2015 season - Wichita Grand Opera

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Leisure Activities in McPherson, KS
Opera Academy of the Midwest
TRAINING PERIOD
July 1-24 McPherson Opera House
Central Christian College Student Center
CCC Tennis Courts
OPERAS
Aug. 6
Aug. 28
Aug. 30
1st day of rehearsal
Wichita, KS
Performance: Century II
Wichita, KS
Performance: Carlsen Center Overland Park, KS
Don Carlo
Turandot
Sept. 3 1st day of rehearsal
Sept. 25 Performance: Century II
Sept. 27 Performance: Century II
The Grand Duchess
Sept. 24
Oct. 16
Oct. 17
Oct. 18
1st day of rehearsal
Performance: Century II
Performance:
McPherson Opera House
Performance: Century II
July 17
July 18
Aug. 7
CCC Gym
McPherson, KS
July 12
Aug. 16
Sept. 13
Oct. 11
Wichita, KS
Wichita, KS
Wichita, KS
OPERA AC A D E M Y
Wichita, KS
Wichita, KS
McPherson, KS
O F T H E M I DW E S T
2015 SEASON
July 1 to October 19, 2015
Wichita, KS
CONCERTS
McPherson Opera House
McPherson, KS
“A Night at the Opera”
Bradley Fair
Wichita, KS
“Opera on the Lake”
Stiefel Theater
Salina, KS
“A Royal Enchanted Evening”
3 Opera Productions & 7 Performances
At Century II Performing Arts Center & Carlsen Center
SOIREE MUSICALES
Private Residence
Private Residence
Private Residence
Private Residence
McPherson, KS
Wichita, KS
Wichita, KS
Wichita, KS
TUITION FEE
McPherson Water Park
Training Period at the McPherson Opera House and
on the Central Christian College Campus
Three Weeks of intensive training & performing
The Tuition Fee for the Training Period, July 1-24, includes:
All training courses and masterclasses with the faculty and guest
artists, housing, meals, and activities.
Fellows, Studio Artists, Apprentices: $3,250.00
(Some opera singers may receive full or partial scholarships
based on auditions and qualifications.)
Century II Performing Arts Center
Wichita, Kansas
“Opera on the Lake” at Bradley Fair
3 Concerts
An educational program of the
McPherson Opera House, Opera on the Lake at Bradley Fair,
Stiefel Theatre in Salina
WICHITA GRAND OPERA
Century II Performing Arts Center
225 W. Douglas Ave., Wichita, Kansas 67202
Main Phone: (316) 683-3444, www.WichitaGrandOpera.org
MARGARET ANN PENT- FOUNDER
About…Opera Academy of the Midwest
Home of the OAM
T
his summer Wichita Grand Opera launches an ambitious
new project: the Opera Academy of the Midwest. With the
cooperation and support of the entities listed below, the Academy
will become an intensive training ground for the next generation
of opera singers and production personnel. The Academy opens
on July 1, 2015 and runs through the end of the 2015 season.
SAMUEL RAMEY, bass-baritone
The most-recorded bass in history, Mr. Ramey’s career spans over
40 years, encompassing virtually the entire standard bass-baritone
repertoire at every major opera house in the world.
ANNALISA RASPAGLIOSI, soprano
Ms. Raspagliosi was the late Luciano Pavarotti’s co-star of
choice for many years, and has enjoyed a stellar career in theaters
including Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Bolshoi Opera, and Teatro
Real de Madrid.
Aspiring young opera singers will be selected by audition to
participate in one of three categories.
Academy Fellows will be outstanding talents with a superior
musical education, ready to transition to a fully professional
career. Selected artists will receive full scholarships for their
participation and will be given the opportunity to cover opera
roles, sing in the WGO Chorus, perform as soloists in concerts
and recitals, and may be given an opera role in one of this
season’s productions.
McPherson Opera House-Outside
GASTON RIVERO, tenor
From a start in Baz Luhrmann’s Broadway production of
La Bohème, Mr. Rivero has become one of the world’s leading
tenors, starring with artists including Placido Domingo and
Anna Netrebko.
Apprentices will be those still in the early stages of their
development, who will pay a tuition fee for their training, and
may be chosen to sing in the WGO Chorus.
RICARDO TAMURA, tenor
Mr. Tamura earned rave reviews for his Metropolitan Opera debut
in 2013. He starred in opera houses all over Europe, including a
stellar debut at Arena di Verona.
McPherson Opera House Ballroom
Production Internships will offer the chosen participants
valuable hands-on experience in all production departments,
mentored by WGO’s experienced staff. They will help create the
fine productions seen on the WGO stages this season. Interns will
receive a weekly stipend.
LYNNE DAVIS
Ms. Davis is an internationally-renowned concert organist and a
world authority on French musical repertoire. She was awarded
the honor of Knight of the Order of Arts & Letters by the French
Ministry of Culture in 2012.
MARCUS DELOACH, baritone
Mr. DeLoach is currently a voice faculty member at Temple
University. An advocate of contemporary music, he has appeared
in concert with the New York Philharmonic under Lorin Maazel
and Riccardo Muti.
Opera Academy of the Midwest
is sponsored in part by:
Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission
National Endowment for the Arts
Dr. & Mrs. Dennis Ross
City of McPherson, Naftzger Fund for the Arts
Ross & Marianna Beach Foundation
Charlotte Brickler Trust, McPherson Opera House
Newman University
Central Christian College
ALAN HELD, bass-baritone
Mr. Held is one of the world’s foremost Wagnerian baritones,
starring in roles such as Wotan, Amfortas, and the Dutchman at
theaters including the Vienna Staatsoper, the Metropolitan Opera,
and Bavarian State Opera.
ZVETELINA VASSILEVA, soprano
One of the world’s top Verdi specialists, Ms. Vassileva has sung
leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera,
Covent Garden, Houston Grand Opera, and the Berlin Staatsoper.
Studio Artists will be promising young singers with a strong
musical education, ready for advanced training, and may receive
partial scholarships. They may be given the opportunity to
understudy roles and sing in the WGO Chorus.
The Academy curriculum includes private voice lessons, coaching
sessions, masterclasses, stage movement, acting, language
diction, chorus, choreography, stage safety and weaponry, career
preparation, and performance opportunities. The faculty includes
international and renowned voice teachers, coaches, conductors,
directors, and choreographers.
Featured Masterclass Guest Artists
SARAH HELTZEL, mezzo-soprano
Ms. Heltzel is a crossover artist, performing roles in opera and
musical theater with Seattle Opera, Syracuse Opera, American
Lyric Theater, and the Boston Philharmonic, among others.
McPherson Opera House-Inside
OAM Faculty
MARTIN MÁZIK, Conductor, Opera Coach
Mr. Mazik is a guest conductor in high demand, conducting more
than 200 performances every year in opera houses worldwide.
WILLIAM POWERS, Vocal & Acting
Interpretation, Diction
Mr. Powers’ distinguished career includes more than 100 roles
in leading theaters worldwide, including world premieres at the
Metropolitan Opera and Lyric Opera Chicago.
PARVAN BAKARDIEV, Career Planning
Mr. Bakardiev served as Apprentice General Director of San
Francisco Opera; Artistic Administrator of Houston Grand Opera;
Founder & General Director of the San Antonio Festival, Director
of Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center, and consultant to the
Kennedy Center, and the Berlin and Sakai Operas.
MARGARET ANN PENT, Staging, Voice
Ms. Pent, winner of the Vienna Opera Competition, performed
lead roles in Europe and the US while teaching voice. Founder
and Artistic Director of the WGO, she has directed and designed
many of its productions.
DIANE GANS, Choreography, Stage Dancing
Ms. Gans has choreographed performances for the WGO, Friends
University, Wichita State University, and Wichita Collegiate School
for over 20 years, and she is owner and director of the Kansas
Dance Academy.
SHAYNA LEAHY, Stage Movement, Social Coordinator
Ms. Leahy, a WGO resident stage director, served on the staff
of Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance program, and is the
Director of Vocal Music at Highland Community College.
MATTHEW SCHLONEGER, Chorusmaster,
Voice, Diction
Mr. Schloneger teaches voice & choir and serves as Chair of the
Division of Humanities at Hesston College, and has appeared in
tenor roles in several WGO productions.
NYLE MATSUOKA, Opera Coach, Accompanist
In addition to the WGO, Mr. Matsuoka also serves as principal
coach for Austin Opera, and has previously coached for Arizona
Opera and Wolf Trap Opera.
EDWARD LADA, Working with Conductors
Mr. Lada joined the WGO in 2007as Music Administrator, and
made his opera conducting debut last season in WGO’s Tosca. As
WGO’s resident conductor he has served as Associate Conductor,
and Chorusmaster.
YING ZHU, Rehearsal Accompanist
Ms. Zhu is an adjunct instructor of piano at Wichita State
University, and previously served on rehearsal staff at
Ash Lawn Opera.