Vol. 18, No. 15Dec. 17, 1998

English secretary's second career is on stage

Soprano Deborah Lehman and bass baritone John Dennison perform opera for
a literature and opera class, taught by Bernard Kaplan, English.

Singing and music were a part of Deborah Lehman's life as far back as she can remember. While Lehman was growing up in Ohio, her mother was a pianist; her father played the guitar in his spare time and organized the Garage Band, with Lehman as a young vocalist doing what came naturally.

"Like many families, we used to sing in the car as something to do. My brother and I would sing the tune, and my mother would sing the harmony, with my father joining in. One time, when I was about 3 or 4, my mother wasn't singing so I sang the harmony. She almost wrecked the car and said, 'Where did you learn that?'

"I had a fast memory and good ear, so singing came easily to me. But, I had no formal training and could not sight-read music. My parents were reluctant to give me voice lessons because they felt they might alter the way I sang," Lehman, who is a soprano with a four-octave range, recalled.

Joining her family, she sang at different events ("let the little girl sing again") and as she grew older she sang at area clubs. She was the starstruck teenager who gives rock star Birdie one last kiss before he goes in the army in her high school's production of Bye Bye Birdie.

Married soon after high school and with two children, Lehman continued to sing at weddings and churches. "I had three services lined up on a Sunday, would sing my solo and be off to the next," she recalled.

She also took college courses at Wright State University, focusing on backstage production.

The family moved to Newark where Lehman, now a secretary in the English department, began working in continuing education.

Four years ago, knowing about her musical talent, Lehman's coworkers and friends kept urging her to try out for OperaDelaware, which was holding auditions. Aware of her limitations because of a lack of training, she was reluctant but finally agreed. The phone rang a week later and, much to her amazement, she was accepted and joined the chorus for their productions.

"But I was concerned about singing opera and possibly ruining my voice due to bad technique so I went to the music department for advice on voice lessons. Lloyd Shorter suggested I audition to become a voice major and introduced me to Marie Robinson," Lehman said.

"I, of course, knew who she was. She had the lead in OperaDelaware's production of Aida and I was in the chorus. I was made up as a Nubian slave so it was no wonder she did not recognize me," Lehman said.

The two chatted, and then Lehman sang for Robinson. "She stared at me," Lehman recalled, "and then said, 'That voice. I finally found you.' "

Although Robinson didn't recognize Lehman, she did know her voice from Aida, when as the Nubian slave, Lehman was kneeling and singing just behind Robinson.

Robinson worked with Lehman all summer to prepare her for the highly competitive auditions in front of the voice faculty at UD, and she was accepted into the program in the fall of 1996.

Her college credits from Wright State transferred to UD, so Lehman is able to concentrate on her music courses. She is constantly on the go-studying and singing as a part-time student when she isn't working at her job. Part of her requirements are that she sing with musical groups, so she has performed in productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, with the Choral Union and with OperaDelaware.

Last summer, she toured Italy with the Mary Green Singers, who were performing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with a London orchestra. At a rehearsal, the mezzo solo soprano was absent and Green asked for someone to sing her part. Lehman studied it during the break and then walked up front as the only volunteer. "I was nervous, singing new music in front of professional singers. I could not have done it without the ear training and sight singing classes I took from John Conrad in UD's music department. But, I sang the solo with just a few mistakes and was then the understudy."

Now, Lehman is preparing to sing at Ristorante Carucci in Wilmington, known for its operatic entertainment. She auditioned there, and they are now working out the details.

"It's a busy and hectic life, but I'm doing what I enjoy most," Lehman said.

-Sue Swyers Moncure
Photo by Jack Buxbaum