A Calming Force and Voice of Authority
- mrymntcpw
- Jul 18
- 2 min read
Joyce Farwell (September 27, 1934-January 21, 2026)
7/19/26
Today in Santa Fe, New Mexico several vocal artists will gather to pay homage to their mentor,
Joyce Farwell. Loretta and I honor her remotely with these words.
Those of us who had the good fortune to fall under her tutelage remember her as a calming force while displaying a voice of authority.
I first encountered her maternal presence and calming energy at the Culllowhee Music Festival in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina in the summer of 1985. She had gathered a cadre of talented young opera singers to participate in a production of Robert Ward’s Pulitzer Prize winning opera, The Crucible. Joyce was singing the role of “Elizabeth Proctor”. Not only did we experience her “voice of authority” as she sang this demanding role, she also presented informal “master classes” where we young singers learned from her pedagogical expertise. Then she would invite us over to her cozy home for snacks and a beer.
In 1994, due to our close friendship with Robert Bode and Lee Thompson, Loretta and I had the privilege to host a birthday gathering for her 60th birthday at our house in Columbus, Ohio. It was a lovely autumn day and while we enjoyed Loretta’s delicious cake, we reminisced about good times and laughed till our sides hurt.
During the years that followed, Joyce's reputation as a voice pedagogue grew to International acclaim. Loretta and I participated in her masterclasses when time allowed, but we occasionally spoke to her by phone, often in the presence of Robert and Lee.
From her obituary:
Her legacy lives on in the many lives she shaped — in students who found their voices under her guidance, in colleagues who valued her professionalism and wisdom, and in family members strengthened by her love. She will be remembered for her warmth, her dedication to excellence, and a life devoted to teaching, service, and the transformative power of music.
Today, in Santa Fe, there will be tears, laughter, and accolades, but many of us will also celebrate from afar as we remember the calming force that was our Joyce Farwell.
Loretta Robinson and Pat Woliver
P.S. To read Joyce's obituary and hear songs from her career, go to:
Scroll down to the tribute section and I suggest the selection beginning at 18:26 (Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell)
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