(530) 749-3242

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YSRAC Executive Director Note
Welcome to “The Best of Mozart”, a special collaboration between The
Acting Company and Yuba Sutter Regional Arts Council’s Borgamaria Lyric Opera. All of us at the Yuba Sutter Regional Arts Council sincerely appreciate your
attendance at this performance. One of the purposes and goals of the Yuba Sutter
Regional Arts Council is building partnerships, collaborations and support with
artists and arts organizations in the bi-county region. This is the first of hopefully
many collaborations with The Acting Company.
The Borgamaria Lyric Opera is one of the Yuba Sutter Regional Arts
Council’s unique programs. Having just completed its fifth year, it was created
and has grown through the energy and passion of Artistic Director Joaquina
Calvo Johnson. What started as a one time fund raising event for YSRAC has
now grown to present six performances of an opera every November, four performances of opera scenes and short operas in May, and touring to area schools.
The high quality of the singing and productions continues to amaze audiences, who often comment “I didn’t know we had such talent in our area!” Borgamaria Lyric Opera shows also break down fears about opera, and show that opera
is very accessible, understandable (many are sung in English), and entertaining.
In November 2008, Borgamaria Lyric Opera presented the family favorite Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck (the German composer, not the
American pop star). The May 2009 program included Seymour Barab’s Little
Red Riding Hood, a favorite children’s opera, and scenes from such opera masterpieces as Don Giovanni, Lakme’, Tales of Hoffman, Manon Lescaut, and Rusalka. Little Red Riding Hood toured to seven schools in the Marysville/Yuba
City area in Mary and June to spectacular response from the teachers and students. It will continue visits to schools during the 2009-2010 school year.
If you are not a member of the Yuba Sutter Regional Arts Council, pick
up a brochure in the lobby and complete the form. Membership is one of our important sources of support. You will be added to our special mailing list and email list to receive information on our many programs and activities during the
coming year. There are also many volunteer opportunities, from short term to ongoing time needs. To become involved, contact Tori McConnell at the YSRAC
office for further information.
Thank you,
Bob Reich
Executive Director
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teacher at Riverside Meadows Intermediate School in Plumas Lake. He
was the first conductor of the Sierra Nevada Winds Orchestra, and has
been principal clarinet with that ensemble for eighteen years. He was principal clarinet with the Yuba Sutter Symphony for twelve years, and has
been a featured soloist with the Sierra Nevada Winds, Yuba Sutter Symphony, and the Auburn Concert Band. He and his wife Judy (an accomplished flute player) have been married for 25 years, and have three amazing children, 16, 18 and 24 years of age, who are all talented musicians. David is an avid fly fisherman and hunter.
Law Offices Of
Kelleher & Olivera
Tim Kelleher
Rice Lawyer, Inc
545 Forbes Avenue
P.O. Box 3382
Yuba City, California
95991
Phone: (530) 751-9730
Fax: 530) 751-9449
Cell: (530) 624-5178
E-mail: [email protected]
Donations
Mrs. Henry Oji
Chuck Brooks
Yuba City Toyota
Fremont-Rideout Health Group
Rob Ryan
Leo Speckert
Shadd Janitorial Supply
River Valley Bank
Elizabeth S. Mancl, Attorney at Law
Tim Kelleher
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$300
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TAC Board President Note
At a time when dollars to the arts are shrinking and programs are being curtailed
or eliminated, The Acting Company thrives, due to the support it enjoys, through
Yuba, Sutter, Colusa, and Butte Counties and beyond. Though “only” a community theater, we often present shows that rival the best there are, garnering awards
and praise on a frequent basis.
Birthed over 25 years ago, The Acting Company lived a peripatetic life until it
purchased its current home at 815 B Street. The building was, in the beginning, a
grocery store, then became in turn two restaurants, a photography studio, and a
catering business. Now, several years and over $300,000 in renovations and improvements later, The Acting Company Theater is a near state-of-the art facility,
with even more improvements planned for later this year.
The Acting Company now has under its umbrella Magic Theater, a complete program exclusively for young people. That program includes acting classes, and
plays with and for children often written by award-winning writer and director
John Trent.
This evening’s concert is a first of what we hope are frequent collaborations between The Acting Company and Yuba-Sutter Regional Arts Council. It reflects a
vision we have for expanding our mission statement of sharing the magic of live
theatre. Proceeds above tonight’s concert expenses will go toward the support of
music and drama programs for children.
Bob Harlan
President
The Acting Company
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Synopsis of Arias and ensembles
Die Entführung aus dem Serail
The Pasha finds the Spanish noble lady Konstanze weeping and asks her
why she is sad. She responds with Ach, ich liebte, saying that she once
was in love and happy, but now she has lost that joy because she is separated from her love and is now in complete misery.
Così fan tutte
After bidding their fiancés a tearful farewell, the sisters Fiordiligi and
Dorabella are joined by Don Afonso, in wishing them safe travel, Soave
sia il vento.
Ferrando, Dorabella’s fiancé, sings Un aura amorosa, praising his love
for her constancy.
Il core vi dono is a seduction scene between Guglielmo and Dorabella.
Guglielmo and Ferrando have disguised themselves as Albanians to test
their fiancées’ fidelity. In this duet Guglielmo successfully woos Dorabella.
Don Giovanni
In Madamina!, Leporello, Don Giovanni’s servant, shows Donna Elvira,
one of the Don’s many jilted lovers, a catalogue of the rogue’s many conquests.
Don Giovanni attempts to seduce the young peasant girl Zerlina on her
wedding day to Masetto in the famous duet Là ci darem la mano.
Ottavio pressures Anna to marry him, but she thinks it inappropriate so
soon after her father's death. He accuses her of being cruel, and she assures
him with her aria Non mi dir, that she loves him, and is faithful.
Il Re Pastore
Aminta, a pants role for soprano, is not convinced that he is not really
meant to be king. He is, though, convinced that if he is king, he only wants
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Madama Butterfly, Maddalena in Rigoletto, Fenena in Nabucco, Katisha in
the Mikado, the Mother in Amahl and the Night visitors, the title roles in
Giulio Cesare and Orlando, Amastre in Xerxes, Juno in Semele and Ottone
in Agrippina.
She made her West Coast debut with the San Francisco Opera Center singing the title role in Carmen in the Merola Opera Program, and touring nationally with the Western Opera Theater. With the Opera Center she also
sang the Witch in Hansel and Gretel, Natura in the La Calisto, and was a
Resident Artist in Education.
A native Californian, she moved to Denmark, when she was three years
old. After finishing high school in Denmark she returned to the United
States and began her voice studies at Yuba College in Marysville. She received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of the Pacific in
Stockton, California and a Master of Music degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
Brittney Zearfoss, soprano
Brittney Zearfoss, soprano, is a voice student of Joaquina Calvo Johnson
and is completing her lower division work at Yuba College. This is Brittney’s third appearance with the Borgamaria Lyric Opera having been
heard as Sister Osmina in Puccini’s Suor Angelica during the opening season. She was a shepherd and dancer in the production of Menotti’s Amahl
and the Night Visitors. This past spring Miss Zearfoss was the Division II
first place winner in the San Joaquin Valley Chapter National Association
Teachers of Singing student auditions at the University of the Pacific. She
is a member of the Yuba Sutter Master Chorale and has been heard in
many community musical productions. Brittney plans on transferring to
Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo to complete her Bachelor’s Degree in Music.
This past fall she sang The Sandman in Hansel and Gretel and performed
in the spring "Opera Scenes".
David Coe , clarinet
Raised in Wheatland, David studied clarinet at Yuba College under John
Bresnahan, and at the University of the Pacific under William Dominik,
where he completed his Bachelor of Music degree and teaching credential. After teaching music for several years in Modesto, he returned to
Wheatland where he joined the family insurance agency and remains partners with his brother. He has taught music privately, at Yuba College,
and at Franklin Elementary School in Yuba City. He is currently the band
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and will supervise their future musical and drama productions. Currently,
she resides with her chemist’s husband, Dr. Jerry Yang in Pasadena and is
expecting their first child.
Dr. Shih earned her Master and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Voice
Performance from Arizona State University, where she is one of the
youngest doctorate receivers. She also earned an additional Master degree
in Performing Arts Production from Florida International University and
received her Bachelor of Music Education from the National Taipei University of Education.
Karen Wilson Trefzger, soprano
Karen is a 1981 graduate of Simpson College, San Francisco, having
earned the Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance. Karen has
lived with her husband and children in the Yuba Sutter area for twenty
years, and has been a frequent soloist with the Yuba College Symphony
Chorus, the Yuba Sutter Master Chorale and the Yuba Sutter Oratorio Society. She has also been a featured performer in numerous recitals and appeared as a special guest with the Stockton Opera’s Puccini Gala. While
studying voice with Joaquina Calvo Johnson, Karen was the 1997 Adult
Division winner in the National Association of Teachers of Singing, San
Joaquin Valley Chapter auditions.
Karen made her debut with the Borgamaria Lyric Opera in the role of The
Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors. Most recently, Karen was heard
as the mezzo-soprano soloist in the performance of the Mozart Requiem
with the Yuba Sutter Master Chorale, Opera Scenes and as the Witch in
Hansel and Gretel.
Lisa van der Ploeg , mezzo-soprano
Danish-American Mezzo-soprano, Lisa van der Ploeg has been hailed for
her rich, warm, penetrating tone and electrifying stage presence. She
“delivered a glorious performance in the starring role as Santuzza” in the
opera Cavalleria Rusticana. Her first professional appearances included
performances with Maestro Raymond Leppard and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in the Barber of Seville and the Three Cornered Hat. A
prize-winner in the Ellen Faull Gordon Competition, Ms. van der Ploeg
was also a MET regional finalist for three consecutive years.
Elisa for his wife. He sings L’amerò sarò costante to Agenor, saying that
he will be her faithful lover and husband and only in her will he find joy,
peace, and happiness.
La Clemenza di Tito
At the request of the emperor Tito, Annio is sent to inform Servilia that the
ruler wishes to make her his bride. Annio is grieved to deliver this message, as he and Servilia are very much in love with each other, the sentiments are shared in the beautiful duet Ah, perdona al primo affetto.
After Servilia orders Sextus to kill Tito and set fire to Rome, Sextus
meekly acquiesces and sings that he will do anything for her beauty and
love in the great aria Parto, parto.
Die Zauberflöte
Giving her a knife, the Queen of the Night tells Pamina to kill Sarastro in
order to get the Shield of the Sun from him in her famous vengeance aria
Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen
In his quest to be initiated into the mysteries of Isis and Osiris, Tamino has
to accomplish several tasks before he is accepted into Sarastro’s society.
Before he completes the final requirements, Sarastro urges the young lovers to bid farewell to each other for a short time in the trio Soll ich dich,
Treuer! Nicht mehr sehn?
Attracted by the playing of Tamino's flute, Pamina comes and meets
Tamino and is hurt when he doesn't talk to her. Little does she know that
he is under a vow of silence. She expresses her despair in the aria Ach,
ich fühl’s, es ist verschwunden.
Papageno has been searching everywhere for a mate for himself. However,
he has found no one like him. About to commit suicide, he is reminded by
three spirits that he has magic bells that may help him find his mate. He
rings them and Papagena appears. They strut around each other, making
bird-like sounds before finally getting down the business of discussing
their plans for family in the charming duet Pa-pa-pa-papagena!
Le Nozze di Figaro
With both the Utah Festival Opera and the Intermountain Opera she has
sung Amneris in Aida. Other roles she has sung include Suzuki in
Susanna and the Countess are plotting to trick the Count, who has been
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attempting to seduce Susanna. They have planned for Susanna to meet the
Count this evening. In Sull’aria, the Countess dictates a letter to Susanna
that informs the Count where he can meet Susanna. She repeats the Countess's words as she writes.
After being dismissed from his position as the Count's page for being discovered alone with the gardener's daughter, Cherubino tells Susanna in
Non so piu, cosa son, cosa faccio, that, suddenly, every woman excites
him to no end.
In the opening duet of the opera, Cinque, dieci, Figaro is happily measuring the space where the bridal bed will fit while Susanna is trying on her
wedding bonnet in front of the mirror.
Dr. Bartolo does not like Figaro because he prevented him from marrying
the current Countess of Almaviva, he tells Marcellina his plan for vengeance in his aria, La vendetta.
The Countess laments in her aria Porgi amor that the Count has lost his
love for her.
Count Almaviva believes Susanna will be meeting him in his gardens on
the night of her marriage to Figaro, which he also may be able to prevent
through legal means. He overhears the two lovers talking confidently
about winning the case though and becomes incensed in his aria Hai gia
vinta la causa… Vedrò mentr’io sospiro.
After Cherubino arrives in his new military uniform, he sings a plea to
women to see how much love he has to give in the song he composed, Voi
che sapete.
sity of North Texas (Denton, TX). Mr. Phillips is currently working toward
the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance at Arizona State
University (Tempe, AZ).
Kathryn Donovan Rueb, soprano
Kathryn has been an active musician from an early age. A Yuba College
graduate in 1992 and student of Joaquina Johnson, Kathryn has been seen
in many Yuba College productions including Guys and Dolls, Into the
Woods, and Master Class. Kathryn received her Bachelor of Music degree
in Vocal Performance from San Jose State University in 1995 under the
tutelage of Joseph Frank. After graduation, Kathryn began teaching music
at Willow Glen High and Middle School in San Jose. In the summer of
2001, Kathryn moved to Folsom where she is currently the choral director
and responsible for vocal activities at Cordova High School in Folsom,
CA. Kathryn has performed in numerous recitals, oratorio, opera and musical theatre productions. She has been a featured soloist at the Basilica
Cathedral of St. Joseph in San Jose, and with the prestigious SJSU
Choraliers under the direction of Dr. Charlene Archibeque, where she performed throughout Europe. While teaching music full-time in the San Jose
Unified School District, Kathryn was the choir director for St. Nicholas
Catholic Church in Los Altos Hills and maintained a private voice studio.
In spite of her demanding teaching schedule, Kathryn continues to find
time to perform in various venues in Northern California. Kathryn has
sung leading roles with the Borgamaria Lyric Opera for the past five years
including Susanna, in Wolf Ferrari’s Susanna’s Secret, Letcia, in Menotti’s
The Old Maid and the Thief, and the role of the Witch in Humperdinck’s
Hansel and Gretel. Most recently Mrs. Rueb was heard as a soprano soloist
in the performance of the Mozart Requiem with the Master Chorale and
Borgamaria Lyric Opera spring "Opera Scenes.
Cherubino wants Susanna to ask the Countess to intercede on his behalf.
When the Count appears, Cherubino hides behind a chair, not wanting to
be seen alone with Susanna. The Count uses the opportunity of finding
Susanna alone to personally step up his demands for favours from her, including financial inducements to sell herself to him. As Basilio, the slimy
music teacher, arrives, the Count, not wanting to be caught alone with
Susanna, hides behind the chair. Cherubino leaves that hiding place just in
time, and jumps onto the chair while Susanna scrambles to cover him with
a dress. Now the Count is behind the chair and Cherubino is on the chair
covered by a dress. When Basilio starts to gossip about Cherubino's obvi-
Yen-Yu Shih, mezzo-soprano
Dr. Shih is a multi-talented musician who, in addition to being an accomplished vocalist and pianist, has maintained a multi-faceted career as a performer, producer, stage manager, educator, and performing arts administrator. She has managed and produced a wide variety of musical productions including operas, musical theaters, music concerts, experimental music projects, and festivals.
From 2006-2009, Dr. Shih served as the voice faculty at Sierra Music
Academy in Rocklin. She has devoted to developing her young students
and assisting them to prepare their career and study in music. From 2009,
she serves as the music director in Keeper Theater Company in Fullerton
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she hadn't stepped in on short notice, the Russian coloratura's technique
and lovely voice more than earned the ovation she received" She repeated
the role with San Francisco Opera in 2007
She currently performs the role of The Diva at Teatro ZinZanni in San
Francisco. Her future engagement includes Lucia with NBO and Queen of
the Night at Opera San Jose production of The Magic Flute.
Burr Cochran Phillips, bass-baritone
Two notable headings in the operatic career of Bass-baritone Burr Cochran
Phillips, a resident of Dallas, Texas, include his 1988 debut with the Santa
Fe Opera in the U.S. stage premiere of Richard Strauss’s Friedenstag as
the Musketeer and his debut with the Houston Grand Opera in the world
premiere of Sir Michael Tippett’s New Year in 1990. He has also appeared
with the Fort Worth Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Tulsa Opera, San Antonio
Opera Theater and the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra in numerous operatic productions. In January 2006, he returned to the Dallas Opera in a
production of Richard Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos. In addition, Mr. Phillips has sung many of the major works in the oratorio canon with orchestras and festivals throughout the US, including the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the San Antonio Symphony
Orchestra, the Oklahoma Philharmonic Orchestra, the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Carmel Bach
Festival, the Madison Early Music Festival and the Amarillo Symphony
Orchestra. He has performed under the batons of Gunter Schuller, Claus
Peter Flor, Nicola Rescigno, Robert Spano, John Crosby, George Manahan, Edo de Waart, Edoardo Müller, Christian Badea, Graeme Jenkins,
Bruno Weil, Karen Kennedy and Samuel Wong.
ous attraction to the Countess, the Count angrily leaps from his hiding
place, beginning the trio Cosa sento! Tosto andate!, and as the ensemble
continues he lifts the dress from the chair to illustrate how he found
Cherubino under a table in Barbarina's room—again to find Cherubino!
The Count has discovered Figaro flirting with a woman he thinks is the
Countess (really Susanna dressed as the Countess) and calls everyone
around in a fury to witness her shaming. Everyone begs pardon for the offenders, but this only infuriates the Count further; until his real wife
emerges and reveals the trickery of the past three acts, which finally
shames him into begging her forgiveness in the final ensemble Contessa
perdono. The opera ends with the general sentiment that "everyone now
will be happy", then all run off to celebrate.
From 1991-2000, Mr. Phillips was a member of the University of Texas at
Arlington Music Faculty, where he chaired the Division of Voice from
1998-2000. He joined the faculty of the Meadows School of the Arts at
Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX from 2000-2005, where he
held the position of Assistant Professor of Voice, and in the fall of 2007 he
accepted an invitation to become a member of the faculty as Associate
Professor within the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific
in Stockton, CA. Mr. Phillips also held a one year appointment as lecturer
in voice at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ during the 20062007 academic year. He holds the Master of Music degree in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance from Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX)
and the Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the Univer18
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Joaquina Calvo Johnson, Director
Joaquina Calvo Johnson is beginning her sixth year as Artistic Director of
the Borgamaria Lyric Opera Company. She brings to the opera company a
distinguished career as a conductor, performing artist, teacher and clinician. While a professor of music at Yuba College for 27 years she conducted the Yuba College Chamber Singers, Symphony Chorus and the
Yuba Sutter Youth Chorus. In 1994 the Symphony Chorus was invited to
perform in Cambridge, Stratford, and London, England.
She has performed with the Indianapolis Symphony, Sacramento Symphony, Camellia Symphony, Stockton Symphony, Auburn Symphony
Yuba Sutter Symphony, London Opera Center, as well as various performances in Germany, Italy and England. She has been heard at the Crocker
Art Gallery in Sacramento, on the Sacramento Opera Mini Opera Series,
as a Community Concert Artist and in many concerts and recitals throughout California. Joaquina holds a B.A. Degree in Music with an emphasis in
violin from California State University, Sacramento, her M.M. Degree in
vocal performance from the Indiana University School of Music, a certificate in German Lieder from the Hochschule fur Musik, Salzburg, Austria,
as well as a Diploma in Operatic Performance from the London Opera
Center, London, England. She is an active member of ACDA(American
Choral Director’s Association), NATS(National Association Teachers of
Singing),and serves on the board of the TriCountyConcertAssociation and
the Yuba Sutter Regional Arts Council. She has been recognized nationally for her work in Music Education. She is married to her musician husband, Howard Johnson. They reside in Yuba City.
Kelly Barber Cunningham, soprano
Kelly has returned to the Yuba Sutter area to complete her undergraduate
studies in English. Currently, she is an artist student of Joaquina Calvo
Johnson. She began her vocal studies in 1992 at Yuba College performing
with the Yuba College Chamber Singers, Symphony Chorus and singing
leading roles with the Theatre Department’s productions of Oklahoma and
Carousel. In 1996, she was the Yuba Sutter Young Artist award winner.
While attending San Jose State University, she was a student in the voice
studio of Joseph Frank. Kelly performed for two seasons at Opera San Jose
singing with the opera chorus as well as the role of Poussette in Manon.
Currently, Kelly sings with the Yuba Sutter Master Chorale and the Borgamaria Lyric Opera. Kelly has performed many roles including Laetitia in
The Old Maid and the Thief, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel and Sadie in
Slow Dusk. Most recently she was the advanced adult first place winner in
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the San Joaquin Chapter NATS student auditions held at the University of
Pacific in Stockton.
She resides in Yuba City with her husband, Brian and daughter, Ruby.
Brant J. Bordsen, baritone
Brant has enjoyed singing all of his life. While a student at the University
of California, Davis, he sang with the University Chorus and Master Chorale. He is a well-known Yuba Sutter attorney and has participated in
many community choral societies where he has performed as a bass soloist
and member of the chorus. Most recently he sang the bass solos in Handel’s Messiah with the Yuba Sutter Oratorio Society and the bass solos in
the Faure Requiem with the Yuba Sutter Master Chorale. Brant has sung
major roles each season with the Borgamaria Lyric Opera including Ben in
Menotti’s The Telephone, the Count in Ah...Mozart!, Count Gill in Wolf
Ferrari’s Susanna’s Secret, Bob in Menotti’s Old Maid and the Thief, the
Broom-Maker in Hansel and Gretel and the role of King Balthazar in
Amahl and the Night Visitors”
Brant enjoys his artistic life as well as the great outdoors and his episodes
of “pumpkin growing”.
Thor Campbell, bass baritone
Thor is a Yuba Sutter native, born and raised in Yuba City. He graduated
from Yuba City High School in 1993 and began studying with Joaquina
Calvo Johnson as a member of the Yuba College Chamber Singers and the
Yuba College Symphony Chorus as a promising young bass baritone. During his time studying with Mrs. Johnson, he played key roles in several
operettas touring local area schools.
In 1997 before joining the Army and leaving the area, Thor was selected to
the national honor community college choir, and traveled to San Diego to
perform with these elite choral singers from thoughout the nation. Later
that same year, Thor was honored by the Yuba Sutter Regional Arts Council as the “Young Artist of the Year.” During his nearly ten years abroad
with the Army, Thor continued to sing. He was asked to perform at retirement ceremonies, promotion ceremonies and special club induction ceremonies. In 2006, Thor won the Military Idol Competition in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, a spin off of the popular television show, “American
Idol.”
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After completing his service in the Army, Thor, his wife Joyce, and their
two sons returned to Yuba City, their only real home and began studying
with Mrs. Johnson once again. Thor made his debut with the Borgamaria
Opera singing the role of the Page in Amahl and the Night Visitors. Most
recently he toured with the Borgamaria Lyric Opera "Eductional Outreach
Program" as the Wolf in Seymour Barab's "Little Red Riding Hood".
Wendolyn Cooper, soprano
Wendy holds an AA Degree in Music from Yuba College where she performed with the Yuba College Chamber Singers and Symphony Chorus.
She began her choral experience as a member of the Yuba Sutter Youth
Chorus and Bel Canto Singers. Presently, she is performing with the Yuba
Sutter Master Chorale. She is frequently heard as a soloist in community
musical activities and is an artist student of Joaquina Calvo Johnson. Last
spring Wendy repeated her interpretation of Miss Todd in the “Old Maid
and the Thief”. This will be her fifth season with the Borgamaria Lyric
Opera. Previously she sang the role of Sister Genevieve in Puccini’s Suor
Angelica, Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel as well as numerous appearances with the Borgamaria Lyric Opera in concert. Miss Cooper
presented her first solo recital this past September. Most recently she
toured with the Borgamaria Lyric Opera "Educational Outreach Program"
as Little Red Riding Hood in Seymour Barab's "Little Red Riding Hood".
She resides in Yuba City with her husband Jeremiah and two childen,
Elleanor and Samuel.
Daniel Ebbers, tenor
Daniel Ebbers, Tenor, Assistant Professor of Voice, joined the faculty of
the University of the Pacific in fall 0f 2004. He holds the B.M. from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point the M.M. from University of Southern
California. In the Conservatory of Music, Professor Ebbers teaches vocal
performance and is Managing Director and Instructor at the Pacific Opera
Institute.
Daniel Ebbers appeared last season with Sacramento Opera as Cassio in
Verdi’s Otello. Other recent engagements include Count Almaviva in The
Barber of Seville, and Fenton in Nicolai’s The Merry Wives of Windsor. In concert Mr. Ebbers has appeared with the prestigious Music in the
Vineyards Festival, the Stockton Chorale in Mendelssohn’s Elijah, the
Napa Valley Chorale singing Dvorak’s Mass in D, in addition to Mozart’s
C minor Mass. An accomplished concert artist, he has appeared with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony performing Stra10
He is currently on the faculties of American River College and Sacramento
City College. Mason has also taught at the University of Central Arkansas,
Millikin University, the College of William and Mary, the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and the University of Oregon.
He is also the coach for the Sacramento Opera, Music Director of the Sacramento Opera Young Artist program and pianist for the San Francisco
Choral Society, California Musical Theater/Music Circus and San Francisco Symphony.
Svetlana Nikitenko, soprano
Ukrainian born American soprano Svetlana Nikitenko began her professional career while still a conservatory student with the Mussorgsky Theater of Opera and Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she spent four seasons appearing as the Queen of Shemakhan in Le Coq d'Or, Violetta (La
Traviata), Gilda (Rigoletto), Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Marfa (The
Tsar's Bride), Chlöe (The Queen of Spades) and Emma
(Khovanshchina). She toured Italy, Greece, France and the United States
(New York State Theater). Svetlana's American credits include recitals at
New York's Alice Tully Hall, appearances as Gilda with the Natchez
Opera Festival. She has performed with Pocket Opera of San
Francisco Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Poppea in Handel's
Agrippina and Angelica in Handel's Orlando. For Berkeley Opera, she
performed the role of Marzelline in Beethoven's Fidelio, the title role of
Serpentina in the world premier of the opera , appeared as Dew Fairy and
Sandman (Hansel and Gretel) at the San Francisco Opera Center, sang the
role of Maria in Manoury's 60th parallel (with the Berkeley Symphony
under Kent Nagano). She also portrayed “a memorable Mimi that rises to
star caliber" (La Boheme), Antonia (Tales of Hoffmann) and Tatiana
(Eugene Onegin).
Ms. Nikitenko was a Metropolitan Opera National Council Regional Finalist , received an Encouragement Award given by the Licia Albanese Puccini International Voice Competition and is a graduate of San Francisco
Opera's Merola Opera Program, where she participated in master classes
with Dame Joan Sutherland and performed the role of Queen of the Night
at Stern Grove Festival (San Francisco) and Meadowood (Napa, CA).
In 2003 she made her highly acclaimed San Francisco Opera debut as the
Queen of the Night replacing an ailing singer. Her "Der Hölle Rache"
stopped the show, as wild applause followed the aria's first stanza. "Even if
(Continued on page 18)
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Arizona State University. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the National Taipei University of Education.
Gregory Mason, piano
Gregory Mason has performed and taught across the US and abroad.
He has performed in Barcelona, Madrid, Hamburg, Lisbon, Vienna, tours
of South and Central America, at the United Nations, the Yale Collection
of Historic Instruments, the Casals Festival, the Festival International de la
Cultura, the Yale Collection of Historic Instruments, Wildwood Festival,
OFAM, the Festival of the Millennium and recitals on NPR radio and PBS
televison. In 1994 he performed and taught masterclasses in South America on a US State Department tour.
Recent performing highlights include the Stravinsky and Khachaturian piano concertos, the Bartok Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, the
Rhapsody in Blue and recitals for the Oregon Mozart Players and on the
Music Today Festival. He performed Beethoven’s 4th Piano Concerto in
January with the Sacramento Philharmonic.
As a coach in New York City, Mason was pianist for the American Music
Competition at Carnegie Hall, the opera classes at the Juilliard school and
a master class with Placido Domingo at the Metropolitan Opera. New
York Times critic Will Crutchfield praised his "characterful and interesting
playing" after a Carnegie Recital Hall performance. Mr. Mason coached
actress Linda Lavin for the Emmy-winning NBC movie, Lena, My Hundred Children, was a coach at Virginia Opera for two seasons including
Mozart’s Magic Flute with Renée Fleming, and has given master classes at
universities in the US and overseas, most recently at UC-Davis. Mr. Mason has prepared prominent singers for organizations including the Pittsburgh Symphony, the San Francisco Opera, a Luciano Pavarotti stadium
concert tour, the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Opera, the
New York Philharmonic, Music of the Baroque at Chicago’s Orchestra
Hall, the Saint-Denis Festival in Paris, the London Proms, Australian Opera, the Richard Tucker Foundation at Avery Fisher Hall, Cincinnati May
Festival.
Mason holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan where
he studied the legendary Bartok pupil, Gyorgy Sandor, and a MM and
DMA from the University of Illinois where he studied with famed coach
accompanist John Wustman.
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vinsky's Mass, and has appeared twice at both Carnegie Hall and Avery
Fisher Hall. Mr. Ebbers has performed at both Chicago's new Orchestra
Hall and the Chicago Lyric Opera in Handel's Messiah. A distinguished
Mozart interpreter, he has appeared as Don Ottavio with Opera Theater of
Connecticut, Belmonte in San Diego Comic Opera's production of Abduction from the Seraglio, as tenor soloist in Mozart's Requiem, at the Ruldophinum in Prague. Among his regional engagements, he has appeared as a
principal artist with San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, Utah Festival Opera,
Glimmerglass Opera, Fairbanks Symphony, and the Sanibel Music Festival. Mr. Ebbers toured the United States as tenor soloist in Richard Einhorn's oratorio Voices of Light-The Passion of Joan of Arc. During this
tour he appeared as guest soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra at
Wolftrap, the Los Angles Mozart Orchestra, the Charleston Concert Association and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Shumin Lin, violin
Dr. Shumin Lin enjoys a prolific performing career, performing more than
300 concerts all around the world, as a soloist, recitalist, chamber and orchestra musician. She is currently the instructor at Sierra Music Academy.
Dr. Lin’s performance experience is extensive. Her recent performance
appearance included the production of Woodland Opera Hose, Joseph and
the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in April 2009 and Damn Yankees! In
2008; a production of Chinese Flower Drum Songs with Community Asian
Theatre of the Sierra in Nevada City, 2008; and a production of Jesus
Christ Super Star in concert with The Acting Company in 2008. Her pervious concert appearances included a concert tour in Taiwan with wellknown accordionist, Primoz Parovel in 2007, and a chamber concert tour
in China. In 2006, she also performed Bach’s Double Violin Concerto with
American violinist, Steven Crichlow and Arizona State University Chamber Orchestra and Musica Nova Orchestra in Phoenix.
Dr.Lin’s orchestra experience is prolific. She served as concertmaster
in various orchestras, including Arizona State University Chamber Orchestra, ASU Lyric Opera Theater Orchestra, Brevard Repertoire Symphony
Orchestra, Florida State University Opera Orchestra and Musica Nova
Chamber Orchestra; second principle in Brevard Music Center Orchestra,
Brevard Opera Orchestra; and first violinist in National Institute Orchestra,
Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Lin earned both her Master and Doctorate in Violin Performance
from Arizona State University. At the age of 27, Dr. Lin is the youngest
recipient of Doctoral of Musical Art degree in the string department of
(Continued page 14)
11
A Mozart Sampler
From Die Zauberflöte
Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen
Die Königen der Nacht: Svetlana Nikitenko
Joaquina Calvo Johnson, Musical Director
Greg Mason, piano
Violin Sonata in G major, K. 301
Shumin Lin, violin
Soll ich dich, Treuer! Nicht mehr sehn?
Pamina: Kathryn Donovan Rueb
Tamino: Daniel Ebbers
Sarastro: Brant Bordsen
Kostanze: Svetlana Nikitenko
Ach, ich fühl’s, es ist verschwunden
Pamina: Karen Trefzger
From Die Entführung aus dem Serail
Ach, ich liebte
From Così fan tutte
Fiordiligi: Kelly Barber Cunningham
Dorabella: Wendolyn Cooper
Don Alfonso: Thor Campbell
Soave sia il vento
Un’aura amorosa
Ferrando: Daniel Ebbers
Il core vi dono…
Dorabella: Wendolyn Cooper
Guglielmo: Kenneth J. Pereira
Pa-Pa-Pa-Papagena!
Papagena: Brittney Zearfoss
Papageno: Kenneth J. Pereira
From Le Nozze di Figaro
Sull’aria
La Contessa: Kelly Barber Cunningham
Susanna: Wendolyn Cooper
Non so piu’ cosa son cosa faccio
Cherubino: Yen-Yu Shih
From Don Giovanni
Cinque… dieci
Madamina! Il catalogo è questo
Susanna: Wendolyn Cooper
Figaro: Brant Bordsen
Leporello: Burr Phillips
Donna Anna: Karen Trefzger
Non mi dir
La vendetta….
Dottor Bartolo: Burr Phillips
Zerlina: Lisa van der Ploeg
Don Giovanni: Burr Phillips
La ci darem
Porgi, amor, qualche ristoro…
La Contessa: Kelly Barber-Cunningham
From Il Re Pastore
Aminta: Kathryn Donovan Rueb
Shumin Lin, Violin
L’amero, sarò costante
Hai gia vinta la causa!... Vedro’mentr’ io sospiro…
Il Conte: Kenneth J. Pereira
From La Clemenza di Tito
Ah, perdona al primo affetto
Parto, ma tu ben mio
Servilia: Kathryn Donovan Rueb
Annio: Lisa van der Ploeg
Voi, che sapete
Cherubino: Yen-Yu Shih
Sesto: Lisa van der Ploeg
David Coe, Clarinet
Cosa sento! Tosto andate…
Susanna: Kathryn Donavan Rueb
Don Basilio: Daniel Ebbers
Il Conte: Kenneth J Pereira
INTERMISSION
(Synopses available starting page 4)
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Contessa perdono…
13
Entire Company