Hélène Fleury-Roy facts for kids
Hélène-Gabrielle Fleury-Roy (born June 21, 1876 – died April 18, 1957) was a talented French composer. She made history by becoming the first woman to win a prize at the very important Prix de Rome competition for music composition.
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Early Life and Studies
Hélène Fleury-Roy was born in Carlepont, a town in France. She loved music from a young age. She studied at the famous Paris Conservatory, which is a top music school. There, she learned from well-known teachers like Henri Dallier, Charles-Marie Widor, and André Gedalge.
In the late 1890s, Hélène lived in La Ferté-sous-Jouarre. She started sending her music to competitions. In 1899, she won a competition in Reims with her organ piece called Symphony Allegro. This showed her great musical talent early on.
Making History at the Prix de Rome
The Prix de Rome was a very famous competition for young artists, including composers. Winning a prize there was a huge honor. In 1903, Hélène Fleury-Roy became the first woman ever allowed to compete in the music composition section.
Her first try at the prize didn't go as planned; she didn't pass one of the music tests. But she didn't give up! The very next year, she tried again. This time, she succeeded with a vocal piece called Medora. She won a third prize in the Grand Prix, making her a pioneer for women in music.
Teaching and Later Life
Around 1906, Hélène Fleury-Roy married Louis Roy, who was a professor. After that, she became a piano teacher. She lived in Paris for some time.
In 1928, she moved to Toulouse and became a professor at the Conservatory of Toulouse. She taught harmony, composition, and piano to many students. Some of her notable students became famous musicians themselves, including the conductor Louis Auriacombe and the composer Charles Chaynes.
Hélène Fleury-Roy passed away in Saint-Gaudens, Haute-Garonne when she was 80 years old. She left behind a legacy as a talented composer and a groundbreaking woman in music history.
Selected Musical Works
Hélène Fleury-Roy wrote many different kinds of music. Her works include songs, pieces for piano, violin, cello, and organ, and even a piano quartet (a piece for piano and three string instruments).
Here are some of her compositions:
- Arabesque for piano
- Bourree Gavotte for piano
- Canzonetta for piano
- Espérance for piano
- Fleur des champs for piano
- La Nuit for piano
- Minuetto for piano
- Valse Caprice for piano
- Coeur virginal, a song
- Mattutina, a song
- Brise du soir for violin
- Trois pièces faciles for violin
- Fantaisie for viola (or violin) and piano, Op. 18
- Rêverie for cello
- Quatuor for piano and strings
- Pastorale for organ
- Grand Fantaise de concert
