When students at the Special Music School at Kaufman Music Center wanted to learn more about Florence Price, they found little accessible material. Price, the first African-American woman who had a piece performed by a major U.S. orchestra, has been gaining attention since some of her works were discovered in a house outside Chicago, and the students decided to help answer the question, "Who is Florence Price?" by writing their own book. Originally self-published, the book was just released by G. Schirmer/Wise Music Group as its first children's book, and this Saturday (11/20 at 7 pm) on A Tempo, host Rachel Katz speaks with some of the participants.
Guests will be Kate Sheeran, executive director of the Kaufman Music Center; Shannon Potts, a faculty member at the Special Music School; student and illustrator Nikita Gontarczyk; and G. Schirmer/Wise Music Group President Robert Thompson.
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(Photo: Students at the Special Music School perform a choral work by Price at the book launch of Who is Florence Price?)