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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Pianist Mildred Ellis composed “Keep Singin'” for her master’s degree nearly a century ago. On Saturday, the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra debuted the late musician’s piece in honor of Black History Month.
According to Jeremy Smith, director of East Tennessee State University’s Archives of Appalachia, Ellis was the first black woman to pursue a PhD in music.
(Mildred Katharine Ellis papers, Amistad Research Center, New Orleans, LA)
“So, she very much made it a point to incorporate black folk music, black spirituals, black work songs,” he said. “And so tonight, the piece that you’ll hear has at least three different themes that were drawn from that rich tradition.”
Ellis’ legacy was honored on Saturday with a plaque that hangs in her alma mater, Langston High School, which is now known as the Langston Centre. Ellis was valedictorian of the Class of 1924.
Smith said Ellis earned three degrees in music and became a music teacher. She passed away in 2004 at 98 years old. To read more about her life, click here.
