Clarissa Burton Cumbo facts for kids

Clarissa Wilhelmina Burton Cumbo (born January 15, 1903 – died August 20, 1988) was an amazing American musician and a big supporter of the arts. She lived in New York but was born in the British West Indies. Clarissa spent her life helping Black musicians and composers share their talents with the world.

Her Early Life

Clarissa was born in Roseau, Dominica. Her father, Davies Charles Burton, was a talented organist and choir director at a cathedral. Her mother was Jane Elizabeth Pinard Burton. When Clarissa was a young girl, her family moved to New York City.

Helping Musicians and Artists

Clarissa Cumbo was trained as a pianist and singer. In the 1920s, she even toured with the famous performer Josephine Baker in a show called The Chocolate Dandies.

Clarissa loved to help other artists. In 1942, she and her husband joined a group of important people in Harlem. They helped judge a singing competition for young, talented singers.

In the 1940s, Clarissa helped start two music groups:

• The State Orchestra, which included musicians of all races.
• The Cosmopolitan Little Symphony, led by Everett Lee.

In 1950, she created an organization called Community Friends of Music. Its goal was to put on concerts featuring Black musicians. Later, in the 1960s, she helped organize Friends of the Symphony of the New World. This group supported a symphony orchestra where her husband, Marion Cumbo, played the cello.

In 1970, Clarissa and Marion started their own non-profit group called Triad Presentations. This organization worked to support and promote the music of Black composers and musicians. Triad Presentations held a special concert every year at Alice Tully Hall, a famous concert venue in New York City.

Awards and Recognition

Clarissa Cumbo's hard work was recognized with several awards:

• In 1979, she received the Howard Jackman Memorial Award from the National Association of Negro Musicians. This award honored her many years of service to composers and musicians.
• In 1985, Clarissa and her husband were honored by the Harlem School of the Arts. They were recognized for their important contributions to classical arts education.

Her Family Life

In 1924, Clarissa Burton married a talented cellist named Marion William Cumbo. They had a son named William Burton Cumbo. William served in the US Navy during World War II. Clarissa became an American citizen in 1943. She passed away in New York in 1988, at the age of 85.