "date": "1943", "title": "Graduated and received fellowship to Juilliard School", "description": "After graduating from Michigan State College, Kinney secured a fellowship at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City." }, { "date": "1947", "title": "Became lead solo with Carl Rosa Opera Company", "description": "Kinney joined the Carl Rosa Opera Company as lead soprano, performing across the United Kingdom." }, { "date": "1948-04-10", "title": "Married Meredydd Evans", "description": "Kinney married Welsh folk musician Meredydd Evans, whom she had met during a tour in Bangor, Wales." }, { "date": "1949", "title": "Daughter Eluned born", "description": "Kinney and Evans had a daughter, Eluned." }, { "date": "1960", "title": "Settled in Wales", "description": "After time in America, Kinney and her family returned to Wales where they made their permanent home." }, { "date": "1991", "title": "Awarded honorary M Mus degree", "description": "The University of Wales awarded Kinney an honorary Master of Music degree in recognition of her contributions to Welsh music." }, { "date": "2022-07-04", "title": "Celebrated 100th birthday", "description": "Kinney turned 100 years old. The National Library of Wales hosted a celebration featuring her daughter Eluned and harpist Elinor Bennett." } ]