Augustus, Janice G.
Augustus, Janice G.
Augustus, Janice G., African-American composer, violinist, and organist; b. Cleveland, Oct. 31, 1945. At an early age, she studied piano extensively with Rose Widder and violin with Gino Antal. She later attended Howard Univ. in Washington, D.C. (1964–69), becoming proficient on several other instruments. From 1976 to 1996 she served as a teacher for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles at Guardian Angel Catholic School in Pacoima, where, from 1971 to 1997, she also was organist and choir director at the Guardian Angel Catholic Church. While she composed and conducted many original works in her capacity as choir director, since 1998 she has devoted herself to composition, rapidly producing small works for and with violin. These include (all 1998) City Images, op.4, for Violin and Piano, Images of Zoria for Violin, op.3, Miniatures for Two Violins, opp. 7-10, Miniature in Two Movements for Violin and Piano, op.6, Miniature Sonata for Violin, op.2, and Six Miniatures for Violin, op.l, nos. 1-6.
—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire