Yvette Devereaux

Yvette Devereaux was the first African American woman to conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic.She was also the first African American woman to attain a conductor's degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music.Honored by the city of Los Angeles in February 2007 [http://www.colapublib.org/bhm/selected_images00.html Living Legends] .

In 1993, Yvette founded the Progressive Symphony in Los Angeles, promoting the realization nationwide that the basis of music and the identity of musicians on the West Coast, particularly Southern California, is not simply with the "entertainment industry" but comprises an earnest commitment to master, perform, and appreciate serious classical and contemporary repertoire.

Deveruaux also explored the progressive rock genre with significant contributions to K2 "Book of the Dead" and also performed with John Miner and Art Rock Circus in the Los Angeles performances of the Rock Opera Heavens Cafe.