Bruce,

Thank you for asking.  Sophia and Billy graduated together at Westinghouse in the Class of 1934. Sophia was the first black valedictorian of Westinghouse at age 15.  Fanetta was to be the 2nd black valedictorian of the class of 1936 at age 15 but it was denied to her at the time because of racial skullduggery on the part of Dr. Kisler, the Principal who extorted young Carl McVicker, Sr.  into falsifying her music grade to keep his job.  As you know the honor was recently restored to Fannetta posthumously.

Billy was the 1st pianist in the orchestra and Fannetta shared the piano bench as 2nd pianist at age 13 in the senior orchestra as she was a child prodigy herself.  She always told me how gracious Billy was to her during those years.  Fannetta was the senior piano student at the Dawson School of Music and became the accompanist for the National Negro Opera Company.  During her early years she had the opportunity to play for W.C. Handy at Forbes Field and on another occasion she accompanied Marian Anderson in concert. That was during the early 40s among the many benefit concerts Mdme. Dawson presented to raise money for the NNOC.  Shortly after Mdmme Dawson moved to Washingto, DC, Fannetta opened her own piano school in her home at 7301 Monticello Street which soon added ballet, toe and tap lessons in her basement studio while she taught piano piano in her dining room on a baby grand.  We nieces and nephews were all students of hers in one way  or another.  she held recitals annually in the Westinghouse High auditorium and they were always sold out performances.  I recall the Yvonne Jones was the main dance instructor.

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