DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987 | 1982-10-10 ""Opera singer gets hero's homecoming""

Transcribe
Translate

Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987

1982-10-10 ""Opera singer gets hero's homecoming""

The Cedar Rapids Gazette: Sun., Oct. 10, 1982  15A

Opera singer gets hero's homecoming

CENTERVILLE, Iowa (UPI) -- Internationally acclaimed opera singer Simon Estes brought down the house at his former high school's Homecoming activities with his rendition of "Old Man River" and the national anthem Friday.
Estes, a baritone who made a brilliant debut in the Metropolian Opera last year, returned home for the 25th year reunion festivities and to watch the Big Reds battle Albia in the Homecoming football game Friday night.
"It has a special significance for him because he participated in athletics, including football, when he was in high school here," said Centerville Schools Superintendent Jack Hoenshel.
Estes won varsity letters in football, basketball, track and baseball at Centerville High before he launched his singing career in 1966 by winning Moscow's Tchaikovsky International Competition.
The highlight of his visit will be concert this afternoon at the high school, where most of the 6,500 townspeople will hear him sing professionally for the first time.
Hoenshel said Estes missed his own 25th reunion last year because he was on tour with one of the many U.S. and European opera companies he has appeared with, but the singer made a point of returning for this year's festivities.
Estes met with elementary school children early Friday before taking a mid-morning coffee break with old friends and Centerville Mayor Don Scott, who has proclaimed Saturday and Sunday "Simon Estes Days."
Throughout the day, Estes stressed the important role his boyhood in the rural southeastern Iowa town played in his career.
After speaking at the Homecoming chapel and attending an alumni reception, the opera star took time to roam the halls of his alma mater and reminisce with friends and acquaintances before the big game.
On Saturday, Estes was scheduled to attend a public reception at the country club, where $5 per person proceeds would go toward a Simon Estes Scholarship Fund for talented musicians.
Estes contributed $700 to start the fund and the concert committee has promised to match that figure with revenue from the Sunday concert. Fewer than 100 tickets remained on Sale for the performance Friday.

[[Photo caption]]
Simon
Estes

Visits
Centerville

Saving...

The Cedar Rapids Gazette: Sun., Oct. 10, 1982 15A Opera singer gets hero's homecoming CENTERVILLE, Iowa (UPI) -- Internationally acclaimed opera singer Simon Estes brought down the house at his former high school's Homecoming activities with his rendition of "Old Man River" and the national anthem Friday. Estes, a baritone who made a brilliant debut in the Metropolian Opera last year, returned home for the 25th year reunion festivities and to watch the Big Reds battle Albia in the Homecoming football game Friday night. "It has a special significance for him because he participated in athletics, including football, when he was in high school here," said Centerville Schools Superintendent Jack Hoenshel. Estes won varsity letters in football, basketball, track and baseball at Centerville High before he launched his singing career in 1966 by winning Moscow's Tchaikovsky International Competition. The highlight of his visit will be concert this afternoon at the high school, where most of the 6,500 townspeople will hear him sing professionally for the first time. Hoenshel said Estes missed his own 25th reunion last year because he was on tour with one of the many U.S. and European opera companies he has appeared with, but the singer made a point of returning for this year's festivities. Estes met with elementary school children early Friday before taking a mid-morning coffee break with old friends and Centerville Mayor Don Scott, who has proclaimed Saturday and Sunday "Simon Estes Days." Throughout the day, Estes stressed the important role his boyhood in the rural southeastern Iowa town played in his career. After speaking at the Homecoming chapel and attending an alumni reception, the opera star took time to roam the halls of his alma mater and reminisce with friends and acquaintances before the big game. On Saturday, Estes was scheduled to attend a public reception at the country club, where $5 per person proceeds would go toward a Simon Estes Scholarship Fund for talented musicians. Estes contributed $700 to start the fund and the concert committee has promised to match that figure with revenue from the Sunday concert. Fewer than 100 tickets remained on Sale for the performance Friday. [[Photo caption]] Simon Estes Visits Centerville

Opera singer gets hero's homecoming
CENTERVILLE, Iowa (UPI)- Internationally acclaimed opera singer Simon Estates brought down the house at his former high school's Homecoming activities with his rendition of "Old Man River" and the national anthem Friday.
Estes, a baritone who made a brilliant debut in the Metropolitan Opera last year, returned home for the 25th year reunion festivities and to watch the Big Reds battle Albia in the Homecoming football game Friday night.
"It has a special significance for him because he participated in athletics, including football, when he was in high school here," said Centerville Schools Superintendent Jack Hoenshel.
Estes won varsity letters in football, basketball, track and baseball at Centerville high before he launched his singing career in 1966 by winning Moscow's Tchaikovsky International Competition.
The highlight of his visit will be concert this afternoon at the high school, where most of the 6,500 townspeople will hear him sing professionally for the first time. Hoenshel said Estes missed his own 25th reunion last year because he was on tour with one of the many U.S and European opera companies he has appeared with, but the singer made a point of returning for this years festivities.
Estes met with elementary school children early Friday before taking a mid-morning coffee break with old friends and Centerville Mayor Don Scott, who has proclaimed Saturday and Sunday "Simon Estes Days."
Thought the day, Estes stressed the important role his boyhood in the rural southeastern Iowa town played in his career.
After speaking at the Homecoming chapel and attending an alumni reception, the opera star took time to roam the halls of his alma mater and reminisce with friends and acquaintances before the big game. 
On Saturday, Estes was scheduled to attend a public reception at the country club, where the $5 per person proceeds would go toward a Simon Estes Scholarship Fund for talented musicians.
Estes contributed $700 to start the fund and the concert committee has promised to match that figure with revenue from the Sunday concert. Fewer than 100 tickets remained on sale for the performance Friday.