Phoebe Cutbush (nee Wesson) was born on March 3, 1902 at Netherborough, Leicester, England and, as a young girl, immigrated to Canada with her parents. She inherited a love of music from her mother who was a trained singer, and her father who was a noted instrumentalist. The Wessons settled north of Maidstone. Phoebe received her education at rural schools in the district, and then enrolled in the Saskatoon Normal School to prepare for a career as a teacher.
Phoebe's first teaching assignment was at a one room rural school in the Eagle Hills District where she taught Grades 1 to 11. Some of the students were almost as old as the teacher. Phoebe was in possession of a charming, vital personality and outstanding talent as a teacher, singer and dramatist. Phoebe's school program extended well beyond academics. She was able to persuade the Department of Education to allow her to use a small area for drama, an early indication of her appreciation for the arts in education and a desire to enrich the lives of her students.
Teaching in a rural school brought with it many out-of-class experiences, some of them quite humorous. Phoebe fondly remembered one particular situation. In the winter, each student would bring something to school to add to a home-made soup. On one cold December day, the school inspector, Dr. McGee, joined the students and teachers for a hot bowl of soup, but he was not made aware of its ingredients.
Phoebe made the transition from rural schools to the city and began teaching at King Street School in 1927. Her career in education spanned 43 and a half years, of which the last 18 were spent as a supervisory assistant with the North Battleford School Unit. Characteristically, she would arrive at a schoolhouse with a ready smile, willing to give advice and help to a young neophyte teacher who was struggling with a myriad of problems. Invariably, after Phoebe had left, these young teachers were encouraged and determined to carry on with a positive outlook.
Phoebe enjoyed an extraordinary tenure as an educator and a remarkable career in the arts, particularly music. Phoebe arrived in North Battleford in February, 1927 on a Monday. On Tuesday, she met the well-known Padre Jones who invited her to choir practice. He also asked her to teach a Bible study group of eight boys at the Grades 7-8 age level. In the fall of 1929, Phoebe instructed a class of 32 children from pre-school age to Grade 4. Phoebe soon became a central figure in the city's music community. When she joined the choir, its leader was a Welshman by the name of Mr. Vawn. His successor, Alex Kevin, organized a boys' choir but refused to allow girls to join. However, when Phoebe became director of the junior choir in 1937, girls were admitted. When girls became too old for junior choir, she organized an intermediate choir, which was highly successful. Both choirs were consistent winners at city music festivals. It should be noted that, in addition to teaching her Grade 2 class at King Street School, Phoebe taught music to Grades 1 to 5, and Grade 8 students. She also taught a few students not in the school system.
Phoebe enjoyed singing from the time she was young girl. When she arrived in North Battleford, she began taking piano lessons from Mr. Vawn and singing lessons and theory from Mrs. W.E. Evans. When Mrs. Evans died in 1931, Phoebe took singing lessons from the Anglican church organist, Alex Kevin, and then from the first dean of music, Mr. Collingwood, at the University of Saskatchewan. During the summer, she also enrolled in music classes in out-of-province cities like Trinity College in Vancouver (noted for the training of men's and boys' voices).
The North Battleford Festival began in 1932. Large numbers of people attended the festivals in those days. Ladies would bring their cushions and sit through all of the performances. Phoebe sang in both North Battleford and Saskatoon and won in both centres. At about this time, Phoebe won the highest award a Saskatchewan singer could achieve - the Justice Brown Award. By the late 1930s and early 1940s, her talents as a singer were widely recognized. But despite Phoebe's success in music competitions, her primary focus was teaching music.
Phoebe was a member of St. Paul Anglican Church and a member of its choir from the time she arrived in the city. She was the superintendent of the primary Sunday school, a position she held for 24 years. Characteristically, she was fully involved in the spiritual and social life of the church.
Phoebe's public endeavours were not confined to music. In addition to being an exceptional musician, she was also an accomplished actress, elocutionist and vocalist. She also took a leading part in the production of concerts and operettas. Phoebe was also a fine athlete, and she was a good coach. When she saw a need for girls to get involved in team sports, she organized and coached the first collegiate basketball team. In 1927, she also organized the Girl Guides in the city, and later in Paynton. She also helped organize the Battlefords Little Theatre Club and was a member for many years.
Phoebe married late in life. Miss Phoebe Wesson and Mr. William Cutbush were married on St. Valentine's Day, 1951. She had one step-daughter, Mrs. William Powell of North Vancouver, and three grandchildren.
As a singing teacher, Phoebe Cutbush was unequalled. She was gentle yet firm. She drew the music out of her students and never belittled them. Phoebe was a very gentle woman who lived by faith and was ready to help anyone in need. It would be difficult to overstate her influence on music education in North Battleford and area. She enjoyed an extraordinary career as a singer, and her music students number in the thousands.
Phoebe Cutbush passed from this life on Dec. 6, 1994 at the age of 94 years. She was an extraordinarily talented and cultured woman. Our city has been enriched by her contributions in education and music. On the occasion of our city's centennial, we pause to remember this remarkable woman.
(Source:Jane Shury, Leola Macdonald, Joan Bunce, News-Optimist).
