Leonie Lawson's legacy lives on!
2 May 2025
The extraordinary legacy of Leonie Lawson will continue within NZCF Auckland-Northland with a new award to be given in her name at The Big Sing Auckland Regionals.
The Leonie Lawson Professional Development Award will be presented to a conductor who shows ability and potential and who has not previously been acknowledged at The Big Sing. Prospective recipients submit an application and the adjudicator of The Big Sing will decide the winner. This is a fitting way to continue to mark Leonie’s considerable legacy within NZCF.
Leonie’s daughter, Desley Simpson, has generously offered to provide a grant of $350 for each winner which will enable them to develop their skills over the following twelve months by attending a workshop organised by NZCF, or an approved alternative.
When Leonie was made a Life Member of NZCF, Olive Leddy (Chair NZCF Auckland 2007- 2018) wrote in her citation "When the national office ceased to be in 2006, there was a period when the organisation, once set up with such high hopes and aspirations by Professor Godfrey and others, was in very real danger of collapsing. Leonie’s indomitable spirit was not going to allow that to occur, and with the help of Di Lenihan and Yvonne Hewitt, she proceeded to run the whole enterprise from her home. Her organisation, communication skills, drive and amazing commitment meant that NZCF survived what could have been a ‘mortal blow’. Whatever needed doing, she just got on and did with no fuss and no expectation of applause or praise, treating all with respect."
For many years Leonie was Director of Music at Auckland Diocesan School for Girls. She founded and was a long-standing Musical Director of Cantemus which was originally set up for parents and staff at the school. She also founded the Auckland Girls' Choir and served as Assistant Director and accompanist for the Auckland Boys' Choir for more than 10 years. Leonie remained a passionate supporter of The Big Sing and was a regular volunteer for many years. She was always prepared to take on any task regardless of how menial it might seem. Leonie was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2010 for her services to music.