Angelene Collins Rasmussen

She was born Angelene Collins in Dallas, Texas, but spent most of her childhood in Oklahoma.[5] After studying viola throughout her childhood, she began taking voice lessons as a high school senior.[5] She received a scholarship to study music at Oklahoma College for Women, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Voice in 1943.[5] She then received a fellowship to study at the Juilliard School of Music with Francis Rogers, and she graduated with a Masters of Music degree.[5] She was represented by the National Music League, which booked her in recitals and concert appearances around the United States.[3] In 1950, she won the Walter W. Naumburg competition; she was the first vocalist in five years to receive the award.[6] She then toured as an assisting artist with Lauritz Melchior.[7][8][9] She sang in the premiere performance of Lois Albright's opera, Hopitu (Hopi people), based on Hopi chants, which premiered February 16, 1955 at Carnegie Hall.[10] In later life, she was a judge for Metropolitan Opera auditions.[9]

On May 25, 1958, she married Lawrence Rasmussen, head of the music department at Adelphi University.[7] Their son, Lauritz John Albert, was born in 1964.[11]