2019 HIASAA Hall of Fame Member
Marion Alch - Special Recognition Award for Lifetime Achievement
Marion Alch graduated from Highland High School in 1937. He studied voice and trumpet in St. Louis while working in the records department of Famous-Barr Co. Marion attended Juilliard in New York City for two years, and Columbia University for two years, earning his Masters Degree in 1948.
Prior to attending Juilliard and Columbia, Mr. Alch served his country in the Army and was discharged in 1946. He played a trumpet in the military’s 43rd Rainbow Division Band. He spent 18 months in Occupation Duty in Europe. He would sing at special service programs. Marion, a tenor, performed opera singing engagements all over Europe until 1970. During his later years in Europe, he was director of new productions at Innsbruck’s Landestheater. Marion returned to the United States to teach Opera and Voice in New York, Virginia, and Ohio, retiring as Professor Emeritus of Voice from Ohio State University in 1988.
Mr. Alch toured as Singer/Master of Ceremonies with “Holiday On Ice” twice throughout South America; Havana, Cuba; Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Lima, Peru; Carracas, Venezuela; and Montevideo, Uruguay.
Mr. Alch sang opera until 1994. He retired to live in New York. He sang at occasional events after his retirement. Mr. Alch passed away in 2016 at the age of 96.