Sarah Goldstein interview
Title
Sarah Goldstein interview
Subject
Sarah Francis Goldstein (d. January 13, 2010)
Description
Sarah Francis Goldstein was a native of Delaware, she grew up in Wilmington, attended Wilmington Public Schools, graduated from the University of Delaware in 1930, received a MS in music education from the University of Pennsylvania, and studied at the University of Virginia, Temple University, University of Toronto, and Peabody College.
Sarah Goldstein was devoted to her family and her synagogue, Adas Kodesch Shel Emeth, where she was a member for all of her 102 years. She had a lifetime love of music, dance, art, theater, and teaching. She was a teacher of music in Wilmington public schools engaging thousands of young children in the joys of music over many decades. She served as the president of the Delaware Music Education Association and of the Delaware branch of the Association of Childhood Education International. She was extremely proud to have studied with the world-famous pedagogue, Carl Orff, at the University of Toronto and she became an expert in the Orff-Schulwerk music method. It is through her efforts that the Orff-Schulwerk Method came to the United States. Ms. Goldstein helped to found the Mid-Atlantic Orff-Schulwek Association and served as its president.
After her retirement from teaching in the public schools, she embarked on a second career as a conductor, impresario, musical theater director, dance instructor, and world traveler. She led the Newark Recorder Ensemble for nearly three decades. In 1991, the Academy of Lifelong Learning invited Ms. Goldstein, then in her 80's to build a chorus. It grew to over 60 members and she continued to serve as its conductor well into her 90's.
As an impresario, she created a concert series at her synagogue which lasted for 12 years and served as a fund raising vehicle as well. Many will remember the wonderful musical productions she created at the Jewish Community Center in Wilmington. She shared her love of Israeli Folk Dance through regular instruction for many years. Throughout her "retirement" she traveled all over the world.
As a young, gifted, musician and dancer, Sarah Goldstein charmed many with her lovely performances. She danced across the Washington Street Bridge for the grand opening of the structure spanning the Brandywine River. She sang solo roles with the Wilmington Opera Society and Capella Club and the Beth Shalom Choir.
On her 100th birthday she was thrilled to receive a letter from then Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., who wrote that her "contributions to the community are commendable and inspiring." Indeed for the thousands of people who studied the arts under Sarah Goldstein, or who attended her concerts, she will be remembered as the Music Lady of Delaware.
Sarah was the daughter of Jacob and Bessie Greenwald Goldstein.
Sarah Goldstein was devoted to her family and her synagogue, Adas Kodesch Shel Emeth, where she was a member for all of her 102 years. She had a lifetime love of music, dance, art, theater, and teaching. She was a teacher of music in Wilmington public schools engaging thousands of young children in the joys of music over many decades. She served as the president of the Delaware Music Education Association and of the Delaware branch of the Association of Childhood Education International. She was extremely proud to have studied with the world-famous pedagogue, Carl Orff, at the University of Toronto and she became an expert in the Orff-Schulwerk music method. It is through her efforts that the Orff-Schulwerk Method came to the United States. Ms. Goldstein helped to found the Mid-Atlantic Orff-Schulwek Association and served as its president.
After her retirement from teaching in the public schools, she embarked on a second career as a conductor, impresario, musical theater director, dance instructor, and world traveler. She led the Newark Recorder Ensemble for nearly three decades. In 1991, the Academy of Lifelong Learning invited Ms. Goldstein, then in her 80's to build a chorus. It grew to over 60 members and she continued to serve as its conductor well into her 90's.
As an impresario, she created a concert series at her synagogue which lasted for 12 years and served as a fund raising vehicle as well. Many will remember the wonderful musical productions she created at the Jewish Community Center in Wilmington. She shared her love of Israeli Folk Dance through regular instruction for many years. Throughout her "retirement" she traveled all over the world.
As a young, gifted, musician and dancer, Sarah Goldstein charmed many with her lovely performances. She danced across the Washington Street Bridge for the grand opening of the structure spanning the Brandywine River. She sang solo roles with the Wilmington Opera Society and Capella Club and the Beth Shalom Choir.
On her 100th birthday she was thrilled to receive a letter from then Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., who wrote that her "contributions to the community are commendable and inspiring." Indeed for the thousands of people who studied the arts under Sarah Goldstein, or who attended her concerts, she will be remembered as the Music Lady of Delaware.
Sarah was the daughter of Jacob and Bessie Greenwald Goldstein.
Publisher
Jewish Historical Society of Delaware
Date
May 31, 1978
Identifier
22-23
Interviewer
Sara Goldstein
Interviewee
Yetta Chaiken
Duration
1:13:35
Files
Collection
Citation
“Sarah Goldstein interview,” Jewish Historical Society of Delaware Collections, accessed July 2, 2024, https://jhsdelaware.org/collections/digital/items/show/114.