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Samuelsen, Roy, 1933-

 Person

Biographical History

Roy Samuelsen (1933-) was a vocal performer and Norwegian immigrant.

Roy Samuelsen was born in Moss, Norway, on June 12, 1933. He attended school there until 1950, when his family immigrated to the United States and settled in Provo, Utah. He attended Brigham Young University until he was drafted into the United States Army in 1953, where he served for two years as a Military Policeman in Germany, when he also had the chance to study vocal performance under Joseph Heuler, a performer. He returned in 1955 and married Mary Lou Thorne. He then began working as a sheet metal worker while earning a Bachelor's Degree in music from BYU. In 1961, he was accepted and attended Indiana University's School of Music, where he earned a Masters degree in Music. In 1963, he was given a faculty position and became a full professor of music.

Samuelsen has performed in many venues, from the New York City Opera, Dallas Opera, and the Royal Norwegian Opera. He has sung approximately one hundred opera roles and has recorded several albums. He retired from Indiana University in 1997, after which he and his wife served a mission in Alta, Norway. They have three sons and thirteen grandchildren. They currently live in Bloomington, Indiana.

Citation:
UPB files, March 14, 2013 (born in Moss, Norway, on June 12, 1933; attended school there until 1950, when his family immigrated to the United States and settled in Provo, Utah; attended Brigham Young University until he was drafted into the United States army in 1953; served for two years as a Military Policeman in Germany; studied vocal performance under Joseph Heuler; returned in 1955 and married Mary Lou Thorne; began working as a sheet metal worker while earning a Bachelor's Degree in music from BYU; accepted and attended Indiana University's School of Music in 1961; earned a Masters degree in Music; 1963, given a faculty position and became a full professor of music; has performed in many venues, from the New York City Opera, Dallas Opera, and the Royal Norwegian Opera; sung approximately one hundred opera roles and has recorded several albums; retired from Indiana University in 1997, after which he and his wife served a mission in Alta, Norway; have three sons and thirteen grandchildren; currently live in Bloomington, Indiana.)

Ancestry.com, March 14, 2013 (Roy Samuelsen, b. 1933). (Was a sheet metal worker; married Mary Lou Thorne.)

"Roy Samuelsen." Indiana University Faculty. Indiana University. http://music.uindy.edu/faculty/samuelson.php. Accessed March 14, 2013. (performed over one hundred opera roles in New York, Chicago, and other places; retired in 1997; have three sons and thirteen grandchildren.)

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Roy Samuelsen papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8168
Scope and Contents Contains personal and professional papers of Samuelsen. Includes newspaper clippings of his numerous vocal performances in operas and oratorios across the country, with pictures of him performing in them. There are also transcripts of his musings about his childhood in Norway and his life since immigrating to the United States. There are letters from his mission with his wife to Alta, Norway, and recollections on his children. Finally, the collection includes CDs of his singing. Includes...
Dates: 1960-2013
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Roy Samuelsen papers

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  • Subject: Opera singers X

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