Obituary of Norma Newton (nAC.e Simmons)

NEW YORK CITY - Norma Newton (né©e Simmons) passed away Sunday, November 2, 2008 in New York City after a brief illness. She lived in Houston for a number of years before relocating to New York City. One of the premiere artist / teachers in her field, Norma trained over 50 singers who have gone on to have major careers, including Susanne Mentzer, Laura Claycomb, Barbara Bonney, Ana Maria Martinez, Brett Polegato, Roger Honeywell, Greer Grimsley, and a host of other gifted singers. At the time of her death Ms. Newton was on faculty at Hunter College New York City and Westminster College of the Arts- Rider University in New Jersey, the Amalfi Coast Festival in Vietri sul Mare, Italy as well as maintaining a full private studio. She had previous affiliations with Rice University, Catholic University, The Academy of Vocal Arts, The Houston Opera Studio, Houston Baptist University, Opera in the Ozarks, Glimmerglass Opera, the American Institute of Vocal Studies in Graz, Austria and the National Opera Teheran. During her operatic and concert career spanning two decades, In the U.S. she performed with New York City Opera, Dallas Civic Opera, Chicago Grant Park, Houston Symphony, and with the late Beverly Sills, Norma Treigle, and James King as well as Regina Resnick and Placido Domingo. Ms. Newton lived abroad for twelve years. She performed recitals throughout France, and Iran under the auspices of the United States Information Service and appeared at Welsh National Opera, Hamburg Symphony, Landestheater Hanover, Staatstheater Graz, Stadttheater Kiel, and the Bath Festival (UK) among others. Norma grew up in Little Falls, New York, where she met her childhood sweetheart and future husband. She received her Bachelor Degree in Music from Syracuse University and her Master Degree in Music from The University of Texas. She was Fulbright Scholar in Paris, a Metropolitan Opera Competition National Finalist in 1962 and was named Singer of the Year with the National Association of Teachers of Singing the same year. She won first place the Dealey competition in Dallas in 1961. She was a Distinguished Alumnus of Sigma Alpha Iota Music Sorority. Her son Christopher Newton, of Katy, Texas, daughter-in-law Jennifer and grandson, Jack survive her. She was preceded in death by her parents and, in 1986, by her beloved husband Robert "Bob" Newton. Norma has left behind friends and students too numerous to count. She made an indelible mark on the lives of many people with her style, beauty, patience, talent, humor and generosity. She will be greatly missed. A ceremony for the Life of Norma Newton will take place Sunday, November 16, 2008 At four oclock in the afternoon at the Newton Farm 151 Eysaman Road Little Falls, NY 13365-3846 For those who are unable to attend this ceremony, a more festive event will be planned to commemorate her inspirational life in NYC and in Houston. The dates for these celebrations will be determined in the next few months. In Lieu of flowers or gifts, the family has requested that a tax deductible donation be made in her memory to: The George London Foundation for Singers 460 West 49th Street, Office, New York, NY 10019 Local arrangements are by the Chapman-Moser Funeral Home, Inc., 42 N. Ann Street, Little Falls