Viola Cole-Audet (1883 – July 31, 1936) was an American pianist, composer, and music educator, based in Chicago.

Viola Cole-Audet
A white woman with dark hair in a bouffant updo.
Viola Cole-Audet, from a 1921 publication
Born
Viola Cole

1883 (1883)
Chicago
DiedJuly 31, 1936(1936-07-31) (aged 52–53)
Chicago
NationalityAmerican
Other namesViola Cole Audet
Occupation(s)Pianist, music educator
Years active1910s-1930s

Early life

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Viola Cole was born in Chicago, the daughter of Francis F. Cole and Anna E. Schneider Cole.[1] Her father was born in Belfast. She trained as a pianist with Harold Bauer.[2]

Career

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Viola Cole ran her own music school.[3] Later, she was on the faculty of the Chicago Musical College, and especially noted for her skill at teaching piano.[4] Commented one 1922 reviewer, "Mme. Cole-Audet is indeed a student of music and of human nature and she knows not only how music should sound, but also the means by which her pupils can make it do so."[5]

Cole-Audet also gave recitals,[6][7] composed works for piano and orchestra,[8][9] and lectures on modern music.[10] Although she was based in Chicago, she performed in New York City in 1917 and 1918, at Aeolian Hall.[11]

Personal life

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In 1918, Viola Cole married F. Emile Audet, a Canadian-born lawyer who was a professor of French at DePaul University.[12] Cole-Audet died at a beach in Chicago in summer 1936,[1] in her fifties. Several weeks later, at her brother's request, her body was exhumed to determine whether she was the victim of a homicide.[13][14] Testing found no evidence of poison in her remains.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Mrs. Cole-Audet, Pianist, is Found Dead on Beach". Chicago Tribune. August 1, 1936. p. 3. Retrieved December 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Presents Manuscripts to Harold Bauer". The Herald-Press. April 5, 1921. p. 5. Retrieved December 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Viola Cole School of Piano (advertisement)". Chicago Tribune. September 26, 1909. p. 72. Retrieved December 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Cotsworth, Albert. "Viola Cole-Audet Pupils in Recital" Music News 14(February 17, 1922): 33.
  5. ^ C. E. W., "Viola Cole-Audet Presents Pupils" Music News 14(May 4, 1922): 3.
  6. ^ "Viola Cole-Audet in Recital" Music News 13(March 18, 1921): 6.
  7. ^ "Viola Cole-Audet" Music News 14(April 28, 1922): 20.
  8. ^ Moore, Edward (July 27, 1932). "Viola Cole-Audet in Piano Recital of New Compositions". Chicago Tribune. p. 13. Retrieved December 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Sorantin to Direct Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra Here Tuesday". The Daily News-Journal. March 30, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved December 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Notes Along the Studio Trail" Music News 14(April 7, 1922): 22.
  11. ^ "Viola Cole's New York Engagements". Musical Courier. 75: 61. December 20, 1917.
  12. ^ E. C. M., "Viola Cole Married" Musical America 28(August 17, 1918): 33.
  13. ^ "Body to be Exhumed". Chicago Tribune. September 16, 1936. p. 10. Retrieved December 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Body of Woman Pianist Exhumed for Death Quiz". Chicago Tribune. September 27, 1936. p. 18. Retrieved December 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Test Discloses No Poison in Body of Woman Pianist". Chicago Tribune. October 3, 1936. p. 13. Retrieved December 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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