Kate Sara Chittenden

Kate Sara Chittenden (17 April 1856 – 16 Sept 1949) was an American professor of music, music school founder, and piano teacher.

Chittenden was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She is best known for (i) originating a form of piano instruction known as synthetic piano method, (ii) serving as the founding dean of the American Institute of Applied Music in New York City, and (iii) heading the piano department at Vassar College for 31 years, where, upon retirement, she was awarded professor emeritus status. Newspapers also attribute her as the first woman lecturer employed by the Board of Education for New York City Schools, serving from 1892 to 1919.^[1] Chittenden was the organist and choir director at Calvary Baptist Church in New York City for twenty-seven years, and died in New York City. One of her notable pupils was the Canadian organist and conductor Paul Ambrose.

Career

• 17 Apr 1861 — began piano lessons with an aunt
• 1865-1870 — studied piano with Jules Fossier
• 1870-1876 — studied piano with Lucy H. Clinton, pupil of Clara Schumann at Hellmuth Ladies' College, London, Ontario
• 1873 — awarded Lord Dufferin Bronze Medal for Art
• 5th Jan 1874 — began teaching piano, Hellmuth Ladies' College
• Sep 1876 — arrived in New York, became a protégé of Miss Lucy Nelson
• 1878 — Met Antonia Henne, contralto “The most dominating musical influence of my life”
• 1879-1906 — organist and choir director, Calvary Baptist Church in New York City
• 1882-1883 — organist and accompanist at Music Conventions (Summer Normal Schools held at Meadville, Pennsylvania
• studied with Albert Ross Parsons
• 1883 — became a life member of the Music Teachers National Association
• 1887-1888 — began preparation of Synthetic Piano Method
• 1890-1914 — head of piano department, Catherine Aiken School, Stamford, Connecticut
• 1892 — Joined the faculty of the Metropolitan College of Music
• 1892-1919 — Lecturer, assisted by C. Judson Bushnell, baritone, on the New York Board of Education free lecture courses for adults ... first lecturer on music, and first woman lecturer, on these courses
• 1889 — founder and director of music department in Hartley House Settlement, later incorporated as Hartley House Music School
• 1899-1930 — head of Music Department at Vassar College
• 1899-1903 — head of Piano Department, Putnam Hall School, Poughkeepsie, New York
• 1900-1932 — Dean and head of Piano Department, of the American Institute of Applied Music, New York, NY, organized as a successor to the Metropolitan College of Music
• 1906 — invited to become a Founder of the American Guild of Organists and a charter member of the MacDowell Club
• 1930 — Professor Emeritus, Vassar College
• 1930-1936 — Honorary Director Hartley House School of Music, Lecture and private teacher

Family

Although Kate was born in Hamilton, Ontario, her parents were United States citizens. She was the daughter of Curtis Strong Chittenden, a dentist born in Shelburne, Vermont. One of Kate Chittenden's ancestors, William Chittenden (1593–1660), was one of six founders of Guilford, Connecticut, in 1639; and another ancestor, Thomas Chittenden (1730–1797), was the first Governor of Vermont.^[2]

External links

• Kate Sara Chittenden at Find a Grave

References

• Who Was Who in America, A companion biographical reference work to Who's Who in America, Volume 2, 1943-1950, A.N. Marquis Co., Chicago (1963)

Inline citations

1. Kate Chittenden Dies in New York, Springfield Union, Sept 17, 1949
2. Kate Chittenden, Taught at Vassar – Emeritus Professor of Music, Head of Piano Department for 31 Years, Dies at 93, The New York Times, Sept. 17, 1949