Despite her initial aversion to becoming After 昀椀ve years in Stillwater, Silberg a full-time voice teacher, she was moved to Oklahoma City with her second determined to be a success. In 1940, husband Max M. Silberg, an insurance Silberg arrived in Stillwater as Instructor of agent, whom she married on March 10, Voice at Oklahoma State University, known 1943. What began as a part-time job then as Oklahoma A & M. During her developed into full-time work after only early teaching years, Silberg considered one semester. Following a meeting with a herself a very strict, rigid professor. She friend, dean of Oklahoma City University was surprised to encounter students who School of Music Clarence Burg, Silberg were only studying voice at the urging began a decades-long career at OCU of a parent or who otherwise were where she would help build a robust music not interested in pursuing performance department. The university’s 昀椀rst musical professionally. This led her to discovering production took place on April 4, 1930, that she needed to approach every student and the school attracted a growing pool differently, honing in on the very few of talent and audiences over the next people with a craving or desire to perform two decades. It was under Silberg that while also inspiring students who could go in 1951 the department mounted the Inez Scott Lunsford Silberg preparing for a on to become future teachers. 昀椀rst of what would become more than speech, c. 1970s. Courtesy Oklahoma Hall Teaching voice performance at this sixty consecutive seasons of fully-staged of Fame Archives. time was challenging for many reasons. productions. The growth experienced at World War II interrupted the lives of OCU coincided with a surge of investment many students and there were very few in performing arts in cities throughout the opportunities and places to perform in the country, providing more opportunities for United States. “The Midwest, when I 昀椀rst young performers. started teaching, was so barren of art and For a time, Silberg was essentially a the cultures… There was so much need to one-woman training and opera production 昀椀rst get the students’ interest and get them staff. She coached singers, directed to devote time and concentration and performances, and designed stage sets. effort. If they did get to the point where they “We really started out on a shoestring,” had the desire to perform, there were no Silberg said about the early days of OCU places to perform. Nearly everyone had productions. Her dedication to her students to go to Europe.” led to her promotion to chairman of the From left, Carveth Osterhaus, Inez Scott Lunsford Silberg, and Dr. Ray E. Luke, discussing “Ariadne auf Naxos”. 1972. Inez Scott Lunsford Silberg, seated center, enjoys harmonizing with a group of students. Courtesy Oklahoma Historical Society. Photograph by Bob Albright. January 3, 1970. Courtesy Oklahoma Historical Society. Inez Scott Lunsford Silberg was presented with an honorary doctorate in music. December 9, 1979. Courtesy Oklahoma Historical Society. 36