Helen Elise Smith Dett

Helen Elise Smith Dett (born about 1892 – died after 1948) was an American pianist and music educator, the wife of composer Robert Nathaniel Dett. She was the first black graduate of the Damrosch Institute of Musical Art, a precursor of the Juilliard School.

Helen Elise Smith Dett, in a 1917 publication.

Early life

Helen Elise Smith was born in New York City. She graduated from the Damrosch Institute of Musical Art in 1907,[1] the school's first black graduate.[2]

Career

Beginning in 1912, Smith was co-founder and co-director of the Martin-Smith Music School[3] in New York City.,[2] with violinist David I. Martin.[4] After marrying in 1916, she moved to Hampton Institute in Virginia, where she taught piano and was frequently featured as an accompanist at concerts and recitals.[5][6] Later she taught piano at Bennett College.[7]

Personal life

Helen Elise Smith married composer and educator R. Nathaniel Dett in 1916.[2] They had two daughters, Helen Dett Noyes and Josephine Dett Gregory.[8][9] She was widowed when Dett died in 1943.[10]

References
  1. Andrea Olmstead, Juilliard: A History (University of Illinois Press 1999): 38. ISBN 9780252071065
  2. "A Musician" The Crisis (February 1917): 188.
  3. Lucien H. White, "Music Notes" New York Age (December 6, 1919): 6. via Newspapers.com
  4. Eileen Southern, The Music of Black Americans: A History (WW Norton 1997): 288-289. ISBN 9780393038439
  5. "Recital" Southern Workman (September 1920): 427-428.
  6. "Soprano and Pianist Open Musical Season at Hampton Institute" New York Age (October 23, 1926) 7. via Newspapers.com
  7. "Wife of Composer, Teacher at Bennett" Pittsburgh Courier (September 11, 1937): 5. via Newspapers.com
  8. "Miss Helen E. Dett Weds Henry Noyes at Bennett College" New York Age (June 13, 1942): 4. via Newspapers.com
  9. "Sunday in Jamaica" The New York Age (January 1, 1949): 7. via Newspapers.com
  10. Marianne Hanson, "R. Nathaniel Dett" at Blackpast.org.
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