Season 4, Episode 2

Florence Price was exceptional, but she was not singular. In the fascinating new book “South Side Impresarios,” the musicologist Samantha Ege situates Price amidst multiple generations of Black women who transformed Chicago into a Black classical metropolis. In this conversation, we discuss the city and community that built Price, including the pivotal figures Nora Holt and Maude Roberts George, as well Dr. Ege’s own work as a scholar, pianist, and advocate for this powerful lineage.

Samantha Ege is an award-winning researcher and musicologist, internationally recognized concert pianist, and popular public speaker.

If you’re interested in learning more about Dr. Ege’s work, check out:

• The new book South Side Impresarios: How Race Women Transformed Chicago’s Classical Music Scene (University of Illinois Press)
• Camila Cortina Bello’s Bravura, a newly commissioned work based on South Side Impresarios
• The 2020 article “Composing a Symphonist: Florence Price and the Hand of Black Women’s Fellowship” in Women and Music
• The 2021 article “‘Chicago, the “City We Love to Call Home!’: Intersectionality, Narrativity, and Locale in the Music of Florence Beatrice Price and Theodora Sturkow Ryder” in American Music
• Her four albums of piano music, including the 2022 Black Renaissance Women

Sound Expertise is hosted by Will Robin (@seatedovation), and produced by D. Edward Davis (@warmsilence). Please subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and/or Spotify. Questions or comments? Email soundexpertise00 @ gmail

A written transcript of this episode is available here; thanks to Andrew Dell’Antonio for volunteering to prepare transcripts for the show!