Emily Mutter Austin

Emily Mutter Austin was a First Violinist in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Austin was taught violin by her father, George Mutter, and went on to teach many students herself. George Mutter owned a shoe repair store on South Michigan Ave, Howell, Michigan ₁. Austin graduated from Howell High School in 1927, and up until that point had dazzled Howell audiences with concerts for years. She went on to study for two years under Jacques Gordon, the Concertmeister of the Chicago Orchestra ₂. 

Austin was at one point the head of the violin department at Eastern Michigan University, at which time she was married to James Adams. Austin later became an adjunct faculty member of the Wayne State University Music Department, along with her second husband, Carl Austin ₃. In 1972 she was invited to teach for the summer at Congress of Strings at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. Austin was the first woman in Southeast Michigan to be honored in this way, and an offer like this was only given to the most outstanding violinists in the country ₄.

1. Around the County. (1971, July 28). Livingston County Press.
2. Mrs. Adams to Play at Lansing Eastern. Daily Press & Argus archive from 1843-2023 - Daily Press & Argus Archive. (1937, April 21). Livingston County Press. 
3. Ceter Slates Hootenanny, Puts 2 Soloists in Symphony Program. (1964, January 24). Detroit Jewish News.; Fleming, P. (2010). Memories of My Beloved Teacher. Africlassical.
4. Emily Mutter Austin to Teach at USC Congress of Strings. (1972, June 28). Livingston County Press.