Owens, Dewey

Carlos Salzedo (1885-1961) was a famous American harpist and composer.

Carlos Salzedo was born born April 6, 1885. He was the premier prix winner in two instruments at the Paris Conservatoire when graduating at the age of 16. He moved to New York in 1909 and became the first harpist of the Metropolitan Opera for four years under the direction of Toscanini. He established the Trio de Lutece in 1913 and the Salzedo Harp Ensemble in 1917. He helped Varese organize the International Composers' Guild in 1921. He was also active in ISCM, the Pan American Association of Composers, Pro-Musica, and the New Music Society of California under Cowell's direction. He taught at Juliard and organized the harp department in 1924 at the Curtis Institute of Music. He founded the Salzedo Harp Colony in 1931. He served as President of the American Harp Society and editor of the Eolian Review. He died August 17, 1961.

Dewey Owens (1925-2006) was a harpist and professor at Vassar College in Paughkeepsie, New York.

Dewey Owens was born May 3, 1925, in North Carolina. He first learned to play the violin and then taught himself the piano. He served as a chaplain's assistant in World War II for three years in the US Army. He studied the organ under Parvin Titus at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. He worked as a copyist and assistant to American composer John Hausermann. While working in Europe, he debuted as a baritone vocalist with the Palma de Mallorca Symphony Orchestra. Carlos Salzedo referred Owens to be taught the Harp by Lucile Lawrence. Owens was greatly influenced by Carlos Salzedo's compositions and notations. For thirty years he taught at Vassar College in Paughkeepsie, New York. He wrote a biography on Carlos Salzedo. He died in 2006.

From the guide to the Dewey Owens collection on Carlos Salzedo, 1904-1984, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)