Nadia Boulanger
Chronology of American Highlights
- 1887, September 16
Born in Paris to a family of musicians. Grandmother, Juliette Boulanger (1786), celebrated singer. Grandfather, Frederic Boulanger (1778). Father, Ernest Boulanger, Professor at the Paris Conservatory of Music (1815 1900). Mother, Russian, Princess Mitchesky (1858 1935).
- 1897
Entered the Paris Conservatory, age 10.
- 1904
Winner of First Prize in harmony, counterpoint, fugue, organ, and piano accompaniment at age 17.
- 1906
Winner of second Grand Prix de Rome in Composition.
- 1908 1918
Teacher of Harmony at the Conservatory.
- 1918, March 15
Death of her sister Lili (born 1893, Marie-JulietteOlga).
- 1921
Appointed professor of harmony, counterpoint, and composition at the American Conservatory of Music in Fontainebleau. She continued these teaching duties until her death in 1979.
First trip to the United States.
Appointed professor of music history, counterpoint, harmony, and composition at Lecole Normale de la Musique in Paris until 1939.
- 1925, February
Lecture series at Rice University, Houston TX and publication of her Lectures on Modern Music. First performance of Coplands Organ Symphony with Boulanger as soloist.
- 1938
Conducted the first performance of Stravinskys Dumbarton Oaks Concerto in Washington DC.
- 1940 1946
Extended stay in the United State. Had already become the first woman to conduct many symphony orchestras including New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Guest teaching at Longy, Mills, Yale and many other American schools.
- 1950
Appointed Director of the American Conservatory of Music in Fontainebleau.
- 1958
Visiting Artist and professor at the Institute for Contemporary Arts in Washington DC. NBC Wisdom series film made on her teaching.
- 1962
Faure's Requiem with the New York Philharmonic and many honorary degrees from Yale, Harvard, and Oxford.
- 1979, October 22
Death of Nadia Boulanger.
"Sight Reading is like Life.
The important purpose is to come from the beginning and go to the end.
Never stop. Never stop life.
Continue, even with a mistake."
"What is done without joy is ZERO."
©2009 Boulanger America.
Queries to info@NadiaBoulanger.org