Barbara Maier Gustern Explained

Barbara Maier Gustern
Birth Name:Barbara Joan Maier
Birth Date:10 February 1935
Birth Place:Boonville, Indiana, U.S.
Death Place:New York City, U.S.
Alma Mater:DePauw University
Columbia University
Occupation:Vocal coach, singer

Barbara Joan Gustern (née Maier; February 10, 1935 – March 15, 2022) was an American vocal coach and singer. She had many noted students, including Blondie singer Debbie Harry, Taylor Mac, Justin Vivian Bond, Diamanda Galás, and Kathleen Hanna.

Biography

Barbara Joan Maier was raised in Boonville, Indiana.[1] [2] She was the daughter of Charles E. Maier and Gladys Hester Maier.[3] She completed a B.A. from DePauw University and a master's degree in psychology at Columbia University.[4] She worked briefly in psychology before performing in musicals.

Maier met her future husband Josef Donald Gustern, the son of Louis and Helen Gustern of New York, while singing at the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale. They married on July 27, 1963, at her parents' home in Boonville, Indiana.[5] In August 1964, Gustern and her husband were cast in The Threepenny Opera at the Ephrata Star Playhouse.[6] When she was 40, she began teaching at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Gustern had many noted students, including Blondie singer Debbie Harry, Taylor Mac, Justin Vivian Bond, Diamanda Galas, and Kathleen Hanna.[7]

Death and aftermath

On March 10, 2022, Gustern sustained a head injury after being pushed to the ground by a woman outside of her apartment building in Chelsea, Manhattan. While she remained conscious in the immediate aftermath and was able to give information to the police, her health deteriorated soon after, and she was taken to Bellevue Hospital for surgery, where it was found that she had suffered severe brain damage.[8] She died from her injuries five days after the attack, on March 15, at the age of 87.[9] [10]

On March 22, 2022, a 26-year-old woman, Lauren Pazienza, turned herself in to authorities in connection to Gustern's death, and was charged with manslaughter. Prosecutors indicated that the charges could be upgraded to murder.[11] Pazienza pleaded guilty to the charges of first-degree manslaughter on August 23, 2023, for which she agreed to serve eight years in prison.[12] A judge later extended the sentence to eight years and six months, stating that she was "unconvinced" that Pazienza had taken responsibility for her actions.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: November 1, 2017 . Cultivating the city's voices . March 16, 2022 . NY Press . Straus Media . en-US.
  2. Web site: Rabinowitz . Chloe . Mary Testa and More Join If Music Be the Food of Love Benefit Celebrating the Birthday of Barbara Maier Gustern . March 16, 2022 . BroadwayWorld.com . en.
  3. News: December 26, 2006 . Charles E. Maier . 12 . Evansville Courier and Press . March 16, 2022.
  4. News: July 30, 1963 . Barbara Joan Maier Married Saturday at Her Parents' Home . 4 . Evansville Courier and Press . March 16, 2022.
  5. News: May 24, 1964 . Boonville Native to Sing June 2 . 82 . Evansville Press . March 16, 2022.
  6. News: August 15, 1964 . Musical Play Slated at Ephrata . 4 . Lancaster New Era . March 16, 2022.
  7. Web site: March 14, 2022 . Broadway Singing Coach, 87, in Coma After Random Attack in Manhattan .
  8. News: Ransom . Jan . March 14, 2022 . Broadway Singing Coach, 87, Dies After Attack on Street . The New York Times .
  9. Web site: Yakas . Ben . March 15, 2022 . Beloved Broadway singing coach dies after hard shove in Manhattan . Gothamist.
  10. Web site: Dodds . Io . March 15, 2022 . Renowned vocal coach Barbara Maier Gustern dies after being shoved to ground in NYC . registration . March 16, 2022 . The Independent . en.
  11. News: Wong . Ashley . Southall . Ashley . March 22, 2022 . Woman Is Charged in Shoving Death of Broadway Singing Coach . . limited . March 23, 2022.
  12. News: Golgowski . Nina . New York Woman Pleads Guilty To Fatally Shoving Broadway Vocal Coach . August 24, 2023 . HuffPost . August 24, 2023.
  13. Web site: Judge Adds Six Months To Prison Sentence For Woman Who Fatally Shoved NYC Vocal Coach Barbara Gustern. Deadline. 2 October 2023. Evans. Chris.