Composer, Julia Perry at home in Florence. (Photo by David Lees/Getty Images)
March 25 — Happy 100th Birthday, Julia Perry! Her Study for Orchestra was the first work by a black woman to be recorded by a professional orchestra. (Listen here) Her powerful Stabat Mater is performed here. The Akron Symphony has been researching and performing a wide range of her music, including some world premieres, as well as exploring her life. They have three of her pieces on Spotify!
A recent Julia Perry Festival celebrated her centenary. A review of the Festival is here. We hope you get to spend some time steeping in her moving and profound music!