Florence Birdwell

Florence Gillam Birdwell (December 31, 1924 – February 15, 2021[1]), sometimes referred to as Flo Birdwell, was an American educator, musician, and singer. She taught musical theater and opera singing for more than six decades. She served as a professor of voice at the Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University from 1946 to 2013, and afterwards periodically teaching masterclasses as a professor emeritus.

Life and career

She not only taught me to sing technically, but taught me to sing from the soul about what a song actually means.

Don't sing it if ya can't mean it!

— Kristin Chenoweth, [2]

Born Florence Gillam Hobin in Douglas, Arizona, Birdwell was the daughter of Warner and Grace (Gillam) Hobin.[1] She was raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Lawton, Oklahoma.[1] She studied voice under Inez Silberg at Oklahoma City University (OCU), where she earned undergraduate (1945[1]) and graduate degrees.[3] After additional instruction, Birdwell returned to OCU where she joined the voice faculty.[3]

Birdwell received the Governor's Arts Award in 1985 from Oklahoma governor George Nigh. In 1990, OCU established the Florence Birdwell Vocal Scholarship Fund in her honor. In 2004, she was honored as a Member Laureate of Sigma Alpha Iota, an international music fraternity for women.[4] In March 2007, "Starry Night," a musical tribute to her lengthy teaching career, was held as a fundraising event to fund an endowed chair in Birdwell's name at the university.[3][5][6]

Birdwell's students have included Kristin Chenoweth,[7] Kelli O'Hara,[7] Lara Teeter[3] and Miss America 1981 Susan Powell.[7]

References
  1. Richard Sandomir (February 25, 2021). Florence Birdwell, Singing Teacher to Broadway Stars, Dies at 96. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  2. Roberts, Michael J. (August 3, 2009). "Interview with Kristin Chenoweth". ChicagoPride.com. GoPride.com. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  3. "Famous Oklahoma City University Alumni Perform". The Campus Online. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: OCU Student Publications. February 11, 2007. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  4. "SAI Member Laureate". Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  5. di Molina, Tirso (March 31, 2007). "Report: Chenoweth and O'Hara in Oklahoma City!". BroadwayWorld.com. Wisdom Digital Media. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  6. Rogers, Rick (March 25, 2007). "Students to honor professor". The Oklahoman. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  7. Kellow, Brian (October 2010). "On the Beat". Opera News. New York City: Opera News Inc. 75 (4). Retrieved July 12, 2011.


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