Madame Christian (born as Mary Ellen Christian and also known as Sister Paul of the Cross) was a member of the Sisters of Charity and a co-founding member of Garcia School of Music located at St Vincent’s College. She was a Woman of Action who led a life imbued with Generosity of Spirit. We take this opportunity to acknowledge her contribution to the people of Australia and beyond, through her God-given talent, music. 

Madame Christian was born in 1848 in Quebec, Canada. From an early age, she was taught singing by a local teacher and sang in the local St Mary Magdalene Church of England choir. In 1866, at the age of 18, Madame Christian won a Westmoreland Scholarship for Singing at London's Royal Academy of Music. She studied under the great singing teacher, Manuel Garcia. After graduation from the Royal Academy, she began performing for the public in concerts.

Madame Christian suffered chronic lung complaints since childhood. On the advice of doctors, she travelled to Australia in 1871, as the condition of her lungs worsened due to what was believed to be the London fog. While in Australia, Madame Christian sang with the Melbourne Philharmonic Society and the Melbourne German Liedertafel Association. She formed the Christian Concert Company and toured throughout Australia.

In 1894, at the age of 46, she left her singing career and entered the Sisters of Charity congregation in Sydney as Sister Mary Paul of the Cross. “I got tired of living in hotels and decided to settle down and impart the knowledge I had gained from my great master, Garcia, to the people of Australia”, she explained during her interview with the Australian Women’s Weekly in the late ’30s. She also added, “all this talk of the Australian accent is ridiculous. Why are the concert halls filled with American singers like Lawrence Tibbett or Norwegian singers like Madame Flagstad? After all, you go to hear the voice, not the accent, don’t you?”. 

The Garcia School of Music is described as ‘the first national nursery of native talent’. The School was originally located in Rockwell Crescent, Potts Point, but later it was moved to a building in nearby Challis Avenue. In 1998, it was re-named as The Garcia Centre. The School offered lessons in voice, piano, organ, violin, cello, music theory, harmony, counterpoint, vocalisation, sight-reading, choral singing and chamber music. Under the leadership of Madame Christian, the School opened doors to life-changing opportunities for so many people in Australia and has forever transformed its music industry. The School was the centre for the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music's practical examinations. Until the opening of the Conservatorium of Music in 1916, the School was the only institution in New South Wales offering public examinations in music.

Sister Mary Paul of the Cross continued teaching at the Garcia School and at St Vincent's College until shortly before her death in 1941. Some of her distinguished students include Nellie Melba, Ella Caspers and Carrie Lanceley. 

 Nellie Melba

Madame Christian Scholarship

St Vincent’s College offers the Madame Christian Scholarship to students who possess an outstanding musical ability. Inspired by Madame Christian’s education, the Scholarship focuses on singing and vocal strength. 

The students will have the opportunity to expand their abilities as a singer by participating in College Choir and other musical performances. 

The program is intended to assist talented Vinnies Girls in making an original and valuable contribution to Australian culture.

For eligibility criteria please refer to the Scholarship webpage.