Mme. Florence Cole-Talbert, whose photograph is reproduced on the cover, one of Chicago’s favorite sopranos, recently won the Diamond Medal at the Chicago Musical College, having made the highest average in the graduating class. She is the first of her race to take part on the commencement program at the Chicago Musical College in the Vocal Department. She sang “Caro No Me” from Rigoletto, in Italian, accompanied by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Her singing was heartily received and endorsed by the leading music critics. The average student spends about four years in the Chicago Musical College: Mme. Talbert, however, took an examination that permitted her to enter the graduating class immediately, and she finished in one year. Mme. Talbert is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Cole, formerly of Detroit, Michigan, now residents of Los Angeles, Cal. As a child, she was well known as a dramatic reader, later, however, she began the study of the piano and taught instrumental music to help pay for her vocal instruction. She made her debut as a singer on the high school commencement program, being the first girl of her race to take part in a high school commencement program in the city of Los Angeles. After graduation from high school she made a thorough study of modern languages. As a member of the Hahn Concert Company she appeared on programs in many of the larger cities of the United States and Canada, and also has made many appearances in recital and devoted some time to teaching. Mme. Talbert was soloist at the last May Festival at Hampton Institute, after which she started on a recital tour of the country, accompanied by her husband. The latter is the son of ex-Secretary Talbert of Wilberforce, and is also well known as a musician. * * * * * During the past three years Mr. William Henry Hackney has brought before the music lovers of Chicago the very best musical and dramatic talent of the race, in recital. At these recitals only the compositions of colored musicians and poets are used, and every participant on the program is colored. On May 28th Mr. Hackney presented R. Nathaniel Dett, head of the Music Department of Hampton Institute, who played a number of his own compositions, which were well rendered and received with much enthusiasm. Chicago’s favorite dramatic reader, Mrs. De Witt Smith, was at her best on this occasion, rendering twelve numbers from Dunbar in a manner that held her audience spellbound. Mr. Hackney, himself, has spent many years in study under the best of vocal instructors, and possesses a rare and well trained tenor voice. He sang several of Harry T. Burleigh’s compositions, and also three numbers by Miss Nora Lena James, accompanied by Miss James herself. His rendition of the “Grey Wolf” by Burleigh was particularly commendable.