Opera singer Beverly Sills was born Belle Miriam Silverman on May 25, 1929 in Brooklyn, New York. She is renowned as a coloratura soprano and arts administrator.
Ms. Sills has been recognized for her singing ability since the age of three and sang on radio shows until she was 12-years-old. At that age, she began to study opera. Sills debuted at 17 with the Philadelphia Civic Opera. Seven years later, she debuted in San Francisco. In 1955, she joined the New York City (NYC) Opera where she spent much of her arts career, not only as an opera singer, but also as the general director of the NYC Opera from 1980-1990. Since 1990, she has chaired the arts programs at the Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera.
Ms. Sills received several awards for her achievements in the arts. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, two Emmy Awards, and a Grammy. Most recently, she was awarded the New York University's Lewis Rudin Award for Exemplary Service to New York City in 2006. She published two autobiographical works.
Ms. Sills died on July 2, 2007 in New York City of lung cancer.
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