Helen Taylor (composer)

Helen Taylor Johannesen (August 24, 1915—October 5, 1950) was an American composer.

Helen Taylor
BornAugust 24, 1915 (1915-08-24)
DiedOctober 5, 1950(1950-10-05) (aged 35)

Biography

Helen Taylor, who died tragically in 1950, was a gifted and promising Juilliard-trained composer and the wife of pianist Grant Johannesen.

Taylor grew up in Salt Lake City. She studied piano at the McCune School of Music. She received her BM from the University of Utah in 1937, her MM from Columbia Teachers College in 1941, and her degree in composition from Juilliard in 1945, where she completed a three-movement symphony. She worked at the Martha Graham Dance Company as a composition pianist and worked with Aaron Copland on "Appalachian Spring."[1] In this role, she honed her skills as an improviser.[2] In 1948, her violin sonata was recognized with a National Association of Composers and Conductors Award.[1]

She was killed in an auto collision.[3]

Helen Taylor Johannesen Scholarship

Taylor's sister, Beverly Sorensen, established the Helen Taylor Johannesen Memorial Endowed Scholarship at Brigham Young University. The scholarship supports a music composition major by paying for their tuition and lesson fees.[1]

Recordings

In 2001 and 2007, pianist Grant Johannesen recorded his wife's music in two albums: "Discovering Helen Taylor" and "Discovering Helen Taylor 2." They include recordings of Taylor's Symphony, piano music, and chamber music.[4]

References
  1. Howard, Rebecca C. (7 May 2006). "Composition scholarship awarded to BYU senior. Music grant honors Helen Taylor, who was killed in 1950". Deseret News. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  2. Simpson, Ron (15 November 2001). "Grant Johannesen's Labor of Love. Introducing the Music of Helen Taylor". Meridian Magazine. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  3. "Utah International Music Academy & Helen Taylor Johannsen International Piano Competition". University of Utah, School of Music. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  4. "Helen Taylor". Tantara Records. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
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