Florence Price

composer · classical music · breaking barriers

Musical pioneer. Florence Price was the first African-American woman to be recognized as a symphonic composer and the first to have her work performed by a major orchestra. She showed the world that great classical music could come from anyone.

Trained and talented. Price studied at the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music and became a skilled pianist, organist, and music teacher. She used her knowledge to create beautiful music and teach others.

Chicago roots. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Price moved to Chicago in 1927 and made the city her home for the rest of her life. Chicago became the center of her musical career.

Incredibly prolific. Price composed over 300 works during her lifetime, including four symphonies, four concertos, and many other pieces for voices and instruments. She was constantly creating new music.

Lost and found. In 2009, people discovered a huge collection of Florence Price's works and personal papers hidden away in her abandoned summer home. It was like finding a musical treasure that had been waiting to be rediscovered.