The Peabody Archives of the Arthur Friedheim Library contributed an important archival recording to StrikeWare’s BIMA ArtWalk, an online exhibit about the Baltimore Institute of Musical Arts on display through August 31. The Baltimore Institute of Musical Arts was a conservatory for Black students that was active in Baltimore from 1944 to 1954. The only known recording of BIMA students in performance is held on a 16” lacquer transcription disc in the Peabody Archives and was digitized for this exhibit. The recording, made on April 6, 1949, is of William Schuman’s Symphony for Strings. The ArtWalk exhibit also features Peabody dance accompanist Shodekeh discussing the history of BIMA and its home in Baltimore’s Upton Mansion.
