Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Myrtle who?

Our friend and harpist extraordinaire, Rashida Naomi Black, has launched a new site for musicians called the Myrtle Hart Society (MyrtleHart.org). MHS is "an Internet-based music research and educational resource committed to illuminating the historical and contemporary accomplishments of classical musicians of color."

So who's Myrtle Hart?

Born into a family of musicians in 1878, Myrtle Hart was possibly the only African American musician to play the harp during that time. At the age of 15, Myrtle was asked to perform in the British Exhibit at Chicago's World Fair in 1893. A local paper said she was "the only Black to play harp." Today's black harpists owe much to the legacy of this amazing woman.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
SugarStrings is an all-girl, classical music trio comprised of 3 first cousins. Whenever SugarStrings performs, inevitably, we mothers are asked about their training routine, their instruments, choice of music, hours of practice, and more. This blog is our attempt to create a community of parents, teachers, and students who love music and want to improve their skills. My sisters, Laura and Janice, and I (Donna Marie) manage this website. We'll provide tips from master teachers and students alike. Please share your thoughts and tips and ideas for stories.