top of page
one of the first leading African American opera singer
Black History Month Project
Gabrielle Harris
Bumbry soon made her concert Debut in london in 1959 and in paris in 1960 at the age of 23 in 1961 she was the first black women to sing the role of venus in Richard Wanger's.
She was the first person of color to sing at the house which created such a stir in the opera world. Bumbry later singed at the white house first time an African American opera singer had ever performed in the White House.
Grace bumbry was born on January 4, 1947 in ST. Louis Missouri she was the youngest child out of her two brothers her full name was Grace Melzia Ann Bumbry. Her mom was a Freight worker and her dad a home worker her parents and her two brothers singed at the in the choir at Church.
At the age of 17 she won a teenage talent contest her prized invovled a scholarship but the school was not admitting black students.
Bumbry met with a famous opera singer who taught her who would tech her there at the Music Academy of the west she studied under Armand Tokatyan.
bottom of page