Gertrude Auld Thomas facts for kids

Gertrude Auld Thomas (born May 24, 1872 – died December 18, 1959) was a talented American singer and composer. She was known as a soprano, which means she had a high singing voice, often performing in operas. She usually used the name Gertrude Auld for her work.

Early Life and Musical Training

Gertrude Auld was born in Santa Cruz, California, in 1872. Her parents were Mary Ellen Simpton and Ossian Gregory Auld. On May 9, 1895, she married Arthur Benjamin Thomas. They had one son, Arthur Auld Thomas, in 1901.

Gertrude loved music from a young age. She traveled to Europe to study, spending three years learning in Paris and London. While there, she learned voice from Mathilde Marchesi. Marchesi was a very famous teacher who taught a special singing style called bel canto. This style focuses on beautiful, smooth singing with perfect control.

A Star on Stage

After her studies, Gertrude Auld returned to America. She toured all over the country, giving vocal recitals. These were concerts where she sang many different songs. She also gave lectures, sharing her knowledge about music. One of her talks was called "The Relation of Music to Art."

Gertrude Auld was managed by a company called John W. Frothingham Inc. She sang important roles in famous operas. For example, she played Mimi in Giacomo Puccini's opera La Boheme. She also performed as Marguerite in Charles Gounod's opera Faust.

A Composer Too!

Besides singing, Gertrude Auld was also a composer. This means she wrote her own music, including operas. She created at least two operas: Hazila and The Overland Trail.

Gertrude Auld was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, a professional music fraternity. She also made at least two recordings of her singing. One was for Edison in 1914, and another for Victor in 1916. Gertrude Auld Thomas passed away in 1959.