Ella June Whittaker dreamed of becoming an opera singer from
age fi ve. Hers is a quintessential American story, but is unique since she
practiced arias while driving her tractor through corn and w...vizualizați mai multeElla June Whittaker dreamed of becoming an opera singer from
age fi ve. Hers is a quintessential American story, but is unique since she
practiced arias while driving her tractor through corn and wheat fi elds
in South Dakota. At age thirteen, she studied voice at the University of
South Dakota. Ella continued her voice training in Sioux Falls, South
Dakota, where she began singing professionally at the age of nineteen.
In California, she performed the role of Gertrude in Hansel and Gretel
at College of the Pacifi c, Stockton. While at Eastman School of Music,
she was chosen by Luigi Silva to sing the New York première of Hector
Villa-Lobos’ “Bachianas Brasileiras, No. V.” In New York City, Ella studied with Madam
Elda Ercole, who had sung at La Scala in Milan, Italy. Her vocal coach was Charles
Wadsworth, Director of Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York City. Ella sang in an
Off-Broadway show at the Cherry Lane Theater, New York City. Currently, even at eightysix,
this remarkable soprano vocalist continues to teach voice and perform solos!vizualizați mai puține