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{{Infobox musical artist
'''Sylvia Olden Lee''' (29 June 1917 - 10 April 2004) was a renowned vocal coach and accompanist, and the first [[African-American]] to be employed by the [[Metropolitan Opera]]. She was a master of all aspects of [[European classical music]] as well as the [[Spiritual (music)|Negro Spiritual]].
| name = Sylvia Olden Lee
| image = Photo of Sylvia Olden Lee.jpg
| birth_place = [[Meridian, Mississippi]], U.S.
| birth_date = June 29, 1917
| death_place = [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date = April 10, 2004 (aged 86)
| occupation = Vocal coach, accompanist
| genre = European Classical Music, Negro Spirituals
| past_member_of = Metropolitan Opera
⚫
}}


'''Sylvia Olden Lee''' (June 29, 1917 – April 10, 2004)<ref name="AfriClassical">{{cite web |title=Cynthia Cozette Lee: Black Classical Firsts Honored in April: Day 16 – Sylvia Olden Lee, Acclaimed Vocal Coach, Pianist and Music Educator |url=https://africlassical.blogspot.com/2021/04/cynthia-cozette-lee-black-classical.html |website=AfriClassical |access-date=5 February 2024 |date=18 April 2021}}</ref> was an American vocal coach and accompanist. She was the first [[African-American]] to be employed by the [[Metropolitan Opera]]. Her fields of expertise were [[European classical music]] and [[Spiritual (music)|Negro spiritual]]s.
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Lee was born into the very musical Olden family in [[Meridian, Mississippi]]. Her father, James Clarence Olden, was a member of the [[Jubilee quartet|Fisk Quartet]], which included [[Roland Hayes]]. She studied piano and organ at [[Howard University]] and [[Oberlin Conservatory]].

==Biography==
⚫
Lee was born in [[Meridian, Mississippi]]. Her father, James Clarence Olden, was a member of the [[Jubilee quartet|Fisk Quartet]], which included [[Roland Hayes]]. She studied piano and organ at [[Howard University]] and [[Oberlin Conservatory]].<ref name="Oberlin College Archives">{{cite web |title=Lee, Sylvia Olden (1917-2004) |url=https://oberlinarchives.libraryhost.com/?p=creators/creator&id=885 |website=Oberlin College Archives |access-date=5 February 2024}}</ref>


Among the highlights of her career:
Among the highlights of her career:
* She was invited to play at the [[White House]] for the inauguration of [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]] (1933).<ref name="Johnson">{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Lena |title=Carnegie Hall to celebrate 100th birthday of Sylvia Olden Lee |url=https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2017/06/29/carnegie-hall-celebrate-100th-birthday-sylvia-olde/ |website=New York Amsterdam News |access-date=5 February 2024 |date=29 June 2017}}</ref>
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* In 1942, she toured with [[Paul Robeson]].<ref name="Oberlin College Archives"/>
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* In 1954, after being hired as vocal coach for the Metropolitan Opera, she was the impetus for the historic invitation to [[African-American]] [[contralto]] [[Marian Anderson]] to perform in [[Giuseppe Verdi|Giuseppe Verdi's]] ''[[Un ballo in maschera|Un Ballo in Maschera]].''<ref name="Foundation For The Revival of Classical Culture">{{cite web |title=Carnegie Tribute To Sylvia Olden Lee 06/17 |url=https://www.ffrcc.org/carnegie-2017-concert |website=Foundation For The Revival of Classical Culture |access-date=5 February 2024}}</ref>
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* In 1956, she began studies with famed German [[baritone]] [[Gerhard Huesch]].


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Lee taught at a number of universities, including the [[Curtis Institute of Music]].
* She was invited to play at the [[White House]] for the inauguration of [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]] (1933).


Lee's brother was the prominent African-American [[graphic designer]] [[Georg Olden (graphic designer)|Georg Olden]]. In 2017, Lee was commemorated in a concert at Carnegie Hall, sponsored by the Foundation for the Revival of Classical Culture.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tribute to Sylvia OIden Lee |url=https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2017/06/29/TRIBUTE-TO-SYLVIA-OLDEN-LEE-MASTER-MUSICIAN-AND-TEACHER-0730PM |website=Carnegie Hall |accessdate=23 September 2018}}</ref>
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* In 1942 she toured with [[Paul Robeson]].


==References==
⚫
* In 1954, after being hired as vocal coach for the Metropolitan Opera, she was the impetus for the historic invitation to [[African-American]] [[contralto]] [[Marian Anderson]] to perform in [[Giuseppe Verdi|Giuseppe Verdi's]] ''Un Ballo in Maschera.''
<references />

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* In 1956 she began studies with famed German [[tenor]] [[Gerhard Huesch]].

*She was friends with [[Nation of Islam]] leader, [[Louis Farrakhan]], who she encouraged to return to violin playing.

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Olden Lee taught at a number of universities, including the [[Curtis Institute of Music]].

Her brother was the prominent African-American [[graphic designer]] [[Cbs#Logos_and_slogans|Georg Olden]].


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[https://archive.schillerinstitute.com/educ/hist/2017/0630-sylvia_lee-tribute/slt.html Tribute to Sylvia Olden Lee Master Musician and Teacher] Schiller Institute
* [http://www.mariananderson.org/documents/Sylvia_Olden.php Obituary]
* [http://www.schillerinstitute.org/biographys/sylvia/syliva_mem.html Celebration of Her Life]


{{Authority control}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->

| NAME = Olden Lee, Sylvia
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Sylvia Olden}}
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 29 June 1917
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 10 April 2004
| PLACE OF DEATH =
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}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Olden Lee, Sylvia}}
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:African American musicians]]
[[Category:Musicians from Meridian, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Howard University alumni]]
[[Category:Howard University alumni]]
[[Category:Oberlin College alumni]]
[[Category:Oberlin College alumni]]
[[Category:Vocal coaches]]
[[Category:American vocal coaches]]
[[Category:20th-century American musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American musicians]]

Latest revision as of 04:46, 31 July 2024

Sylvia Olden Lee
Background information
BornJune 29, 1917
Meridian, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedApril 10, 2004 (aged 86)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
GenresEuropean Classical Music, Negro Spirituals
Occupation(s)Vocal coach, accompanist
Formerly ofMetropolitan Opera

Sylvia Olden Lee (June 29, 1917 – April 10, 2004)[1] was an American vocal coach and accompanist. She was the first African-American to be employed by the Metropolitan Opera. Her fields of expertise were European classical music and Negro spirituals.

Biography

[edit]

Lee was born in Meridian, Mississippi. Her father, James Clarence Olden, was a member of the Fisk Quartet, which included Roland Hayes. She studied piano and organ at Howard University and Oberlin Conservatory.[2]

Among the highlights of her career:

Lee taught at a number of universities, including the Curtis Institute of Music.

Lee's brother was the prominent African-American graphic designer Georg Olden. In 2017, Lee was commemorated in a concert at Carnegie Hall, sponsored by the Foundation for the Revival of Classical Culture.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Cynthia Cozette Lee: Black Classical Firsts Honored in April: Day 16 – Sylvia Olden Lee, Acclaimed Vocal Coach, Pianist and Music Educator". AfriClassical. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Lee, Sylvia Olden (1917-2004)". Oberlin College Archives. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  3. ^ Johnson, Lena (29 June 2017). "Carnegie Hall to celebrate 100th birthday of Sylvia Olden Lee". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Carnegie Tribute To Sylvia Olden Lee 06/17". Foundation For The Revival of Classical Culture. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Tribute to Sylvia OIden Lee". Carnegie Hall. Retrieved 23 September 2018.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Sylvia Olden Lee & Elizabeth Nash. The Memoirs of Sylvia Olden Lee: Premier African-American Vocal Coach. Edwin Mellen Press, 2001.
[edit]
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