Date of Award

Spring 2026

Document Type

Open Access Dissertation

Department

School of Music

First Advisor

Tina Stallard

Abstract

Moravians are among the first people to compose art music for both instrumental ensembles and works for solo voice in the American colonies. However, if you examine the repertoire taught and available to students of singing, you’ll find the songs of the Moravians are notably missing. To increase awareness, narrow the gap in research, and point teachers toward solo vocal repertoire, this document provides biographical information on several Moravian composers who lived and worked in North Carolina, as well as a compilation of selected works for solo soprano. As a secondary goal, the paper also highlights the contributions of several women both performers and composers, who helped shape the musical atmosphere of Moravian communities.

Composers explored in this work, are husband and wife duo composer Johann Friedrich Peter (1746-1813), and soprano Catharina Leinbach Peter (1755-1830). Next will be the life of Amelia Van Vleck (1835-1929), a career music educator to girls at Salem College and Salem Academy, and composer of works for bands, songs, and solo piano works. Finally, the paper will examine the life and work of Bessie Whittington Pfohl (1881-1971), a hymn arranger, who, alongside her minister husband, served at Home Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, NC as an organist and choir director for 18 years.

Rights

© 2026, Laura Kay Hutchins

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