Antoinette Garnes

Antoinette Smythe Garnes was born about 1887 in Detroit. She studied at Detroit Central High School, Detroit Conservatory of Music, Howard University, and Chicago Musical College; at the last institution she studied with Edoardo Sacerdote,^[1] earned a bachelor of music degree in 1919,^[2] and was the college's first black winner of the Alexander Revell diamond medal.^[3][4] She also played violin and piano. She earned a Master of Music degree from the Chicago Musical College in 1920.^[5]

In 1923 Garnes was the only African American member of the Chicago Grand Opera Company.^[6] She was a member of the Chicago Opera Association.^[7] Erma Morris accompanied her for a performance in Detroit.^[8] She sang at a meeting of the NAACP in Chicago in 1919.^[3] Music critic Agnes Beldon noted Garnes's "sterling vocal ability and fine training".^[9] Her solo recitals were sponsored by local black women's clubs, and benefited charities such as the Phyllis Wheatley Orphan's Home in Wichita.^[10] She performed with Naida McCullough in California in 1932.^[11] She also performed at Howard University with Sadie B Davis under the auspices of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.^[12]

Garnes taught voice at Lincoln University, Wilberforce University and Hampton Institute.^[13] She recorded on Harry Pace's Black Swan Records,^[14][15] and her recording of two arias was promoted as "the first grand opera record ever made by a colored singer."^[16] She was given an honorary membership in the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at the organization's boule (annual meeting) in 1923.^[17]

Antoinette Smythe Garnes married twice; her first husband was Rev. Dr. Theobold Augustus Smythe.^[18] She was widowed when he died in Chicago.^[19] Her second husband was dentist Harry W. Garnes.^[20][21] She died from liver disease in 1938, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.^[13][19][22]

• "Caro Nome" (1923) Black Swan Records 7101
• "Ah, F'ors 'E Lui" (1923) Black Swan Records 7102
• "My Mother Bids Me Bind My Hair" Black Swan Records

• Broome Records