When Tomoko started teaching at the San Francisco Conservatory of
Music, there was only one other non-Caucasian faculty member: a Black woman Beulah
Forbes-Woodard, whose specialty was jazz music.
Born in Ellensburg (in central Washington state), Beulah Forbes grew up
in a musical family. Her father played ragtime music for silent films, and all
of Beulah’s siblings worked in music or the theater.
Beulah studied classical music at the Conservatory, and was their first
African American graduate. Upon her graduation, Beulah was asked to join the
Conservatory as a teacher, thus becoming the Conservatory’s first Black faculty
member. When she retired from the Conservatory after teaching there for almost
fifty years, the Conservatory awarded her a doctorate of music. She also taught
at the University of San Francisco and Lone Mountain College.
An accomplished pianist, she played professionally with well known musicians,
headlining performances in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Beulah also
performed the first jazz concert at the Conservatory, which led to jazz being
incorporated into the curriculum.
A friend recalled Beulah saying: “Music is my passion, teaching is my
heart, and performing is my thrill.” That sentiment could well be shared by
Tomoko.
