Jeanne Ellison Shaffer facts for kids

Jeanne Ellison Shaffer (born May 25, 1925 – died April 9, 2007) was a talented American composer and musician. She created many different kinds of music, from musicals to orchestral pieces, and shared her love for music as a teacher and radio host.

Early Musical Journey

Jeanne Shaffer was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. From a very young age, she showed a strong interest in music. She began singing on the radio when she was just four years old!

By the time she was 11, Jeanne was already touring with the famous Paul Whiteman Orchestra. She even acted as a child in a 1938 movie called Girl of the Golden West, playing a young character named Mary Robbins.

Learning and Growing

Jeanne continued her education and musical studies at several universities. She attended Samford University, Birmingham–Southern College, and Vanderbilt University. These studies helped her develop her skills as a composer and musician even further.

A World of Music: Her Compositions

Jeanne Shaffer wrote many different types of music. Her compositions were so popular that they were published by 12 different companies. They were even translated and published in at least three languages!

Her works included three musicals, which are plays with songs. She also wrote music for orchestras, which are large groups of instruments. Her music also included chamber music (for small groups of instruments), a chamber opera (a short musical play), and a ballet (music for dance).

Sharing Her Talents

Jeanne also composed music for the organ and wrote cantatas, which are pieces for singers and instruments. She created song cycles, which are groups of songs meant to be performed together.

One of her pieces, Three Faces of Woman, was recorded by the famous musician Richard Stoltzman and the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra. This shows how respected her music was around the world.

Awards and Contributions

Jeanne Shaffer received special grants to help her create music. These grants came from important groups like the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. She also received support from the Aspen Music Festival.

Besides composing, Jeanne was very active in the music community. She worked as a choir director, guiding singing groups. She was also an organist, playing music in churches. Jeanne loved teaching music to others. She even hosted her own radio show called Eine Kleine Frauenmusik, which focused on music by female composers.

Her Life Journey

Jeanne Shaffer was married twice. In 1944, she married Loran O. Shaffer. Later, in 1989, she married Robert S. Barmettler. She continued to be involved in music throughout her life.