Mildred Elizabeth Thomson Souers [1] (February 26, 1894 - August 1977) [2] was an American composer [3] who wrote music for ballets and ballet studios, as well as for chamber ensembles, piano, and voice. [4]
Souers was born in Des Moines, Iowa, to Addie F. and Ogilvie Sinclair Thomson. She married Marshall Ankeny Souers in 1918 and they had one son. [2]
Souers attended Drake University, where she studied with Francis J. Pyle. [5] Later, she studied with Marion Bauer in New York. [6] During World War I, she worked as a studio accompanist for Grace Jones Jackson, and volunteered as a weekly entertainer on Red Cross programs. [1] She was an announcer for Iowa radio stations KSO and KRNT. [7]
Souers belonged to the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), [4] the music sorority Sigma Alpha Iota, and the First Church of Christ, Scientist. She was a board member of the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra. [8] One of her choral compositions won First Prize from the National Federation of Music Clubs. [4] The Iowa Federation of Music Clubs honored her as their Composer of the Year in 1962. [9]
Souers’ papers are archived at the State Historical Society of Iowa in the Annals of Iowa. [7] Her compositions were recorded commercially by Hoctor Records, [10] a sub-label of Dance Records, Inc. [11] Souers’ music is published by Carl Fischer Inc., [12] Hal Leonard, [13] and Willis Music Co. [14] Her compositions include:
Mildred Elizabeth Thomson Souers [1] (February 26, 1894 - August 1977) [2] was an American composer [3] who wrote music for ballets and ballet studios, as well as for chamber ensembles, piano, and voice. [4]
Souers was born in Des Moines, Iowa, to Addie F. and Ogilvie Sinclair Thomson. She married Marshall Ankeny Souers in 1918 and they had one son. [2]
Souers attended Drake University, where she studied with Francis J. Pyle. [5] Later, she studied with Marion Bauer in New York. [6] During World War I, she worked as a studio accompanist for Grace Jones Jackson, and volunteered as a weekly entertainer on Red Cross programs. [1] She was an announcer for Iowa radio stations KSO and KRNT. [7]
Souers belonged to the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), [4] the music sorority Sigma Alpha Iota, and the First Church of Christ, Scientist. She was a board member of the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra. [8] One of her choral compositions won First Prize from the National Federation of Music Clubs. [4] The Iowa Federation of Music Clubs honored her as their Composer of the Year in 1962. [9]
Souers’ papers are archived at the State Historical Society of Iowa in the Annals of Iowa. [7] Her compositions were recorded commercially by Hoctor Records, [10] a sub-label of Dance Records, Inc. [11] Souers’ music is published by Carl Fischer Inc., [12] Hal Leonard, [13] and Willis Music Co. [14] Her compositions include: