Singing in the Metropolitan Opera (The Met) is a shared dream for many who sing opera. It is regarded by many in the performing arts as “the mecca” of all great singers. For Mansfield resident Dalton Derr, this dream came true in 1970 at the age of 30. “I didn’t want to think ‘if only’ when I got old. I sang with the Met because I could,” reflected Derr.
Derr found his special singing voice while in college at Wittenberg. At this point of his life, he had been singing for a while and was “fascinated with the human voice.” He dropped out between his junior and senior year in order to pursue and further develop his singing career. His first stop was family.
Derr grew up in a musical family, so going to his father was only natural. Derr described the moment when he first found he could sing, and sing well. “I found it with dad on the piano. He played some scales and I sang them. Then, all of a sudden, I sang louder and fuller. He turned around in his chair, looked at me, and that was the last lesson I had from my dad. From then on I got training from other prominent singers. It’s wonderful to explore the voice. I have a gift, so I decided to develop it.”
From that moment on, Derr explored his voice and challenged his abilities by singing in different musical groups. His first musical was “Anything Goes” with The Ohio State University at Mansfield. He would enroll once again in college and attain his teaching degree. He continued to sing as a solo artist while simultaneously teaching English at John Simpson Middle School.
As he continued singing, his love for singing grew. In what seemed like a whirlwind of events, something Derr described as “miraculous,” he was sent to Broadway in New York City for auditions in the start of the year of 1970. Noted operate singer Janice Hall was his agent and trainer. Within a month and a half, he was part of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) Equity and got a singing part in the musical “My Fair Lady.”
One day, Derr decided to go to The Met. He walked in, made eye contact and nodded at the secretary, and she let him in. “When you’re living in New York City, you learn to do things from gut and gall. I did this when I went to the Met. And things happened miraculously,” said Derr.
While in the dressing room, he met bass singer Tom Powell of the Met. Powell offered Derr a drink, which he politely refused, Powell gave Derr a tour of the famous opera house. That night, Derr received a phone call offering him a job at the Metropolitan Opera House. He accepted.
The following year Derr attended many practices, performed in many operas, and toured with the team all over the United States. He worked and sang with names like Cornelius L. Reid, Sylvia McNair, and Janice Hall. He even sang for Norman Vincent Peale in the Marble Collegiate Church.
With Derr’s career trajectory climbing, his wife flew up to look for homes. His wife, at the time, was a teacher, and she was offered jobs at prestigious schools in the New York City area. They were planning to make a permanent home in New York. The metropolis would not be so welcoming.
In the same day his wife arrived, Derr received two traffic violations and his car was towed. After this incident, he and his wife decided to live a more simple and quiet life in Mansfield instead.
“The fast-paced life was not for me,” explained Derr. He stretched his arms out and referred to Mansfield when he said, “These are my people. This is my home. Possibilities are here and infinite.” He packed up and moved back to Mansfield, where he and his wife currently reside.
Today, Derr is active in many parts of the local community. He sings in a doo-wop quartet named “Moonlighters.” They sing weekly in churches and different public venues. He lends his vocals to the symphony at the Renaissance and over the years has directed many choirs. He volunteers for Friends of Mansfield Parks (FOMP) where he is interested in maintaining the community gardens and flowers.
