Thomas Carey papers

Collection

Identifier: 71

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Papers of Thomas Devore Carey, baritone singer, professor of music, and husband of Carol Brice include correspondence, financial records, and administrative materials on their joint project, the Cimarron Circuit Opera Company.

The papers consist of correspondence, photographs, news releases, newspaper and magazine clippings, programs, brochures, and announcements. The bulk of his correspondence (1959-1969) are letters written to Maestro and Madame (Wilfred and Rose Pelletier), pertaining to his career. There are correspondence documenting his activities in Munich and Stuttgart, where he studied and performed at the Stuggart Opera Company in Germany under the great Hans Geisen and Herman Reutter, head of the Stuggart Musik Hockshule. There are ten letters written in 1961 to Walter Toseanine, asking for his advice on various aspects to better his performing career. Other correspondence are single items to and from Thomas Carey.

Correspondence dating from 1970-1971 are letters pertaining to Carey joining the faculty of the University of Oklahoma and the establishment of the Cimarron Circuit Opera Company (CCOC). Also included are letters to foundations seeking grants to cover the expense of the opera company and its performers. There are business letters concerning contracts and agreements with CCOC and bookings for operas. Other correspondence are letters expressing congratulations and appreciation for Carey’s work in presenting and directing the operas, and also letters from students applying for applications to attend his music class and ultimately become opera performers.

There are 14 letters, dating from 1986-1987, which consists of a tribute to Carol Brice Carey. Carol died February 15, 1985. The tribute was held April 14, 1987 at Carnegie Hall. Other correspondence from 1991 are thank you letters and cards from students at Kennedy Elementary School, thanking Carey for his visit and performance.

Other items in the collection include an important group of newsletters, news releases, and newspaper clippings, dating from 1960-1989. These collection items highlight reviews of various productions in which Carey appeared. Articles and reviews feature CCOC operas and performers.

Included within the collection are programs that span a time period from 1947-1990 and document a continuing respect and admiration for Thomas Carey. One set of programs are of performances at the Henry Street Settlement Music School. Printed programs include documentation of concerts in Stuttgart and Munich and concerts presented by the CCOC.

There are approximately fifty black and white photographs in the collection capturing the activities of Thomas and Carol Brice Carey in concert. Other images include photographs of the wedding of Thomas and Carol, their family members, groups and individuals. All photographs are undated.

Collected items are: one Theater Week magazine, one Council of the Arts catalog and one Music Discount catalog.

Dates

1947-1991

Creator

Carey, Thomas (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The Thomas Carey papers are open and available for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright to these papers has been assigned to the Amistad Research Center. It is the responsibility of the author to secure permission for publication from the holder of the copyright to any material contained in this collection.

Biographical Note

Baritone concert singing artist, voice teacher, director, and professor of music, Thomas Devore Carey, established the Cimarron Circuit Opera Company (CCOC) with his wife Carol Brice, as a vehicle for young aspiring artists. Carey’s distinguished career as a baritone concert singer, beginning in the 1950’s, witnessed the increased opportunities and recognition of Black vocal artists.

Thomas Devore Carey was born on December 29, 1931, in Bennettsville, South Carolina, to Ernest Govan and Beatrice Devore Carey. After serving in the United States Army for two years (1951-1953), Carey attended New York City College and the Henry Street Settlement Music School (1954-1960). While there he studied voice under Lola Urbach and Rose Bampton, vocals with Felix Popper and Ilse Sass, and theatrics, piano and opera under Robert Egan, Harvey Wedeen and Adelaide Bishop. In 1957, Carey debuted at Town Hall in New York City. A year later Carey performed the leading role in the music school’s opera production of Wolf-Ferrori’s School for Fathers and Donizetti’s Don Pasquale. His many appearances and his genial attitude made him a favorite of audiences throughout New York City.

Carey received many rewards which spanned over a decade. In 1957, he won the Concert Artist Guild Award and was the recipient of the Rose Bampton Music Award. Carey won the prestigious John Hay Whitney Foundation Award to continue his studies in Europe. He also received awards such as the Marian Anderson Award (1958-1961), the Walter M. Sullivan Award (1960), the Rockefeller Award (1962-1964), and many others.

During his tenure abroad, Carey sang and performed with great success under the baton of many eminent conductors in Europe, Spain, Germany, Italy Sweden, Norway, Portugal and Yugoslavia. With his remarkable and magnificent baritone voice, Carey sang show music to spirituals. In 1968, during a four-month engagement in the opera houses in France, Carey met and performed with his future wife, Carol Brice. The couple married on December 27, 1969. That same year, Thomas Carey became Associate Professor of Music at the University of Oklahoma. His wife joined the faculty as a music teacher four years later.

As a visionary, Carey dreamed of opening an opera house in Oklahoma for young aspiring artists. In the Spring of 1975, his dream became a reality as he and his wife Carol established the Church Circuit Opera Company, later renamed the Cimarron Circuit Opera Company. Their vision for the opera house included providing Oklahoma’s young singers and performers a forum for their talents and an opportunity to gain the valuable stage experience necessary to forge professional careers. Carey wanted Oklahomans to enjoy first-rate operatic and concert performances locally and as a community experience.

In 1975, the Cirmarron Circuit Opera Company presented its first opera, The Magic Flute. Other operas included: Sister Angelia, Gianni, Schicchi, Martha, Cosi fan tutte, Julius Caesar, Madame Butterfly, and opera A La Carte. In 1987, Carey directed and performed his version of Little Red Riding Hood, an opera for children. He also adapted similar children stories for his operas, including Hansel and Gretel, Betsy from Pike, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Throughout his career, Carey performed worldwide, singing the role of “Porgy” and “Sportin Life” with the Belguim Symphony Orchestra; appearing as “Absolom” in the German Premiere, Lost in the Stars (1963); “Joe” in the London production of Show Boat (1971); and the role of “Porgy” in the performance of Porgy and Bess at the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera and also in Atlanta (1974).

Thomas Devore Carey died in 2002.