Corinne Swall White

Corinne Swall White, a talented opera singer and Marin County native, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2020 in Tiburon, California. She was 92.

Corinne was born on December 13, 1927 in Ross, California to Oscar and Jane Swall. She attended the Adeline E. Kent School and Tamalpais High School. She then obtained degrees from College of Marin, The Juilliard School, University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco State.

Corinne began her musical career by winning a vocal Marin Music Chest scholarship to The Julliard School as a coloratura soprano in 1948. During her career, she performed as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Carre Theatre in Amsterdam. She also performed in Australia and Canada. In addition to performing, Corinne wrote the libretti for several operas. She also taught, serving on the music faculty at the University of California, Berkeley for 10 years in addition to teaching voice at California State University, Chico. She served on the Board of Directors of Marin Music Chest for many years.

Corinne settled permanently in Kentfield, California. Beginning in the 1970s, she was heavily involved as a performer and a writer with the Mother Lode Musical Theater alongside Monroe Kanouse. Mother Lode performed locally, as well as on tour. Dear to Corinne’s heart was Mother Lode’s Drake Pageant, which they performed on Angel Island with a cast that included local Native American Miwok members. Other notable productions over the years included Gambling Jones, Las Posadas, the opera Voices of Califia, Nightingale of the Gold Rush, and Divas of the Golden West.

Corinne traveled the world. She loved spending time outdoors, and her home of Marin County allowed her to enjoy nature throughout her life. She especially enjoyed swimming at The Meadow Club, where she was a longtime member.

She is survived by her daughter, Ronnie, and her two grandsons, Madison and Spenser.