Categories
20th Century English

DRING, Madeleine

Black and white photo of Madeleine Dring
Photo courtesy of the British Music Collection

Born in London, Sept 7, 1923
Died in London, March 26, 1977

  • Madeleine Dring was a composer and actress who also played piano and sang.
  • At 10 years old, Dring won a scholarship to study violin and piano at RCM. As she continued her studies at the institution, she studied composition under Herbert Howells and Ralph Vaughan Williams.
  • As a composer, Dring primarily wrote chamber works and pieces for theatrical productions. Dring had a lifelong passion for theater. She performed in plays while also composing incidental music and songs for stage works.
    • Dring also wrote many pieces for her husband, Roger Lord, who was principal oboist of the London Symphony Orchestra.1
  • Fun fact – Dring often drew cartoons in her manuscripts and notebooks, as seen below.
Source: https://donne-uk.org/composer-spotlight-madeleine-dring/

Learn More
Biography and timeline via the Donne Foundation

Sources

  1. Stephen Banfield, “Dring, Madeleine,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed January 15, 2026, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000045791.

Pieces