Some members of Gulfport Pro Musica at a recent rehearsal, from left to right, Marjorie Grudzinski, piano; David Michaels, tenor; Beth Armstrong, alto, and Catherine Bassett, mezzo soprano.
Marjorie Grudzinski knows the power of music. She started taking piano lessons at age 4, and by 6 she was the conductor and pianist for the Wurlitzer Baby Orchestra in New York City.
As a teen, Grudzinski performed for the United Nations Teacher's Association and later at Carnegie Recital Hall. During graduate school at the University of California at Berkeley, she was the accompanist and assistant conductor for the San Francisco Opera Boys Chorus; she also accompanied opera singer Leontyne Price and cellist Pablo Casals.
Later she returned to New York and worked as a high school music teacher for 28 years before she retired to Florida.
Music has filled Grudzinski's life so much that, when she saw an opportunity to bring a little bit of Broadway to Pinellas County, she launched the Gulfport Pro Musica.
Grudzinski, 67, plays the piano to accompany Musica's members: Catherine and Ralph Bassett, Mary Mellstrom, David Michaels and Beth Armstrong.
The group formed in 1995 during a meeting of the Gulfport Arts Council.
"During a meeting of the arts council about 10 years ago, there was a suggestion to add musical arts to the local programs," Grudzinski said. "So Cathy Bassett, Beth Armstrong, Mary Mellstrom and I got together to develop a program and Gulfport Pro Musica was born. Cathy and Mary both had experience singing with opera or popular entertainment groups in New York or New Jersey, and I was with City Opera. Beth is more of a blues singer."
Grudzinski arranges much of the music and accompanies the four regular vocalists and guest performers.
Mellstrom, who is employed by the St. Petersburg Times, lived in New York and sang with the Robert DeCormier Singers and the New York Choral Society.
Catherine and Ralph Bassett sang with the City Opera in New York, and David Michaels sang with the Metropolitan Opera.
Pro Musica presents only two concerts a year, but Grudzinski says she would like to take the show on the road.
"There are other senior centers around the area with people who may enjoy a classical music concert," she said. "We have performed to help groups with fundraisers and are open for some travel. I think it would be fun for all."
Anyone interested in booking the group, call Grudzinski at (727) 345-6708.
CATHERINE BASSETT
Catherine Bassett's father played the violin and her mother played the piano. On evenings when her parents had friends over for chamber music, she would curl up under the piano and fall asleep listening to the concerts.
In school, Bassett studied piano to learn choral structures for compositions, but she always has sung.
"I have always heard music in my head, even as a child. Often years later, I would find out what it was. Singing is just part of my thinking and my life. It is always there."
Bassett earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from universities in her home state of Texas. By age 28, she had saved enough money to move to New York City.
"I packed up my little Volkswagen and drove to the big city with enough money to sublet an apartment. I had no prospects and had no real connections, but managed to get an audition for City Opera," she said. She worked as a mezzo soprano from 1983 to 1989. She also met Ralph Bassett, whom she would marry, at City Opera.
"The way we met was quite unusual," Catherine Bassett, 55, said. "The conversation started by him saying he had heard we were destined to be lovers. I was somewhat shocked, because I thought I was receiving an obscene phone call. But he introduced himself as a member of City Opera just looking for a ride to Connecticut. With all the travel involved in working for City Opera, marriage was not something usually considered. But we fell in love, worked together and in time were married in 1988."
Through the years, Bassett has preferred to use her talents in supporting roles. "I was content as a comprimaria, which basically refers to being supportive," she said. "There is just too much pressure with a lead. Ralph and I left the opera and moved to the Pinellas County area in 1989 and have been here since then.
"I met Marjorie Grudzinski in 1995 and have been part of the Gulfport Pro Musica until now. I wasn't sure I would be able to sing after such a long time away from it, but just like riding a bicycle, it came right back."
Bassett did get a little antsy and wanted to do more with her voice, so she accepted the role of Mama Lucia in the Rigoletto performed by Opera Tampa in 2000.
"I enjoy singing with the Pro Musica group, and I would also like to do more with Opera Tampa. We have talked about taking our group to other senior centers, where a touch of New York opera and Broadway music may be appreciated. I would really enjoy that."
BETH ARMSTRONG
Beth Armstrong, 62, is a blues singer, who honed her vocal talent singing in piano bars in New Jersey and St. Petersburg. Armstrong has been instrumental in bringing together members of Pro Musica.
"I introduced Marjorie Grudzinski to Catherine Bassett, knowing of their talents, backgrounds and interest in the musical arts. After hearing what they were trying to put together, I asked if I could have a spot. With my background so different from theirs, I considered myself comic relief. They accepted me, and I sang with the group for about six years, before dropping out for hip-replacement surgery."
Armstrong took voice and piano lessons over the years, but never learned to accompany herself when she sang. She found her comfort zone while out with her husband at a piano bar during an open mike night in New Jersey. She enjoyed singing standard tunes with a pianist accompanying her.
"My natural voice is low, and I was trying to stretch it. I discovered I can sing blues and old standards better and more comfortably in my natural range.
"I have really developed a respect and admiration for the talent and hard work of the other members of Pro Musica. I feel incredibly honored to be part of this group."
DAVID MICHAELS
As the son of a nightclub business manager, David Michaels, 73, grew up surrounded by musical entertainment.
When he was 18, a friend told him he had a nice voice and should consider singing.
Later Michaels would audition for an opportunity to study with Harry Jampolsky, a well-known voice teacher in New York at that time.
"I worked as a clerk in different stores to earn money to live and pay for my lessons," Michaels said. "I studied for about four years before getting my first part. I was around 23 or 24 when I got an audition with the Metropolitan Opera. I must have performed well enough, because I was hired to be part of the chorus. I really enjoyed the opera."
Even though he enjoyed performing in operas, by the time he was 29, he wanted to test his talent on Broadway. Musicals provided acting and characterization, two things Michaels enjoyed.
"In opera, one sings music as it is written. . . . On Broadway, one sings more of the character. The approach is from the character and one gets to act. Acting is not always the most important part of opera."
Through the mid-'60s, he sang on and off Broadway; for two years he was a regular on the Sid Cesar television show. He stayed with that show until it was canceled in 1963.
Next came a career shift: He became interested in labor union politics and left his full-time singing career to become the administrator for the Photo Engravers Union in New York. He worked for the union for 25 years and retired at age 68.
"I didn't leave New York to move to Florida until three years ago," Michaels said. "I met Marjorie Grudzinski and some of the other members of Pro Musica and have enjoyed working with them since. I hope she can make connections for us to take the show to other seniors communities, where many of the people love opera and show tunes. I want to work with this group more."
For your information
Gulfport Pro Musica presents "Music for a Sunday Afternoon," 2 p.m. Sunday, in the Catherine Hickman Theatre, 5501 27th Ave. S, Gulfport. Tickets are $8 in advance; $9 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, 2808 58th St. S (inside the Bank of America building); or call 727-344-3711.
