DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987 | 1980-12-02 ""Opera wasn't first choice for Estes""

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Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987

1980-12-02 ""Opera wasn't first choice for Estes""

The Cedar Rapids Gazette: Tues., Dec. 2, 1980

Opera wasn't first choice for Estes

By Christie Wallace
Gazette education writer

Education

"Opera is not as complicated as many times we think it is," Simon Estes told a theater full of Cedar Rapids students Monday morning.
"it's like going to a movie," said the tall, solid looking bass-baritone. "Except, we hope it is a little more enjoyable."
The singing voice is "more interesting" than the speaking voice, said the Centerville, Iowa, native who gave up piano lessons in favor of marbles as a youngster.
Estes, 42, didn't immediately leap into a music career after being turned down for the University of Iowa choir, either.
Instead, he switched majors from pre-medicine to theology and then to social psychology before a professor with a more appreciative ear encouraged him to pursue opera studies. After graduating from the university, Estes earned a scholarship to study at the Julliard School.
Later, he was to win the Munich International Vocal Competition and the first International Tchaikovsky Vocal Competition in Moscow.
"What is opera?" Estes recalled asking Iowa Professor Charles Kellis as a student whose efforts had earlier been concentrated on football, baseball and basketball.
Monday morning, some 275 Cedar Rapids students got answers to that question in a special session with the singer, who will also perform a benefit for university music students at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Estes' voice filled the Washington High School Little Theater with the words of "Without a Song" before he discussed his unexpected twist to an operatic career. Minority, vocal music and gifted and talented students from the Cedar Rapids Community Schools were in attendance.
The black opera star, who recently joined the Metropolitan Opera, was introduced by a Washington instructor as an "unbelievable guest." But before the end of the hour question-and-answer session Monday, students were talking with him like a believable friend.
"No question is stupid," Estes began, encouraging students and staff members to ask whatever they wanted. "Don't be embarrassed or shy," he instructed, "or you simply won't make it. It's a very aggressive world out there."
One boy asked the opera star what was the "hardest" thing he had to give up to become a singer.
"A lot of fun," Estes quickly responded.
"It has required a tremendous amount of dedication and sacrifice . . . While you are young, you have to make sure you're very disciplined and well prepared."
Then, he continued, "Some day you can stand up here."
Estes was also asked how he developed his self-confidence as a performer.
"I think each of us are born with certain talents," said the singer who qualified his own talent as a "gift from God."
Estes added the home atmosphere in which he grew up provided him with the "tranquility" that has been beneficial to him as a performer. His parents, for instance, discouraged him from reacting negatively to others' prejudices against black people.
"I never became bitter or militant," said the son of a coal minter and grandson of a slave.
"This led me to have an incredible amount of determination to never give up." In fact, being black was somewhat an "extra impetus," added Estes. "I took a handicap and turned it into something, I hope, very positive."
All individuals are "blessed" with talents, he repeated several times during the session. "We have to know what our abilities are . . . and not be afraid.
"We have to realize we are all human beings, and we can all make mistakes." In just about all circumstances of live, people don't need to be afraid if they are "adequately prepared," he said.
One black student, however, asked Estes why he had to sometimes change his skin color with makeup for an opera role. "It's more convincing," he replied. Estes related, too, how his flesh tone has put him in situations where he has had to swallow his pride. As one of a limited number of black opera singer,s he recalled the time he was overcautiously made up whiter than most white people.
But he put up with those kinds of experiences in order to help clear the way for other black performers.
Composers, after all, don't compose for skin colors. They compose for voices, he pointed out.
Several students queried Estes about smoking and drinking. They're common questions asked by youth who are looking for "guidance and direction," he later said while chatting with principals and instructors.
Smoking and drinking are "big no-nos" for opera singers, who fear eve a slight interruption of good health, such as the common cold.
Other students were curious about the 38 roles in which Estes had performed with great opera companies, symphonies and recitals throughout Europe, Canada, Australia and the United States. "I still probably have them all memorized," he said with a laugh. The operas, representing six different foreign languages, tend to stay in the memory bank of his so-called "computer" mind, because they are learned slowly, explained the performer.
Learning new languages and traveling worldwide are "added opportunities" of the opera singer, said Estes. They "stimulate our lives."
What's the best part of his work?
The answer to that question may seem "corny," Estes told the young girl who asked it, but the best is "sharing my talent with you."
Television cameras from a news cable television station in New York recorded Estes talk with Cedar Rapids students.

Gazette photo by Duane Crock
Simon Estes, opera singer and Iowa native, talks with Washington students Laura Heath and Cherokee French before a question-and-answer session with some 275 Cedar Rapids students at the high school.

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The Cedar Rapids Gazette: Tues., Dec. 2, 1980 Opera wasn't first choice for Estes By Christie Wallace Gazette education writer Education "Opera is not as complicated as many times we think it is," Simon Estes told a theater full of Cedar Rapids students Monday morning. "it's like going to a movie," said the tall, solid looking bass-baritone. "Except, we hope it is a little more enjoyable." The singing voice is "more interesting" than the speaking voice, said the Centerville, Iowa, native who gave up piano lessons in favor of marbles as a youngster. Estes, 42, didn't immediately leap into a music career after being turned down for the University of Iowa choir, either. Instead, he switched majors from pre-medicine to theology and then to social psychology before a professor with a more appreciative ear encouraged him to pursue opera studies. After graduating from the university, Estes earned a scholarship to study at the Julliard School. Later, he was to win the Munich International Vocal Competition and the first International Tchaikovsky Vocal Competition in Moscow. "What is opera?" Estes recalled asking Iowa Professor Charles Kellis as a student whose efforts had earlier been concentrated on football, baseball and basketball. Monday morning, some 275 Cedar Rapids students got answers to that question in a special session with the singer, who will also perform a benefit for university music students at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Estes' voice filled the Washington High School Little Theater with the words of "Without a Song" before he discussed his unexpected twist to an operatic career. Minority, vocal music and gifted and talented students from the Cedar Rapids Community Schools were in attendance. The black opera star, who recently joined the Metropolitan Opera, was introduced by a Washington instructor as an "unbelievable guest." But before the end of the hour question-and-answer session Monday, students were talking with him like a believable friend. "No question is stupid," Estes began, encouraging students and staff members to ask whatever they wanted. "Don't be embarrassed or shy," he instructed, "or you simply won't make it. It's a very aggressive world out there." One boy asked the opera star what was the "hardest" thing he had to give up to become a singer. "A lot of fun," Estes quickly responded. "It has required a tremendous amount of dedication and sacrifice . . . While you are young, you have to make sure you're very disciplined and well prepared." Then, he continued, "Some day you can stand up here." Estes was also asked how he developed his self-confidence as a performer. "I think each of us are born with certain talents," said the singer who qualified his own talent as a "gift from God." Estes added the home atmosphere in which he grew up provided him with the "tranquility" that has been beneficial to him as a performer. His parents, for instance, discouraged him from reacting negatively to others' prejudices against black people. "I never became bitter or militant," said the son of a coal minter and grandson of a slave. "This led me to have an incredible amount of determination to never give up." In fact, being black was somewhat an "extra impetus," added Estes. "I took a handicap and turned it into something, I hope, very positive." All individuals are "blessed" with talents, he repeated several times during the session. "We have to know what our abilities are . . . and not be afraid. "We have to realize we are all human beings, and we can all make mistakes." In just about all circumstances of live, people don't need to be afraid if they are "adequately prepared," he said. One black student, however, asked Estes why he had to sometimes change his skin color with makeup for an opera role. "It's more convincing," he replied. Estes related, too, how his flesh tone has put him in situations where he has had to swallow his pride. As one of a limited number of black opera singer,s he recalled the time he was overcautiously made up whiter than most white people. But he put up with those kinds of experiences in order to help clear the way for other black performers. Composers, after all, don't compose for skin colors. They compose for voices, he pointed out. Several students queried Estes about smoking and drinking. They're common questions asked by youth who are looking for "guidance and direction," he later said while chatting with principals and instructors. Smoking and drinking are "big no-nos" for opera singers, who fear eve a slight interruption of good health, such as the common cold. Other students were curious about the 38 roles in which Estes had performed with great opera companies, symphonies and recitals throughout Europe, Canada, Australia and the United States. "I still probably have them all memorized," he said with a laugh. The operas, representing six different foreign languages, tend to stay in the memory bank of his so-called "computer" mind, because they are learned slowly, explained the performer. Learning new languages and traveling worldwide are "added opportunities" of the opera singer, said Estes. They "stimulate our lives." What's the best part of his work? The answer to that question may seem "corny," Estes told the young girl who asked it, but the best is "sharing my talent with you." Television cameras from a news cable television station in New York recorded Estes talk with Cedar Rapids students. Gazette photo by Duane Crock Simon Estes, opera singer and Iowa native, talks with Washington students Laura Heath and Cherokee French before a question-and-answer session with some 275 Cedar Rapids students at the high school.