Florence Price was a remarkable American composer, pianist, and teacher, born on April 9, 1887, in Little Rock, Arkansas. She became the first African-American woman to have her music performed by a major symphony orchestra. From a young age, Price showed incredible musical talent and attended the New England Conservatory of Music, where she studied piano, organ, and composition, graduating with honours in 1906. Due to racial discrimination, she sometimes had to present herself as Mexican to secure performance opportunities in the segregated South.

In 1927, she moved to Chicago, joining a vibrant African-American cultural scene. Her Symphony in E minor won first prize in 1932, and the following year, it was performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, marking a significant moment in music history. Over her lifetime, Price composed more than 300 works, blending classical European styles with African-American influences. After her music was overlooked for years, renewed interest emerged in the 21st century, especially after her manuscripts were discovered in 2009. Florence Price’s legacy as a pioneering composer continues to inspire many today.