Jean Bathgate Kilroy
1906 - 2007
Jean Kilroy, a well known alto singer and teacher in New South Wales, Australia, studied piano and voice while growing up in Wellington, New Zealand. At age 18, she went to work at the Sanitarium Food Factory in that city and a year later moved to Christchurch where she continued to work for the same company.
While working there, she met John Walter Kilroy, who also sang and shared in her love of music. Following their marriage in 1930, they moved to Cooranbong, site of Australasian Missionary College, now Avondale College. Both Jean and John, a tenor, sang frequently as soloists and in duets. They also sang in the college choir, first under Noel Clapham and later under George Greer.
When George Greer came to the college in 1948, his gentleness, vocal concepts, and instruction inspired her. She became his principal alto in the choir and then began to teach voice lessons.
Jean taught voice at Avondale until 1971, when she retired at age 65. Known affectionately as "Madame Butterfly" by the college students and community, she continued as a soloist in the area and at many oratorio performances on the college campus.
Kilroy died in Sydney, NSW, in December 2007 at age 101.
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