Hazel Harrison
Encyclopedia
Hazel Harrison was an American pianist, known as the premiere black pianist of her time.
Harrison was born in La Porte, Indiana, and spent most of her childhood home schooled. In her 20s Harrison went to Europe for employment and education. She spent most of her time in Berlin
performing recitals and performing with the Berlin Philharmonic. She later returned to the states and while performing in Chicago
received sponsorship to travel back to Europe
. During the next several years Harrison continued her studies with Ferrucio Busoni in Berlin
. She then began performing as a concert pianist both in Europe and the U.S.
In 1931, Harrison accepted a job as the head of the piano department at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. In 1936 she moved to Washington, D.C.
and accepted a teaching job at Howard University
, where she remained until retirement in 1955. While teaching, Harrison still performed in the U.S., and after retirement she accepted positions at Alabama State A&M College and .
Harrison was born in La Porte, Indiana, and spent most of her childhood home schooled. In her 20s Harrison went to Europe for employment and education. She spent most of her time in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
performing recitals and performing with the Berlin Philharmonic. She later returned to the states and while performing in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
received sponsorship to travel back to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. During the next several years Harrison continued her studies with Ferrucio Busoni in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. She then began performing as a concert pianist both in Europe and the U.S.
In 1931, Harrison accepted a job as the head of the piano department at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. In 1936 she moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and accepted a teaching job at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, where she remained until retirement in 1955. While teaching, Harrison still performed in the U.S., and after retirement she accepted positions at Alabama State A&M College and .
Biography
- Cazort, Jean E. and Hobson, Constance Tibbs, Born to Play: The Life and Career of Hazel Harrison, Greenwood Press, 1983 ISBN 0313236437