Louisiana Leaders: Notable Women in History
CAMILLE NICKERSON, 1888 - 1982
COLLECTOR, ARRANGER, COMPOSER, MUSICIAN, and EDUCATOR
"The Louisiana Lady", Camille Nickerson was born into a talented musical family in the French Quarter in 1888. A child prodigy, at the age of nine she was the pianist for the Nickerson Ladies' Orchestra directed by her father. At the Oberlin Conservatory she earned a bachelor of music and M.Mus degrees, and membership in Pi Kappa Lambda, the national honor society in music. While at Oberlin, she began to compose and publish Creole music and "When Love is Done" became the first publication in her career as composer.
She returned to New Orleans to teach with her father in the Nickerson School of Music and began her debut as a concert artists, playing cities including Atlanta, Birmingham, and Nashville. Her stage name, "The Louisiana Lady", was enhanced with her authentic Creole dress; audiences in the U.S. and Europe raved about her performances. In addition to composing Creole music, she also collected and arranged songs to preserve her native culture.
Although very successful on the concert circuit, she gave up performing to become part of Howard University's music faculty. She remained there from 1926-1962, retiring with the title professor emerita. Her master's thesis, "Afro-Creole Music of Louisiana" highlighted much Creole folk music and the impressive accomplishments made by black American musicians in the field. She was elected President of the National Association of Negro Musicians in 1935.
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