Marianne Weltmann, former voice instructor at the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and the University of Puget Sound, died on June 2, 2024, at the age of 93. The cause of death was breast cancer.
Marianne was born in Stettin , Germany, on September 9, 1930 to father Erhard Weltman and mother
Emilie Wieluner Weltman. As a young child she fled Nazi Germany with her family and immigrated to the United States, eventually settling in Ohio.
Her early focus on a career in music led her to enter and complete her education at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, majoring in voice. After her Juilliard training, she returned to Europe where she had a successful career in opera and on the concert stage performing in many venues. Opera was her true love.
Marianne also developed a side career as a translator in both business and the arts and was appreciated for her high degree of discernment and acumen in the application of her translation skills.
She eventually returned to the United States and moved west, settling in Seattle and joining
the music faculty at the University of Washington to pursue her academic teaching career. With her vast
knowledge of both opera repertoire and vocal technique, she provided valuable guidance for students not only at the college level locally, but privately all over the world.
In addition to her impressive academic credentials, Marianne's vocal training included studies with renowned baritone Rocco Pandiscio in New York and Lina Pagliughi, the leading lyric coloratura of La Scala in Milan. Her dedication to the art of singing extended beyond performance and teaching. She was a vocal descendant of the great Bel Canto master Giovanni Battista Lamperti, and her teaching philosophy emphasized the holistic development of the singer, integrating physical awareness , breath control, linguistic precision, and artistic expression. Her students have gone on to grace stages around the world, a testament to her profound impact as a teacher and mentor. Marianne's legacy as a true champion of the human voice will continue to inspire generations of singers and music lovers.
Marianne is predeceased by both her parents, her daughter Susanna and her son Michael. She is survived by her daughter Crystal Weltmann Dixon and her grandson Kendrick Dixon Jr.