This page is dedicated to my beloved teacher, Mr. Yi-Kwei Sze (1915-1994).
Born in Shanghai, Mr. Sze graduated with the highest honors from that city's National Conservatory.
In America, where he arrived in 1947, he continued studies with the legendary bass Alexander Kipnis. In 1950,
he made his American debut as the King of Egypt in Aida at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco and he made
his New York recital debut at Town Hall. He was incredibly successful at both venues and soon his
career took him around the world. With a repertory spanning six languages, he sang with orchestras and in opera
houses throughout Europe. Mr. Sze appeared with Herbert von Karajan at both La Scala in Milan and Carnegie
Hall in New York with the Berlin Philharmonic. He performed with the San Francisco Symphony in thirteen engagements
between 1955 and 1971. After retiring from the stage in 1979, he continued to devote his life to music, teaching at
the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Eastman School of Music at Rochester University where he and his wife established
the Yi-Kwei and Nancy Lee Sze Scholarship for music students from China.
In 1989 he retired from teaching and settled in Lafayette, California where I became his student.
Mr. Sze was kind but firm, strict but patient. He knew how to motivate his students. He gave advice
but not demands. He spoke honestly, but not rudely. He taught me everything he learned with no reservations
and always acted upon my best interest. He taught me to sing with feeling and to teach with soul.
Mr. Sze was a great artist, a kind father, a good friend and a great mentor to me. It was his completeness
as a human being as much as his beauty of voice that enabled him to reveal musical secrets to the whole world. I feel
very lucky that I was one of his students and honored that I am able to pass on what he had taught me.
Isabel Mao
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