Dorothy MAYNOR was a soprano concert artist. She was graduated, in 1933, from Hampton Institute where she studied with R. Nathaniel DETT. She studied further at the Westminster Choir School in Princeton, New Jersey, then privately in New York with William KLAMROTH and John Alan HOUGHTON.

Conductor Serge KOUSSEVITSKY aided her career after she auditioned before him at the Berkshire Music Festival in Massachusetts. She made her debut in November 1929 at Town Hall in New York and soon after she made her recording debut.

Dorothy MAYNOR was one of the leading concert artists. She toured widely throughout the world, appearing with major symphony orchestras and giving recitals, where she used to include some negro spirituals.

She founded the Harlem School of Arts (New York).