Lena Johnson McLin (b. 1928)

Lena Johnson McLin came from a musical family and grew up in the Chicago home of her uncle, Thomas A Dorsey. In 1951 she completed her B.Mus. degree in piano and violin at Spelman College, and won a scholarship to continue studies at the American Conservatory in Chicago. She taught music for many years in the Chicago public secondary schools, and organized and directed the pilot music program at Kenwood Academy High School. She is the author of a textbook, Pulse: A History of Music, has worked on educational films, and founded a small opera company, the McLin Ensemble. McLin's compositions include cantatas, masses, solo and choral arrangements of spirituals, anthems, art songs, rock operas, soul songs, works for piano and orchestra, and electronic music.