Background
Dett, Robert Nathaniel was born on October 11, 1882 in Drummondsville, Ontario, Canada. Son of Robert Tue and Charlotte (Johnson) Dett.
Dett, Robert Nathaniel was born on October 11, 1882 in Drummondsville, Ontario, Canada. Son of Robert Tue and Charlotte (Johnson) Dett.
Student Oliver Willis Halsted Conservatory of Music, Lockport, New York, 1901-1903. Museum B., Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio, 1908. Studied Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, American Conservatory of Music (Chicago), Harvard University.
Doctor of Music, Howard University, 1924.
Doctor of Music, Oberlin, 1926. Master of Music, Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, 1931.
Church and social pianist, Niagara Falls, New York, 1898-1903. Director of music, Lane College (colored), Jackson, Tennessee, 1908-1911, Lincoln Institute (colored), Jefferson City, Missoury, 1911-1913, Hampton (Virginia) Institute, from 1913. Director of School of Music of same since 1926.
Director Hampton Choral Union.
Conductor Hampton Institute, Choir (80 voices) on tours in the United States, Canada and 7 countries of Europe. Director American Choir, Station WHAM, 1930-1931.
Director Negro Community Chorus, 1933-1934. Became director music, Bennett College, Greensboro, North Carolina, since 1937.
Member National Education Association, National Association Teachers of Colored Schools, National Association of Negro Musicians (chairman advisory board, 1919. Mason, K. of Philisophy First American to utilize Negro folk tune for classic development.
Married Helen Elise Smith, pianist, December 27, 1916.