Introduction

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      Margery Mayer, Publicity Brochure Photo
                Photo by: J. Abresch, NYC

Margery Mayer was widely acclaimed for her portrayal of many of the most famous contralto roles in opera, including Carmen and Amneris. Especially notable is the number of prominent works and American premiere performances in which she sang.

Miss Mayer’s rich and varied career included singing with the New York City, Chicago, Pittsburgh and San Carlo Opera companies; appearing as soloist on a number of weekly, coast to coast radio broadcasts; being featured as soloist at the Radio City Music Hall Easter Show; and earning Broadway credit for her lead role in Menotti’s The Medium.

Click and hold the Introduction tab again for a sub-menu containing a “Performance Record” and a searchable “Chronology” of events in her life. You can also Click on the Opera, Radio Broadcast, Art Song and Sacred Music tabs for samples of Miss Mayer’s singing, critically acclaimed at age 20 as “a voice of indescribable quality and power.”    
– Début Recital, Chicago Tribune (see Critical Reviews).

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              Margery Mayer teaching students.
              The Staten Island Advance, 1951

Margery Mayer, teacher of singers, was passionate about sharing the gift and enjoyment of singing with others. Miss Mayer sustained a parallel career as voice teacher and coach spanning six decades and  more than 600 voice students.

A faculty member at Wagner College for 28 of those years, Margery Mayer Steen, later Voutsas, as she was known at the College, became tenured as Assistant Professor of Music and is also credited with developing and teaching a highly popular graduate level course entitled “Exploring Opera in New York”.

An undaunted and zealous advocate for singing for enjoyment, appreciation, and self development, her ready refrain for any doubting beginners was: “If you can speak, then you can sing.”  A number of her students became highly accomplished singers, including two who were selected as Fulbright Scholars. 
Click here for more on Miss Mayer’s career as a teacher.

image sources

  • Margery Mayer as voice teacher-1: Owned by the author