Florence Jepperson Madsen

Florence Jepperson Madsen (December 15, 1886 – April 8, 1977) was an American contralto singer, vocal instructor, and professor of music. She served as the head of the music department of Brigham Young University (BYU) for ten years.

She was born in Provo, Utah into an artistically-inclined family, learning to sing and play instruments at a young age. After receiving a degree in music from Brigham Young University, Madsen lived in Boston, Massachusetts, for many years, attending the New England Conservatory of Music, receiving private vocal lessons, teaching music, and performing at various prestigious venues.

She accepted an offer to teach at BYU, soon began directing choirs herself, and was then selected as the head of BYU's Department of Music and had a lasting influence upon the institution; she directed multiple music programs, helped establish new choirs, and wrote articles asserting the value of music. Madsen received a master's degree in music from the Chicago Musical College, as well as honorary doctorate degrees from the Chicago and Boguslawski colleges of music.

In 1941, she was appointed a member of the General Board of the Relief Society, the women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her responsibilities included overseeing the development of new music for the Relief Society, traveling to visit local chapters of the organization, and directing women's choirs such as the "Singing Mothers." Madsen was also a composer, and created more than 100 musical arrangements during her lifetime. In 1952, she was made a professor emeritus after 44 total years at BYU. She died in 1977 at the age of 90. As of 2021 a recital room in the Harris Fine Arts Center on BYU's campus bears her name.

Early life Madsen was born on December 15, 1886, to Samuel H. Jepperson and Minnie Johnson Jepperson in Provo, Utah. Her grandparents were Danish immigrants to the United States who crossed the Great Plains with other Mormon pioneers. Her father was a musician At the age of sixteen, she began working as an assistant music teacher at various schools in Provo. She also took voice lessons from Anthony C. Lund, a professor at Brigham Young Academy (BYA). She enrolled in BYA in 1902, and the Academy changed its name to Brigham Young University while she was a student. Lund and Alice Louise Reynolds were Madsen's two greatest influences during her schooling. She later taught a course on hymnology alongside Reynolds. Franklin had first met Florence Madsen as one of her vocal students during the summer of 1914. He then spent some time in Boston as a student at the New England Conservatory, and continued taking voice lessons from Madsen. In the early part of the year 1920, Franklin came to BYU to teach, and the two began to spend more time together. He decided to propose to Madsen after her custody court case. He supported her in her musical endeavors; her career was very important to him. "Together," writes author Grace H. C. Christensen, "they have earned the highest educational honors and recognition in the music world." and BYU's glee club —and providing private vocal lessons. She directed the department's performance of the opera Priscilla in May 1921. Madsen set multiple goals for improving the music department, As head of the Department of Music, Madsen directed multiple musicals and oratorios and began to compose her own music. She also delivered speeches and wrote articles on the power of music, such as a piece for the Deseret News published in July 1937. In 1945, Madsen was honored by the Provo Women's Council for her compositions. She was appointed a member of the Music Committee of the National Council of Women of the United States. Frank W. Asper, organist at the Salt Lake Tabernacle, wrote that, "as a composer, she ranks at the top". Of her compositions, her biographer Grace Hildy Croft Christenson wrote: "She has written music capable of expressing love, pleasure, despair, resignation, pain, sympathy, hope, uplift, strength, virility, and praise". alt=a small stage with a pipe organ behind and a piano on the floor in front. Sound equipment peers down from the ceiling, and rows of red chairs face the stage.

Legacy On April 8, 1977, Florence Madsen died at the age of 90. In 1952, she was made professor emeritus after 37 consecutive years of teaching at BYU. She had been a faculty member for a total of 44 years. She had worked with five university presidents: George H. Brimhall, Franklin S. Harris, Christen Jensen, Howard S. McDonald, and Ernest L. Wilkinson. She was one of the recipients of T. Earl Pardoe's 1952 certificates of recognition for "outstanding service to humanity, the nation, state, community, the University, or the Church." She was also awarded the Brigham Young University Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award in 1952 and the David O. McKay Humanities Award for Distinguished Service in 1961. At the Harris Fine Arts Center on BYU campus, a recital room was named after Franklin and Florence Madsen. She is buried in the Provo City Cemetery.

Selected discography +Published Compositions TitleDate PublishedLyricist/Scripture ReferencesIndian Love Lament