{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Beebe Freitas | image = Beebe Freitas Head of Music - Hawaii Opera Theatre.jpg | birth_name = Beatrice Pauline Botty | birth_date = {{Birth date|1938|8|28}} | birth_place = Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2018|2|17|1938|8|28}} | death_place = Aina Haina, Oahu, Hawaii | occupation = Head of Music – Hawaii Opera Theatre | years_active = 1954–2018 | spouse = Lewis Pimentel Freitas (m. 1964–; divorce) }}
'''Beebe Freitas''' (née '''Beatrice Pauline Botty'''; August 28, 1938 – February 17, 2018) was an American pianist, organist, vocal coach and educator. She was the Head of Music for Hawaii Opera Theatre.<ref name="Opera America">{{cite journal|title=Membership Directory |journal=National Opera Center |issue=Summer 2014 |url=http://www.operaamerica.org/applications/membership/company.aspx?loc=3068 |accessdate=June 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903090022/http://www.operaamerica.org/applications/membership/company.aspx?loc=3068 |archivedate=September 3, 2014 |df=mdy}}</ref>
==Life== Beebe Freitas was born as Beatrice Pauline Botty in Youngstown, Ohio, to mother Pauline (née Esterhay) and father John Botty. Freitas's father was Pastor of the Hungarian United Presbyterian Church in Youngstown, was born in Hungary and was a naturalized citizen of the United States.<ref name="Oral History">{{cite book |last1=Lynch |first1=Terrence |title=Pauline Botty: Sociology Department Experience |date=May 23, 1977 |publisher=Youngstown State University |location=Youngstown, Ohio |pages=i-ii}}</ref> Freitas's mother was Dean of Women and Head of the Sociology Department at Youngstown State University and an attorney.<ref name="Oral History-2">{{cite book |last1=Lynch |first1=Terrence |title=Pauline Botty: Sociology Department Experience |date=May 23, 1977 |publisher=Youngstown State University |location=Youngstown, Ohio |pages=3, 4, 10}}</ref> Beebe married Lewis Pimentel Freitas<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-10-08 |title=Obituary for Lewis Pimentel Freitas |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-advertiser-obituary-for-le/153834378/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |pages=16}}</ref> on November 30, 1964, and was the mother of Roslyn Kapuamakalaniepaheahe Freitas Catracchia and John Botty Freitas.
Freitas attended South High School in Youngstown and in 1954 was the recipient of a Ford Foundation Early Admissions Scholarship to Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958, studying piano with Edward Mattos.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Just Like My Mom/Dad |journal=Oberlin Alumni Magazine |date=Fall 2006 |volume=102 |issue=2 |page=3}}</ref> She was awarded a Scholarship in Accompanying from Boston University where she received a Master of Music degree in 1959, studying piano with Alexander Borovsky and music history with Karl Geiringer.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Aria |journal=Hawaii Opera Theatre Season Bulletin |issue=February–March 2000 |page=27}}</ref> Continuing postgraduate education at Juilliard School of Music, New York City, from 1959 to 1962, she studied piano with Beveridge Webster and ensemble music with Louis Persinger, Isadore Cohen, Robert Mann, Luigi Silva and others.<ref name="Murray">{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Steve |date=October 12, 2005 |title=Beebe Freitas |url=https://archives.midweek.com/content/columns/oldfriends_article/beebe_freitas/ |accessdate=June 14, 2014 |publisher=MidWeek}}</ref>
Freitas and her husband moved to Honolulu in 1966<ref name=Murray/> where she was the Head of Music for Hawaii Opera Theatre, organist for the First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu<ref name=Church>{{cite web |last1=Freitas |first1=Beebe |title=organist |url=http://www.fpchawaii.org/?page_id=8&staff=134 |website=First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu |accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref> and the Punahou School Chapel Program,<ref name=Punahou>{{cite web |last1=Freitas |first1=Beebe |title=Profile of an Organist |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovv8zchD29Q |website=YouTube |publisher='Hiki No" Hawaii Public Television |accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref> and coached privately.
She died at her home in Aina Haina, Hawaii on February 17, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/2018/02/20/hawaii-news/gifted-isle-musician-helped-others-reach-their-potential/|title=Gifted isle musician helped others reach their potential|date=February 20, 2018|publisher=|accessdate=February 22, 2018}}</ref>
==Career== ===Early years=== Freitas made her professional debut performing with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra during their 1955 – '56 season. While an Accompanying Scholarship Masters recipient at Boston University she served as a rehearsal pianist for Charles Munch, Music Director and Conductor of the Boston Symphony, during their 1958 – '59 season and, during the summer of 1959 performed as soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra, Arthur Fiedler conducting. While at Juilliard she served as the Choral Rehearsal Pianist from 1959 to 1962 and participated in the Opening Performance of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.<ref name=Aria>{{cite journal |title=Aria |journal=Hawaii Opera Theatre Season Bulletin |volume=2000 season |issue=February–March 2000 |page=27}}</ref>
Over the next four years she went on to become the rehearsal pianist for the Collegiate Chorale and the Camerata Singers under the direction of Abraham Kaplan, and regularly served as rehearsal pianist for choral works being presented by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein, William Steinberg, Joseph Krips and Thomas Schippers.<ref name=Keany>{{cite news |last1=Keany |first1=Michael |last2=Toth |first2=Catherine |title=Behind the Curtain |issue=January 2009 |publisher=Honolulu magazine}}</ref> Freitas also was rehearsal accompanist for recordings under Robert Shaw.<ref name=Hongwanji>{{cite news |title=Honpa Hongwanji, Mission to Honor Living Treasures of Hawaii |publisher=Honolulu Star Bulletin |date=February 1, 2003}}</ref>
===Honolulu, Hawaii=== After Freitas and husband Lewis moved to Honolulu,<ref name=Murray/> she taught privately and was the organist at Niu Valley's Kilohana Methodist Church under Helen Noh Lee. She joined the faculty of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Music Department in 1972 teaching piano, accompanying, working with choruses, and coaching opera and music theater workshops.<ref name=Manoa>{{cite journal |title=Music at Manoa |journal=University of Hawaiʻi Department of Music Bulletin |date=Fall 1984 |volume=3 |issue=1 |page=3}}</ref>
Freitas began working with Hawaii Opera Theatre (HOT) as rehearsal pianist in 1972 when Robert LaMarchina, then conductor of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra (recently renamed Hawaii Symphony), initiated regular opera productions.<ref name=Dale>{{cite book |last1=Hall |first1=Dale E. |title=The Honolulu Symphony: a Century of Music |date=2002 |publisher=Goodale Publishing |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |isbn=0-9662945-6-4 |pages=116–117}}</ref> She helped shepherd the transition of the company, as part of the Honolulu Symphony, to being a separate institution, serving at various times as rehearsal pianist, vocal coach, co-Choral Master with Nola Nahulu, Artistic Director,<ref name=Dalep137>{{cite book |last1=Hall |first1=Dale E. |title=The Honolulu Symphony: a Century of Music |date=2002 |publisher=Goodale Publishing |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |isbn=0-9662945-6-4 |pages=137–138}}</ref> Associate Artistic Director and was Head of Music for the company.<ref name="HOT 2014">{{cite journal |title=Aria |journal=Hawaii Opera Theatre Season Bulletin |issue=March 2014 |page=16}}</ref>
Freitas has performed in recitals with David Shifrin, Tom Boyd, Leonard Rose, Sylvia McNair, Bernard Greenhouse, Yo-Yo Ma, Quinn Kelsey, Maya Hoover,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hawaiiopera.org/news-events/tag/beebe-freitas/|title=Beebe Freitas Archives - HOT|website=HOT|date=September 11, 2013 |accessdate=February 22, 2018}}</ref> Lawrence Paxton, Sasha Cooke, Leon Williams, Frederica von Stade and others. She was the keyboard specialist with the Honolulu Symphony for thirty years and has performed with many of the professional chamber music groups in the state,<ref name=HiChOrch>{{cite journal |title=Program |journal=Hawaii Chamber Orchestra |date=May 7, 1977 |page=6}}</ref> including the Galliard String Quartet and the Spring Wind Quintet.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Program |journal=Spring Wind Quintet |date=May 14, 1993 |page=4}}</ref> She has recorded ''Sea Dreams'', for Lehua Records<ref name="Sea Dreams">{{cite web |title=Sea Dreams |url=https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/178-8224297-2718219?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=beebe%20freitas |publisher=Lehua Records |accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref> and keyboards for Rosemary Clooney's last two recordings: "The Last Concert" (2002)<ref name=Clooney-1>{{cite web |last1=Santella |first1=Jim |title=Rosemary Clooney: The Last Concert |url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-last-concert-rosemary-clooney-concord-music-group-review-by-jim-santella.php#.U6ovJ7E62Qc |website=All About Jazz |date=November 2002 |accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref> and "Best of the Concord Years" (2003).<ref name=Clooney-2>{{cite web |title=Best of the Concord Years |url=http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Rosemary-Clooney_000000000004199/item_Best-Of-The-Concord-Years_1939730 |website=HMV.co.jp |publisher=HMV Online |accessdate=June 14, 2014}}</ref> She has served on the boards of several music organizations in Honolulu, including Hawai'i Arts Alliance<ref name=HAA>{{cite web |title=Hawai'i Arts Alliance |url=http://www.hawaiiartsalliance.org/index.php/site/who |website=Hawai'i Arts Alliance |accessdate=June 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703233338/http://www.hawaiiartsalliance.org/index.php/site/who |archive-date=July 3, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
==Awards and honors== Freitas has received numerous awards and honors, among which are the following: *'Oahu Choral Society – Dale R. Noble Award for outstanding contributions to choral music in Hawaii 2014<ref name=OCS>{{cite web |last1=Morem |first1=Stephanie |title=Vivace 2014 |url=http://www.oahuchoral.com/vivace2014.html |website='Oahu Choral Society |accessdate=June 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013110917/http://www.oahuchoral.com/vivace2014.html |archivedate=October 13, 2014 |df=mdy}}</ref> *Hawaii Arts Alliance – Alfred Preis Award 2005<ref name=Berger>{{cite news |last1=Berger |first1=John |title=On the Scene |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2005/10/19/features/berger.html |accessdate=June 14, 2014 |issue=292 |publisher=Honolulu Star Bulletin |date=October 19, 2005|volume=10}}</ref> *Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, ''Living Treasures of Hawaii 2003''<ref name=Ritz>{{cite news |last1=Ritz |first1=Mary Kaye |title=Mission honors 6 as 'treasures' |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Jan/25/il/il11afaith.html |accessdate=June 14, 2014 |publisher=Honolulu Advertiser |date=January 25, 2003}}</ref> *National Society of Arts and Letters, Honolulu Chapter, Roselani Medallion Honoree 2002 *City and County of Honolulu Commission on Culture and the Arts Award *YWCA of 'Oahu Leadership Honoree 1983<ref name=YWCA>{{cite web |title=Honorees 1980–1989 |url=http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=9fLGJSOyHpE&b=3919735 |website=YWCA |publisher=YWCA-Hawaii Chapter |accessdate=June 14, 2014 |archive-date=August 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816133217/http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=9fLGJSOyHpE&b=3919735 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==See also== *Hawaii Arts Alliance – Alfred Preis Award *Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii – Living Treasures of Hawaii *YWCA Building (Honolulu, Hawaii)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.hawaiiopera.org/ Hawaii Opera Theatre] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20150128071531/http://www.hongwanjihawaii.com/news_events/12.html Honpa Hongwanji Mission Living Treasures of Hawaii] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbqKgo3swVc ''Miracles Happen'' co-composed song with Roslyn] *[https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B008ILQOIA/184-7352529-5772963?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Beebe%20Freitas&index=digital-music&search-type=ss ''Sea Dreams'', SLCD7034, Lehua Records] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfAELK7VNMY ''Profile of an Organist'', Punahou Schools]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Freitas, Beatrice Pauline}} Category:1938 births Category:2018 deaths Category:20th-century American organists Category:20th-century American women musicians Category:21st-century American keyboardists Category:21st-century American organists Category:21st-century American women musicians Category:American organists Category:American music educators Category:Musicians from Youngstown, Ohio Category:Oberlin College alumni Category:Boston University College of Fine Arts alumni Category:Juilliard School alumni Category:University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa faculty Category:American women music educators Category:American women organists Category:20th-century American pianists Category:21st-century American pianists Category:American women pianists Category:Musicians from Honolulu Category:American people of Hungarian descent Category:American women academics