Adelaide Gescheidt

Mary Adelaide Gescheidt (February 16, 1877 – September 18, 1946) was an American voice teacher, writer, and clubwoman, based in New York City.

Adelaide Gescheidt
A white woman wearing a large brimmed black hat, and a dark dress with a square neckline
Adelaide Gescheidt, from a 1922 publication
Born
Mary Adelaide Gescheidt

February 16, 1877
Mount Vernon, New York
DiedSeptember 18, 1946 (aged 69)
New York City
Occupation(s)Voice teacher, clubwoman

Early life

Gescheidt was born in Mount Vernon, New York, the daughter of Albert F. Gescheidt and Mary Steurer Gescheidt.[1] Her father was a businessman; all her grandparents were born in Germany.

Career

Gescheidt, was a soprano singer in the early 20th century.[2] She injured her neck in a fall, ending her performing career.[3] After that, she was a vocal coach who worked with opera and concert singers from her studio at Carnegie Hall.[4][5] Her specialty, advertised as "Miller Vocal Art-Science",[6][7] involved training and rehabilitating speaking and singing voices damaged by injury, illness, or other defects,[8] in collaboration with throat specialist Frank E. Miller.[1] She wrote about her work in a pamphlet[9] that later became a book, Make Singing a Joy (1930, with a foreword by musicologist Sigmund Spaeth).[3] She emphasized that singing naturally, without excessive training or force, produces a pleasing sound and preserves the voice from strain.[10][11] Her notable students included actress Betty Blythe[12] and oratorio singer Richard Crooks.[13]

Gescheidt was active in the National Federation of Music Clubs, especially on a committee to promote quality music in film scores.[1][14]

Personal life

Gescheidt died in a hospital in New York City in 1946, at the age of 69.[1]

References

  1. "Mme. Adelaide Gescheidt; Voice Teacher Here for 35 Years Trained Concert Artists". The New York Times. 1946-09-20. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  2. "Twenty-Five Years Pastor". The Courier-News. 1909-05-28. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-07-03 via Newspapers.com.
  3. Gescheidt, Adelaide; Gescheidt, Adelaide (1930). Make singing a joy. Boston Public Library. New York : R. L. Huntzinger, Inc.
  4. "Extraordinary Showing for Miss Gescheidt". The Musical Leader. 45: 471. May 17, 1923.
  5. "Adelaide Gescheidt Resumes Work". Musical Courier. 81 (12): 17. 1920-09-16 via Internet Archive.
  6. "Miller Vocal Art-Science (advertisement)". Musical America. 22: 56. October 16, 1915.
  7. Gescheidt, Adelaide (September 12, 1918). "Singing and Breathing--Natural and Spontaneous". Musical Courier. 77: 28.
  8. "Gescheidt Expounds Art-Science Principles". Musical Courier. 80 (2): 54. 1920-01-08 via Internet Archive.
  9. "'Make Singing a Joy' Says Miss Gescheidt". Musical Leader. 45: 595. June 21, 1923.
  10. "Art of Singing Is Viewed as Normal and Natural Process by Adelaide Gescheidt". Musical Courier. 109: 29. 1934-10-06 via Internet Archive.
  11. "Voice Production Crux of Singer's Career, Says Teacher". Musical Courier. 125 (5): 13. 1942-03-05 via Internet Archive.
  12. "Betty Blythe to Sing in London". The Musical Leader. 45: 582. June 21, 1923.
  13. "Laurels for Young Artist". Musical Courier. 85: 63. December 7, 1922.
  14. "New Committee to be Headed by Mrs. Kelley". The Journal Herald. 1940-04-10. p. 6. Retrieved 2022-07-02 via Newspapers.com.
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