Sad loss of Elaine Hawthorne, brilliant pianist and music teacher

The community has been saddened by the passing after a short illness of Elaine Hawthorne, who was a well-known and talented musician.

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.