Helen Hagan (1891-1964) was the first known African American woman in history to complete a degree at Yale University. Born on January 10, 1891, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Hagan began her journey as a musician at the age of nine, eventually working as a pianist and organist at the Connecticut congregational Dixwell Avenue Church of Christ, the oldest black church of that denomination in the United States. She received scholarships to study in Paris, beginning her career as a touring concert pianist. Her calling as an educator was as strong as her commitment as a performer.

When I was a student at the Yale School of Music in the late eighties, I also worked for the same church as an organist and choir conductor. I became interested in Mrs Hagan music around the 200 anniversary of Dixwell Church. After a search I found Natalie Tsasldarakis of the Ivory Duo Piano Ensemble of London, who sent me a copy of a two-pianos version for a Piano Concerto. It was the only remaining piece of her oeuvre. I orchestrated Hagan’s second piano (from the manuscript) The resulting symphonic piece traces its origins in the Romantic structures of composers from the second half of the nineteenth century. The first version of the piece was premiered in 2023, with Michelle Cann as soloist, and the New Haven Symphony under Alasdair Neale.

A complete and revised version of the Helen Hagan Piano Concerto in C was completed in May of 2025.