Florence Beatrice Price (née Smith; April 9, 1887 – June 3, 1953) was an American classical composer, pianist, organist and music teacher.
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Price was educated at the New England Conservatory of Music, and was active in Chicago from 1927 until her death in 1953. Price is noted as the first African-American woman to be recognized as a symphonic composer, and the first to have a composition played by a major orchestra. Price composed over 300 works: four symphonies, four concertos, as well as choral works, art songs, chamber music and music for solo instruments. In 2009, a substantial collection of her works and papers was found in her abandoned summer home.
She gave her first piano performance at the age of four and had her first composition published at the age of 11. According to her daughter, Florence really wanted to be a doctor but felt the difficulties of becoming a woman doctor at the time were too formidable. Instead, she became that even greater rarity—a woman composer of symphonies. (Text from Wikipedia)
PROGRAM
Jacques Offenbach: Overture to La Belle Hélène
Bizet, Farandole from L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2 with Dana Odell, guest conductor (PT Ballet auction winner)
Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty Suite
intermission
Florence Price, Concert Overture No. 2
Bizet, Carmen Suite No. 2