Often, when I can’t find one of our classmates, I “Google” the name. I did that with George Tepping, and my jaw dropped as I made the connection between the George I found online and the George we walked the halls with at Colonel White! I rushed to check my yearbook and the likeness left no doubt, so I emailed George. Within the hour my response came, and I was so excited to see what one of our classmates had accomplished, unknown to the great majority of us.

George agreed to an email interview, and the following presents what he has been doing all these years. His professional review introduces his current position at the Wausau Conservatory of Music in Wisconsin along with his professional training and experience spanning the years since our high school graduation. Continue reading to engage in the personal information he shared about his childhood and life!

Dr. George Tepping
- Instructional duties: Executive Director of the Conservatory and Artist/Instructor of voice
- Degrees: Bachelor of Music in vocal performance - Ohio State University; Master of Music in vocal performance - Ohio State University; Doctor of Music Arts degree in vocal performance/pedagogy - University of Iowa.; Honorary degree as Cantor - K.K. B'nai Yeshrun ( Ohio).
- Professional affiliations: National Association of Teachers of Singing, National Opera Association, and College Music Society; Master Adjudicator for the Wisconsin School Music Association,
- Performances: Sixteen years as a Spiel Tenor and tenor soloist with numerous European opera companies and American symphonies with performances of over sixty different opera and oratorio roles

George was previously Executive Vice President and Operational Director of the American Institute of Musical Studies - Graz, Austria; and Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Opera for Miami University. Voice student of Herald Stark, Irma Cooper, and William Whitesides. Advanced coaching with Joan Dornemann (Metropolitan Opera), Marguerite Meyerowitz (Metropolitan Opera), Craig Rutenberg (Metropolitan Opera), David Lutz (Vienna State Opera) and Heinz Sosnitza (Essen/Frankfurt Operas).

Tepping has served as Musical Director for the Wausau Community Theatre productions of Carousel and Fiddler on the Roof and in the spring of 1997, he served as Musical Director for the WCM/WCT combined production of Hansel and Gretel and Amahl and the Night Visitors in 2001. During the summers 1999 and 2004, he served as a jury judge for the International Meistersinger Vocal Competition in Graz, Austria. He adjudicates at many district and state festivals in addition to being a regular choral clinician. He has taught voice for over thirty-five years. He has held the position of Executive Director/voice instructor since January 1991.

Where and when were you born? "Dayton, OH; May 27, 1946"

Siblings? "One older brother, Mark, also a graduate of CWHS in 1961, I believe."

Elementary school? “Cornell Heights, Dayton.”

Favorite school subject? “Music.”

Favorite elementary teacher? “Can’t remember any names of teachers at this point of life.”

Favorite high school teacher? ”Without doubt, Carol Bright (Gillette).”

Private music lessons while growing up? What? ”Yes, piano for about eight years and drums for about 5 years.”

Indoor or outdoor kid? “Indoor during the winter and outdoor during the summer.”

When did you know you wanted to be musical? Specific discipline? “Got a taste for it being in high school choir as well as in the choir at Temple Israel in Dayton. When I went to college at Pratt Institute in New York City, I also auditioned and became a member of the New York Philharmonic Chorus and found I really enjoyed singing more than engineering courses. So, I switched majors and became a voice major; switched schools to OSU since Pratt did not offer music courses; sang in many productions in college, which convinced me that I had made the right decision.”

Did other students know that’s what you wanted to do and be? "I doubt it since I really did not have many friends in school. Hung around with cousins more than non-family.

Were you scared to stand in front of people and sing? “No, guess I did not have the sense to be scared.”

Ever forget words to a song? “No – I have been blessed with a photographic memory – I actually see the music in my mind so all I have to do is to “read it.”’

Most embarrassing moment? “Happened onstage during an opera performance in Munich. I was supposed to leave the stage via a door as someone else was entering the stage. He was not supposed to find me there. Unfortunately, the door was locked. After what seemed forever, I climbed out of a window on stage to the audience’s amusement and just managed to escape in time.”

Most thrilling moment? “Two come to mind: When I was singing as a member of the New York Philharmonic Chorus and it was at my first rehearsal. Since I was short, I was placed in the first row directly in front of Leonard Bernstein who I felt was almost a god. We were singing a piece which I had sung with the Dayton Philharmonic a year before so I knew it really from memory and was singing all of the notes perfectly. Bernstein stopped and complained to the chorus that they were terrible readers and he pointed at me and said, “Why can’t the rest of you read as well as this new kid… he has not missed a note all night?” The second moment was when I was hired to be the Cantor at Temple Israel and officiated in that capacity at the first High Holiday Service in front of about 1500 people. Just to walk out and stand there in front of all those people as well as all my relatives and to manage to pull it off without any problems was a blast.”

Married? Children? Pet(s)? “Single, no pets at present.”

Hobbies? “Sailing, computers, movies.”

Favorite food? ”Italian, unfortunately for my figure.”

The last question I asked George was, “Would you ever consider performing at our 50th year reunion? ”He answered, “If it fit into my responsibilities at the school, sure.” Start the petition!