Birth

:

October 28, 1920 in Dinuba, CA

Death

:

May 18, 2013 in Santa Rosa, CA

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

Claramae Turner was a renowned American contralto singer who made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. Born on October 28, 1920, in Dinuba, California, Turner grew up in a musical family. Her father was a Baptist minister who played the piano, and her mother was a singer. Turner's parents recognized her talent at an early age and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Turner began her formal music training at the age of 14 when she enrolled at the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music. She studied voice under the tutelage of renowned vocal coach, Lotte Lehmann. Turner's talent and hard work paid off when she won a scholarship to study at the Juilliard School in New York City. At Juilliard, Turner continued to hone her skills and was mentored by the legendary contralto, Marian Anderson. In 1946, Turner made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, playing the role of Maddalena in Verdi's Rigoletto. Her performance was well-received, and she quickly became a favorite among audiences and critics alike. Turner went on to perform in several other productions at the Metropolitan Opera, including Carmen, Aida, and Samson and Delilah. In addition to her work at the Metropolitan Opera, Turner also performed with several other opera companies, including the San Francisco Opera, the Chicago Lyric Opera, and the New York City Opera. She also appeared in several Broadway productions, including The Sound of Music and Carousel. Turner's talent and hard work were recognized with several awards and honors throughout her career. In 1955, she won the Marian Anderson Award, which is given to outstanding young singers. She was also awarded the National Association of Negro Musicians' Distinguished Achievement Award in 1960. In 1963, Turner was invited to perform at the White House for President John F. Kennedy and his guests. One of Turner's most memorable performances was her rendition of "America the Beautiful" at the opening of the 1964 World's Fair in New York City. Her powerful voice and emotional delivery of the song moved the audience to tears and earned her widespread acclaim. Turner retired from performing in 1979 but continued to teach voice at the University of Michigan School of Music until her death in 2013 at the age of 92. Throughout her career, Turner was known for her powerful voice, emotional delivery, and dedication to her craft. She was a trailblazer for African American women in the world of classical music and inspired generations of young singers to follow in her footsteps.

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