Among my treasured musical possessions
Among my treasured musical possessions is a personal letter written to me from conductor Antonia Brico. Miss Brico (1902-1989) was a famous conductor and pianist, most important a woman conductor, who was known for many firsts during her long career. The first woman to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic, the first woman to conduct the New York Philharmonic, conducts the San Francisco Symphony, Helsinki Symphony and Hamburg, Germany Symphony orchestras and many more. She was named conductor of the Women’s Symphony Orchestra in 1939 which later became the Brico Symphony Orchestra. Settling in Denver, Colorado, Miss Brico founded the Women’s String Ensemble, conducted the Denver Businessmen’s Orchestra that became the Brico Symphony Orchestra and eventually was conductor of the Denver Symphony Orchestra. Among her most famous piano students was Judy Collins, folk singer. A documentary film about the conductor’s life, “Antonia: A Po...