historically black sorority, Talbert composed its national hymn. Critical acclaim and accolades Talbert was widely celebrated within the African American musical community for her talent, receiving titles such as "Queen of the Concert Stage." An example of the critical acclaim she received in the U.S. was when she performed in Houston in 1930 with well known local pianist, Ernestine Covington. Critics in the Informer wrote the following about her performance, "[it was] the greatest operatic soprano the race has ever produced" and called her "among the greatest singers the world has ever known." So loved was she in the Los Angeles community, she also gained the title of "Our Divine Florence." On June 25, 1953, the National Negro Opera Guild, founded by Mary Cardwell Dawson,—another celebrated opera singer—awarded Talbert with a Certificate of Merit, naming her "The First Lady of Grand Opera." Legacy Opera Memphis recently announced the McCleave Project. It includes the McCleave Fellowship for singers, directors, and coaches of color as a way to continue the legacy of Talbert. Further, through conversations, free showings of The Telephone, and other initiatives, it aims to start dialogues about how Opera Memphis can better engage with communities of color in Memphis and the mid-South to diversify their audience. References 1890 births 1961 deaths American operatic sopranos 20th-century African-American women singers 20th-century American women opera singers African-American women opera singers Roosevelt University alumni University of Southern California alumni Delta Sigma Theta members Singers from Detroit Classical musicians from Michigan