Williamson, Alix.
Biographical notes:
Alix B. Williamson (1916-2001) was one of New York City's prominent publicists for classical music from the 1940s through the 1990s.
A graduate of Hunter College, Williamson worked briefly as a reporter, then joined the leading public relations firm of Constance Hope Associates, where she handled the accounts of notable opera singers, such as Lotte Lehmann, Lauritz Melchoir, and Lily Pons. This phase of her career included a large amount of ghostwriting, both under the names of her accounts (e.g., Pons) and using pseudonyms; Williamson would continue to write throughout her career. Williamson left the Hope office in 1938 and opened her own agency, where her early clients included a number of Philadelphia music institutions, such as the Robin Hood Dell concert series. Her client roster expanded in the 1940s and she became known for consistently informative press releases. An important period in her career was her position as press representative for Stadium Concerts, Inc., the organization that staged symphony concerts during the summer at Lewisohn Stadium in Manhattan. She held this post from 1950-1964 and co-wrote a biography of Minnie Guggenheimer, the series' sponsor, Mother is Minnie (1960). Other significant clients include the pianists Lili Kraus and Ruth Slenczynska, the conductor Stephen Simon, and organizations, including the Aston Magna Foundation for Music, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and the Juilliard String Quartet, each of whom she represented over a number of years. By the 1990s her pace had slowed, but she still continued to attract new clients, including the Little Orchestra Society. Among the last clients Williamson worked with was the New York Grand Opera.
From the description of Alix Williamson papers, 1918-2001 (bulk 1939-2006) (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 82172445
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Subjects:
- Concerts
- Music publicity
- Press agents
Occupations:
- Press agents
Places:
- United States (as recorded)
- New York (State)--New York (as recorded)
