Women's Services - Florence

Florence

Raised amidst art and music, Florence Jepperson sang, played the piano and violin, and served as Sunday school organist by age 12. Education shaped her life: she taught music at Provo schools, graduated from BYU at age 18, and became the "finest contralto that ever came to our institution" at Boston's New England Conservatory. By 1920 her talent yielded a prestigious position at Boston's Old South Church. But upon her brother's death, Florence returned to Provo, where George Brimhall promptly named her head of the BYU music department.

Thus she began a decades-long career teaching music. Two years into this career, she adopted the three daughters of a deceased friend, and subsequently married Franklin Madsen, a "handsome baritone" and fellow BYU faculty member.

Later in life she directed the Relief Society's Singing Mothers, a group of women from across the United States who performed yearly at general conference and toured England for the Hyde Park Chapel dedication. Reflecting on her rich life of music, teaching and friendship, Florence mused, "I hope there will be plenty of music in the next life, as we have had here."
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Florence