Thurlow Lieurance

American performer & awarded songwriter, Thurlow Lieurance was born near Oskaloosa, Iowa on March 21, 1878. He graduated with a Doctor of Music degree from the College of Music in Cincinnati in 1924, and between 1918 & 1927 he & made concert appearances with his wife Edna (Woolley) Lieurance. From 1927 to 1947 they lived in Wichita, Kansas, and were both faculty members and connected to the University of Wichita. His long list of awards include: in honor of the memory of Thurlow Lieurance and recognition in the Armed Forces by President John F. Kennedy; and recognition of achievement in music education, history, and composition by the University of Wichita Alumni Association. In 1931, he received a diploma in composition from the Ecoles D’Art, Americans in France, Conservatoire de Musique and a scholarship from the Theodore Presser Music Company for study at the Fontainebleau School of Music in France. In 1932, Thurlow became an honorary life member of the Kiwanis Club of Wichita and a member of the Musicians AFM of Wichita. In 1933, Thurlow received honors for musical research among American Indians from the American Scientific Research Society. In 1934, he received honors from the Wichita Chamber of Commerce for the premieres of the symphonic works, “Trails Southwest” and “The Conquistador,” and he named the Minisa Bridge at North High School in Wichita. In 1959, he received honors from the Chamber of Commerce of Boulder, Colorado and a symphonic program was dedicated to him. Thurlow also received honors at a dedication ceremony by the Minnesota Chambers of Commerce for Thurlow and Edna Lieurance as distinguished citizens of the state of Minnesota.