Sad loss of Elaine Hawthorne, brilliant pianist and music teacher

Elaine had been conductor of Larne Choral Society for the past 14 years.

She was an accomplished music teacher and talented pianist, and tributes were paid to her by Larne Choral Society, which said “Elaine Hawthorne, talented pianist, music teacher and conductor of Larne Choral and Mossgrove Singers, passed away after a short battle of just over four months with cancer. She was a great musician but also a generous and caring person, never wanting to take credit or show off about any of her achievements. She will be sorely missed,”

The Choral Society said members “had been privileged to enjoy Elaine’s brilliant musical talents, inspired and fun concert programmes, kindness, endless patience and generosity over the past 14 years”

The Mossgrove Singers said that a much loved conductor would be “sadly missed”.

Elaine, who grew up in Greenisland, was one of the organists and the choir accompanist at Ballycarry Presbyterian Church, and she had also provided piano, violin and singing lessons at the village primary school prior to Covid restrictions.

The Ballycarry and District Community Association expressed sympathy to her family and said the group had been “deeply saddened” to learn of her death.

“Elaine was an accomplished music teacher and choir leader, a wonderful lady who was always very helpful to us in terms of the Broadisland Gathering and other community events when she led Larne Choral Society in providing entertainment,” the group said.

Other tributes on social media described her as “an amazing pianist”, with one saying that “she just loved music and had such a gift and was kind and willing enough to share it with others.”

The family said, in a notice of her death, that she had died after a brave battle with cancer, which she had “in true character, tackled head on with a positive attitude.”

Her funeral service took place at Ballycarry Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, February 3, and attendance numbers were in line with Covid regulations.

She is survived by her husband Ivan and her children Tori, Peter, David and Libby and their partners Earan, Ciara, Darren and Michael.