Undine Smith Moore, a granddaughter of slaves, had a musical childhood in Virginia. She began piano lessons at age 7 and later in life recalled memories of community singing and praying at Morningside Baptist Church. She attended Fisk University and was the first Fisk graduate to receive a scholarship to The Juilliard School in New York City.
Called the “Dean of Black Women Composers, Moore was both a composer and renown professor of music. Her compositions, many of which were choral music, were inspired by Black spirituals and folk music.
Moore was a professor music at Virginia State University for over 40 years. She was a strong advocate for the promotion of Black music and art and said they could be used as a powerful agent for social change.” To increase her students knowledge of the history of Black music she established the Black Music Center at Virginia State.Undine Smith Moore
August 24, 1904 – February 06, 1989
Modern Period
Born in United States