Hidden Notes: The Impact and Legacy of Flutist, Educator, Administrator, and Advocate Dorothy Antoinette Handy

Abstract

Dorothy Antoinette Handy was a Black female flutist, educator, and administrator. She taught at several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), she was one of the first Black musicians of the Richmond Symphony in Virginia, and she wrote books on Black musicians in both the classical and jazz fields. While serving as the Director of Music for the National Endowment for the Arts, Handy was responsible for having jazz nationally recognized and funded by that organization. Though she never considered herself a composer, she also published one known piece for flute,Hommage A Haute Savoie: Five Short Impressions for Solo Flute, which stands out as an example of music by Black female composers from the 20th century.Until now, scholarship has neglected Antoinette Handy’s accomplishments, but they deserve to be celebrated. Her story is all the more extraordinary in light of her experiences as a Black woman who grew up in the south during Jim Crow and segregation. Her story also opens onto the rich history of a Black family’s life in the south and her passion for accessibility in the arts. She did what many strive to do now: to have a rich and impactful career in the arts that offers variety and fulfilment. Antoinette Handy highlights the hitherto underrepresented role of Black women in classical music and arts administration prior to the 21st century. This dissertation provides an overview of Handy’s life with the intention of bringing awareness to her work, so that her career can serve as an inspiration to new generations of artists. Handy’s story reveals a lifelong passion for accessibility and equity, which she channeled into a successful career in the face of myriad challenges. Throwing light on her life and career in this way also shows how Handy’s legacy remains important today.