Singing the Praises of our Opera in the Ozarks Alumni
Words can’t describe the feelings we have when we are moved by the visual and performing arts. Those sensations are what make our lives special and behind each of these special moments is the creator of the art. Where do these artists come from? Their journey isn’t easy. We have the opportunity to see growth and potential in these young artists and we are blessed to participate in the process. What a vision Henry Hobart had in 1950 when he began a program where “The Students are the Stars”! This summer I heard two alumni, Chris Merritt and Cindia Sieden sing at Santa Fe Opera in "THE TEMPEST" and it made me so proud to have been a part of their artistic lives. Jim Swiggart, General Director
What Have Some of our Talented Artists Been Doing Lately?
2006 / 2007.....
Benjamin Bunsold was a Opera in the Ozarks Young Artist in 2000 and 2002 and has been busy ever since. He spent two seasons as a member of Glimmerglass Opera's Young Artist program and two years as a Resident Artist for Fort Worth Opera. Recent engagments include Il Duca in Rigoletto and Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore for Opera in the Heights, Alfredo in La Traviata for Asheville Lyric Opera, Fenton in Falstaff for Fort Worth Opera. He was also the Messiah soloist for Tucson Symphony Orchestra anf for the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. Benjamin is currently playing the role of Frederic for New Jersey Opera Theater.
Angela Cadelago is currently singing the role of Alba in the West Coast Premiere of LA CURANDERA by Robert X. Rodriguez. Her upcoming engagements include singing Papagena in THE MAGIC FLUTE with Opera Santa Barbara (2008 - 2009 season).
Mezzo Catherine Cook recently sang with San Francisco Opera and in the Berkshire Opera’s production of MADAMA BUTTERFLY. Mark Delavan was in Cincinnati in 2006 as Scarpia in TOSCA, after appearing at the Metropolitan in New York in Verdi’s LA FORZA DEL DESTINO. He returned to the Met the first of the year for two productions - CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA and ANDREA CHENIER (Giordano). Mark will appear again in TOSCA as Scarpia in Munich in May and Covent Gardens in June. He will rejoin the Met in summer park performances as Rigoletto.
Casey Finnigan sang the Duke in RIGOLETTO for Opera Fresca in California last fall.
The name of Amy Grable is beginning to appear in cast lists nationally, as she played New York for Ci Capo Opera Theatre. The soprano was in THE MERRY WIDOW in October at that venue.
Hei-Kyung Hong, soprano, appeared on the gala opening night program of the Mostly Mozart Festival on PBS's Live From Lincoln Center in August. She was soloist in Mozart's "Coronation Mass", conducted by Maestro Louis Langree. She was Violetta in LA TRAVIATA at the Met in New York in January 2007 for several performances. In February 2007, she changed pace to Wagner for DIE MEISTERSINGER.
Weston Hurt played the role of Frank in DIE TOTE STADT of Korngold at New York City Opera. Weston and Latonia Moore will be singing in Oony's upcoming production fo L'ARLESIANA at Carnegie Hall in February of 2007. Weston is singing Baldassare and Latonia is singing Vivetta.
Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, New York claimed Maria Kanyova for Janacek’s JESUFA.Her next venue was Opera Utah in Salt Lake City for Violetta in LA TRAVIATA. As a Christmas celebration in San Francisco, she san Gretel in Humperdinck's HANSEL AND GRETEL the entire month of December. Maria, nee Mary Jane Kania, was a National Federation of Music Clubs’ Young Artist in the mid-90s.
Marquita Lister has been Salome at Michigan Opera Theatre in Detroit this past summer. She brought life to another title role in October, that of Aida in the Verdi masterpiece, in Nashville. Amanda Mace is a Wagner specialist based in Munich.She sings throughout Europe, making her Bayreuth debut in the RING cycle and DIE MEISTERSINGER.
Latonia Moore was featured by Des Moines Metro in Mozart's THE MAGIC FLUTE. Called by Brian Kellow in OPERA NEWS "one of the most gifted young sopranos around", Latonia made her New York City Opera debut in September as Micaela in CARMEN. Much advance publicity is being given an upcoming "VIDDA Award Recital" by Latonia at Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall, to be in May of 07.
Tenor, Antonio Nagore, traveled to Tallinn to sing for Estonia National Opera. He appeared in a concert version of LA WALLY. He was previously in Montreal for Pollione in NORMA.
Another NFMC Young Artist and Opera in the Ozarks alumna is soprano Jane Ohmes, who sang in Washington National Opera’s DAS RHEINGOLD this season.
Louis Otey played in San Antonio’s MERRY WIDOW of Lehar during the summer. In October, Arizona Opera featured him in Verdi's MACBETH, its season opener.
John Packard, baritone, has starred with Fresno Grand Opera several times, most recently as Emile Lebeque in SOUTH PACIFIC. He had a lead in LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR for the Kentucky Opera in Louisville in December 2006.
Two prominent Opera in the Ozarks alumni were featured in an American premiere production at Santa Fe Opera in August, celebrating the 50th anniversary for the company. The vehicle was THE TEMPEST, by Thomas Ades. In the cast were Cyndia Sieden and Chris Merritt, and in the audience for one performance was IPFAC General Director Jim Swiggart.
Stephen (Steve) Smith (Opera in the Ozarks - 1977 & 1985), has been on the faculty of Juilliard since 1998 and has been the artist faculty of the Aspen Music Festival and School since the summer of 1996. His new book, "The Naked Voice; A Wholistic Approach to Singing" was published by Oxford University Press in March 2007.
Amber Womack recently was in a production of SUOR ANGELICA with the Opera Company of Brooklyn. Amber was in the 2006 season of Opera in the Ozarks.
Dana Zenobi had an engagement with the Austin Lyric Opera in Philip Glass' WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS.
2007/ 2008.....
Benjamin Bunsold sang in Verdi's FALSTAFF in Fort Worth.
Mark Delavan completed his contract for ANDREA CHENIER at the Met, and was off to Munich for Scarpia in TOSCA, a role he repeated at Covent Garden in London. His final overseas stop was singing Tomsky in Saito Kinen Festival performances of QUEEN OF SPADES. Mark is now at Chicago's Lyric as Germont in TRAVIATA.
Hei-Kyung Hong was the feature cover story of the June OPERA NEWS, under the title "Perennial Grace". Besides her beautiful picture on the cover, ther were five pages with pictures covering her 24 years of appearances at the Met.
Weston Hurt currently is in Tucson rehearsing for Enrico in Arizona Opera's LUCIA DE LAMMERMOOR. Afterward the production will move to Phoenix for performances in that city.
Adam Juran has been busy this year, singing the role of the Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance with Washington Savoyards, and Figaro in Il Barbieri di Siviglia with Opera Fresca (Mendocino, CA).
Maria Kanyova sang Nedda in Leoncavallo's PAGLIACCI at New York City Opera.
Chris Merritt presented a solo recital at the Pesaro Rossini Festival in Italy..
Katherine Pracht recently sang the role of Constance in Bard SummerScape Festival's THE SORCERER, and presently singing the title role in David Carlson's THE MIDNIGHT ANGEL at the Skylight. Katherine is looking forward to her Florentine Opera debut as The Page in SALOME. Katherine attended OIO in 1998 and was a winner of the Past Presidents Scholarship that year. She currently resides in Philadelphia.
Todd Willander sang the lead in ROBERTO DEVEREUX at the Buxton festival in Great Britain.
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