The recital space is named in honour of Miss Mary Thurman, B. Mus. Ed, B. Ed., M.A.C.E., Lowther Hall Old Grammarian, staff member and generous donor to the School. Mary Thurman was a student at Lowther Hall from 1936 – 1946, holding the positions of School Captain and Clarke House Captain. She embraced all aspects of school life, participating enthusiastically in classes, performances, school trips and especially the music program. In her final year she was awarded the “Rhodes Prize for the Best All-rounder”.
Mary Thurman began teaching music at Lowther Hall in 1951, taking piano students whilst studying Music at The University of Melbourne. During her career at the School, Mary Thurman held positions of Choir Mistress, Leading Teacher, Director of Music and for some years also coordinated the Speech and Drama Faculty. During this time, she established many of the musical ensembles and traditions that continue in the School today. She officially retired at the end of 1993 after 42 years of service.
Her generosity of spirit and understanding of the School’s motto Non Nobis Solum (not for ourselves alone) were evident in her daily life and her personal interactions, and are epitomised in her significant bequest to the School which has been used to construct a beautiful acoustically engineered space.
