Florence Beatrice Smith Price

Florence Beatrice Smith Price was born in Little Rock in 1887. She was taught piano by her mother and began composing pieces while in high school. Price went on to study at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she received degrees as an organist and piano teacher. Upon eventually returning to Little Rock, she established a music studio, taught piano, and continued to compose pieces; however, she was denied membership in the segregated Arkansas State Music Teachers Association. Price left Arkansas in 1927 for Chicago where she found more opportunities. Her compositions won numerous awards and were preformed and sung by some of the leading orchestras and singers of the day, including Marian Anderson at her celebrated 1939 Lincoln Memorial performance. Price composed more than 300 works.