Английская Википедия:Florence Birdwell
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Use mdy dates Florence Gillam Birdwell (September 3, 1924 – February 15, 2021),[1] sometimes referred to as Flo Birdwell, was an American educator, musician, and singer. She taught musical theater and opera singing for more than six decades. She served as a professor of voice at the Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University from 1946 to 2013, and afterwards periodically teaching master classes as a professor emerita.
In 2024, the National Association of Teachers of Singers honored Birdwell's career and contributions by naming the first prize of its annual National Musical Theatre Competition "The Florence Birdwell Award." The competition, held in New York City and featuring O'Hara as honorary host, took place on Jan. 8, 2024.[2]
Life and career
Born Florence Gillam Hobin in Douglas, Arizona, Birdwell was the daughter of Warner and Grace (Gillam) Hobin.[1] She was raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Lawton, Oklahoma.[1] She studied voice under Inez Silberg at Oklahoma City University (OCU), where she earned undergraduate (1945)[1] and graduate degrees.[3] After additional instruction, Birdwell returned to OCU where she joined the voice faculty.[3]
Upon her death in 2021 at the age of 96, The New York Times noted that during her 67 years on as an OCU faculty member, she established "herself as a dramatic, no-nonsense mentor. She helped aspiring musical theater and opera singers unlock the mysteries of captivating an audience, but she could also make her students weep with her candid feedback on their progress."[4]
Birdwell received the state's highest arts honor, the Governor's Arts Award in 1985 from Oklahoma Governor George Nigh. In 1990, OCU established the Florence Birdwell Vocal Scholarship Fund in her honor. In 2004, she was recognized as a Member Laureate of Sigma Alpha Iota, an international music fraternity for women.[5] In March 2007, Starry Night, a musical tribute to her lengthy teaching career, was held as a fundraising event to fund an endowed chair in Birdwell's name at the university.[3][6][7]
Birdwell's students have included Kristin Chenoweth,[8] Kelli O'Hara,[8] Lara Teeter[3] and Miss America 1981 Susan Powell.[8]
References
External links
- Official biography at Oklahoma City University websiteШаблон:Dead link
- Video of interview with Birdwell, The OklahomanШаблон:Dead link
Шаблон:Oklahoma-stub Шаблон:Opera-bio-stub
- Английская Википедия
- 1924 births
- 2021 deaths
- Voice teachers
- Musicians from Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Oklahoma City University alumni
- Oklahoma City University faculty
- Sigma Alpha Iota
- 20th-century American educators
- 20th-century American women educators
- 21st-century American educators
- 21st-century American women educators
- Place of birth missing
- Place of death missing
- American women academics
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