Edmund Dédé lived from 1827-1903. Born in New Orleans, his parents were free Creole people from the French West Indies. Dédé’s father was a band director and his son’s first music teacher. Edmund was a child prodigy on the violin, and later became a conductor like his father, as well as a composer who trained at the Paris Conservatory. Today’s Beautiful Music features Edmund Dédé’s Mephisto Masqué performed by the Northern Valley Youth Orchestra from their March 2022 concert. You can also use the link below to learn more about the life and career of this talented yet overlooked musician.