Sigma Alpha Iota

Winter 2020 10 PAN PIPES Memies of a Cherished Friendship The world has lost one of its greatest artists with the recent passing of soprano, Jessye Norman and I have lost a lifelong and treasured friend. Our story began in the musical arms of Sigma Alpha Iota and I am moved to share special memories beginning with the first time we met, and the first time I heard Jessye sing. e SAI Convention in 1965 took place in Minneapolis. We were both invited to perform on that occasion thanks to an extraordinary lady named Helen May, a family friend and a beloved SAI leader. Over the many years she was associated with Sigma Alpha Iota, I recall hearing of her role in establishing more than 30 chapters of SAI in universities and music schools across the country. It was at Maryland University in the early 1960's that Helen proposed that I be initiated as an Honorary Member, and she presided over the beautiful ceremony. She had recently established a chapter at Howard University, where she was well acquainted with their stellar music faculty. Helen was an eager supporter of young talent throughout her life, and it was at this magical moment that she heard the singing of a new voice student at Howard University and was thunder-struck. Immediately sensing future greatness, Helen forged a rare personal bond with the 18-year-old Jessye Norman, a devotion unbroken to her last day. rough our family friendship with Helen and her husband, Don, and her following enthusiastically my own growing life as a concert pianist, Helen was inspired to invite both of us to perform during the same Minneapolis Convention. When I met Jessye I loved her instantly, and when I heard her sing, I was moved to tears, overwhelmed by the enveloping spiritual power of her voice. We travelled back to Washington on the plane, talking non-stop. She confessed to me her overwhelming desire one day to sing WAGNER! Her laughter rang out like pealing bells, joyous and spontaneous. Helen had truly discovered a priceless treasure. We spent many wonderful times together as she completed her years at Howard, studying voice with Carolyn Grant, to whom, she oen declared, as her astonishing career progressed, she owed everything. Even through the magnificent and valued instruction that followed from great artists such as Elizabeth Mannion at Michigan and Pierre Bernac in France, it was always the loving encouragement, unfathomable wisdom, and vocal expertise of Carolyn Grant that pulled her to ever greater artistic heights. In 1966, I made my first concert tour of the Far East, and it was during that trip that I first heard the name of my future husband- to-be. In Hong Kong I was told that the Juilliard String Quartet had just performed two weeks before my arrival. I also heard that they had a new member of the quartet, who was exactly my age and who was an eligible bachelor. is grew into a quite hilarious prediction — that this violinist by the name of Earl Carlyss would definitely become my husband! inking this to be simply a fabrication of my new friends' imagination, I returned to my home in Washington forgetting it completely. Some months later, a call came from my dear colleague, pianist William Masselos, inviting me to a concert at the Library of Congress with the Juilliard String Quartet with Aaron Copland as guest pianist! Aer a memorable performance and my first look at my predicted future husband on stage, I met Earl Carlyss at the aer- concert party. And, from that moment on, we never looked back. We decided to marry in 1969, and due to the recent tragic passing of both of my parents, we were busily planning our own ceremony. I told Earl that my dream would be to have Jessye sing at our wedding. Could I dare ask her in the midst of her burgeoning career? When I phoned her to inquire, even before I could finish asking, her glorious voice rang out through the phone "Of course I will sing at your wedding!" And so she did, choosing Schumann's great song cycle, Frauenlieben und Leben omitting only the last tragic song. Her partner was the pianist and accompanist David Garvey, who had performed with Earl many times, including at his New York debut in Carnegie Hall. When our two children were born, and At top, Member Laureate Jessye Norman performing at a University of Michigan concert in Ann Arbor, MI in the 1990s. Above, Jessye Norman and Ann Schein at a recording session of the Berg Songs at Concordia College in Bronxville, NY. TRIBUTE

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