Cynthia Turner
{{Short description|Maltese pianist (1932–2021)}}
{{about||the conductor|Cynthia Johnston Turner}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Cynthia Turner
| image =
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth year|1932}}
| birth_place = Valletta, Crown Colony of Malta
| death_date = {{death date|2021|2|1|df=y}} (aged 88)
| death_place = Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
| monuments =
| nationality = Maltese
| occupation = pianist
| known_for =
| relatives =
| awards =
}}
Cynthia Caruana Turner (1932 – 1 February 2021) was a Maltese pianist. She was Malta's best known pianist and one of its most celebrated musicians.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-01 |title=Celebrated pianist Cynthia Turner, 88, passes away |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/celebrated-pianist-cynthia-turner-88-passes-away.848735 |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=Times of Malta}}
Career
At age 15, Turner received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-11 |title=YWCA’s tribute to Cynthia Turner |url=https://newsbook.com.mt/en/ywcas-tribute-to-cynthia-turner/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=Newsbook}} She continued her studies in Germany and Italy, and under French composer and pianist Francis Poulenc.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Cynthia Turner – A Tribute - |url=https://maltaorchestra.com/news-blog/cynthia-turner-a-tribute/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=Malta Philharmonic Orchestra |language=en-GB}} Poulenc dedicated his 1949 Piano Concerto to Turner in December 1952.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2003-05-30 |title=Cynthia Turner in concert with National Orchestra |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/cynthia-turner-in-concert-with-national-orchestra.149062 |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}
She played Poulenc's Piano Concerto for Queen Elizabeth during a royal performance at the Manoel Theatre on 15 November 1967.{{Cite web |date=2015-11-19 |title=Memories of the time they performed for the Queen |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/Memories-of-the-time-they-performed-for-the-Queen.592674 |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=Times of Malta}} She performed on stages, cable radio, radio and television in Malta, Italy, France, Germany and Egypt.
In 1987 when the National Council of Women of Malta established the Bice Mizzi Vassallo Music Competition; Turner was a member of the organising committee and chaired the adjudicating panel for all editions of the contest.{{Cite web |last=Gaerty |first=Mary |date=2021-02-03 |title=The National Council of Women pays tribute to Cynthia Caruana Turner |url=https://newsbook.com.mt/en/the-national-council-of-women-pays-tribute-to-cynthia-caruana-turner/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203132758/https://newsbook.com.mt/en/the-national-council-of-women-pays-tribute-to-cynthia-caruana-turner/ |archive-date=2021-02-03 |access-date=2021-03-18 |website=Newsbook |language=en}} She was also a board member of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and, in the early 2000s, a vice president of YWCA Malta.{{Cite web |date=2006-12-24 |title=YWCA (MALTA) Concert |url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2006-12-24/local-news/YWCA-(MALTA)-Concert-166932 |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=The Malta Independent}}
Honours and recognition
She became a member of the National Order of Merit in 2004, one of the Maltese state's highest honours. She also was made a chevalier dans L'Order des Palmes Académiques and an associate of the Royal Academy of Music in London.
In 2017, the executive board of YWCA Malta nominated Turner for the Gieħ Ir-Repubblika award.
Personal life and death
Turner was born in Valletta in 1932. She grew up in Sliema.{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-12-14 |title=WATCH: 84-Year-Old Sliema Nanna Slays Her Piano Solo |url=https://lovinmalta.com/lifestyle/watch-84-year-old-sliema-nanna-slays-her-piano-solo/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=Lovin Malta |language=en-GB}} She went to the Convent of the Sacred Heart school. She was married to Anthony Caruana, with whom she had two sons. At the time of her death, she had five grandchildren.
Turner contracted COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malta while receiving treatment for a hip and wrist fracture. She died on 1 February 2021, at age 88.
References
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Category:20th-century Maltese musicians
Category:20th-century Maltese women
Category:20th-century pianists
Category:20th-century women pianists
Category:Chevaliers of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques
Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Malta