Julia Perry

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Julia Perry (1924-1979), a prominent African-American female composer in the 20th century, lived in this house when it was owned by her father, a physician, Dr. Abraham Perry.

She left Lexington to attend Westminster Choir College and eventually studied at the Julliard School of Music. She then spent nearly six years in Europe, and through two Guggenheim Fellowships; she studied with noted composers Luigi Dallapiccola and Nadia Boulenger.

When she returned to the United States she taught at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College and served as composer in residence at Atlanta College. In addition to various shorter works, Perry wrote twelve symphonies in her lifetime. Follow this link to listen to one of her more prominent compositions, Stabat Mater.