A Tribute to Teachers

FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU for electing me as the 33rd President of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. I am honored and humbled by all of you who have personally helped me, and contributed so much to our organization. This is no doubt the Ultima Thule in my career. I am also grateful to the many people who have influenced my life, especially my parents, teachers, friends, and people in my church. Although my parents did the greatest part, there is no doubt that my teachers provided my academic formation. As I think of all the teachers in my life, I remember a few who were truly outstanding and who especially encouraged me. In my hometown of Mission, Texas, Miss Verna Klapperich taught her piano students in a small travel trailer complete with spinet piano, blackboard, and cushioned seats on top of cabinets filled with graded music. Her room on wheels was parked two blocks from our school in order that the students could walk there for lessons during the day. A one hour theory class was required each week including worksheets, tests, and memorization. I still remember the day she told my mother I would be a good singer (something to do with cheek bones). Several of Miss Klapperich's students became teachers and professors of music. When I attended Austin College as a piano major, I sang in the college choir directed by Bruce Lunkley. Lunk inspired his students in a unique way-he did everything well. He sang, played piano accompaniments, taught singing, chaired the Department of Music, and when it was time for us to take a music education class, he taught it. Every year we had an opera or musical. Bruce had a big heart and a big laugh which kept us all going. He and his wife Jean thought nothing of inviting all the music students to their small home for a feast. The only problem was hearing what was said, because Bruce played a stack of opera records at full volume during those parties. We all loved this joyful man who loved NATS and contributed so much as president of NATS and later as president of the NATS Foundation. When I announced that I wanted to learn more about singing, Bruce insisted I learn a long list of arias and songs before he recommended me for graduate school study under the guidance of his own teacher, Professor Roy Schuessler. Soon I was off to the University of Minnesota and a very cold climate. Mr. Schuessler was much quieter than Mr. Lunkley. I quickly discovered that Mr. Schuessler was very kind, patient, and encouraging, but was very busy as chair of the School of Music. He said I needed time to develop and I needed to sing lots of literature. It was my privilege to delve into his vast library of song literature. Mr. Schuessler was definitely the right teacher for me at this time in my vocal development. My education continued at the University of Iowa. I was trying to decide who my voice teacher should be when I met Costanza Cuccaro, who said I should study with her teacher, Herald Stark. She was right. Everyone called him Prof, a term of respect and endearment. When I listened to his many students, I realized Prof was a great teacher. As we began our first lesson Prof said he liked my voice, but then he said that, if I didn't mind, he would like to start all over again with my technique. …