Collection: Hope Haley Montoni collection of chamber music with voice

Hope Haley Montoni (1931 – 2013) was a singer, educator, activist, and feminist. The Hope Haley Montoni collection of chamber music with voice covers the period of 1949 to 1977, with the bulk of the materials from 1950 to 1977. The collection consists of notated music scores and some personal correspondence.

Dates

1949-1977, undated
Majority of material found within 1961 - 1977

Condition Description

Some inactive mold, as well as some brittle paper and cellophane tape; some rust damage from degraded paperclips (since removed).

Extent

1.5 Linear Feet

18 Scores

2 Items : Autograph letter signed from composers (Parris and Ramsdell)

Additional Description

Content Description

One package containing ten scores by numerous American composers amassed by Hope Haley Montoni during her career as a classical mezzo-soprano.

Historical Note

Hope Haley Montoni (1931 - 2013) graduated from the Hartt School in Hartford, Connecticut with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and subsequently received a Master’s degree in Music from Kent State University. Her career as a classical mezzo-soprano spanned from 1949 to 1988. She was a third prize winner in the Regional Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 1960-61 (Washington, D.C.). Montoni was later a voice faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University from 1973 to 1975. In addition to her life in music, Montoni was an activist and educator. A founding member of the Sojourner Truth Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) on the campus of Kent State University in 1970, Montoni also produced the first Women Artist Festival for the Kent State Summer Series in 1973. The festival included exhibits of jewelry, crafts, and paintings by women artists, opera scenes with a feminist perspective, dances choreographed by women, and films about notable women in the arts. During her time at Kent State, Montoni lectured the honors classes on feminism and spoke to women’s clubs and community groups on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and feminism. After moving to Richmond, Virginia in 1973, Montoni joined Richmond NOW and in 1974 produced the August 26th Equality Day festival at A.P. Hill Park. As an associate of the Richmond Community Orchestra, Montoni researched and presented music by women and African American composers in Virginia and elsewhere in the United States. She was the recipient of both a "Woman of Achievement" award from Richmond NOW for her "unique blending of art and feminism" and the "Outstanding Woman" award by the YWCA in 1985.

Arrangement of collection

This collection is organized into one series

Scores

Custodial History

Gift of Marc Montoni, son of Hope Haley Montoni, made on 28th September 2016.

Related Materials

- Robert Parris papers, Special Collections in Performing Arts, University of Maryland Libraries. (Finding Aid)

Condition Description

Some inactive mold, as well as some brittle paper and cellophane tape; some rust damage from degraded paperclips (since removed).

Administrative Information

Title: Hope Haley Montoni collection of chamber music with voice
Status: Completed
Author: Samantha Flores
Date: September 2017
Description rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description: Undetermined
Script of description: Code for undetermined script
Language of description note: English

Library Details

Part of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library

http://www.lib.umd.edu/mspal

Contact:
University of Maryland Libraries
8270 Alumni Drive
College Park MD 20742 United States
scpa@umd.edu

Hope Haley Montoni collection of chamber music with voice

Dates

Condition Description

Extent

Additional Description

Content Description

Historical Note

Arrangement of collection

Custodial History

Related Materials

Condition Description

Administrative Information

Library Details

Library Details

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