Frederick Caldecott Slee (1870-1954), was a successful corporate lawyer in Buffalo, N.Y. His two passions in life were sailing and Beethoven. While at Harvard pursuing his law degree, Mr.Slee also studied music theory and composition. He later furthered his music education at the Sorbonne, in Paris. Mr. Slee and his wife Alice were devoted fans of chamber music and the music of Beethoven, especially the string quartets. They built a special music room in their Saybrook Place home with a raised platform for performers. The room was used most Sundays for recitals with friends. Mr. Slee was an accomplished musician, playing viola, violin, piano and the cello.
Alice Slee, née McDonald, was born August 20, 1875 in East Aurora, NY. She moved to Buffalo to attend business school. It was there that Alice met and married Frederick Slee in 1905. Mrs. Slee was active in many worthy causes, serving the Red Cross through the two World Wars. Mrs. Slee was honored as one of Western New York's outstanding citizens by the Buffalo News in 1952. Mrs. Slee was also devoted to the music of Beethoven and sponsored concerts for all of Buffalo to enjoy. Mrs. Slee passed away exactly two years after her husband on May 19, 1956.
The Slee Bequest at the University at Buffalo provides for the annual performance of all of Beethoven's string quartets in an order prescribed by Frederick Slee. The concert series dates to 1955 and has featured some of the most renowned string quartets, including the Budapest, Guarnieri, Juilliard, Cleveland, Tokyo, Emerson, and Concord quartets. The Music Department at The State University of Buffalo administers the Slee Bequest and the annual series of concerts are held in Slee Concert Hall located at the University. The endowment also funds the Slee professorship in the Music Department.
| June 2006 Music Library Staff musique@acsu.buffalo.edu http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/music/spcoll/slee/bio.html |
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