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Soprano’s voice is 61
years strong with Music and singing has been part of Mary Elizabeth Rubenstein, better known as Bid, Rubenstein’s life as far back as she can remember. One of eight children, Rubenstein says every night they all sang to their mother’s accompaniment on the piano. Her mother also had a beautiful singing voice and her father, a strong bass. There was music in the house all of the time. She’s still singing today, several times a month, with the Rochester Oratorio Society. Rubenstein, a mezzo-soprano, has been singing with the ROS for 61 years, since its inception. Later this month, Rubenstein and the ROS will join the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra for the annual performance of Handel’s Messiah at the Eastman Theater. In the 1940’s Rubenstein performed in the Linwood Music School’s Sunday concerts. She helped form the York Opera Competition, which served as a fundraiser to help children afford to attend the Linwood Music School. "I’ve worked all of my life toward the advancement of music and the arts, helping to raise money for children to be able to experience the arts. Children need the balance," Rubenstein commented. The little country girl from Caledonia was invited to sing with the Rochester Oratorio Society and was selected number eight of the first 15 sopranos invited into the concert chorus. Rubenstein says she can still recall the excitement of the weekly rehearsals under the direction of conductor Theodore Hollenbach. A special moment in her career as a vocalist with the ROS was when the choir celebrated its 50th anniversary with special guest vocalist William Warfield and a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Warfield, a graduate of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, is best known for his role as Porgy in the 1952 production of Porgy and Bess. Rubenstein says her love of music keeps her active with the world-renowned choir, despite the long trip into downtown Rochester every week for rehearsal. The rehearsals, held weekly at Asbury First United Methodist Church, still excite her 61 years later. Each and every performance is an opportunity for Rubenstein to do what comes as naturally to her as breathing, singing. She sings in most of the ROS’s performances though she will not accompany the choir to China this summer for their Beijing performance. But that doesn’t mean she’s slowing down. This week, Rubenstein will be in rehearsal for the annual holiday performance of Handel’s Messiah, December 14 and 15 at the Eastman Theater in conjunction with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Christopher Seaman. "I’ve done this concert for so long that the Eastman Theater is like my second home," she commented. In addition to performing with the ROS, Rubenstein has been an active vocalist in the First Presbyterian Church and the Mumford Presbyterian Church choirs. She has no plans to stop performing. As long as she can make music with her voice, she’ll be singing in a choir. "Music speaks to my soul. I’m so fortunate to be able to sing all of these years," she commented.
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