In 1933, the Chicago Symphony premiered composer Florence Price’s award-winning Symphony No. 1. It was a milestone in performance history, making Price the first African-American woman to have a large-scale work presented by a major U.S. orchestra. Although she continued to compose until her death in 1953, many of Price’s subsequent pieces were performed by “women’s symphonies,” all-female ensembles that filled a niche separate from the male space of top professional orchestras.
While classes began remotely Wednesday, there was still plenty of activity occurring on university campus, with many students taking the traditional First Day of Classes photo in front of the chapel. Above, seniors Smiti Shah, Elena Waechtler and Alexa Burnston celebrate the start of their last semester on Duke’s West Campus.