Carla Emerson Furlong – Newfoundland

harpist . teacher . Order of Newfoundland

Carla Isabel Furlong, neé Emerson, was born on March 4, 1922, in St. John’s, (Newfoundland).

Carla was born into an eminent political, legal, and cultural family. Her musical training began with lessons from her father, Elsie Tait, Marjorie Taylor, and Sister Mary Baptist McDermott at Mercy Convent. This is where began her deep attachment to the harp. Carla graduated from Bishop Spencer College in St. John’s, studied at Benendon School (jail, as she called it) in Kent, England, and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto before graduating from the Juilliard School of Music in New York in June 1948.

Her studies and career interrupted by World War II, Carla served as a cypherette (cypher technician) during the War Effort in the Cypher Office, based in St. John’s and communicating from shore to ship to shore.

By 1950, she was touring the world as harpist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Sir Thomas Beecham, performing with the Hallé Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic. Carla was a jobbing musician and worked on the road in Great Britain with the likes of Vic Oliver’s Variety Show, playing in musical revues, vaudeville acts, and pantomimes.

Carla lived in Ontario following her career in the UK, performing and teaching. She helped establish the harp department at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto. She performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Ottawa Philharmonic Orchestra, and recorded for CBC radio and television (Friendly Giant, anyone?). Carla appeared at many events as a soloist and in larger ensembles such as the Brantford and London Orchestras. In 1956 she was the featured guest of the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra at their inaugural concert.

Carla returned to Newfoundland in 1962 and joined the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra as its principal harpist. Carla espoused many charitable causes and established her teaching career, giving classes in harp, piano and music theory, both in her home and at Memorial’s School of Music. Carla was a great supporter of the Kiwanis Music Festival. She also mentored students for examination at Trinity College and the Royal Conservatory, for which she also set exams.

In 1998, the Newfoundland Registered Music Teachers Association conferred Honorary Membership on Carla, a founding member of the organization, in recognition of her lifetime devotion to music and musicians. Much of what she has contributed cannot be put on paper. Carla was a scholar of music and taught everyone from the living room pianist entertaining themselves to the concert harpist and vocalist who tours and records. The only requirement she ever made of her students was that they practice. She cared not if your intent was professional performance or drawing room sing-alongs, but you had to be willing to put in the work necessary to achieve that goal. All her life, she aimed to make students who will be recognized for their knowledge of musical theory and their ability to perform.

Carla also built interest in music. Her home was the first stop for many visiting musicians who were in St. John’s for auditions at the School of Music or with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra. All have been offered tea and biscuits, many have had breakfast, lunch, and or dinner, and some stayed overnight until they either found their own accommodations or completed their performances. Students, orchestra professionals, and touring soloists all received the five star treatment. Her hospitality and grilled cheese sandwiches were legendary.

Carla is a life-long Anglican. Her faith in very important to her and she participated in services weekly. Sometimes, she was the only congregant. She volunteered as a tour guide for the Anglican Cathedral. Many an international visitor has been at first amused and eventually amazed by the woman who could tell them in their own tongue that she was sorry, she did not speak their language, and then said in serviceable foreign nouns and verbs “the Cathedral was built in … over here you can see … these windows were …”

Her knowledge of the history of St. John’s has seen Carla called upon by media and historians for information and interviews about Belvedere Orphanage and the properties associated with it, Commissariat House, Emerson House on Signal Hill, Thimble Cottage and the O’Brien Farm heritage sites, the appearance of Sir Hugh Tudor in Newfoundland, and Quinnipiac house on Winter Avenue.

Carla’s humility was another trait for which she is admired. On one occasion in the past a student suggested to Carla that she be nominated for an honorary doctorate from Memorial. Her response was something like, “heavens, I haven’t done anything to deserve one of those.” Her reaction was somewhat similar when she was conferred with the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2022.

The life lessons Carla imparted to her students and all who know her through her living example – her generosity, her good spirit, her indomitable health and strength, her great humour, her groundedness – were the most important lessons she taught – With gratitude from Mack Furlong / Glenn Colton