Interviewer
Claire Rhein
Files
Description
John Lester recalls traveling between Texarcana, Texas, and Tucumcari, New Mexico, with his family in a covered wagon when he was six years old. Lester briefly describes going to Southwestern University at Georgetown, Texas, in 1918, majoring in English and music and minoring in French. Lester traveling to France in 1922, to study with singer Jean De Reszke, and to Italy in 1925 to study with singer Mario Sammarco. Lester recalls his decision to leave New York City and multiple successful careers in radio, recording, teaching, and singing, for a professorship at the University of Montana [UM]. He details his work as a professor, and how his UM students differed from those he taught in New York. Lester also explains his work in the Philippines working with talented young vocalists.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Music; Opera; Opera singers; Vocalists; Radio talent; Oscar Seagal; Jean De Reszke; Mario Sammarco; John Crowder; University of Montana School of Music; University of Montana professors; Educators, Montana; Music educators, Montana; Otoniel Gonzaga; Music education, The Philippines
Original Date
11-2-1993
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
University of Montana History Oral History Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 305-001, 002
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
2 sound cassettes (2:00:00) analog + 1 transcript (22 p.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
01:25:33 minutes
Local Filename
OH_305_001_002.mp3; OH_305_001_002.pdf
Citation
Lester, John, "John Lester Interview, November 2, 1993" (1993). University of Montana History Oral History Collection. 22.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/umhistory_interviews/22