DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987 | 1987-11-22 ""The Best Advice I Ever Received""

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Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987

1987-11-22 ""The Best Advice I Ever Received""

The Best Advice I Ever Received

[[italics]]Today's interview on "The Best Advice I Ever Received" is with Simon Estes, the young Iowan who has become an internationally known opera singer. Estes is the son of Mrs. Ruth Estes of Des Moines.[[end italics]]

"THE best advice I've ever received came from Charles Kellis, my voice teacher at the University of Iowa, and Dr. Fred DuHart, my former roommate and fellow medical student. I owe them both a thank you for being an opera singer today.
"In 1959, while I was singing with the university's [[italics]]Old Gold Singers[[end italics]], Mr. Kellis advised me that I really had a voice to sing opera and suggested that I go to an all musical school. This advice resulted in a scholarship to the Julliard school of Music.
"I was a medical student at the time Dr. DuHart said 'Simon Estes ... DAD ... you've got to CHIRP! I've sat in audiences and watched the expressions on girls' faces while you're singing and I KNOW from that you've GOT TO CHIRP!'
"Looking back I know I would have been happy being a doctor, since I've always had the goal in life of making people feel better. However, I feel I'm accomplishing this goal through my music. As one of only two black men in major opera, I travel to Europe seven times a year. I consider myself kind of a good-will ambassador as I travel to foreign countries."

[[photo caption]]Simon Estes[[end caption]]

[[italics]](Photograph and interview by Jo Moore Stewart)[[end italics]]

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The Best Advice I Ever Received [[italics]]Today's interview on "The Best Advice I Ever Received" is with Simon Estes, the young Iowan who has become an internationally known opera singer. Estes is the son of Mrs. Ruth Estes of Des Moines.[[end italics]] "THE best advice I've ever received came from Charles Kellis, my voice teacher at the University of Iowa, and Dr. Fred DuHart, my former roommate and fellow medical student. I owe them both a thank you for being an opera singer today. "In 1959, while I was singing with the university's [[italics]]Old Gold Singers[[end italics]], Mr. Kellis advised me that I really had a voice to sing opera and suggested that I go to an all musical school. This advice resulted in a scholarship to the Julliard school of Music. "I was a medical student at the time Dr. DuHart said 'Simon Estes ... DAD ... you've got to CHIRP! I've sat in audiences and watched the expressions on girls' faces while you're singing and I KNOW from that you've GOT TO CHIRP!' "Looking back I know I would have been happy being a doctor, since I've always had the goal in life of making people feel better. However, I feel I'm accomplishing this goal through my music. As one of only two black men in major opera, I travel to Europe seven times a year. I consider myself kind of a good-will ambassador as I travel to foreign countries." [[photo caption]]Simon Estes[[end caption]] [[italics]](Photograph and interview by Jo Moore Stewart)[[end italics]]