dayton opera - Opera Guild of Dayton

Spring 2015
In This Issue
President’s Message........................p.3
Thank You! Thank You!....................p.3
Opera Ball..................................p.4
Applause, Applause.........................p.5
Backstage with Burt ........................p.6
Tri-state Vocal Competition.............p.7
Working to win
new friends for opera
DAYTON OPERA
ASCEND SEASON
FOR 2015-16
Dayton Opera’s 2015–2016 Ascend
Season explodes onto the Schuster
stage with four outstanding productions that will showcase Dayton’s performing arts scene like never before.
Artistic Director Thomas Bankston
has assembled a season that will truly
ascend to new heights!
The season kicks off on September 19 and 20, 2015, with American
Mosaic, a spectacular program,
bringing together America’s genius
with the breadth of Dayton’s talent
in a mosaic of American music that
also celebrates the 50th Anniversary
of the Miriam Rosenthal Foundation
for the Arts. Dayton Opera will be
joined on this star-studded evening
by Dayton Ballet and Dayton Philharmonic and, in a unique tribute to
the robust arts scene in Dayton, four
additional premier performing arts
organization will also take the stage,
including Bach Society of Dayton,
Human Race Theatre Company, The
Muse Machine, and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC).
All of these organizations have been
recipients of funding from the Miriam
Rosenthal Foundation for the Arts.
In this program, you will hear works
by American greats including Aaron
Copland, Carlisle Floyd, Douglas
Moore, Lerner & Lowe, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington,
and Simon & Garfunkel. It will be
an evening of performing arts that no
one in Dayton will want to miss!
Dayton Opera continues its season
with two of the classics in the opera
repertoire. On November 20 and 22,
2015, Dayton Opera brings back to
the stage Giacomo Puccini’s beloved
Madame Butterfly. The story of
Madame Butterfly has deeply moved
countless audiences since its 1904
premiere, with some of Puccini’s
richest scoring and most treasured
music. The first act climaxes with a
passionate love duet between Pinkerton, an American sailor, and Butterfly, the trusting Japanese girl he has
just wed—temporarily in his mind,
forever in hers. That the audience already knows the wrenching eventual
outcome only heightens the emotional
tension as their voices soar together
to blissful heights of young love.
Small wonder that Madame Butterfly’s place is secure in the world’s top
ten most-performed operas!
On February 26 and 28, 2016,
Dayton Opera presents the company
premiere of Giuseppe Verdi’s penultimate opera Otello, based on Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello. Otello
has been hailed as a masterpiece ever
since Verdi took twenty curtain calls
at its premiere in 1887. The story
turns on three important characters
the forceful Otello, his beautiful wife
Desdemona, and his crafty, unscrupulous rival Iago. The drama between
these three characters unfolds on
stage, with Verdi, in the end, bringing
the opera to a truly Shakespearian
close. Otello is a must-see!
Dayton Opera closes its 20152016 Ascend Season on May 20 and
22, 2016 with an amazing operatic double bill. The program opens
with the world premiere of a one-act
opera entitled The Book Collector,
described as a “mystical landscape”
and written specifically to debut
in Dayton by DPAA’s Music Alive
Composer-in-Residence, Stella Sung.
Carl Orff’s compelling Carmina
Burana rounds out the second half of
the production. Increasingly popular
since its debut, Orff’s scenic cantata
explores the fickleness of fortune and
wealth, the passing nature of life, the
joys of spring, and the pleasures and
perils of drinking, gluttony, gambling,
and lust. Both The Book Collector and
Carmina Burana are fully staged with
dynamic soloists, a large chorus and
the full Dayton Ballet company. Will
fortune smile upon this audacious
endeavor, this intersection of old, new,
and brand-new? Be on hand when
fortune gives Dayton a chance at the
wheel!
COMPOSER-IN-RESIDENCE
Composer-in-Residence, Stella Sung,
was selected to be the first Composer-in-Residence for the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. She has been spending extended periods of time here to
become better acquainted with Dayton’s
artistic leaders and arts supporters. Her
work was seen and well-received in the
February performance of Dayton Ballet’s, Fate of Place, and also when The
Rockwell Connection was performed by
the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra in
conjunction with the Rockwell Exhibition at the Dayton Art Institute last year.
Composer-In-Residence continued on p. 2
Spring 2015
1
Opera Guild of Dayton Officers:
President
Betty Holton
Executive Vice President Penny Wolff
Managing Vice Presidents
Education
Nora Stang
Fundraising
Jane Reynolds
Marketing/
Communications Sue Falter
Membership
Jean Beecher
Office Management Tara King
Special Events/
Hospitality
Kimberly Robinson
Recording Secretary Nancy Farkas
Corresponding SecretaryTara King
Treasurer
Dolores Anderson
Past President
Toni Winger
Opera Notes is published by the
Opera Guild of Dayton.
Editor
Sue Falter
Contributors
Jean Beecher
Suzanne Crippen
Sue Falter
Betty Holton
Burt Saidel
Angela Whitehead
Photography
Kim Coughnor
Dana Kane
Sue Falter
Membership Changes
Changes: Rita Boord
E-mail: [email protected]
Pat Bell
456 Sycamore Ridge Court
Miamisburg, OH 45342
Helen Vawter
E-Mail: [email protected]
NEW MEMBERS:
Sharon and John Busch
1363 Meadow Bridge Drive
Beavercreek, OH 45432
Telephone: 429-0995
E-mail: [email protected]
Patricia Finley
1267 Seneca Drive
Dayton, OH 45402
Telephone: 572-4898
E-mail: [email protected]
Beverly and Timothy Haller
5132 Cedar Brook Court
Springboro, OH 45066
Telephone: 937/291-2004
E-mail: [email protected]
Robert and Vickie Heuman
405 Lawrence Avenue
Miamisburg, OH 45432
Telephone: 866-66543
E-mail: [email protected]
Valerie Jones
4308 Sourwood Drive
Dayton, OH 45424
Telephone: 235-2129
E-Mail: [email protected]
William C. Lloyd
171 Folsom Drive
Dayton, OH 45405
Mark Odum
3212 Annabelle Drive
Dayton, OH 45429
Telephone: 607-5137
Brenda Phillips
6 Hawthorn Street
Dayton, OH 45402
Telephone: 228-2389
E-mail: [email protected]
Judy and Wayne Reeve
3341 Pebble Creek Drive
Beavercreek, OH 45432
Telephone: 426-8450
E-mail: [email protected]
Ms. Jenell R. Ross and Dr. Tony Hall
85 Loop Road
Dayton, OH 45459
E-Mail: [email protected]
Opera Guild of Dayton Mission Statement
The Opera Guild of Dayton encourages and promotes opera
in the greater Dayton area and supports Dayton Opera
through fundraising, marketing and educational activities.
Mailing address: 126 North Main Street, Suite #210
Dayton, Ohio 45402
Telephone:
937/224-3521, ext. 1099
Web address: www.operaguildofdayton.org
2
Opera Notes
Composer-In-Residence continued from p. 1
She is now creating the music for The
Book Collector, her new opera that will
debut in Dayton in spring 2016. Sung
considers this a unique opportunity to
work with three art forms at once – the
opera, ballet, and the orchestra. Her
opera is set in Bavaria with just four
characters (including a book dealer).
Librettist is Ernest Hilbert.
When she is not working for us here
is Dayton, she lives in Orlando, Florida and is director of the Center for
Research and Education in Arts, Technology and Entertainment (CREATE)
at the University of Central Florida and
Professor of Music in UCF’s School of
Visual Arts and Design.
operaguildofdayton.org
President’s Message
Betty Holton
Spring is here at last. Winter was
probably not the worst we have ever
seen but it did seem unusually long. The weather did not stop our Opera
Ball committee from charging ahead,
full force. As all things seemed to fall
into place it was evident that this year
the goal was to meet and exceed expectations. April 11 was truly a wonderful
evening, with beautiful music, a wonderful ambiance and such fun.
The Guild realized that it didn’t
have much time to relax after the
Ball. Plans are already underway for
the Opera Guild BRAVO! Champagne Brunch to be held on September 11, 2015 at the Ponitz Center at
Sinclair Community College.
April was full of activities. The Opera
Guild of Dayton was proud to be a major
sponsor of Dayton Opera’s production of
The Pearl Fishers. It was an outstanding
performance and it was lovely to see the
combined talent of the members of the
Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. The
Guild hosted a pre-opera light supper for
members and friends.
Again this year the Guild sponsored
the 27th annual Tri-State College
Vocal Competition. The event, held
on April 27, was preceded by an
elegant Stars of Tomorrow luncheon
at Moraine Country Club followed by
the competition at the Seventh Day
Adventist Church. It was a special
afternoon.
Mark your calendars for the 52nd
Annual Meeting to be held on June 10,
at Dayton Country Club. A brunch will
be served prior to the meeting. It is a
great opportunity to review the accomplishments of the combined efforts of
the Guild over the past year. Treasurer
Dolores Anderson creates a wonderful
visual report of the year.
As this year continues, it is a time
for “The Changing of the Guard.” I
must share with you my thoughts as
my term as president comes to an
end. It has been challenging, exciting,
exhausting and fun. I have been privileged to work with a group of women
and men who take their volunteering
seriously. Whether it is going to a
school for a an educational program
or ushering for dress rehearsal, making
refreshments for the cast or attending
numerous meetings for fundraising
events, volunteers are there!
One of the highlights of my time
as president was chairing the Guild’s
50th anniversary celebration. It was a
time packed with activities in addition
to our normal fundraising. The tea for
past presidents, the banner that traveled
to all events, the pre-opera supper,
and the publishing of our story of 50
years. An unbelievable committee of
28 worked tirelessly to make sure it
was a memorable, elegant celebration. Another major event during my term
was the privilege of being a member of
the Advisory Committee and Board of
Trustees of the Dayton Performing Arts
Alliance, as representative of the Opera
Guild. It was special to see the plan develop, grow and then become a reality.
How fortunate I was to be involved!
When the Opera Volunteers International (OVI) invited Guild’s to submit
projects for a possible award, Partners
in Excellence. The Executive Committee of the Opera Guild decided to
apply for the award. We submitted our
celebration of the Guild’s 50th Anniversary for consideration. On April 1,
2015 we learned we had won the award
to be presented at the OVI national
conference in May. We can all be proud
of our PARTNERS IN EXCELLENCE
AWARD.
The Opera Guild of Dayton’s members take their goals seriously. I will
always have wonderful memories and
treasure the friends that are a part of
working with the Guild. I am honored
to have served the Guild as president.
Thank You! Thank You!
Home Hospitality
Several families have opened their
homes to singers, directors, and other
staff members who come to Dayton
to construct each of Dayton Opera’s
performances. This year we give
special thanks to Chuck and Patti
Demirjian, Paul and Susie Weaver,
Tom and Kathy Brown, Ron Anderson
and Robb Sloan, Rosalie Jennings, and
Bill and Jackie Lockwood. Their gracious home hospitality saves Dayton
Opera thousands of dollars.
Cookies and Sandwiches
Did you know that The Opera Guild
of Dayton feeds the performers and
staff during the last rehearsal before
each production. The crew works hard
and really appreciates the sandwiches, cookies and punch that the Guild
provides. Kim Robinson and Martha
DeBold find the sandwich makers and
cookie bakers from the Guild membership and want all to know that the
cast appreciates this donations and that
the home made treats are appreciated.
Thanks to all who donated.
Dress Rehearsal Ushers
Whenever the Schuster is open to
the public, there must be ushers there
to take care of them. At the Dress
Rehearsal before each performance,
when students and special guests are
present in the auditorium, Opera Guild
ushers are there to help make things
go smoothly. Thanks to those who
helped this past season.
Spring 2015
3
What an UNFORGETTABLE Night!
Opera Ball 2015 will linger in the
memories of its attendees and be
truly UNFORGETTABLE. From the
spring-like weather to the vibrant hot
pink décor in the ballroom of Moraine
Country Club, the setting on April 11
was perfect for a special evening. The
backlighting and sparkling table settings gave the room that elegant aura
of the best supper clubs of the 1950’s.
Guests were drawn to the protected
patio by the warmth and sunshine.
Once there, the array of Silent Auction items drew heated bidding.
The call to dinner lured everyone
back to the ballroom to hear the Bob
Gray Orchestra accompany Dayton
Opera General and Artistic Director
4
Opera Notes
Tom Bankston croon a couple of
tunes. When he finished a touching
rendition of “More,” the audience
exploded into applause and certainly wished for more. A classic ‘50’s
dinner arrived while the band played
on. The feast was capped by a makeyour-own sundae as the Live Auction
kicked into gear. Fabulous trips and
supernumerary roles tempted the
audience. And the evening was not
complete until the winners of the
Gold Key and Jaffe Jewelry Raffles
were drawn and the dancers tried their
steps to many favorite songs of those
UNFORGETTABLE crooners.
Co-chairs Penny Wolff and Susan
Bridgman have much to be proud of.
They led a dedicated team of volunteers who worked months to make
Opera Ball a resounding success.
Thanks go out to all.
Many patrons pledged extra
amounts to support the Guild’s education programs. Thanks go to
Paul and Dolores Anderson, Karen
Chelle, Patrick and Suzanne Crippen,
Nancy Farkas, Anne Freimark, Sharon Gratto, Susan Herman, Larry and
Cindy Hoffsis, Judy Hudson, Franklin
Lewis, Bill and Jackie Lockwood,
Barbara Mendelson, Katie Moody,
Jane Reynolds, Tom Routsong, Tammy Schaff, Bob and Toni Sprinkel,
Sabrina Sulgrove, Dean Wardell,
David and Terry Williamson, Bill and
Penny Wolff, Bill and Toni Winger,
Rap Hankins, Betty Holton, Helen
Jones-Kelley, and Linda Rountree.
operaguildofdayton.org
Applause! Applause!
Penny Wolff
This issue of Opera Notes is delighted to present a rising star in The Opera
Guild of Dayton – one who is full of
vim and vigor and ready to lead the
Guild for the next two years. That person is Penny Wolff who has served the
Guild ably as Executive Vice President
for the past two years and who is ready
to assume the presidency at the Guild’s
annual meeting in June.
“Every time it rains, it rains, pennies
from heaven.” Penny is actually Marie,
the first of the four children her parents
adopted, and they called her “Penny” after
the song made popular by Bing Crosby.
Penny was reared in Philadelphia
where she attended an all-girls school,
Cecilian Academy (CA). There twelve
years of music were required and Penny
played the piano and sang in the choir
and discovered opera. She remembers
the wonderful trips to downtown Philly
to hear opera and the Philadelphia
Orchestra. Every year CA and a nearby
boys’ academy combined to produce an
operetta. These great American musicals like The King and I, Oklahoma,
and Showboat, gave them all a chance
to perform and to appreciate great music. It is reminiscent of Dayton’s Muse
Machine productions.
Penny then went on to Rosemont
College, a women’s college (now coed) near Villanova. For three years she
sang in their chorus. She spent her Junior Year at the University of Fribourg
in Switzerland where she met her
future husband, Bill, who was spending a Junior Year abroad from Georgetown University. At the time Penny
was fluent in French and spent her
20th birthday in Paris during Spring
Break. With French as her major and
Spanish as her minor, she was a natural
to work as a translator for the National
Security Agency at Ft. Meade, MD.
Bill and Penny were married while he
was still in law school so she continued her work for NSA until he graduated and they moved to Boston where
Bill clerked for a federal judge and
then was an associate with Burns and
Levinson law firm. Bill was a Dayton
native and his father was an attorney
here in Dayton. They moved back
here to advance his career in 1969,
along with son #1.
Those early years they lived in Dayton
View. Bill was busy working with his
dad and Penny was busy raising a family,
as another son and a daughter now filled
out the family. They sent their children
to Center City School where they met
lots of parents, among them Opera Guild
member, Kathy Brown, who introduced
Penny to Jackie Machowsky, and Jackie
Lockwood. From those connections,
Penny joined the Opera Guild and the
League of Women Voters.
In 1978 the Wolff’s moved to Oakwood in the middle of “The Blizzard.”
The house they moved into was “For
Sale by Owner,” Cathy and Bill Clark
(also Opera Guild friends), and was
referred to them by Jackie Lockwood.
Small world, isn’t it! Settling in a new
environ, Penny started helping with
political campaigns – a paying job. She
worked on Dick Celeste’s first term
for governor, for Charles Curran and
went with him to work in Montgomery
County as his assistant. The new job
made her realize that she needed to get
a Master’s Degree and she enrolled in
the Central Michigan MSA program
at WPAFB. She worked on her studies
every weekend and received her degree
in 1988. She stayed with Montgomery
County in the office that oversees the
Human Services Levy from 1983-1997
when a chance meeting with Bev
Shillito gave her the opportunity to
interview for a job that was out of the
non-profit role. She got the job and
for the next 15 years was the Legal
Administrator for Sebaly, Shillito +
Dyer, doing the administrative work
that kept an office of 22 attorneys
and many paralegals and secretaries
running smoothly. She researched
and helped open the second office
in West Chester in 2010. It was hard
work – up to 60 hours per week but
she learned how to manage her time
well. During that time period, she
was also president of The League of
Women Voters. (She has continued to
be a League member and is the outgoing Treasurer). Now that she has
retired, her knowledge of what and
who makes up Dayton has helped
her use her newfound time for her
community.
When Penny was in the leadership Dayton Class of 1979, she
was shown the “big picture,” a
perspective of all aspects of this
community. She has continued to
be a part of its growth and is one of
its biggest boosters. Now that she
has retired, she is doing consulting
in office systems/operations; project
management, business transition,
group facilitation. Husband Bill is
retired as a Judge of the Court of
Appeals, Second District, Ohio and
they travel to see their three children
– Matt in Chicago; Dan in Washington, D.C. and Kristin in Portland,
ME. They also now have seven
grandchildren. In 2013 they took a
driving trip to see the three lower
states Bill had not been in – Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma. In 2014
they visited Portugal and Alaska.
They plan to spend their 50th Wedding Anniversary at Sebago Lake
in Maine in August 2015 Penny
used to like to ski but she doesn’t
have time for that anymore. She is
in a book club and likes to be out
Applause! Applause! continued on p. 6
Spring 2015
5
Applause! Applause! continued from p. 5
and about in this community. She and
Bill attend the Dayton Philharmonic
Orchestra concerts, Dayton Opera,
and The Human Race Theatre. For 25
years they attended Cincinnati Summer
Opera. She is a knowledgeable opera-goer. “My favorites are La Bohéme
for the story of young love in Paris and
gorgeous singing; Der Rosenkavalier
for its musicality and beauty; and Der
Meistersinger for its mesmerizing
pomp and circumstance.”
Vivacious, efficient, chic, friendly,
spontaneous – all are adjectives to describe this tiny redheaded dynamo who
is going to lead the Opera Guild of
Dayton from 2015-2017. The Wolff’s
family life required organization and
cooperation. Each member of the
family does his/her own laundry. Each
can cook for himself. OYO means “On
Your Own” for dinner tonight. The
Wolff’s have thrived on this life style.
The Guild will also benefit from this
life-style – a big-picture plan with each
Guild member adjusting to make it
work for all.
Penny helped President Betty Holton
in revising and updating the LongRange Plan for the Opera Guild and
introduced a new mentoring program.
Most recently, she and Susan Bridgman, who previously served as a staff
attorney for Bill, co-chaired the most
successful Opera Ball, “Unforgettable.” She knows how to plan, to lead
and to work. The Opera Guild of
Dayton congratulates Penny Wolff and
extends its Applause! Applause!
Backstage with Burt
The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance has made my job as a reporter
more difficult. Now that our major
performing groups are united, they
have created a broader canvas to
display their talents. That expansion
has made their programs richer, more
wonderful and more complicated.
Dayton Opera’s 2015-16 season
is not the traditional three operas. It
6
Opera Notes
begins with participation in the September opening gala, a grand event
that will commemorate 50 years of
support by the Miriam Rosenthal
Fund which has underwritten the entire gala. To celebrate this marvelous
contribution to the arts of Dayton,
all the organizations the funds have
supported will participate. The Opera, Philharmonic and Ballet will be
joined by the Bach Society, DCDC,
Human Race, and Muse Machine
with opera playing an important role
in this American Mosaic. Opera stars
will present vignettes from Carlyle
Floyd’s Susanna, Douglas Moore’s
Ballad of Baby Doe, and Aaron
Copeland’s The Tender Land. This is
American opera at its best.
Novembers’ feature will be Madam
Butterfly. This engaging story of the
tragedy of love and cross-cultural relationships is a perfect anchor for next
season. Artistic Director Tom Bankston
says it will be presented in a traditional
production. It promises to be a perfect
example of “Bankston Magic.”
February will have the first of two
Dayton opera premieres. Verdi’s
Otello is a true masterpiece. The
Shakespeare tale grows when presented as an opera. The characters are
monumental and are given unforgettable musical personae that, to me,
transcends the original play. The
character of Iago, whose evil jealousy
of the moor, Otello, brings about the
tragedy that destroys lives. Verdi and
his librettist Boito, created the crux
of Iago’s evil persona, his credo, in
which, Iago announces that “I believe
in a cruel God.” This makes Iago’s
malevolent nature clear. Shakespeare’s
character is not so well revealed.
May brings another premiere, this
time a world premiere of a new opera.
Composer-in-residence Stella Sung has
created beautiful music for the Philharmonic. She has given Dayton her
newest opera, The Book Collector. My
experience with Stella’s musical gifts
and her sensitive approach to subjects,
promises that this will be a highlight of
the season. Tom indicates that the principle singers (soprano, tenor and baritone), have wonderful arias and duets to
make this unusual story into an exciting
operatic experience. The Book Collector
will share the evening with Carl Orff’s
Carmina Burana. The 1936 work, often
called a scenic cantata, is based on medieval German poetry. The racy verses are
a from a thirteenth century Benedictine
monastery. They celebrate the good life,
ribald and sexy, with music to match.
“Carmina” has been an instant success
whenever performed. The soloists from
The Book Collector will sing the merry
songs. This version is replete with an
original ballet by Karen Russo Burke.
Her beautiful dancers will make the
most of this energy filled work.
Burt Saidel
2015 MEMBERSHIP
LUNCHEON
It was a
lively group of
nearly 100 who
met at Moraine
Country Club
for the annual
Membership
Luncheon
on Thursday,
March 12,
2015. The
Opera Guild
Boutique provided some unique items while
the Opera Marionettes wandered among
the shoppers. After a delicious luncheon,
the group was entertained by the 2014-15
Artists-in-Residence who demonstrated their
wonderful vocal skills that made them such
an important part of this past season. Wonderful door prizes were won by attendees along
with a 50/50 Raffle and two tickets the The
Pearl Fishers.
Thanks to the committee that planned
the event: Pat Ferguson and Jean Beecher,
co-chairs; and Penny Wolff, Toni Winger,
Nora Stang, Linda Rountree, Amy Lombardo, Judy Hudson, Susan Herman, Bob and
Diane Johnson, and Myrna Cunningham.
operaguildofdayton.org
27th Annual Tri-State Vocal Competition
Left to right: Karl Resnik, Sylvia Plyler, Jeff Powell, Emily Simmons, Annie Chester, Shannon Barry,
Annalise Dzwonczyk (Fran Michael Audience Favorite), Erica Intilangelo (second place), Joshua Blue
(first place), Tammy Schaff (Co-Chair), Tom Bankston
The 27th Annual Tri-State College Vocal Competition was held
on Sunday, April 26, 2015, at the
Seventh-Day Adventist Church on
Stroop Road in Kettering. Entrants
submitted a CD recording that was
reviewed by Preliminary Judges Minnita Daniel-Cox and Jeffrey Powell.
Six finalists competed for $5000 in
awards. Winners were Joshua Blue, a
tenor from Oberlin College who was
awarded $2500 and Erica Intilangelo,
soprano from the University of Cincinnati, who was awarded $1500, and
Annalise Dzwonszyk, soprano from
the University of Cincinnati, who was
awarded the Fran Michael Audience
Favorite Award of $400. Other finalists
who received $150 each were soprano
Shannon Barry from DePauw University; mezzo-soprano Annie Chester
from Indiana University and soprano
Emily Simmons from University of
Cincinnati. All were accompanied by
pianist Jeffrey Powell who is also the
Director of the Dayton Opera Chorus.
Judges were Tom Bankston, artistic
director of Dayton Opera; Sylvia J.
Plyler, renowned coach of the Young
Artist Program with Cincinnati and
coach/accompanist for the Opera
Workshop at Northern Kentucky
University; and Executive Director of
the Musical Arts Center in Cincinnati,
Karl Resnik.
During the judges’ deliberations, the
audience heard two talented Stivers
High School for the Arts singers,
Honor Martin a junior soprano and
Gabrille Farrow, a senior soprano.
The competition was preceded by
a luncheon at Moraine Country Club
planned by Kimberly Robinson, and
followed by a reception where judges
and contestants would talk together,
planned by Susan Herman.
Members of the Vocal Scholarship
Committee for the 2015 competition
include: Tammy Schaff and Linda
Menz, Co-Chairs; Kathy Brown, Peggy Conner, Beverly Cowden, Donna
Henry, Susan Herman, Effie Sue Kemerley, Lynda Snyder, and Nora Stang,
managing vice president of education
for the Guild.
Contributions to the Remembrance
Scholarship Fund continue to make it
possible for the Opera Guild to award
the vocal scholarships. The Opera
Guild thanks the donors of these gifts
that encourage the development of music students by providing opportunities
to pursue vocal study.
One of the biggest events of our year
is the Tri-State College Vocal Competition. Since 1989 we have been recognizing and rewarding talented young
competitors. Many have gone on to
establish successful operatic careers.
Our 2012 winner was mezzo-soprano
Alyssa Martin from Indiana University. Her star is rising at a meteoric rate.
Alyssa revisited the Opera Guild at
our 50th Anniversary Grand Finale
dinner in November of 2013. She sang
with Adam Fry to entertain attendees
with their beautiful voices. During
the 2014-2015 season, Alyssa was
an Emerging Artist with the Virginia
Opera. She sang the roles of the Page
in Salome and Flora and Annina in La
Traviata. She will complete this season covering Don Ramiro in Mozart’s
La finta giardiniera as an Apprentice
Artist at The Santa Fe Opera.
Looking ahead, she will be a Marion
Roose Pullin Studio Artist at Arizona
Opera in the 2015-2016 season. In that
capacity, Alyssa is expected to perform
the roles of Magnolia in Kálmán’s Arizona Lady, Mercédès in Carmen, Meg
Page in Falstaff, and Zerlina in Don
Giovanni. Bravo, Alyssa!
Remembrance Fund
The Remembrance Fund helps
support the Guild’s High School and
Tri-State College Vocal Competitions.
Gifts made in observance of a birthday,
anniversary, promotion or other event,
as well as those remembering the lives
of loved ones, help further the dreams
and goals of many talented young
people. Gifts can be made on-line at
operaguildofdayton.org or gifts can be
sent to Evelyn M. Lewis, 3104 Carrier
Avenue, Dayton, OH 45429, 937/2994825. Make checks payable to the
Opera Guild of Dayton.
Recent Contributions:
In memory of Shirley Baker Lewis
(Evelyn Lewis’ sister-in-law)
Dolores and Paul Anderson
In memory of Gayle B. Price, Jr.
Dolores and Paul Anderson
Anita and Harry Delaney
Carolyn (Toni) and William Winger
Spring 2015
7
126 North Main Street, #210
Dayton, OH 45402
937/224-3521, x1099
OPERAGUILDOFDAYTON.ORG
Working to win
new friends for opera
COMING EVENTS
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
ANNUAL MEETING
Dayton Country Club
Opera Guild of Dayton members
Sunday, June 28, 2015
GARDEN PARTY
Guild Members and Guests
Friday, September 11, 2015
OPERA GUILD OF DAYTON
BRAVO! Fashion Show
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Sunday, September 20, 2015
DAYTON PERFORMING
ARTS ALLIANCE
American Mosaic
Friday, November 20, 2015
Sunday, November 22, 2015
DAYTON OPERA’S
Madame Butterfly
Friday, February, 26, 2016
Sunday, February 29, 2016
DAYTON OPERA’S
Otello
Saturday, April 30, 2016
OPERA GUILD OF DAYTON
OPERA BALL
MORE TO COME . . .
.
OPERA GUILD WINS PARTNERS
IN EXCELLENCE AWARD
As members of Opera Volunteers International (OVI), The Opera Guild of Dayton
became aware of awards given annually to
member groups for outstanding projects in
education, fundraising, audience building, and
marketing. The Executive Committee decided
to submit the celebration of its 50th Anniversary for the OVI Partners in Excellence
Award and won! It was difficult to describe
the Guild’s activities in 250 words or less, but
the application was completed and the Guild’s
mission was confirmed in winning the award
which was presented at the OVI Conference
in Washington, D.C. in May 2015 and accepted by active Guild member Dana Kane
who changed her travel plans to accept for the
Guild.
The notifying letter says: “We are pleased
and proud to honor the Opera Guild of Dayton
as an Opera Volunteers International (OVI)
Partners in Excellence recipient. . . . OVI
recognizes the outstanding leadership
and volunteer efforts of your organization which merit this esteemed
award and further congratulate you
on the celebration of the Guild’s 50th
anniversary.” Congratulations to all!
Scan This QR Code for
Mobile Web Link
This QR (Quick Response) will connect you directly
with the Web site of the Opera Guild of Dayton, if your
smart phone has the capability. Scan this code and see
what is going on in the Opera Guild. The Guild is also on
Facebook. Fans are encouraged to take a look and to add
win We post photos
themselves to those whoWorking
“like” ourtopage.
new friends for opera
and albums from most of our events there along with
information about upcoming happenings.