Elayne Viola Jones was an American timpanist known for being the first African American woman principal player in a major American orchestra with the San Francisco Symphony in 1972. She was also known for her legal battle over racial and sexual discrimination after she was denied tenure. In 2019 Jones was also elected in the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame. Viola Jones was born in New York, the only child of immigrants Cecil and Ometa Jones from Barbados. Her mother was a pianist who never ... moreElayne Viola Jones was an American timpanist known for being the first African American woman principal player in a major American orchestra with the San Francisco Symphony in 1972. She was also known for her legal battle over racial and sexual discrimination after she was denied tenure. In 2019 Jones was also elected in the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame. Viola Jones was born in New York, the only child of immigrants Cecil and Ometa Jones from Barbados. Her mother was a pianist who never got any chance to pursue her career due to the colour of her skin. She began teaching her child piano at age 6. Due to her profound piano skills Jones was accepted into Music and Art High School graduating in 1945 with a scholarship to the Julliard School of Music. At Juilliard she became one of the protégés of the New York Philharmonic timpanist, Saul Goodman, graduating in 1949. After graduating, Joes had trouble finding employment due to the colour of her skin and gender however her mentor Goodman stepped in to help her thus in 1949 she became the first black person to play in an orchestra. Jones will be remembered as a lead to a generation of Black musicians in confronting the pervasive racism of the classical music industry.
