Skip to main content

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 Samuelson papers, 2003 August 17

 File — Box 120: Series 5; Series 6; Series 7; Series 10; Series 12; Series 18 [Barcode: 31197232585247], Folder: 5
Identifier: MSS 2350 Series 10 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Materials include audiocassettes and interview transcript with Roy Samuelson. The interview covers Samuelson's childhood in Nazi occupied Norway as well as his experiences after traveling to the United States and serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Dated August 17, 2003.

Dates: 2003 August 17
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 2350, Saints at War Project records / Saints at War Project records for Korean War / Saints at War Project records for the United States Army

Filtered By

  • Subject: Transcripts X

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.