Thomasina Talley Greene facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomasina Talley Greene
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Thomasina Talley, c. 1942
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| Born | 29 June 1913 |
| Died | 6 January 2003 (aged 89) |
| Occupation | concert pianist and music educator |
Thomasina Talley Greene (1913–2003) was a talented African-American concert pianist and music teacher. She opened her own music studio in 1942 in Jefferson City, Missouri. Thomasina was recognized in 1963 as a Missouri Woman of Achievement. This award celebrated her amazing work in music, including a special piano performance at Lincoln University.
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Early Life and Music Journey
Thomasina Talley was born on June 29, 1913, in Nashville, Tennessee. Her parents were Thomas Washington Talley and Ellen Eunice Roberts. Thomasina was the second child in her family. Her older sister, Sonoma Talley, also became a music teacher.
Their father, Thomas Washington Talley, loved music very much. He was the head of the chemistry department at Fisk University. He also led the Fisk choir. This love for music likely encouraged both his daughters to pursue music.
Learning Piano and Advanced Studies
Thomasina started playing the piano when she was just five years old. She graduated from Fisk University in 1929. After that, she moved to New York City to study piano at the famous Juilliard School. She earned her diploma there in 1932.
After her studies, Thomasina taught at a high school in Columbia, Missouri. Later, she moved to Texas and then to North Carolina. In 1939, she received a special scholarship called a Rockefeller fellowship. This helped her finish her studies at Columbia University in 1942.
Life in Jefferson City
While studying at Columbia, Thomasina met and fell in love with a historian named Lorenzo Greene (1899–1988). They moved to Jefferson City, Missouri, together. In Jefferson City, Thomasina opened her own music studio. She also taught piano sometimes at Lincoln University.
Thomasina and Lorenzo got married on December 19, 1942. They had one child, a son named Lorenzo Thomas, who was born in 1952.
Teaching and Television Work
Thomasina Talley Greene was a highly respected music teacher. In 1969, she received a special recognition. The Certification Board of the Music Teachers National Association certified her as a teacher of applied music for piano. This meant she was recognized as a top piano teacher in any state.
From 1966 to 1977, Thomasina also worked with a television music station called KRCG. She directed a group called the Rhapsodic Junior Music Club. This club prepared music programs that were shown on television.
Thomasina Talley Greene passed away in Jefferson City on June 1, 2003. She is buried in Hawthorn Memorial Gardens in Jefferson City.
