I first
met Beatrice Rippy in 1969 at the Third Street Music Settlement in New York
City. I was 14 years old and she was my first voice teacher.
Together with her husband, the noted pianist Carroll Hollister, she gave me
weekly lessons that would shape my musical life. Miss Rippy not only gave
me the best vocal instruction a young singer could wish for, she influenced my
life as a young woman.
She was a
captivating performer, with a rich voice and a powerful stage presence. See this article written in January 31, 1963 describing Miss Beatrice Rippy's peformance in a recital where she offers a "Musical Fusion of Negro and Jewish People." She was a winner of the 1959 Concert Artist Guild Award and had a distinguished career as a concert artist. She had the rare gift of being able to teach a young singer technique without
taking away the "naturalness" of singing. She took a special
interest in me and I was invited to take extra lessons at her apartment on the
upper west side. I would come on Saturdays and spend an entire
afternoon there vocalizing, singing through songs, and then coaching
with Mr. Hollister. I would sometimes look after their two young children,
Freddie and Elizabeth, in exchange for the many extra hours Miss Rippy and Mr.
Hollister so generously spent with me.
During
those wonderful early years of my training, Beatrice Rippy taught me how to
sing a beautiful even scale, how to commit to the drama in a song and how
to bake bread! I remember how shocked she was that I didn't know
the first thing about kneading bread and how she took it upon herself to
rectify it. What a time we had! She also made me aware of how
artists could play a vital role in examining and addressing social
issues. Once, she brought me along to a political demonstration in Central
Park with her friend and colleague, mezzo-soprano, Betty Allen. At the
rally, she introduced me to Ozzie Davis and Ruby Dee. Studying voice with
Miss Rippy was not only about singing, I also learned about life, life's
struggles and political activism, and how music was tied to all of these.
Composer,
author, and music critic Tom Manoff, who was head of theory, composition, the teacher
training program and community based efforts at the Third Music School
Settlement when Rippy and Hollister taught there, remembers them both with great
affection and had this to say:
"Carroll
was a first-rate musician whose depth of musical understanding complimented
Beatrice Rippy's radiant voice. Together, they represented both decency
and professionalism in a time when society expected musicians to take stands on
issues of the day."
I
recently came across this beautiful recording of Robert Merrill and Carroll
Hollister performing Handel's Ombra mai fu. It was a piece I
had studied with Mr. Hollister and Miss Rippy. I can remember everything
they taught me to this day. I include it here in honor of a rare and
beautiful artist and human being.
Love,
Milagro
