Remembering a Treasured Doyenne of Cabaret, Rosamond Hirschorn (1921-2020)

It’s only fitting as the 2020 Cabaret Convention convenes virtually this week, that we remember Rosamond Hirschorn, who was a fixture at many cabaret shows in New York City and a champion of the art form. She left us this month, just days shy of her 99th birthday; she died peacefully on October 6 at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital NYC.. We can’t think of anyone better to give us a personal remembrance of Rosamond than Marilyn Maye, superstar of concert, jazz and cabaret stages. The Marvelous Marilyn was a particular favorite of Rosamond, and when she was in town, Rosamond could be found front and center at every performance, sporting one of her famous baseball caps.

Marilyn Maye Remembers Rosamond:

“Rosamond Hirschorn was a vocal professor at Emporia State University, in  Kansas.  When I met her in New York, 2006, I told her the great coincidence for me was that my vocal teacher in Topeka, Kansas (when I was 9, 10 and 11 years old) was a Rosamond too.  Her name was Rosamond Nyman.

Ms. Hirshorn  had seen me perform in Kansas City before moving to New York.  When I performed at the Metropolitan Room for 10 days over 2 weeks, she attended every night.  I was amazed and flattered and, of course, we became good friends.

She attended my Master Classes, as my guest, to enjoy the students. The last two years of her life were enhanced when Brian and Roselle Kaltner, her angels-on-earth, brought her to many Cabaret concerts and they came regularly.

She loyally attended any of my extra performances around the city.  I knew she was there whenever I sang and we always had great discussions about the events.  She had great energy and spirit to enjoy, revere and “be there” to hear the music she loved.

Our dinner times were stimulating—she had great knowledge, great things to say about voice teachings and the presentation of the song.

She always had a joke to tell and, in her letters, she would send little cartoons or quips  she found amusing.

Her favorite song that I perform was “Guess Who I Saw Today”.  She loved the drama, and after almost every performance of mine she would say with great concern that I must hang on to the piano or “something” when I do the “kicks” singing “It’s Today”.

She was intelligent, she was clever!  Her individual sense of humor was a joy to experience.  Her friendship was loyal and a great privilege for me.

She loved the New York performers and she’ll be watching us all from a better seat EVERY night.

We will never forget Rosamond Hirschorn.”

• • • • • •

Rosamond Hirschorn was born in Cle Elum, a coal mining town in Washington state. She started playing piano at age five. She later sang in school glee club and played drums in a jazz combo—but she grew up in music: her mother sang, her father played violin and her brother was in the school band. She won a piano scholarship to The University of Washington where she worked in the music library in addition to her studies, listening to every record held in the stacks, which she’s said trained her ear. After completing a graduate degree at Teachers College, Columbia University, Rosamond took a job at Emporia State University, Kansas, where she taught from 1948 through 1983.

In Emporia, Rosamond introduced madrigal singing, directed the Treble Clef women’s group, the men’s chorale, the E-State Symphonic Choir and founded and directed an all black gospel choir. She also taught voice.  She was a member of the Mu Phi Epsilon music sorority, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Music Teachers National Association, the Music Education Conference and the Business and Professional Women’s Club in Emporia. In 1983, Hirschorn was named the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity Outstanding Faculty Member.

One of her most treasured and praised experiences was in helping found The Emporia Arts Council 1n 1976, becoming its first president. She spearheaded the Council’s growth, helping to bring in august organizations such as  the Young Vic from London, a Swiss mime group, vocalists Phyllis Curtin and Marilyn Horne and The Vienna Boys Choir. Hirschorn remembered they initially sold season tickets for $16 and $5 memberships and patron memberships. Years later, to honor her, Arthur Piculell of Portland, Oregon, created the Rosamond Hirschorn Departmental Endowed Chair of Music Fund

During summer recesses she spent 14 summers in Vienna, staying between four and seven weeks a time. She also took a sabbatical to Rome. She retired at 63and moved to New York City to be a private vocal coach. Rosamund made her life in the City, returning to Emporia a few times since she left. She’d been to two Treble Clef reunions and was in Emporia for the Emporia Arts Council’s 25th anniversary. She became a professor emerita of voice at ESU and a member of the Beach Hall of Distinction.