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Creator
New York Singing Teachers' Association
Call number
JPB 04-19
Physical description
7.25 linear feet linear feet (14 boxes)
Language
English
Preferred Citation

New York Singing Teachers' Association Records, JPB 04-19, The New York Public Library.

Repository
Music Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

The New York Singing Teachers' Association (NYSTA), first named the National Association of Teachers of Singing, strives to provide teachers with the tools and inspiration needed for an informed and creative pedagogy. NYSTA's Officers and Board, all of whom work on a strictly volunteer basis, meet monthly to make decisions about all aspects of NYSTA's activities--e.g. programs, courses, publications, finances, student competitions (awards and recitals), bi-annual composer's concerts, workshops (on pedagogy, voice science, etc), meetings (monthly, discussion group and luncheon or dinner group.), and membership (active and associate membership). As such, NYSTA members draw on the advances in voice science, neurology, psychology, education theory, medicine, and mind/body healing to offer new information and techniques for their pupils.

Biographical/historical information

The New York Singing Teachers' Association (NYSTA), first named the National Association of Teachers of Singing, was founded and incorporated in 1906 under the direction of Anna E. Ziegler and Dr Arthur de Guichard; it acquired its current name officially in 1917. Among the founding members were Enrico Caruso, Emma Eames, Geraldine Farrar, Mary Garden, Ernestine Schumann-Heink, Antonio Scotti, Marcella Sembrich, and Luisa Tetrazinni.

The NYSTA stated objectives are "to establish and maintain a standard of voice production and vocal instruction based on scientific principles", "to encourage the highest standards of musicianship and artistic singing" and "to promote American vocal music and the craft of singing in English." These objectives are drawn from its code of ethics--adopted in 1936 and later revised in 1964--for the guidance of the members in their relationship with one another, with their pupils, and with the public.

NYSTA encourages youthful talent with the many recital awards that it has organized. The New York Debut Recital Award (formerly The Town Hall Recital Award), The Shull Bequest Recital Award, and The Young Artists Concert Award were prominent competitions (primarily annual competitions). These awards and other prize monies are now given through the bi-annual Gaeumann Competition and the Musical Theater Competition that awards three prizes annually.

NYSTA provides a forum for exchange of ideas and elaboration of the principles of good singing through its Discussion Group Meetings, when teacher members discuss various aspects of vocal art. Many papers have been presented on such subjects as breathing, diction, tone production, interpretation, ethics, acting for singers, the operatic situation, the art song, etc.

General meetings are held monthly October through May where sometimes an outstanding musical personality is invited to speak or a musical program is presented. At the annual luncheons in March a citation for meritorious achievement is awarded to an outstanding American singer of American training. So honored have been Roland Hayes, Eleanor Steber, Walter Cassel, Risë Stevens, Leontyne Price, Robert Merrill, Eileen Farrell, James McCracken, Regina Resnik, George Shirley, and Marilyn Horne.

Nearing its 100th Anniversary, NYSTA is still providing many of these programs, some in an updated fashion, and some very new ones, to service the growing and changing demands of singing and teaching in our times.

Sources:

  • - "New York Singing Teachers' Association." Retrieved from http://www.nyst.org on August 12, 2004.
  • - "Programs-Annual Luncheon" [Box 9, Folder 4, specifically the 87th Anniversary Luncheon program]
  • - Stefan, Anna. "A Look Back and a Look Forward". Reprinted from Music and Artists (Jan./Feb. 1971.) and edited by Mara Waldman, March 1993 and April 1994. [88th Anniversary Luncheon Program--Box 9, Folder 5]

Scope and arrangement

The New York Singing Teachers' Association Records contain the bulletins, minutes (for general and board meetings), discussion group papers, general meeting speeches, announcements, forms, reports, correspondence, financial records, programs, and scrapbooks of the organization. The bulk of the records focus on NYSTA's documentation of internal and public activities from 1924 to 1997. The few items dated between 1906 - 1924 within the collection deal with legal aspects of the forming of the association--e.g. the items dealing with the association's name change in 1917 can be found in Box 7, Folder 39.

Personal records of Anna E. Ziegler and Dr. Arthur de Guichard, the founders of the association, are not found within this collection, nor is there a significant amount of information on NYSTA's role in helping to form The National Association of Teachers of Singing, Inc. in 1944.

The New York Singing Teachers' Association records are arranged in nine series:

  • Series I: Bulletins
    1940 - 1997 and undated
    1 linear foot (2 boxes)

    The NYSTA Bulletin is filled with information touching on all facets of the organization--e.g. general meeting times, discussion group topics, guest speakers, officer elections, and financial reports. This publication is distributed throughout the association's season (October to May) and is a valuable resource. In some seasons a newsletter was published as an additional resource to reach and inform its members. As such, these newsletters are organized with the Bulletins. The Bulletins are a resource that could be used by the user as a guide that will lead to other parts of NYSTA's records, or as a general overview of the association's efforts on behalf of New York Singing teachers.

  • Series II: Minutes and Administrative Documents
    1924 - 1994
    2 1/2 linear feet (5 boxes)

    This series is composed of two sub series. The first sub series contains the minutes for the board and the general meetings held by the association. The second sub series contains the administrative documents (e.g. announcements, speeches and reports.) created for the maintenance and growth of the association.

  • Series III: Correspondence
    1930 - 1995 and undated
    1/2 linear feet (1 box.)

    This series contains letters primarily dealing with the special events and legal issues of the NYSTA. As such correspondence centered on the Celius H. Dougherty Estate, Genevieve Bowman Gaeuman Estate, Marie Sylvie Derdeyn Bequest and Zora May Shull Bequest, the Gaeuman Memorial Award Competition, the Shull Bequest Recital, the Town Hall Award, and the Young Artists Concerts are found in this series.

  • Series IV: Programs and Related Items
    1935 - 1997 and undated
    1 linear foot (2 boxes)

    This series contains the programs, leaflets, brochures, applicant, and committee member lists connected to such NYSTA sponsored events as the Annual Composer's Concert, the Annual Dinner / Lunch, the Composers Showcase, and the Gaeuman Memorial Awards. The most extensive amount of documentation within this series is for the New York Debut Recital Award.

  • Series V: Financial Records
    ca. 1927 - 1993
    1 linear foot (2 boxes)

    This series contains the bank related financial records found within the collection--i.e. registers for checking accounts, money market account statements, expense slips, financial reports, and federal income tax records. The Treasurer's monthly reports from 1927 to 1989 make up the bulk of this series.

  • Series VI: Photographs
    1980 - 1992 and undated
    3 folders

    This series contains the photographs of the annual luncheon--contact sheets, group pictures and head shots--not incorporated into the scrapbooks.

  • Series VII: Ephemera
    1925 - 1993 and undated
    9 folders

    This series primarily contains the brochures, business cards, clippings and lists unrelated to NYSTA. In Box 13, Folder 21, however, there are two clippings on NYSTA (one of which focuses on the founders of the associaiton).

  • Series VIII: Scrapbooks
    ca. 1954 - 1983
    12 folders

    This series contains the Annual Luncheon, Genevieve B. Gaeuman Memorial Award, and New York Debut Recital Award scrapbooks created by NYSTA.

  • Series IX: Oversized
    1936 - 1982 and undated
    1 linear foot (1 box.)

    This series includes an oversized Guest Book for NYSTA sponsored events, as well as oversized music scores by Arnold Freed.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by The New York Singing Teachers Association in two installments: the first in February 1994, and the second in May 1998.

Processing information

Compiled by Thea Constantine; machine readable finding aid created by FAKER.

Using the collection

Location

Music Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Access restrictions

For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Music Division, The New York Library for the Performing Arts.