Christine Asdurian (born Armenia; February 17, 1893 – April 29, 1963) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

pianist who

composed Composition or Compositions may refer to: Arts and literature *Composition (dance), practice and teaching of choreography *Composition (language), in literature and rhetoric, producing a work in spoken tradition and written discourse, to include v ...

the music to the

University of Miami Alma Mater The University of Miami Alma Mater, titled Alma Mater: Stand Forever, is the official alma mater of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. History The words were written by William Seth Lampe, a newspaper reporter and public relati ...

in 1926, ( lyrics by

William Seth Lampe William Seth Lampe (February 24, 1906 – May 18, 1992) was an American journalist, managing editor of the ''Detroit Times'' (1942-1955), editor of the ''Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph'' (1955-1958), director of special editorial projects for the He ...

). She was enrolled as a

music student Music education is a field of practice in which educators are trained for careers as elementary or secondary music teachers, school or music conservatory ensemble directors. Music education is also a research area in which scholars do original ...

at the University of Miami in 1926 and 1927 as one of its 646 first enrolled students. She studied piano with Earl Chester Smith. Bertha Foster, UM’s first music dean, also mentored Christine. Bowman F. Ashe, The University of Miami’s first president, was known to recruit her to perform in civic functions and donor appreciation events. At age 3, Asdurian traveled with her father, a clergyman, to the United States; he died soon after. She was adopted by two sisters, Sarah A. Thompson and Esther H. Thompson, of Litchfield, Connecticut, and her name was changed to Christine Oviatt Thompson. Asdurian attended

Oberlin College Oberlin College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Oberlin, Ohio. It is the oldest Mixed-sex education, coeducational liberal arts college in the United S ...

in Oberlin, Ohio, Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and earned an M.A. in comparative literature from Columbia University, New York in 1917. In 1924 and 1925, Asdurian was a staff pianist for

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, a department store chain, performing throughout the New York tri-state area for a recurring broadcast

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on WEAF, WGBS, and WMCA. While a student at the University of Miami, Asdurian broadcast on WGBU and worked as a statistician with the Miami

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. She also performed recitals, and composed

children's music Children's music or kids' music is music composed and performed for children. In European-influenced contexts this means music, usually songs, written specifically for a juvenile audience. The composers are usually adults. Children's music has hi ...

. After attending the University of Miami, Asdurian returned to the New York area in 1928 and resumed her live radio performances until 1931. She then moved to Los Angeles and died there on April 29, 1963.California Death Index 1940-1997, Ancestry.com

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asdurian, Christine 1893 births 1963 deaths 20th-century American composers American people of Armenian descent 20th-century American women pianists 20th-century American pianists 20th-century women composers