Eileen Farrell - Early Life and Education

Early Life and Education

Farrell was born in Willimantic, Connecticut, the youngest of four children born to Irish American Catholics Michael Farrell and Catherine Farrell (née Kennedy). Her parents were vaudeville singers who had performed under the name 'The Singing O'Farrells' prior to having children. The family moved quite frequently during Farrell's childhood to various towns in Connecticut. Eileen's first clear memories were of her family's home in Storrs, Connecticut which was where her parents were working as teachers of music and drama at Storrs Agricultural College (now the University of Connecticut).

When Farrell was five years old her family moved back to Willimantic. After attending first grade there, her family moved once again to Norwich, Connecticut after her mother obtained the post of organist at St. Mary's Church in that city. The family remained in Norwich for almost the next 10 years with Farrell completing her Freshman year of high school at Norwich Free Academy in 1935. The family then moved to Woonsocket, Rhode Island and Farrell entered Woonsocket High School in Fall 1936. She graduated from the school in 1939.

Farrell received her early vocal training from her parents during her childhood. Her mother, a talented coloratura soprano, was her primary teacher but her father, a baritone, also occasionally taught her. After graduating from highschool, she moved to New York City in August 1939 to study with retired Metropolitan Opera contralto Merle Alcock. While studying singing with Alcock, she received language coaching from Charlie Baker who was the music director of Rutgers Presbyterian Church. After working with him for a few months, he hired her as a paid singer at Rutgers. When her radio career took off, Baker became Farrell's vocal coach and helped her prepare most of her music. In her autobiography, Can't help singing: the life of Eileen Farrell (1999), she credits Baker with helping her succeed during the early years of her career on radio. Farrell later was a student of vocal and opera coach Eleanor McLellan with whom she credited for giving her a solid technique.