Inez Silberg

Inez Silberg, also known by her maiden name Inez Lunsford and as Inez Lunsford Silberg, (20 April 1908 - 24 April 1985) was an American voice teacher and soprano. The Oklahoman described her as an "internationally recognized voice coach and longtime Oklahoma City University voice professor".^[1] She was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1977. Many of her students had successful singing careers.^[2]

Life and career

Inez Scott Lunsford was born on 20 April 1908^[3] in Paris, Texas.^[4] She was educated at the Kansas City Conservatory of Music (KCCM; now part of the University of Missouri–Kansas City)^[1] where she studied singing with tenor Harold Van Duzee.^[5] Van Duzee had studied singing with Jean de Reszke in Paris and in New York City with Oscar Seagle before having a career on the New York stage. He was director of the KCCM at the time of his death in 1940.^[6] Inez earned both a Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the KCCM.^[5] After graduating from college she had an international career as a soprano in operas^[2][1] and in concerts with orchestras.^[4] In 1943 she married insurance agent Max Silberg.^[4]

In 1945 Silberg joined the voice faculty of Oklahoma City University.^[1][4] She taught at the university for many year; fifteen years of which were spent as the head of voice department at OCU.^[1] Some of her successful pupils included sopranos Leona Mitchell and Marquita Lister; mezzo-sopranos Gwendolyn Jones and Sheila Smith; baritone Stephen Dickson; and tenor Chris Merritt; many of whom were principal singers at the Metropolitan Opera.^[1][4] Soprano Leona Mitchell credited Silberg for assisting her in winning more than 30 vocal competitions while she was an OCU student.^[7]

Silberg was also the singing teacher of Florence Birdwell who became a famous voice teacher in her own right. Birdwell's pupils included Kristin Chenoweth and Kelli O'Hara.^[4]

Inez Silberg died on 24 April 1985 in Oklahoma City at the age of 77.^[1]