Bea Breaks Barriers!: How Florence Beatrice Price’s Music Triumphed Over Prejudice

Gr 2-4–A picture book biography introduces young readers to Florence Beatrice Price (1887–1953), the first Black American classical composer, organist, and pianist. It traces Price’s journey from her early life in segregated Little Rock, AK, to her career as a groundbreaking musician. From a young age, Price had a passion for music, learning piano from her mother and playing in her family’s living room. Despite racial barriers, she excelled in school and became valedictorian of her public school. She attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she was one of two Black students out of 2,000, and graduated with honors, earning degrees in both organ and piano. After returning to Arkansas, she taught at several Black colleges, married, and started a family. However, racism limited opportunities to have her music performed or published. One of the highlights of her career was having opera singer Marian Anderson perform her compositions, which brought more recognition to her work. Unfortunately, her music was not widely performed by major symphonies until after her death, when many of her compositions were rediscovered. The book celebrates Price’s awe-inspiring determination and talent, offering a compelling look at a woman who broke barriers in classical music.