Tenor Arthur Herndon enjoyed a distinguished and versatile career that spanned over sixty years. Mr. Herdon was born in Cincinnati's West End in 1932 and received his initial musical instruction from participating in church and school choirs. In 1946, Herndon made his debut as the wren in St Francis of Assisi by Gabriel Pierne. Herndon studied at the Cosmopolitan School of Music and Miami University and then served in the Army during the Korean War. After being honorably discharged, he became the first African American to receive a Bachelor's degree from the College-Conservatory of Music. Upon his graduation, Herndon embarked upon a solo career in Europe during which he was contracted at the Stadtstheater in Kassel and the Bremerhaven Opera. His repertoire included Andres in Wozzeck and Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly as well as many others. Herndon returned to the United States in the early 1970's and worked as a teacher and choral conductor. In 1981, he received his Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the College-Conservatory of Music. Following his graduation, Herndon taught at Taladega College, in the Cincinnati Public Schools and at the Cincinnati School for the Creative and Performing Arts. Herndon was also an active member of the Mt. Calvary Methodist Church (Milford, Ohio) and served as their Minister of Music in his later years. In 2004, he was honored with a Lift Every Voice Legacy Award from the National Opera Association. Arthur Herndon died in 2009.
From the guide to the Arthur Herndon Papers, 1932-2009, 1932-2009, (University of Cincinnati, Archives and Rare Books Library)
