Gulielma (Guli) Hack (1867-1951) was a South Australian soprano who studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London for three years, her principal vocal instructor being Gustave Garcia, the son of Manuel Garcia.

Upon her return to Australia, Hack taught at the Elder Conservatorium (1898-1909), which had awarded her a scholarship for studies in London. However, Hack stopped teaching at the conservatorium the minute she got married. Her husband William Ashley Magarey was a lawyer, sportsman, and known as “Beautiful Bill.” He had been Hack’s student at the Conservatorium. The couple had no children.

Hack has left us, however, a small book entitled Voice Cultivation. Written in 1904, it outlines the teaching of the Garcias, giving special attention to their system of breathing. Find it on the Members download page, which is Free.

We see Hack in 1908 in the photograph accompanying this post; her light-colored apparel in contrast to fellow members of the Elder Conservatorium. She tilts toward her right—or perhaps away from the man on her left—while looking inward. One wonders, of course, what she was thinking and feeling. She married a year later.

Hack was remembered by her famous student Clara Serena in 1951, Ada Crossley—a student of Mathilde Marchesi—noting the excellence of her training.

Photo Credit: The University of Adelaide, Staff of the Elder Conservatorium, 1908, H. Krischock, photographer.