A book of memories is being created, and alumni are invited to send letters directly to Dean Art Ostrander at ostrande@ithaca.edu or to his attention c/o the School of Music, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY 14850. All are also welcome at the reception at 4:00 on Thursday, May 10 in the McHenry Lobby of the Whalen Center to honor Godwin’s distinguished career at Ithaca College.
A member of the School of Music faculty since 1969, Angus Godwin will retire this year. “I really love teaching, and I’m going to miss my students very much,” Godwin said. “I have been fortunate that many of my students have gone on to be very successful. Several are still in touch, and I enjoy hearing from them.
Godwin continued doing at least one recital a year throughout his career. Before a completely full house at his final faculty recital in November, he collaborated with a former student, Elizabeth Southard Mau ‘88, as well as with several faculty colleagues.
"Angus is one of the most dedicated performance teachers at the college,” said longtime colleague Mary Arlin ‘61. “He knows what needs to be done to develop a voice; he knows how to guide the student to accomplish that daunting task. Over the years he has, on his own time, helped numerous instrumental students enrolled in my sight singing classes learn how to pitch their voices so they could sing their exercises for me. For this, I and the students will always be immensely grateful."
Godwin grew up on a tobacco farm in North Carolina and then attended Capital University in Ohio. During the Korean War he enlisted in the Army and, as a chaplain’s assistant, directed chapel choirs and sang in a Japanese dance band. He won a scholarship that took him to study at New York’s Juilliard School, where he performed leading roles in a number of operas with the Juilliard Opera Theatre.
In addition to solo appearances at Carnegie and Town Halls, Godwin has performed a number of concerts for children with dancer Judith Janus. Among the highlights of his career are a 35-week stretch performing at Julius Monk’s Plaza 9 in the Plaza Hotel and an appearance on the “Today” show. Under the aegis of Columbia Artists Management, he has given more than 300 solo recitals throughout the United States and Canada, chalking up recitals in all of the lower 48 states except Kentucky.
