Winifred Byrd

Winifred Byrd (May 24, 1884 in Salem, Oregon – April 3, 1970 in Los Angeles, California)[1] was an American concert pianist and educator. Byrd attended Willamette University and graduated from New England Conservatory (NEC) in 1905. While studying at NEC she won the Spaulding scholarship.[2] Byrd taught for a time at NEC shortly after her graduation.[2]

Winifred Byrd, from a 1919 publication.

Byrd studied in Boston with Madame Hopekirk, Carl Baermann, and Theresa Carreño and eventually taught music at Olivet College in Olivet, Michigan.[2]

Byrd made her New York debut on February 27, 1918, and went on to perform in Chicago, Boston, Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco.[3] Impresario Aaron Richmond presented Byrd in Boston in 1925, billing her as "America's Pianist." James Huneker, reviewing a Byrd recital for The New York Times on November 4, 1918, wrote, "She blazes with temperament. She has the energy of a demon." Hunecker also noted Byrd's "Buster Brown coiffure".[4]

Byrd made at least ten Duo-Art reproducing piano rolls, including Franz Liszt's "Dance of the Gnomes", from Concert Étude No. 2, and Chopin's Preludes, Opus 28, No. 1 in C major and No. 23 in F major, for the Aeolian Company.[5]

In July 1925, Byrd sustained fractured ribs when she was struck by a car on New York's 5th Avenue.[6]

Further reading
  • Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, "Your Salem Family Album," October 26, 1990
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References
  1. "Salem Pioneer Cemetery Data". Oregon Health Division Vital Records and Oregon State Archives. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
  2. Siller, Mabel Harriet; Florence Arzelia (1917). The History of Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity (1885–1916). George Banta Publishing.
  3. Jones, Al. "Winifred Byrd: America's Wonder Pianist". Historic Marion. XV.
  4. Huneker, James Gibbons (1918-11-05). "Recitals of a Day". The New York Times.
  5. Aeolian American Corporation (1924). Catalog of Music-rolls for the Duo-Art Reproducing Piano.
  6. "Winifred Byrd, pianist, Struck by Automobile". Boston Globe. July 29, 1925.
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