Emma Cecilia Thursby

Emma Cecilia Thursby Biography

Emma Cecilia Thursby (February 21, 1845 " July 4, 1931) was an American singer popular in Europe and the United States.

Thursby was born to John Barnes Thursby, a rope manufacturer, and Jane Ann (Bennett) Thursby. She grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and first began to sing in the Old Bushwick (Dutch) Reformed Church. In 1857, she enrolled in the Bethlehem Female Seminary and trained with Sylvester and Francis Wolle. She continued to sing in church choirs in Brooklyn and Boston.

In the late 1860s and early 1870s, Thursby sang with performers including Ole Bull and Theodore Thomas. In 1874, she drew acclaim performing in concerts with Patrick Gilmore's 22nd Regiment Band at venues including the Philadelphia Academy of Music. Her voice was notable for its clarity, power, and range (from middle C to E-flat above the staff). The next year, she performed in concert with Hans von Bülow at Chickering Hall, and in 1876, appeared with Mark Twain in a series of programs for the Redpath Lyceum. She signed a $100,000 contract with Maurice Strakosch to tour throughout North America, and later performed in London, France, and Germany. Thursby was the first American awarded the medal of the Société des Concerts of the Paris Conservatory in 1881.

After 1884, after the death of her mother and sister and as she wearied of traveling for concerts, she performed less frequently. She later became a teacher, and taught as professor of music at the Institute of Musical Art (now Juilliard School) in New York from 1905"11. Her pupils included Geraldine Farrar. Later in life, she traveled extensively and promoted the lectures of Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu monk.

Thursby died at her home in Gramercy Park, New York City, in 1931. Her papers are held at the New-York Historical Society.

This webpage uses material from the Wikipedia article "Emma_Cecilia_Thursby" and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. Reality TV World is not responsible for any errors or omissions the Wikipedia article may contain.

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