The relationship between Kathleen Ferrier and the BBC is a fascinating one. Always keen to pigeon-hole artists for ease of programming, as far as the Corporation was concerned her career path was not so straightforward. At what point should she be considered as a singer rather than as a pianist? There is little information about her pre-War activities on the wireless, no works, no fellow performers and no surviving recordings. After her death Maurice Johnstone, Head of Music at the North Region of the BBC, listed a few of these early engagements in a letter to Winifred.

[Maurice Johnstone to Winifred Ferrier]

Ref. 38/M/MJ

24th June 1955

By all means quote from my letter, and this one if you feel the ‘info’ I can supply deserves a place in your book. Since I wrote to you on 8th June, I have discovered a few more facts about Kathleen's earliest associations with the BBC. On 3rd July 1930: she took part in a Ballad Concert in the Manchester Studios as a pianist! As a singer she broadcast from Newcastle on 1st and 18th May, 20th June and 10th July 1939.

Yours sincerely

M.J.

Head of Programmes (Sound)

The four programmes listed by Johnstone were produced by Cecil McGivern and called:

By 1941 Kathleen Ferrier wanted to be regarded only as a singer and not as a pianist, but this took some time. Using her experience with CEMA was not enough, and several hoops had to be jumped through before she was accepted. Nevertheless, once she had convinced a Regional Director or a Producer of her worth, she found them loyal and supportive, some becoming firm friends as well as employers. Maurice Johnstone, himself a composer, was one.

No.365 [Letter to Maurice Johnstone, BBC Manchester]

29.9.[19]41 23 Windermere Road, Carlisle, Cumberland Kathleen F. Wilson LRAM, ARCM, Gold Medallist, Teacher of pianoforte, theory and harmony.

Dear Sir

I have been singing under the auspices of CEMA for Miss Eve Kisch of Liverpool, the North Western Organiser, and at her request I am writing to ask if I might have an audition in the near future at your studios.