Winifred Cecil

American soprano and vocal coach (1906-1985). Born Staten Island, studied singing as a child with Marcella Sembrich and the lieder singer Elena Gerhardt. In the early 1930's, she sang on radio programs before her New York recital debut in 1933 at Town Hall. The singer made several concert tours, appearing with symphony orchestras, and then went to Italy in 1937 to sing opera. She appeared at La Scala in Milan, the San Carlo Opera in Naples, and other European houses, appearing notably in Italian and German operas. The outbreak of World War II prevented Miss Cecil from returning to the United States for her scheduled Metropolitan Opera debut. She stayed in Italy, and married Baron Paolo Mazzonis di Pralafera. Miss Cecil returned to the United States after the death of her husband in 1949, and resumed a career as recitalist and soloist. She began teaching at the Juilliard School and the University of Buffalo, and started Joy in Singing, a series of public master classes that provided debut recitals for outstanding young singers. She also continued to coach singers privately, among them the pop singer Roberta Flack.