Biography:

Composer, musician, music teacher, writer. Born– January 1870, Tuskegee. Parents– James Andrew and Francina A. (Mason) Bilbro. Married Frank E. Dix, 1908.  Education– Alabama Conference Female College; studied music under private tutors. Early in her life she composed two sets of piano pieces for children, “Jolly Tunes for Little Folks” and “Wee Folks in Music Land.” She composed and sold music in many forms: piano stories, piano studies, song stories, early instruction collections, musical plays, etc. Published over 600 works, primarily in the field of music education.  She also wrote verse, short stories, and a novel. Lived in New York and in the Southwest, returned to Alabama and lived in Gadsden; taught at Birmingham College of Music. Conducted master classes all over the country.  Featured in Etude magazine’s sesquicentennial edition (1926) as among the most important American composers.  Inducted into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame, 1983. Died December 2, 1958.

Source:

American Women, 1935-1940; Musical Alabama; website of Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame.

Publication(s):

Happy Half Hours in Melody Land.  Cincinnati:  Willis Music Company, 1921.

The Middle Pasture. Boston; Small, Maynard & Co., 1917.

Military Parade.  Willis Music Company, 1917.