Obituary of Lynn Starling Biddlecome

Lynn Starling Biddlecome (1932-2023) had a long and varied career, which included posing as a print fashion model, acting as a giant bunny in a children’s television show, performing as an opera singer, and most recently teaching and coaching singing.

She sang with both the Metropolitan Opera and The New York City Opera. In the latter’s production of the Ballad of Baby Doe in the late 1950’s she played the role of Silver Dollar, the daughter of Baby Doe, performed by Beverly Sills.

Lynn began her singing career as a child performing at weddings and Bar Mitzvahs.

She later performed at New York nightclubs and on cruise ships. She learned to play the guitar in order to accompany her voice at these venues.

After her singing career, she began teaching folk guitar during the 1960s, which led her to write a book, “Teaching Guitar to Children,” first published by Warner Brothers.

She also arranged a humorous choral piece, “The Chicken Song,” which has been performed by university choruses.

The song begins:

Won’t you come and walk with me

my little wife today?

There’s barley in the barley field

and hayseed in the hay.

And later ends in a chorus of clucking.

During the 1970’s Lynn returned to singing, but this time as a teacher and coach to aspiring musical theater actors and dancers. Her methods were successful as her students landed roles in Broadway musicals that included The Lion King, Oliver, Chicago, 42nd Street, Cats, A Chorus Line, Annie, and Gypsy. During this time, she also taught at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

It would take a book to write about her kindness.

Lynn Starling Biddlecome recently had been a resident of Princeton, N.J. She was the wife of Robert Biddlecome, the mother of William Teichner, stepmother to six children, and one adopted daughter Chris Bartek.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30am on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau St., Princeton, NJ 08542. Burial will follow in Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown, PA.

Memorial donations may be made to the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Research Foundation at edsrf.org

Arrangements are under the direction of Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton, NJ.