Undine Smith Moore

Undine Eliza Anna Smith Moore (25 August 1904 – 6 February 1989), the “Dean of Black Women Composers”, was an American composer and professor of music in the twentieth century. Moore was originally trained as a classical pianist, but developed a compositional output of mostly vocal music—her preferred genre. Much of her work was inspired by black spirituals and folk music. Undine Smith Moore was a renowned teacher, and once stated that she experienced “teaching itself as an art”. Towards the end of her life, she received many awards for her accomplishments as a music educator. Biography Early life Undine Eliza Anna Smith was born the youngest of three children to James William Smith and Hardie Turnbull Smith. Undine was the granddaughter of slaves. Her hometown of Jarratt, Virginia, consisted of a large African-American population, and she would later recall memories of the community singing and praying at the Morningstar Baptist Church. Of her childhood, she said that “above all else, music reigned.” She was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Education At age seven, Undine Smith began taking piano lessons under Lillian Allen Darden, who later encouraged her to attend Fis