Helen Marie Black

Helen Marie Black
Cultural Leader
1896 - 1988
INDUCTED 1985

Helen Marie Black was the first woman in the nation to serve at the helm of a major symphony organization.

Violinist Isaac Stern, founder in 1934 of the Denver Symphony Orchestra called her “a wispy, gentle, elegant, thoughtful dreadnought with wonderful manners and an indomitable will.” She applied her business savvy to promote music and the arts, which were always her first love. She single-handedly ran the DSO without compensation for ten years, then became the orchestra’s salaried CEO.

“I was in love with the idea of bringing beautiful music to Denver.” — Helen Marie Black