About Florence B. Price
Florence B. Price was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1888 and showed an early aptitude for music, composing her first piece at the age of 11 in 1899. She graduated as Valedictorian from Capitol High School in Little Rock in 1903 and went on to study at the New England Conservatory, where she earned degrees in organ performance and piano pedagogy. After returning to Little Rock in 1906, she taught at Shorter College, but the rising racial tensions in the city led her to relocate to Chicago in 1927. There, she furthered her musical education and began composing notable works. In 1932, her Symphony in E Minor won first place in the Rodman Wanamaker Music Contest, and it was premiered in 1933 by Frederick Stock and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This marked the first time a work by an African American woman was performed by a major U.S. symphony orchestra.
About Florence Price International Piano Competition
It is the mission of the Florence Price International Piano Competition and Festival to celebrate and promote the legacy of Florence Price through a multifaceted annual event held in Price’s home state of Arkansas. Over three days of competition rounds, guest artist recitals, faculty workshops, masterclasses and presentations, Florence Price’s music will receive considerable public recognition. The festival takes place at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville Fulbright College of Arts and Science, enriching not only the university and Fayetteville communities, but also the state, region, nationally, internationally through social media and live streaming.
The competition itself seeks to reimagine and rejuvenate the traditional format of the piano competition as a platform to feature not only superb piano performances, but also innovative and individualized programming, as well as public speaking. As such, the event will empower young musicians who advocate uniqueness as a central part of their musical identities. The festival encourages competitors to include works on their programs that speak to their own backgrounds and identities as people, musicians, to share their remarkable talent and distinctive voices as artists.
University of Arkansas and Florence Price
Home to many of the manuscripts and documents that was donated in 1974 by Florence Price’s daughter, Florence Price Robinson. The University of Arkansas Library also dedicated a Special Collections Florence Price’s legacy. Many of the previously unseen works of Florence Price were also discovered and premiered by faculty members at the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences Music Department including Barbara Jackson, Er-Gene Kahng and Stephen Caldwell.