Georgia Ann Laster (November 18, 1927September 4, 1961) was an American soprano.

Early life and education

Laster was born in

Little Rock, Arkansas ( The "Little Rock") , government_type = Council-manager , leader_title = Mayor , leader_name = Frank Scott Jr. , leader_party = D , leader_title2 = Council , leader_name2 ...

. She had five brothers. She sang in church choirs as a young girl. She attended Dunbar High School and joined her high school's a cappella choir, often appearing as a soloist."Georgia Laster: Little Rock girl with 'Beautiful Voice." ''The Daily Gleaner''. May 15, 1959. Page 7. Via NewspaperArchive. She graduated from Junior College of Little Rock. In 1945, Laster began attending the

University of Southern California , mottoeng = "Let whoever earns the palm bear it" , religious_affiliation = Nonsectarian—historically Methodist , established = , accreditation = WSCUC , type = Private research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $8.1 ...

(USC). In November, she began voice lessons at USC and was a member of the

choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which sp ...

there, which was directed by Charles Hirt. Laster graduated from the USC's school of music in 1948.

Career

Laster was a protégé of

Marian Anderson Marian Anderson (February 27, 1897April 8, 1993) was an American contralto. She performed a wide range of music, from opera to spirituals. Anderson performed with renowned orchestras in major concert and recital venues throughout the United ...

. She won an

Atwater Kent Arthur Atwater Kent Sr. (December 3, 1873 – March 4, 1949) was an American inventor and prominent radio manufacturer based in Philadelphia. In 1921, he patented the modern form of the automobile ignition coil. Biography Arthur Kent was born ...

audition in 1948 and her performance in a related concert received a positive review. After winning a UCLA Young Artist Award, she participated in the final concert in the 1950–1951 season of UCLA's concert series. She received a scholarship to the

Music Academy of the West The Music Academy is a classical music training program in Montecito in Santa Barbara County, California. Overview The academy hosts an annual eight-week summer music festival, highlighted by concerts and workshops directed by famous composer ...

. A review of her performance at

Philharmonic Auditorium Hazard's Pavilion was a large auditorium in Los Angeles, California, at the intersection of Fifth and Olive Streets. Showman George "Roundhouse" Lehman had planned to construct a large theatre center on the land he purchased at this location, bu ...

reads, "Miss Laster disclosed a voice of pure quality, adequately powerful in the higher registers if not in the medium and lower ones". In 1953 she became one of the laureates of the International Naumburg Competition. In 1955-1956 she toured in Europe. The 1956 Laster concerts, in which the music of another African-American musician, William Grant Still, received approving criticism. Laster was accompanied by Franz Rupp in a recital at Town Hall in New York on March 6, 1955. She sang works by German, French, and English composers; she also sang spirituals. The review notes her "high voice of agreeable texture. She also has sensitivity and musicianship ..What she lacks is a secure vocal technique." The review also noted that, despite her youth, she was "singing with the voice of an artist beyond her prime". She was awarded a Fulbright scholarship in 1956. In 1953, she appeared in concert at the Hollywood Bowl. She also performed at

Redlands Bowl The Redlands Bowl is an amphitheatre in Redlands, California, USA, founded in 1924. It is used for music and theatrical performances which are offered to the public at no charge. The existing structure was commissioned and built by Florence and ...

and

Pasadena Playhouse The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California, United States. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engage ...

. She received the Marian Anderson Award in 1951, selected from 203 applicants. Laster was a music teacher at Brooklyn College in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

and taught in city schools in Los Angeles.

Death and legacy

She died in a car accident with her mother in

Lodi, California Lodi ( ) is a city located in San Joaquin County, California, in the center portion of California's Central Valley. The population was 62,134 at the 2010 census. The estimated population is approximately 67,586 according to 2019 census data. L ...

. Four other people were injured in the accident, including one other person in the car with the Lasters. In honor of Laster, the Los Angeles branch of the National Association of Negro Musicians is named. Laster was one of the artists discussed by Anthony Philpott at the Century of Story and Song exhibit at

Times Square Times Square is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment hub, and neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is formed by the junction of Broadway, Seventh Avenue, and 42nd Street. Together with adjacent ...

in May 2020.

References

External links

Georgia Ann Laster
at African Diaspora of Sacred Music & Musicians {{DEFAULTSORT:Laster, Georgia Ann American opera singers American sopranos 1927 births 1961 deaths 20th-century American women 20th-century American people