Mary Cardwell Dawson

Mary Lucinda Cardwell Dawson (1894–1962) was an American opera singer and voice teacher. She was the founding director of the National Negro Opera Company (NNOC). In 1961, Dawson was appointed to the National Music Committee by President John F. Kennedy.

Early life and education Mary Lucinda Cardwell Dawson was born on February 14, 1894 in Madison, North Carolina to James Abraham "J.A." Cardwell and Elizabeth Webster Cardwell. She is the third of six children and spent the majority of her childhood and adolescence in Homestead, Pennsylvania which is a suburb of Pittsburgh.

Growing up in Homestead, Mary Lucinda attended Homestead Grammar School and was surrounded by music. She participated in the music ministry at her home church Park Place A.M.E. Church (formerly known as Gladden A.M.E. Church). And engaged in various musical endeavors around the Pittsburgh Area. by 1914, she began to teach music and voice lessons.

In 1920, Cardwell left home for Boston, Massachusetts where she studied music at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and Central Evening High School. She earned her high school diploma on April 11, 1924 and graduated from New England Conservatory of Music on June 23, 1925 with a teacher's diploma. She continued her studies at the Chicago Musical College and The Metropolitan Opera Studios in New York City.

Cardwell School of Music After graduating, Mary Lucinda Cardwell came back to Homestead and in 1925 she started the Cardwell School of Music at 6356 Frankstown Avenue in the East Liberty Neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The school was a success, routinely accumulated new staff, and moved twice; firstly to 6295 Frankstown Avenue in East Liberty and then, in 1933, to 7101 Apple St. in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. This endeavor also yielded the Cardwell Dawson Choir.

Marriage In 1927, Madame Dawson married Walter Dawson, a master electrician.

National Negro Opera Company Mary Cardwell Dawson's House at 7101 Apple Street in the Homewood West neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This was the original home of the National Negro Opera Company. After presenting the opera Aida at the National Association of Negro Musicians convention of 1941, Dawson launched her National Negro Opera Company (NNOC) later that same year with a performance at Pittsburgh's Syria Mosque. The star was La Julia Rhea, and other members included Minto Cato, Carol Brice, Robert McFerrin, and Lillian Evanti. NNOC mounted productions in Washington D.C., New York City, Chicago, and Pittsburgh. +Cast and artistic team of premiere PrincipalsMadame Mary Cardwell DawsonDenyce GravesIsabelle Victoria LawalPhoebe Mia AtheyFrank Jonathan Pierce RhodesMusic staffMusic director/pianist/principal coachKevin MillerProduction personnelDirectorKimille HowardSet designerPeter DavisonCostume designerJessica JahnLighting designerAmith ChandrashakerSound designerAndrew HarperHair and makeup designerCassie WilliamsProduction stage managerDustin Z WestSupertitlesKelley RourkeAssistant directorIan SilvermanAssistant stage managerKayla Uribe