William A. Bartlett Vocal Studies Endowed Scholarship

The William A. Bartlett Vocal Studies Scholarship was established by William “Bill” Bartlett of Houston, Texas, to support aspiring vocalists at Sam Houston State University. A proud SHSU graduate, Bill Bartlett built a successful career as an accountant for a major energy company, but his true passion was always music. From a young age, he displayed a natural talent for singing, frequently performing solos in church choirs. At SHSU, he was a member of the Singing Men’s Chorus for one year and spent three years in the A Cappella Choir under the direction of Dr. Charles Lindsey. Though he was not a music major and had no formal training, Dr. Lindsey recognized his talent and provided private voice lessons during his final two years at SHSU. Beyond campus, Mr. Bartlett remained deeply involved in music, singing in the First Baptist Church choir and performing at churches throughout the area. During his two years of military service, he was a member of the Army Engineer Chorus. After college, he continued studying voice privately and participated in several theatre productions, earning leading roles in Plain and Fancy, Paint Your Wagon, and Once Upon a Mattress. In 1959, Bill Bartlett auditioned for the Houston Grand Opera and was accepted into the Chorus, where he performed for an incredible 29 seasons in 103 productions. As a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), he not only contributed to the chorus but also performed several small roles.