Tell me about Florence Price

Florence Beatrice Price (1887–1953) was a pioneering African-American classical composer [3].

Here are the key facts about her life and career:

• Early Life: She was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on April 9, 1887 [1, 3]. She began learning music from her mother at a very young age and gave her first piano performance at the age of four [1].
• Career Achievements: Price is recognized for her significant contributions to classical music. Notably, in 1940, she became the first African-American woman to have a composition played by a major orchestra, and she was also the first African-American woman to have her work published by a major American music publisher.
• Works: She was a prolific composer, writing symphonies, concertos, and works for piano. In 1949, she published two spiritual arrangements, "I Am Bound for the Kingdom" and "I'm Workin' on My Buildin'," which she dedicated to the renowned singer Marian Anderson [2].
• Personal Life: She married Thomas J. Price in 1912, and together they had two daughters and a son [2].

She passed away on June 3, 1953 [3].