American classical soprano, born 3 December 1921 in Clarksburg, West Virginia, USA and died 4 June 2016 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, USA.

Best known for roles of Mozart’s Countess, Donna Anna, Rosalinde, Eva, Violetta, Alice Ford, Salome and Ellen Orford. She also created Floyd’s Susannah (1955) and Cathy in Wuthering Heights (1958).

Operatic debut with New England Opera Theatre in Boston, 1946. (Lisa, The Queen of Spades). Recital debut, New York’s Town Hall in 1950.

Several stints with NYC Opera (October 1953-1960, 1962, 1964, 1975-1976). With New York’s Metropolitan Opera (November 1961, as Fiordiligi, also seasons of 1966-1970 and 1972-1973). Other associations of note are Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires (1959), the Glyndebourne Festival (1959), the Vienna State Opera (1960-61) and La Scala in Milan (1962).

Retired from performing in 1984 transitioning to teaching at institutions including Aspen School of Music, Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood, Yale University School of Music, Beijing Conservatory, Moscow Conservatory, Tbilisi and Boston University College of Fine Arts (dean).

2008 inductee of West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.