Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, March 29, l923

MISS FLORENCE GATES, of Leon, who is a student at Parsons College at Fairfield, will give her graduation recital at the Presbyterian Church in Leon, assisted by local talent, Wednesday evening, April 4th, and the public is cordially invited.

MISS GATES will receive in June a soloist's diploma and also a diploma in public school music from Parsons College. She gave her graduation recital at Fairfield last week, and the Fairfield Journal has the following in regard to it:

The program opened with one of the most difficult oratorials. MISS GATES sang it with an abandon seldom heard except from old and experienced oratorio singers.

The second number of the first group, "The Monotone," gave her a splendid opportunity to portray the finer points of vocal interpretation.

In the Italian group, MISS GATES displayed much vocal technique, and her diction was all to be desired. This group was probably the most interesting of the four. Of the three brilliant numbers, perhaps the "Flower Song" from the Opera Faust, was the most outstanding.

The group of French songs was well received and in them MISS GATES further displayed her ability in foreign diction.

The program was closed with a group of modern English songs, which were light, and left the audience in a splendid humor.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
July 26, 2002