Sigma Alpha Iota

PAN PIPES FALL 2014 sAI-NATIONAL.ORg 12 By Elissa Murphy W hat does the lustrous city of Paris have in common with the charming town of Potsdam? e answer: two brilliantly minded women who have impacted the hearts of other musicians around both regions. SAI Honorary Members Nadia Boulanger (primarily composition and conducting) and Helen M. Hosmer (primarily education), both rich in our history, were great assets to the music profession. When it comes to breaking the barrier among genders, there's one particular female up on which to focus our attention: Mademoiselle Nadia Boulanger. Born in Paris, France on September 16, 1887, Nadia was raised in a highly musical family. Her father, Ernest Boulanger, was a winner of the Prix de Rome (the prime prize in composition) at the Paris Conservatory in 1835. In 1913, her sister Lili also won the Prix de Rome, breaking the gender barrier by being the first woman to do so. Nadia was well known for her compositional works, but also for her marvelous conducting. In February of 1934, she conducted the New York Philharmonic — the first time a woman had ever done so. On the 26 th of that same month, she led the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington D.C. She also conducted the Boston Symphony on the eleventh and twelh of March that same year. is was another organization in which she had broken the gender barrier just a year earlier. roughout her life, she toured numerous times around the United States to conduct ensembles and give lectures. At one particular point in 1939, she took a trip to Buffalo, NY, for a lecture, later travelling to the North Country of New York to give a very much-anticipated discussion titled "What is Freedom in Art?" Boulanger had a way with her words, and gave a wonderful lecture according to those in attendance; all in perfect timing in preparation to conduct the Brahms Requiem. Helen M. Hosmer was born in Yonkers, NY, on July 12, 1898. In 1906, she and her family moved to Potsdam where she showed an aptitude for music. By fih grade, she began accompanying fellow musicians. She later began to accompany at the Potsdam Opera House: a fine accomplishment on many levels. is was all before having graduated from what was then known as the Potsdam Normal School. Although Miss Hosmer obtained a baccalaureate degree from the Teacher's College at Columbia University, she also studied abroad starting with the American Conservatory sessions in Fontainebleau, France. roughout her lifetime, she had many opportunities to travel to Europe, the majority of them leading groups of students between 1925 and 1960. Oh, the perks of having perfect pitch! She had a rather easy time with solfege under the direction of both Madame and Monsieur Pillois at the American Conservatory on her first trip abroad. Harmony class, however, was more of a challenge. Here is where Helen met Mlle. Boulanger for the first time (and certainly not the last). Miss Hosmer looked up to Mlle. Boulanger; sIsterHood oF MusIC Making Ties & Breaking Barriers The friendship of Nadia Boulanger and Helen M. Hosmer The Gamma Delta Chapter of SAI at SUNY Potsdam initiated both Nadia Boulanger (below, center) and Helen Hosmer (right) in 1958.

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