Afro-Cuban Violinist, Composer and Professor José Silvestre White
Jose Silvestre White (1835-1918) was born in Matansas, Cuba. In 1854, White gave his first concert performing themes from Rossini’s William Tell, and two of his own compositions, accompanied by Louis Moreau Gottschalk.
In 1855, he entered and studied music in Paris, France.
In 1856, he won the Grand Prize in violin from the Conservatory. By 1858 he began a tour of Europe, the Caribbean, South America, and Mexico.
After briefly returning to Cuba, White went back to Paris in 1861. White briefly took his place as a teacher at the Paris Conservatory. Immersed in the renowned music world of Paris, White gave four public performances that attracted
substantial attention and praise.
White was a member of Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire, and he created new chamber music groups such as Societe des Trois Anciens et Modernes with Paul de la Nux and Jules Lasserre and Societe des Musique de Chamber.
In 1875-1876 White was twice a guest soloist for the New York Philharmonic.
He also performed concerts with orchestras in Boston, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Between 1877 and 1889, he lived in Brazil and became the director of the Imperial Conservatory in Rio de Janeiro; he was the court composer of Emperor Pedro II.
In 1889 he returned to Paris where he taught violin, composed music, and performed concerts.
James E. Brunson
