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NAINN REFEKNA OV16 1Uri

RELEASE ON RECEIPT: 1972

REGINA (October 6) -- Miss Irene Salemka, an inter-

nationally acclaimed soprano, will receive an honorary doctor of

laws degree at the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus fall

Convocation ceremony, October 21 .

A native of Weburn, Miss Salemka made her debut in

London, Eng. at Sadler's Wells Opera as "Mimi" and as "Pamina" in

The Magic Flute". She starred in a BBC TV production of "Faust" opposite Boris Christoff and has long since been recognized as an opera star of the first rank.

Her first European performances were in Basel , Switzer- land, where George Solti , the famous Hungarian conductor heard her, and engaged her for the Frankfurt State Opera where she was employed from 1957-65. The renowned conductor, Hermann Sherchen, chose her for the role of Anne in "The Rake's Progress", and later, well known composer Paul Hindemith engaged her for several performances of "Israel in Egypt".

On the continent, Miss Salemka has appeared in the opera houses of Cologne, Stuttgart, Berlin, Bremen, Amsterdam and

Munich. In Berl in, she sang 50 performances of "The Merry Widow" and has appeared extensively on German TV doing two complete TV films of "The Merry Widow" and "Madame Dubarry."

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In April , 1971 , Miss Salemka appeared with the

Vancouver Opera Association in their production of "The Tales of Hoffman". More recently, she has returned from numerous successful engagements on European opera stages, Liederabends in Paris, Stuttgart, Munich, Los Angeles and a special concert at the request of the Canadian Ambassador in Bonn, West Germany.

Miss Salemka is currently appearing in a Ft. Lauder- dale performance of "Madame Butterfly" which closes several days before the Regina Campus Convocation. She has consented to honor assembled guests and participants in the Convocation ceremony by singing "Vissi D'Arte" from Puccini 's Tosca.

The Convocation ceremony will be held in the Education

Building Auditorium at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 21 . Graduands and friends are invited to attend the Convocation Tea in the main cafeteria, Laboratory Building, at 3:30 p.m. The Convocation

Dinner and Ball will take place that evening in Hanbidge Hall ,

Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts.

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EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: Photos have been supplied where available.

This is the first of a series of releases

on the fall Convocation at the U of S, Regina

Campus. For information, please contact Mr.

Ron Ware, 584-4402.