Meta Schumann

Meta Fust Willoughby (1887 - 3 October 1937) was an American composer, pianist, and singer who performed and published under the name Meta Schumann.

Life and career Schumann was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her first teacher was her father, Schumann married Clarence Willoughby and they had one son, William. and toured the U.S. as a singer and accompanist. She accompanied and coached Alma Beck, Henrietta Conrad, Edith Hallett Frank, Elena Gerhardt, Dusolina Giannini, Frieda Klink, Norman Jollif, Jane Laval, Eleanor Patterson, George Reimherr, Ottilie Schillig, William Simmons, Cornelius van Vliet, Frederic Warren, and Olga Warren.

Schumann belonged to the New York Singing Teachers’ Association Her music was published by G. Ricordi & Company and White, Smith & Company.

Legacy Schumann was known as an outstanding vocal teacher. A 1935 review by Spanish opera singer Lucrezia Bori stated, The voices of Mmc. Meta Sciiumann's pupils prove that she has mastered the art of Voice Culture and I unhesitatingly say that anyone placing his or her voice in Mme. Schumann's care is certain of the most competent vocal training. Another advertisement in Musical America featured a quote from German soprano Elisabeth Rethberg: | have known Meta Schumann for mamy years as 2 musician, teacher, and composer. She is a woman of exceptionally high cultural standing, which is reflected in her entire work. Her methods of wocal teaching are very much to my liking, and | have frequently had occasion to observe in her pupils how their splendid progress prowes the soundness of Mme. Schumann's principles.

The high quality of her musicianship is based upom the equally high quality of her character and personality, and whemewer | am asked to recommend to young and aspiring singers a thoroughly reliable vocal teacher, | always advise them to turn to Meta Schumann for instruction, a that, if Mme. Schumann takes care of them, they are in the best hands.

These facts, known to me for many years, make me feel sure that those seeking vocal instruction may safely entrust themselves to Mme. Schumann's teaching.

Selected works list Schumann’s compositions, all for voice, include:

Cloudlets June Pastoral Song Night Spring To a Star in June When Thou Art Night (text by Thomas Moore) Why Not? Winding Lane