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Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987
""Native Iowa baritone plans benefit""
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Kyle Winter Rhetoric- Diann Rozsa Quad-Citian music Native iowa baritone plans benefit Nov.-80' Bass-baritone Simon Estes, a native of Centerville, Iowa, will appear as soloist with the University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of James Dixon, in a special benefit concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 in Hancher Auditorium, Iowa City.Estes will sing arias by Mozart, Verdi and Wagner. Proceeds from the benefit will go to the encouragement of potential musical talent at the university. The Concert also commemorates a special relationship between Estes and the university's school of music, according to Marilyn F. Somville, who recently assumed the postion as director of the school of music. Back in 1963 when Estes was an undergraduate at Iowa, his voice teacher, Charles Kelis, recognized the young black's talent and arranged a benefit recital, raising only $267, but enough to send the young singer to New York City for an audition at the Julliard School of Music. The rest is history. After Completing high school in Centerville, Estes attended junior college in Ottumwa, and then entered the University of Iowa. Throughout his secondary school days, the robust Estes had starred in sports- football, basketball and baseball. Although a top athlete, Estes was orientated in music. From his early childhood, his mother encouraged him and his sister to learn gospel music as she played the family's upright piano. At junior college, as his voice changed, he made a decision to froget music and concentrate on medical studies. But, after moving to Iowa City, Estes found himself back in music, joining the Old Gold Singers. That is where Prof. Kellis heard his potential. Kellis began coaching Estes five hours a day, five days a week, and after a year, Kellis was determined to send the young Black to the Julliard competitions. Money was needed. The sparsely-attended benefit did raise $267, enough to finance the journey to a great future in opera. In the Big Apple, he was a winner. One year later, the native Iowan took first prize at the International competition in Munich, West Germany. Since then, he has appeared in the world's leading opera houses, from La Scala in Milan, Itlay to Bayreuth in West Germany to Lyric Opera in Chicago to the Royal Opera of London in England. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in Tchaikovsky's "Prince Onegin" in November 1979. He has sung more than 80 roles with opera companies on four continents and has appeared as soloist with the world's leading symphony orchestras under internationally renowned conductors. The Dec. 3 concert in Iowa City will be his fifth special appearance on campus, but his first as soloist with the University Symphony under conductor Dixon. Some critical reviews include: "Perfection!" (Chicago Trubune), "Unprecedented beautiful sound - the highest nobility of expression" (Die Berlin Tagespiegel), "The beauty of velvet and the strength of steel," (Italian press service) and "He left the audience yelling, bravo-ing and stomping for more" (Sydney, Australia press). The Dec. 3 concert will be Estes' second major benefit for potential vocal talent at the University. Two years ago, the bass-baritone sang one of the finest versions of the National Anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," at an Iowa Homecoming football game, drawing a long standing ovation. at the time, someone nearby in the crowded stadium shouted, "Let him sing it every year." And, That's the magic of Simon Estes, who can convert a football fan into a music lover. -Charles H. Sanders
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Kyle Winter Rhetoric- Diann Rozsa Quad-Citian music Native iowa baritone plans benefit Nov.-80' Bass-baritone Simon Estes, a native of Centerville, Iowa, will appear as soloist with the University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of James Dixon, in a special benefit concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 in Hancher Auditorium, Iowa City.Estes will sing arias by Mozart, Verdi and Wagner. Proceeds from the benefit will go to the encouragement of potential musical talent at the university. The Concert also commemorates a special relationship between Estes and the university's school of music, according to Marilyn F. Somville, who recently assumed the postion as director of the school of music. Back in 1963 when Estes was an undergraduate at Iowa, his voice teacher, Charles Kelis, recognized the young black's talent and arranged a benefit recital, raising only $267, but enough to send the young singer to New York City for an audition at the Julliard School of Music. The rest is history. After Completing high school in Centerville, Estes attended junior college in Ottumwa, and then entered the University of Iowa. Throughout his secondary school days, the robust Estes had starred in sports- football, basketball and baseball. Although a top athlete, Estes was orientated in music. From his early childhood, his mother encouraged him and his sister to learn gospel music as she played the family's upright piano. At junior college, as his voice changed, he made a decision to froget music and concentrate on medical studies. But, after moving to Iowa City, Estes found himself back in music, joining the Old Gold Singers. That is where Prof. Kellis heard his potential. Kellis began coaching Estes five hours a day, five days a week, and after a year, Kellis was determined to send the young Black to the Julliard competitions. Money was needed. The sparsely-attended benefit did raise $267, enough to finance the journey to a great future in opera. In the Big Apple, he was a winner. One year later, the native Iowan took first prize at the International competition in Munich, West Germany. Since then, he has appeared in the world's leading opera houses, from La Scala in Milan, Itlay to Bayreuth in West Germany to Lyric Opera in Chicago to the Royal Opera of London in England. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in Tchaikovsky's "Prince Onegin" in November 1979. He has sung more than 80 roles with opera companies on four continents and has appeared as soloist with the world's leading symphony orchestras under internationally renowned conductors. The Dec. 3 concert in Iowa City will be his fifth special appearance on campus, but his first as soloist with the University Symphony under conductor Dixon. Some critical reviews include: "Perfection!" (Chicago Trubune), "Unprecedented beautiful sound - the highest nobility of expression" (Die Berlin Tagespiegel), "The beauty of velvet and the strength of steel," (Italian press service) and "He left the audience yelling, bravo-ing and stomping for more" (Sydney, Australia press). The Dec. 3 concert will be Estes' second major benefit for potential vocal talent at the University. Two years ago, the bass-baritone sang one of the finest versions of the National Anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," at an Iowa Homecoming football game, drawing a long standing ovation. at the time, someone nearby in the crowded stadium shouted, "Let him sing it every year." And, That's the magic of Simon Estes, who can convert a football fan into a music lover. -Charles H. Sanders
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