Elizabeth Maconchy did not come from a musical family, but after she showed early musical promise, her supportive, recently-widowed mother moved the family to London so that she could study at the Royal College of Music (RCM). A suggestion by the director of the RCM that Maconchy would stop composing after marriage proved wrong. Instead she enjoyed a startlingly successful beginning to her career with high-profile premieres including The Land, a four-movement suite for large orchestra, performed at the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts (later the BBC Proms) in 1930. Despite nearly dying from tuberculosis, many performances followed, in England, Ireland and on the continent. She became Chair of the Composers Guild of Great Britain, and Chair, later President, of the Society for the Promotion of New Music. Maconchy composed around 200 works including the acclaimed series of thirteen string quartets, much other chamber music, and many orchestral works. She wrote often for voice: solo songs, choral works ranging from miniatures to cantatas, and a number of operas.