- Florence Birdwell
Florence Gillam Birdwell is an American
educator ,musician , andsinger , who has taughtmusical theater andopera singing to thousands ofOklahoma students over a five decade career, continuing today as professor emeritus.Born in
Arizona , Birdwell was raised inSanta Fe, New Mexico but studied voice under Inez Silberg atOklahoma City University , completing undergraduate and graduate degrees at that institution. After additional instruction, Birdwell returned to OCU where she joined the School of Music as professor of voice.Among other honors, Birdwell received the Governor's Arts Award in 1985 from Oklahoma governor
George Nigh , and has watched students likeKristin Chenoweth ,Kelli O'Hara ,Lara Teeter and 1981Miss America Susan Powell on the American Musical Stage. In 1990, OCU established the Florence Birdwell Vocal Scholarship Fund to honor the educator.In March, 2007, many of her students and fans honored Birdwell with "Starry Night," a musical tribute to her lengthy teaching career and a fund raising event to fund an endowed chair in Birdwell's name at the university.
References
* [http://www.okcu.edu/Music/faculty/fbirdwell.asp Official biography] at
Oklahoma City University website
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