DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987 | 1980-11-29 Diversions: ""Simon Estes, He knows the way home."" Page 3

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Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987

1980-11-29 Diversions: ""Simon Estes, He knows the way home."" Page 3

His mother was naturally musical, and the family would regularly sing hymns at home. One day the minister of the Second Baptist Church heard a session and invited eight-year-old Simon to sing the following Sunday.
He kept on singing. Throughout high school, where he played football, basketball, high-jumped and pitched for the baseball team, he kept on singing.
Then in junior college, he decided he wanted to become a doctor, and Estes put music aside.
But music isn't easily shackled, and while Estes attended the University of Iowa, he began to sing again.
He became the first black member of the UI Old Gold Singers. He was singled out as a soloist. And Charles Kellis began teaching him. Kellis believed in Estes' talent. 
He received a full scholarship at Juilliard. Then he applied for a grant so he could take advantage of special opportunities in the numerous opera houses of Germany. Eventually he raised the money to travel to Berlin, where an audition was arranged for the Deutsche-Oper.
Again he was successful. He was immediately offered the part of Ramfis in Aida. He accepted and learned the part in 13 days, sang without an orchestral rehearsal, and was offered more leading roles.
The "music and gym" were paying off.
And they kept doing so.
In 1965, Simon Estes was a prize winner in the Munich International Competition and, in 1966, he won the Silver Medal in the Tchaikovsky Com-

What makes a man sing?
....Perhaps it is a combination of shackles and love.

P-C 11/29/80
p. 3 (of 5)

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His mother was naturally musical, and the family would regularly sing hymns at home. One day the minister of the Second Baptist Church heard a session and invited eight-year-old Simon to sing the following Sunday. He kept on singing. Throughout high school, where he played football, basketball, high-jumped and pitched for the baseball team, he kept on singing. Then in junior college, he decided he wanted to become a doctor, and Estes put music aside. But music isn't easily shackled, and while Estes attended the University of Iowa, he began to sing again. He became the first black member of the UI Old Gold Singers. He was singled out as a soloist. And Charles Kellis began teaching him. Kellis believed in Estes' talent. He received a full scholarship at Juilliard. Then he applied for a grant so he could take advantage of special opportunities in the numerous opera houses of Germany. Eventually he raised the money to travel to Berlin, where an audition was arranged for the Deutsche-Oper. Again he was successful. He was immediately offered the part of Ramfis in Aida. He accepted and learned the part in 13 days, sang without an orchestral rehearsal, and was offered more leading roles. The "music and gym" were paying off. And they kept doing so. In 1965, Simon Estes was a prize winner in the Munich International Competition and, in 1966, he won the Silver Medal in the Tchaikovsky Com- What makes a man sing? ....Perhaps it is a combination of shackles and love. P-C 11/29/80 p. 3 (of 5)