For my masters I researched and performed the Alfred Hill Viola Concerto. This took me to interviews in Sydney and I even uncovered the original program notes in Hill’s library collection. One piece of the puzzle I haven't been able to solve is the mystery around the premiere of this work and the violist who performed it. Miss Blodwen Hill (no relation of Alfred), was a member of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and played in the second viola position (a highly regarded place in the viola section). She performed the Alfred Hill concerto in 1946 in a concert of his works conducted by Krips. I was able to find the date Blodwen died as 1968.
I was able to find an article that included Blodwen:
From the Sydney Morning Herald Thursday 4 February 1954
“They Will Play Before The Queen To-day
THE Phyllis McDonald Players, who will present a musical programme at the women's lunch which is to be attended bv the Queen to-day. They are ROSAMUND CORNFORD ('cello), MURIELLE LANG ('cello), DIANA NACCA CHIAN (2nd violin), PHYLLIS MCDONALD (leader), JOYCE HUT- CHINSON (piano), and BLODWEN HILL (viola).
THE Phyllis McDonald Players, who will present a musical programme at the women's lunch which is to be attended bv the Queen to-day. They are ROSAMUND CORNFORD ('cello), MURIELLE LANG ('cello), DIANA NACCACHIAN (2nd violin), PHYLLIS MCDONALD (leader), JOYCE HUTCHINSON (piano), and BLODWEN HILL (viola).
TWO women have replaced two men in the musical group as the Phyllis McDonald Players for the programme to be presented at the State Women's Lunch at the Trocadero to-day for the Queen.
"It is a woman's lunch, you know," Miss McDonald said yesterday. The ensemble will include Miss McDonald herself, a violinist who established the, group about eight years ago; Miss Diana Naccachian, second violin; Miss Blodwen Hill, viola; Miss Murielle Lang, 'cello; Miss Rosamund Cornford, 'cello; Miss Joyce Hutchinson, piano. Misses Hill and Cornford have replaced Messrs. lan Ritchie and Charles Hill. The Players, who comprise an A.B.C. unit, have just completed an engagement of 42 weeks.
Miss McDonald, who is a teacher of the violin at Sydney Conservatorium, said yesterday that the "sweet music" to be played during the luncheon for the Queen would be "light, but good dinner music." The musicians will play just before the Queen's arrival, and during the lunch a twenty minute programme which will be recorded and later broad cast.
For more than 21 years Miss McDonald has been heard on programmes for the B.B.C. and the A.B.C. She went to London on a two-year Royal Academy. of Music Scholarship, which was extended three times. She remained in England for 11 years, and was studying at the academy at the same time as the now-famous Griller Quartet.
In addition to leading her Players in regular programmes for the A.B.C. Miss McDonald also leads the Fred Hartley Show, which will start again on March 4.
"Although we have to play for nearly half an hour, at least, at the lunch all of us hope to get a glimpse of the Queen," said Miss McDonald.”