SYNOPSIS – IMAGINING VIOLET In May 1891, a young Anglo-Irish girl arrives in Cassel, Germany to prepare for her audition at the famous Leipzig Conservatory. Sixteen-year old Violet Courtenaye writes to her family about the challenges of language and culture, her demanding instructor and the curious customs of her landlady. In September, she moves to Leipzig where landlady Fräul. Hohmann keeps a sharp eye on her girls. Violet befriends Lily Foster, a fellow music student, and takes German lessons from handsome Herr Schneider. While waiting impatiently to enrol, she revels in the new-found freedom to explore the ancient city with its feast of music and art, its parks and narrow lanes. With Herr Schneider's amiable help, she learns to skate, discovers café life and practises. Ambitious Violet dreams of a concert career and is anxious to perform. But in her third year, when she performs in student recitals, she receives only moderate praise from her violin master. Gradually she comes to accepts that her talent is a modest one. Meanwhile, she has met Frank, a brilliant young Canadian pianist who has come to study in Leipzig. Frank and Violet grow close but all too soon Violet completes her diploma, returns home to Edinburgh and enrols in art college. In early 1896 the family moves to London and Violet takes up teaching and continues at art school. Dealing with Life Drawing class is one intriguing challenge. After months of waiting, Frank proposes but her father doubts that a musician can support a wife. And Frank's father is a shop-keeper which is another issue. When Frank returns to Toronto he quickly establishes himself as a piano teacher and concert pianist. Frank and Violet marry in July of 1898 and enjoy a brief honeymoon before sailing for Canada.