Alice Tully facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alice Tully
|
|
|---|---|
Alice Tully (right), and her sister, Marion Tully
|
|
| Born |
Alice Bigelow Tully
September 14, 1902 |
| Died | December 10, 1993 (aged 91) Manhattan New York City, U.S.
|
| Occupation | Singer, music promoter, philanthropist |
| Relatives | Marion Tully Dimick (sister), Alanson Houghton (uncle), Amory Houghton (cousin), Arthur A. Houghton Jr. (cousin) |
| Awards | National Medal of Arts (1985) |
Alice Bigelow Tully (September 14, 1902 – December 10, 1993) was an American singer and a very generous supporter of the arts. She loved music and helped many artists and music organizations in New York. She is especially known for having a famous concert hall, Alice Tully Hall, named after her.
Who Was Alice Tully?
Alice Tully was born on September 14, 1902, in Corning, New York. Her father, William J. Tully, was a lawyer and a state senator. Alice had one younger sister, Marion.
She went to high school at the Westover School in Middlebury, Connecticut. Alice loved music and started her career as a singer. She first sang as a mezzo-soprano, which is a voice type between soprano and alto. Later, she became a soprano, which is the highest female singing voice.
Alice studied music in Paris, France. She made her first public performance in 1927 with the Pasdeloup Orchestra. In 1933, she performed in an opera called Cavalleria rusticana in New York City.
Her Generous Spirit
Alice Tully came from a wealthy family. In 1958, after her mother passed away, Alice inherited a large amount of money. This money came from her grandfather, Amory Houghton Jr., whose father founded the Corning Glass Works.
Alice decided to use her wealth to support the arts. She gave a lot of her money to music and arts groups, often without letting anyone know it was her. Her cousin, Arthur Amory Houghton Jr., who helped start the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, suggested she donate money for a chamber music hall.
In 1963, John D. Rockefeller III convinced her to let the new hall be named Alice Tully Hall. This hall is a famous place for concerts and performances in New York City.
Supporting the Arts
Alice Tully was very involved in the music world. She led the board of directors for the New York Chamber Music Society. She also served on the boards of other important music organizations, like the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Juilliard School.
In 1970, Alice received the Handel Medallion for all her help with New York City's cultural life. She also asked famous composer Olivier Messiaen to create a new piece of music. He composed Des canyons aux étoiles..., which was first performed at Alice Tully Hall in 1974.
In 1985, Alice Tully was given the National Medal of Arts. This is a very high honor for people who have made great contributions to the arts in the United States. Many composers, including William Schuman, Gian Carlo Menotti, and Riccardo Malipiero, dedicated their musical works to her.
Later Life and Legacy
Alice Tully never married. She had a stroke in 1991 and passed away in New York in 1993, at the age of 91. Her legacy lives on through the many artists and organizations she supported, and especially through Alice Tully Hall, which continues to be a vibrant center for music.
