Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1947-2013 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
4.2 m of textual material, photographs, audio recordings
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Donald Munro Bell (Canadian bass-baritone) was born June 19, 1934 in South Burnaby, British Columbia. He studied under Nancy Paisley Benn in Vancouver before attending the Royal Conservatory of Music on scholarship in 1953-1955. Bell won the Harriet Cohen Award (the 1955 Arnold Bax Memorial Medal) as the outstanding student in the Commonwealth.
Following graduation, Bell studied with Hermann Weissenborn (Berlin, 1955-1957), Judith Boroschek (Dusseldorf 1967-1976) and later with Richard Miller (Ohio, 1985-1990). He made his debut at Carnegie Hall in 1959 and eventually performed in 23 countries including England, Germany, Israel, Russia, Canada, and Australia. He has worked with several leading conductors including Sir Thomas Beecham, Sir John Pritchard, Leonard Bernstein and George Szell.
Bell taught voice at the University of Calgary’s Department of Music from 1982 to 1994 with research interests in the field of vocal pedagogy. Bell was a founding member of the Vocal Arts Acoustical Research Group.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Fonds consists of scrapbooks of photographs, reviews and newspaper articles about Bell's career and life (1946-1986, 1991-2004), correspondence (1950s, 1960s, 1997, 2009), contracts, sound recordings of Bell's professional performances (ca. 1954-1989) and University of Calgary music productions (1993-1994), photoprints of opera productions (1960s-1980s) and opera classes (1980s), concert programs, material related to music competitions (1946-1953), academic annual report (2011-2013), publicity material, concert posters (1950s-2000s), and performance scores including transpositions.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access may be restricted until records are fully processed.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Box lists and sound recording lists have been created. Contact asc@ucalgary.libanswers.com.