Maud and Edna as teen performers
“Susan Fleet is an expert on American female musicians who deserve wider recognition in the history of jazz and
classical music.” -- Matt Morrell, "Jazz at WGBH", WGBH-FM, Boston
"Fleet's insightful writing, photographic and audio documentation make a compelling introduction to this
long-awaited book." -- Monique Buzzarté, trombonist and Meet-the-Composer Soloist Champion
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“Inspiring! Susan Fleet places the women in a historical timeline [that] shows the reader what society, the country
and the world were going through. Puts these strong women into prospective and shines light on why they were so
revolutionary.” -- Amazon reader, 2013
“Amazing women! I read this book in one sitting. The way Susan wrote brought me into the lives of these amazing
trailblazing women! It makes me want to learn more on my own - thank you Susan!” -- Amazon reader, 2012
Pubicity photo for Edna’s 1949 solo trumpet recital in Carnegie Hall.
At right: In the Edison recording studio during the 1920s, Edna with
her husband, Torcum Bezezian.
Genuine cultural heroes -- Howard Mandel, Music Critic, Billboard Magazine, 2012
“Susan Fleet candidly tells how Edna White and Maud Powell advanced the frontier of American culture just as
the explorers and other showmen did, but facing daunting presumptions about the "proper" role of women in
the world of concert music. Fleet's heroines were successful, artistic performers, attracting and enriching broad
audiences, on the basis of their talents and artistic excellence. [They] adapted to developments in U.S. society
from the end of the Civil War to the start of the Clinton presidency … moving towards a gender equality which
we have not completely attained today. Men and women, girls and boys should know about these trailblazers.”
Maud traveled
the world with
her violin to solo
with world famous
orchestras, drawing
huge audiences!
Two child prodigies
play their instruments
Just seven years old!
Maud on the left
Edna on the right
Violinst Maud Powell and trumpeter Edna White challenged the male-dominated music
world. Maud soloed all over the world, the first instrumentalist to record for RCA Victor
in 1904. Edna recorded for Edison, starred in vaudeville and gave the first solo
trumpet recital in Carnegie Hall in 1949. At a time when women were expected to stay
home and raise children, they overcame the bias against female musicians. But they
still had time for romance. Maud defied her mother's disapproval to marry the man
she loved. Edna left her first husband to marry an opera singer.
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AUTHOR, TRUMPETER, MUSIC HISTORIAN
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