Britain, Radie (1897–1994)
Britain, Radie (1897–1994)
American composer. Born Mar 17, 1897, in Silverton, near Amarillo, Texas; died May 23, 1994, in Los Angeles, California; studied at Clarendon College Conservatory of Music, American Conservatory, as well as in Berlin and Munich; m. Edgardo Simone, sculptor (died); m. Ted Morton.
Pioneer for American women composers in 20th century, often mistaken for a man because of her name, made debut as a composer in Munich, when baritone Erich Wildhagen sang several of her songs; won International Award for composition (1930) and was the 1st woman to receive the Juilliard National Prize (1945), for her composition Heroic Poem, dedicated to Charles Lindbergh's flight to Paris; joined faculty of American Conservatory of Music in Chicago (1938); wrote over 150 compositions for orchestra, chamber ensembles, stage works, choral, piano, violin, harp and voice, many of which were performed by women's orchestras.