Marian Anderson
First African American to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera Company
February 27, 1897 - April 8, 1993
"When you stop having dreams and ideals, - well, you might as well stop altogether."
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Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is known as one of the best American contraltos of all time. She was educated in the public schools where she displayed a remarkable flair for singing. Local supporters provided funds for her to study with the best vocal coaches. At 23, Anderson won a competition over 300 vocalists, and sang with the New York Philharmonic.
Ms. Anderson concertized throughout Europe, Scandinavia, the Soviet Union and South America singing operatic arias, art songs, and Spirituals. In 1937, Anderson performed at the White House for President Roosevelt, and later for the visiting King and Queen of England. By 1950, Marian Anderson had performed before nearly four million listeners.
Anderson's life in the United States was not easy. In 1939, Daughters of the American Revolution barred her from performing in Constitution Hall because of her race. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR, and the government invited Marian to perform at the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday. That concert drew an audience of 75,000, and millions more heart it over the radio!
On January 7, 1955, Anderson was the first African American to perform at the New York Metropolitan Opera House. Anderson sang at the inauguration of Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. CBS-TV filmed her concert tour of India and the Far East, and in 1958, President Eisenhower appointed her a delegate to the United Nations. Anderson gave her farewell concert at Carnegie Hall in New York on Easter Sunday in 1965.
Marian Anderson received Honorary Degrees from Howard University and over 20 others. She received many awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the prestigious Springarn Medal from the NAACP, and the Bok Award of $10,000 from her hometown of Philadelphia.
In 1942, Anderson established the Marian Anderson Award for talented young singers.
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