In Memoriam: Paulina Stark, 1936-2025

Paulina Stark, professor emerita of voice at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, passed away on February 6. She was 88 years old.

Professor Stark served as a faculty member with the UMass Amherst department of music and dance from 1985 to 2005. She also taught masterclasses at conservatories and universities across the country. As a vocalist, she was known for her Spanish, French, and twentieth-century American repertoire. She had an international career as a soprano in operas, oratorios, and recitals.

Born in Colombia to American parents, Professor Stark was a magna cum laude graduate of Rice University in Houston, Texas, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Romance languages and master’s degree in French literature. She completed post-graduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Houston.