Sylvia Munsen shares autographs from Jascha Heifetz to Ella Fitzgerald.
Mary Gates
Have you ever enjoyed a performance so much that you wanted to meet the performer and obtain an autograph in order to commit the experience to memory?
Sylvia Munsen began collecting autographs from friends in an autograph book in elementary school and then from remarkable performers throughout her life. She stored the autographs in a box and then displayed many of them under glass on several desks in her office. Sylvia shared her story, “Collecting Autographs: From Heifetz to Ella Fitzgerald,” to the Catalina Timewalkers chapter of Questers in SaddleBrooke on March 28.
Sylvia’s mother Katherine gave Sylvia autographs she had collected in the 1930s while in high school and college. Katherine was a violinist, attending many concerts (in Ames, Iowa) to see performing violinists, pianists, string quartets, and orchestras. Katherine’s most coveted autograph obtained was that of Jascha Heifetz in 1936 when she was only 15.
Sylvia’s collection primarily includes musicians: string players, pianists, singers, composers, and conductors. She also has autographs from singers and actors on Broadway, visual artists, literary figures, personalities, sports players, and even royalty!
Some of the highlights of Sylvia’s presentation included those autographs she obtained of string players (Jacqueline du Pre, Janos Starker, and Mstislav Rostropovich), pianists (Leif Ove Andsnes, Alfred Brendel, Dave Brubeck, Rudolf Serkin, and, most recently, Olga Kern), singers (Ella Fitzgerald, Leontyne Price, Beverly Sills, Rudy Vallee, and many Metropolitan Opera singers), composers (John Cage, John Corigliano, and Virgil Thompson), and conductors (Rene Clausen, Moses Hogan, Sir Andre Previn, Helmuth Rilling, and Stanislaw Skrowaczewski).
Broadway performers include Matthew Broderick, Audra McDonald, Bernadette Peters, Tom Hanks, and Courtney B. Vance. Her prized literary autograph is of Charles Schulz, with a drawing of Schroder. Literary figures include author Howard Gardner and lyricist Sir Tim Rice. Autographs of personalities include Victor Borge and Garrison Keillor. Sports figures include Harrison Barnes (NBA) and rock wall climber Sasha Dig Iulian. Finally, Sylvia also has the autograph of His Majesty Harald V, King of Norway, as she was awarded the Medal of St. Olav for her work developing and supervising a student teaching program in the Kvinnherad district of Norway.
Collecting autographs has been a special experience to memorialize exceptional performances. Most of Sylvia’s autographs were obtained before there were strict rules about going backstage or waiting beside the red carpet for performers to emerge. Sylvia continues to take the opportunity to meet great artists and cultural icons.
Following the business meeting and presentation at Leni Bowman’s home, a delicious buffet was served with the help of co-hosts Alice Dahl and Debbie Muse.
Interested in joining the Catalina Timewalkers chapter of Questers? Meetings are held on the third Friday of the month, October through May. For membership information, email Leni Bowman at gunky1213@gmail.com.
Arizona Questers’ purpose, mission, and vision can be found at www.azquesters.org.
Upcoming events can be viewed at www.azquesters.org/news-and-events.