Florence Birdwell

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Florence Gilliam Birdwell is an American educator, musician, and singer, who has taught musical theater and opera singing to thousands of Oklahoma students over a five decade career, continuing today as professor emeritus.

Born in Arizona, Birdwell was raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico but studied voice under Inez Silberg at Oklahoma City University, completing undergraduate and graduate degrees at that institution. After additional instruction, Birdwell returned to OCU where she joined the School of Music as professor of voice.

Among other honors, Birdwell received the Governor's Arts Award in 1985 from Oklahoma governor George Nigh, and has watched students like Kelli O'Hara, Kristin Chenoweth, Lara Teeter and 1981 Miss America Susan Powell on the American Musical Stage. In 1990, OCU established the Florence Birdwell Vocal Scholarship Fund to honor the educator.

In March, 2007, many of her students and fans honored Birdwell with "Starry Night," a musical tribute to her lengthy teaching career and a fund raising event to fund an endowed chair in Birdwell's name at the university.