File - Fresco Opera Theatre

An Original Ballad Opera
by
Fresco Opera Theatre
Directed by Melanie Cain
This production is dedicated to the memory of my Grandfather, John Wiebers,
who never missed a Sunday Western.
This project is made possible with support from the
Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission,
Madison Arts Commission,
sponsors, and fans like you.
Cast
Cactus Cate: Kassy Coleman
Bella Rose: Saira Frank
Bonny Jo Loco: Caitlin Cisler
Kid Clementine: Rachel Holmes
Nellie “Blackjack” Taylor: Erin Sura
Hilda “Dynamite” Brune: Allison Hull
Sheriff McCoy: Heath Rush
Deputy Sam: Brianne Sura
The Bounty Hunter: Jonathan Ten Brink
The Bartender: Shane Magargal
The Madam: Diana Kelly Eiler
Saloon girls: Nancy Davis and CatieLeigh Laszewski
Gunslingers and Townspeople: Anna Slate, Emily Morrison Weeks, Lauren Welch,
George Abbott, Ignacio Cabrera, and Dom Giannattasio
Dancers: The Westport Squares and The Diamond Squares
Narrator: Jeff Turk
Orchestra
Piano: Jess Salek
Violin: Laura Burns
Viola: Jen Paulson
Cello: Michael Allen
Crew
Stage Director: Melanie Cain
Executive Director: Frank Cain
Musical Director: Jess Salek
Lighting Designer: Chris Barker
Set and Prop Building: Mike Gilmore
Photographer: Max Wendt
Synopsis
ACT 1
Scene I: High Noon Shoot Out: Kid Clementine has it in for an ex-lover.
 Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walküre, Wagner
 Meditation from Thais, Massenet
Scene II: Jail Scene: The Kid Spends Time With The Good Sheriff McCoy
“Barbaro, oh Dio!” from Il Rè Pastore, Mozart
Scene III: The Saloon: The Kid’s Gang Surveys The Townfolk And Hatches A Plan
 The Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore, Verdi
 “Brindisi” from La Traviata ,Verdi
 “Il segreto per esser felici” from Lucrezia Borgia, Donizetti
 “La Donna e Mobile” from Rigoletto, Verdi
 “Ah! chi mi dice mai” from Don Giovanni, Mozart
 “Oh Mio Fernando” from La Favorita, Donizetti
 “In uomini, in soldati” from Cosi fan tutte, Mozart
 Funiculì, Funiculà by Denza
 “Smanie implacabile” from Cosi fan tuttte, Mozart
 “Credo in un Dio crudel” from Otello, Verdi
Intermission
ACT 2
Scene IV: – Bella Rose Looks To Steal McCoy’s Heart And The Jail Keys
 “Quando men vo” from La Boheme, Puccini
Scene V: An Unexpected Diversion Jeopardizes The Plan
 “Tornami a vagheggiar” from Alcina, Handel
Scene VI: Sheriff’s Lament
“Quanto è bella, quanto è cara” from Elixir of Love, Donizetti
Scene VII: The Wilderness
 “Jägerin, schlau im Sinn” from Martha, Flowtow
 “Caro nome” from Rigoletto, Verdi
Scene VIII: The Gang Is Missin’
 “Soave il vento” from Cosi fan tutte, Mozart
Scene IX: The Town Celebration: A Hoedown Gone Awry
 Don Pasquale Chorus of Servants, Donizetti
 “O suave fanciulla” La Boheme, Puccini
Meet the Players
Caitlin Cisler (Bonny Jo Loco) A native of Wisconsin, soprano Caitlin Cisler made her
professional debut in 2009, headlining as Cunegonde in Candide with Four Seasons Theatre
in Madison, Wisconsin. Other major roles include Gretel (Hansel and Gretel, 2011-2012),
Lola Markham (Gallantry, 2011), Norina (Don Pasquale, 2011 & 2008), Morgana (Alcina,
2009), Valencienne (Die lustige Witwe, 2008), Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro, 2008),
Mélisande (Pelléas et Mélisande, 2007), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte, 2006) and Lucy in The
Telephone (2006). Ms. Cisler currently works with Madison Opera, Opera for the Young,
and Fresco Opera Theatre. In 2011, Ms. Cisler was the audience favorite, and second place winner of the Harold
Haugh Light Opera Competition. She also was crowned the Diva Champion in Fresco Opera’s “Dueling Divas”.
Ms. Cisler represented the Midwest as a semi-finalist for the 2010 NATS Artist Awards competition in Salt Lake
City, and as a finalist in the 2010 National Opera Association Competition. Ms. Cisler has also presented Richard
Strauss’ Brentano Lieder with the UW Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the university’s 2008 concerto
competition. In that same year, Ms. Cisler also won the Schubert Club Competition in St. Paul.In concert, Ms.
Cisler has most recently been seen in the 9/11 Memoriam Concert at the Overture Center for the Arts, where she
performed the soprano solo from Deutsche Requiem by Brahms. She has also been a featured soloist in the
Faure Requiem, the Mozart’s Requiem and Vespers solennes de confessore, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Magnificat, and
Liebeslieder op. 52 by Brahms.Ms. Cisler holds a Masters in Opera Performance from the University of
Wisconsin – Madison, and Bachelor degrees in vocal performance and biology from Lawrence University. She is
a published researcher in vocal health and the effects of singing on the immune system. Currently, Ms. Cisler
studies with Julia Faulkner and teaches private voice lessons at the Madison Music Foundry. will be singing Oscar
with Madison Opera in Un Ballo in Maschera in October.
Saira Frank (Bella Rose) “With her strong, silvery soprano, Frank shines” says Madison’s
Capitol Times. A frequent Madison performer, Frank most recently sang the Duchess
Christina in Philip Glass’ Galileo Galilei with Madison Opera. Other recent local
performances include Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Adina in The Elixir of Love, and
Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte with Candid Concert Opera as well as the teetering tightrope walker
in Fresco Opera’s Big Top Opera. She holds a master’s degree in opera from UW-Madison
and two bachelor’s degrees, one in vocal performance and one in French from Northwestern
University. A favorite of Madison’s Opera for the Young, Frank has performed in their past four productions and
is currently the Mother/Witch in the 2012 tour of Hansel and Gretel. Other roles in Frank’s repertory include
Tatiana in Eugene Onegin, the title roles in The Merry Widow and Alcina, Josephine in HMS Pinafore, and
Armidoro in La Buona Figliuola. Saira lives in Delafield and teaches at Carroll Academy.
Kassy L. Coleman (Cactus Cate) Kassy L. Coleman is a graduate of UW Madison with a
master’s degree in vocal performance where she was seen in such performances as Mere Marie
in The Dialogues of the Carmelites, Dame Quickly in Falstaff and Carmen in Le Tragedie de
Carmen. Currently Ms Coleman is co-owner and executive director of the Soul’s Song LLC, a
home-based fine arts studio where she teaches singers in classical styles but also functions as a
musical theatre vocal specialist. Kassy is currently in the process of training for a 200-hour yoga
certification through Jewel in the Lotus in the hopes of bringing yet another element into her
studio and personal life. She enjoys performing throughout the Madison area in various genres
and was most recently seen in Music Theatre of Madison’s production of Songs for a New World by Jason
Robert Brown as Woman 2. Ms Coleman is delighted to be performing with Fresco Opera Theatre for a third
time! Thanks to those who always love and support me. Namaste.
Diana Kelly Eiler (The Madam) Diana Kelly Eiler majored in vocal performance at Heidelberg
College, where she played a variety of operatic and musical theatre roles and received the Ohl
Prize and Hoernemann academic awards, as well as making her professional debuts with the
Toledo Opera in Babes in Toyland and Findlay Light Opera in The Gondoliers and Die
Fledermaus while still a student. She was a N.A.T.S. Great Lakes Regional winner, Jessye
Norman Award recipient, and semi-finalist in the Friedrich Schorr Opera Star Search. Musical
theatre roles such as Lily in The Secret Garden and Christine in Phantom brought her the
Anthony Award for Best Actress. Diana has also been an active concert and oratorio soloist,
performing multiple renditions of standards such as Handel's Messiah, Vivaldi's Gloria, and Mendelssohn's Elijah;
she was also regularly featured by the Fort Wayne Bach Collegium as soloist in the B Minor Mass, Saint John
Passion and Saint Matthew Passion, as well as a variety of Bach's sacred cantatas. Diana was first heard in the
greater Madison area in Bach's Magnificat as a guest of the U.W. Choral Union, with the Madison Symphony
Chorus both as an ensemble singer and soloist in Rutter's Gloria, Mozart's Missa in F Major and Kodaly's Missa
Brevis, and as part of the Stoughton Opera Company, performed the countertenor solo in Orff's Carmina
Burana. She has appeared with Fresco Opera Theatre in Dueling Divas II and as Baba the Turk in Big Top
Opera. She made her Opera for the Young debut as Jezibaba and the Foreign Princess in Rusalka, and went on
to play the Mother and Witch in their 2011-12 tour of Hansel and Gretel. In addition to singing, Diana plays viola
with Cassiopeia String Quartet.
Rachel Eve Holmes (Kid Clementine) Rachel Eve Holmes, a soprano originally from
Jonesboro Georgia, is most recently a winner of the 2012 Wisconsin Public Radio’s NealeSilva Young Artist Competition, which lead to her performing in a winner’s concert broadcast
on Wisconsin Public Radio live from the Wisconsin Union Theater. Rachel is also a recipient
of Encouragement awards both from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
(Georgia District) and the Longleaf Opera National Vocal Competition. Other recent
accomplishments include winning first place in the Colorado Graduate Division NATS
competition, along with being the winner of grants from the Young Singers Foundation, Schuyler Foundation for
Career Bridges, and the Society of Singers.
Ms. Holmes made her Carnegie Hall debut sponsored by the Associated Music Teacher’s League of New York,
performing in concert at Weill Recital Hall in May of 2011 with pianist Jonathan Ware. This debut was given as a
prize for winning an annual competition held by the League. Soon after, Rachel traveled to Shanghai, China, to
perform partial roles Violetta (La Traviata) and Laetitia (The Old Maid and the Thief) in concert at East China
Normal University.
Ms. Holmes graduated with her MM from Colorado State University, where she performed Susanna (Le Nozze
di Figaro), Pamina (Die Zauberflote) and Adele (Die Fledermaus). During her time at CSU, Rachel was
contracted as an Apprentice Artist with Opera Fort Collins. Through this program, Rachel made her regional solo
debut singing Marzeline in Fidelio with the Fort Collins Symphony, along with performing in multiple OFC galas
and outreach productions. Other recent performances include Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) in Novafeltria, Italy,
as a Young Artist at La Musica Lirica, and Beth March in the European Premiere of Mark Adamo's Little
Women under the baton of Metropolitan Opera rehearsal conductor J. David Jackson and under the assistance
of Adamo himself (Stadsschouwburg, Brugge, Belgium) in the summer of 2009 with the Intermezzo Festival.
An avid oratorio performer, Rachel has sung the soprano soloist in Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Bach’s Cantata
21, Faure’s Requiem, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, the Brahms Requiem (cover) and most recently as the soprano
soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana in Estes Park, CO. Rachel is also an active recitalist, and was chosen as one of
ten singers in the country to participate in the Baldwin Wallace (previously Cleveland) Art Song Festival in 2008
and 2010. At the festival she worked with such notable artists as Warren Jones, Stephanie Blythe, Craig Rutenberg
and Martin Katz.
Rachel received her Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. She sang
various operatic roles with the Undergraduate Opera Studio, including Papagena (The Magic Flute), Lady
Dunmow (A Dinner Engagement) and L'Enfant (L'Enfant et les Sortileges). She was the recipient of the Wallace
and From the Top Scholarships during her time at NEC.
Notable recent engagements include her professional operatic debut with Opera Fort Collins as Frasquita in
Carmen, and a recital at Florida State University in the spring of 2012, where she premiered multiple student
works through the Society of Composers International, FSU student chapter.
Erin Sura (Nellie Blackjack Taylor) Soprano Erin Sura has recently been seen performing the
role of Countess in St. Petersburg Opera’s emerging artist program; Mrs. Hayes in Susannah
with the Florentine Opera Company; the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, and
covering Frieda Hatzfeld in Music in the Air, both with Music by the Lake; and Dido in both
the Elgin Opera and Southeast WI Performing Arts program (SEWPA) productions of Dido
and Aeneas.
Additional roles include Mozart’s Fiordiligi and First Lady, Nedda in I Pagliacci, Rosalinde in
Die Fledermaus by J. Strauss, the Mother in Hansel and Gretel, Gianetta in Gondoliers, and Mother Marie in
Dialogues of the Carmelites; in addition to originating the title role in Paula Kimper’s concert version of The
Captivation of Eunice Williams.
Ms. Sura was a finalist in the Fresco Opera Theatre’s Dueling Divas Competition in 2010 and 2011 and was
awarded 2nd place in the Connecticut Opera Theatre’s Amici Vocal Competition in 2009. She has been seen in
concert, young artist, and outreach, productions with the Florentine Opera Company, St. Petersburg Opera,
Fresco Opera Theatre, Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Natchez Opera Festival, and Music by the Lake, among
others.
Allison Hull (Hilda “Dynamite” Brune) Mezzo-soprano, Allison Hull is a graduate of Lawrence
University in vocal performance. She then continued with graduate studies at the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee while enjoying an apprenticeship with the Skylight Opera Theater. Ms.
Hull has also served as a young artist for Glimmerglass Opera and Seattle Opera, where she
received acclaim for her portrayal of Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro. Ms Hull has won
competitive awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions including District
Winner and Third Place at the Regional Level. She was a Junior Winner in the Palm Beach Opera Competition
and was chosen to participate in the Thomas Hampson Masterclass Series for PBS. Ms. Hull is on the voice
faculty at both Parkside University and Carthage College. Ms. Hull recently appeared as Mercedes with St.
Petersburg opera and as Peep Bo with the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company of Chicago.
Heath Rush (Sheriff McCoy) Heath Rush has studied with James Doing of UW-Madison
throughout his career and was blessed with the opportunity to exit his factory life when he
received a scholarship from the Pleasant Rowland Foundation. He continues to aim for a future
of performing leading roles. Most recently, he has performed as Gastone with Madison Opera’s
Traviata. He has sung with numerous companies, including Madison Savoyards, Opera for the
Young, Sarasota Opera and Orlando Opera and has studied in the Merola Opera program in
California. He lives in Sun Prairie with his gorgeous wife, Katherine and his three wonderful
kids.
Brianne Sura (Deputy Sam) Brianne Sura earned her Master's Degree from the Cleveland
Institute of Music where she was awarded the Elizabeth Stoekler Stevens Prize in Lied. She has
since performed principal roles with Nashville Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, Madison Opera
Company, Skylight Opera Theatre, Elgin Opera, Milwaukee Opera Theater, Bay Area Summer
Opera Theater Institute, Music By the Lake, SouthEast Wisconsin Performing Arts, and La
Musica Lirica in Urbania, Italy. Most recent roles include; Zita in Gianni Schicchi, The Witch
in Hansel and Gretel, and Tessa in The Gondoliers. Brianne was the winner of Fresco Opera's
Dueling Diva's II competition at Edgewood and was last seen with Fresco as a Suramese twin in Big Top Opera.
Jonathan Ten Brink (The Bounty Hunter) Jonathan Ten Brink is returns to Fresco Opera
Theatre as the Bounty Hunter in The Good the Bad, and the Divas.” A bass-baritone with a
“rich lower and middle range” (Madison Magazine) and “considerable agility” (Grand Rapids
Press), Jonathan is equally comfortable on the concert and opera stages.
An advocate of early music, Jonathan sang as Alfesibeo in the North American premier of
Cavalli’s Gli amore d’Apollo e di Daphne under the artistic direction of Paul O’Dette. He
has also sung as Ottone in L’incoronazione di Poppea and recently as Haman in Handel’s
Esther with the Oratorio Society of Minnesota. He performed as Dr. Grenvil with the Minnesota Orchestra in
their Sommerfest production of La Traviata; Belcore for the Sieur Duluth Summer Arts Festival; and premiered
as Ring Master for Fresco Opera Theatre’s Big Top Opera last season.
In addition to touring with the early music The Rose Ensemble, Jonathan performs quite regularly on the concert
stage. A frequent interpreter of the works of J.S. Bach, he has performed the Christmas Oratorio; St. Matthew
Passion; and numerous cantatas. Jonathan has also performed the major works of the bass-baritone repertoire
including the Messiah; Elijah; Carmina Burana; and the Requiem’s of Durufle and Mozart.
Jonathan greatly enjoys bringing new works to life. He has worked with Piotr Szyhalski on the Empty Words
project; Meredith Monk for the premier of Songs of Ascension at the Walker Art Center; and several works by
Sergey Khvoshchinsky in addition to writing his own music. He explores the relationship of art, artist, and
audience in recitals and strives to bring new audiences to classical music.
Jonathan holds degrees from Calvin College (BA); Bowling Green State University (MM); and is a doctoral
candidate at the University of Minnesota. He has held teaching positions at Concordia University; Crown College;
and North Central University in addition to maintaining a private studio.
Shane Magargal (The Bartender) Tenor Shane Kingston Magargal hails from the suburbs of
Philadelphia, PA. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance with a minor in
Musical Theater and a Master of Music in Voice Performance and Pedagogy, both from
Westminster Choir College. An internationally recognized interpreter of the principal tenors
in the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas, Shane made his European principal debut as Marco
Palmieri in The Gondoliers at the 2010 International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton,
England. Additionally, he sang The Defendant in Trial by Jury, which was named Best
Production in North America at the 2011 North American branch of the Festival. Other credits include Mayor
Upfold in Albert Herring, Agenore (cover) in Il Re Pastore, and the 2008 season of the Ohio Light Opera
(Bardolo in The Czarevitch, Slim in Oklahoma, First Yeomen in The Yeomen of the Guard, and more). Off the
stage, Shane serves on the Board of Directors of The Madison Savoyards, Limited. By day, he is an Implementer
with Epic in Verona.
Nancy Davis (Saloon Girl) Nancy Anne Davis, a soprano, holds a Master’s degree from the
University of North Texas, as well as a Bachelor’s degree from Simpson College. Most
recently, she has performed with Elgin Opera and the MacDowell Club of Milwaukee. She
was a featured soloist with the Choral Arts Society of Southeastern Wisconsin’s Spring
Concert. She has also collaborated with organ in concert at several Milwaukee churches.
She performed the roles of Belinda in Dido and Aeneas and Casilda in The Gondoliers with
SEWPA. She has also participated in the Young Artist Festival in Bayreuth, Germany, been
a part of the Des Moines Metro Opera apprentice program, the Chauteaville Foundation young artist program,
the Crested Butte Music Festival, and Fresco Opera Theatre. She has worked with the Fort Worth Symphony
where she performed the role of Madame Goldentrill in The Impresario. With the Des Moines Metro Opera
she performed the role of Bridget Booth in The Crucible. Other roles include Despina in Così fan tutte, Miss
Wordsworth in Albert Herring, La Feé in Cendrillon, Mrs. Nordstrom in A Little Night Music, Tytania in A
Midsummer Night’s Dream, Joanna in Sweeney Todd, and Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro.
CatieLeigh Laszewski (Saloon Girl) CatieLeigh Laszewski, Soprano, is currently pursuing a
Master’s Degree in Voice Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying with
tenor James Doing. After completing her undergraduate studies in Chicago at Roosevelt
University, CatieLeigh traveled to Italy where she performed in recitals and opera scenes and
competitions in Montecatini Terme, Modena, and Urbania. When she is not traveling abroad,
CatieLeigh is active in the opera community in the Midwest; she made her Fresco Opera debut
in 2011 where she was a finalist in Dueling Divas II and she can also be seen in performances with the American
Chamber Opera Company in Chicago, and in recitals in Wisconsin and Chicago.
Anna Slate (Chorus) With a uniquely open embrace for all performance genres, soprano
Anna Slate has developed an eclectic performance history including roles in Baroque operas,
contemporary music theater, and singing with an improvisatory rock band. Soon after
graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2010, Anna made her professional
debut with "Berkeley (CA) West Edge Opera" as Atalanta in Handel's Xerxes under the
direction of Maestro Alan Curtis. For this performance Anna was hailed by the San
Francisco Chronicle as "the surprise treasure of the night." Most recently, Anna finished a successful tour around
Minnesota performing a one-woman music-theater piece, "Alice Unwrapped," with the St. Paul-based Nautilus
Music Theater. Earlier this year Anna sang excerpts from Mendelssohn's “A Midsummer Night's Dream” with
the Milwaukee Concord Chamber Orchestra. Other notable operatic roles include Liesgen in Bach's Coffee
Cantata with "Bach, Dancing, & Dynamite Society," Oberto (Alcina), Crobyle (Thaïs), and Frou Frou (The Merry
Widow). Anna has appeared as a guest soloist with various choirs in such pieces as Handel's Messiah, Bach's
Mass in B Minor, Gwyneth Walker's A Heart in Hiding, and John Rutter's Requiem. She has been the recipient
of numerous awards and scholarships including the UW Opera Props Award and the Robert and Lois Dick
Award, and has also placed 3rd in the 2009 National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition and was a
finalist in the 2008 Schubert Club Competition. Anna enjoys expanding the realm of classical music with such
endeavors as creating a recital focused on themes of social justice and oppression, collaborating on Jan Koetsier's
contemporary Soprano-Tuba duet, “Galgenlieder,” and has even performed an operatic rendition of German
rock band Rammstein's "Du hast." Anna studies with Paul Rowe in Madison, WI and this August will be
performing the role of Anne Egerman in Four Season's Theater's production of Sondheim's A Little Night Music
at the Overture Center.
Emily M.Weeks (Chorus) Emily Morrison Weeks (chorus) is a senior at Edgewood College.
Some of her favorite past roles include: with Tapit New Works: Mangia Mangia -Anne, with
Edgewood College: Wait Until Dark- SusyHendrix, Antigone - Chorus, Yes, And! Improv Group
Member, Brigadoon- Fiona’s understudy/chorus, TheImprov Show - cowriter and various roles,
with Fresco Opera Theatre: Dueling Divas 1 and 2 - Card Girl, Ding Dong the Diva’s Dead Carol Anne and mental patient , Big Top Opera -clown and tiger, with Kathie Rassmusen
Women’s Theater: Women and Their Callings- Tripp. She is thrilled to be joining Fresco Opera Theatre again
and thanks her parents and Dominick for their love and support.
Lauren Welch (Chorus) Lauren Welch is a recent graduate of Edgewood College where
she received a degree in music. During her time at Edgewood, she received numerous
awards and scholarship, including the Blackwell music scholarship, the Sell music
scholarship, and the Eager music scholarship. She was also the winner of the 2011 Concerto
Competition. Lauren has performed as a soloist with the Edgewood College Chamber
orchestra, the Campus Community Choir, and she was the soprano section leader for the
Edgewood College Chamber Singers. Lauren was also an active member of the theatre department where she
served on the Theatre Assembly Planning Committee and she appeared in numerous productions there. Lauren
would like to thank her parents for their love and support.
George Abbott (Chorus) George Abbott graduated with a double major of a BA in Music
and a BS in Math from the University of North Texas. He has 18 years of vocal performance
experience starting with the Children's Chorus of San Antonio at age nine. After graduating
from UNT, he taught middle school math in Dallas ISD for one year before attending Texas
A&M to get his MS in Chemical Engineering. He has been in several choral groups,
including the Texas All-State Choir, Canticum Novum and Chamber Choir of Denton TX.
He studied voice under Richard Croft in his final two years at UNT. He has recently decided
to leave his corporate career and pursue music.
Ignacio Cabrera-Ostertag, (Chorus) Has performed with various choral groups both in Chile
and the U.S, including: UW Choral Union, UW-Men's Choir, Basque Men's Choir from
Santiago and Más América Choir. With these groups he has performed a varied repertoire
spanning from Classical Choral Masterpieces to traditional Basque and Latin American
Music.
Dominick Giannattasio (Chorus) is a self taught musician with a degree in music production.
His past experiences involve performing with several bands of varying genres, sound design
for video, live audio, studio recording and composition in a professional setting. He began his
involvement with Fresco modeling for their promotional posters and made his first stage
appearance in an original clown sketch for Fresco's Big Top Opera. Dominick would like to
thank Emily, his parents and everybody involved with Fresco for their support and confidence
in his ability to take on new challenges.
Laura Burns (Violin) Laura Burns, violin, is a member of the Madison Symphony
Orchestra, where she also performs with the Rhapsodie String Quartet, part of the
Madison Symphony’s Heartstrings initiative that brings live interactive music programs
to adults and children with disabilities. The Heartstrings program has been recognized
for innovation and excellence by the National Endowment for the Arts, the League of
American Orchestras and the International Society for the Arts in Healthcare. Laura
Burns performs regularly with the Oakwood Chamber Players, the Wisconsin
Chamber Orchestra, Oshkosh Symphony, and the Quartessence String Quartet. She has also performed at the
Token Creek Chamber Music Festival. A dedicated pedagogue, she has taught middle and elementary school
strings in the Madison and Oregon Public Schools. Laura has also taught and conducted at the University of
Wisconsin Summer Music Clinic, the Prelude Music Academy, and the Madison Music Makers Program. Laura
received a double bachelor’s degree, with honors, in music education and violin performance from UW Madison
in 1998, and, as a student of David Perry, she complete the master of music degree in violin performance in 2007.
Currently Laura serves as President of the Independent String Teachers of Madison and is on the board for the
Wisconsin chapter of the American String Teachers Association. She teaches violin at Edgewood College and
maintains a private studio in Oregon, Wisconsin.
Michael Allen (Cello) Cellist, Michael Allen enjoys an active career as a performer and teacher.
As a member of the resident graduate piano trio at Northwestern University he was a finalist in
the Coleman Chamber Music Competition in Los Angeles California and premiered a number
of compositions while doing graduate work with Alan Harris in cello performance and music
education. He completed his bachelor of music degree from Lawrence University in Appleton,
Wisconsin working with Carlton McCreery and Harry Sturm in cello performance and music
education.
As an active chamber musician he has performed in festivals in Graz, Austria, Vancouver, Island British
Columbia, Brevard Music Festival in Brevard North Carolina and most recently at the Maud Powell Music
Festival in Illinois. He has been resident cellist for the Oakwood Chamber players based in Madison, Wisconsin.
He has been involved with over 30 premieres of various chamber works. He is presently cellist for the Camerata
String Quartet.
As both soloist and recitalist he has performed recitals in Wisconsin, Michigan, Washington State, Germany and
Austria.
Along with his passion for cello and chamber music he has a lifelong dedication to teaching young people from
ages 5 to 75. He is currently a strings instructor in the Madison Metropolitan School District where he works with
over 100 young string players and he advocates for music education through his other position as Music
Education Coordinator for the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. As Music Education Coordinator he performs for
and works with over 1500 students from the southern Wisconsin area annually.
He is proud to rejoin the faculty of the Prairie Music Academy in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin in the summer of 2011.
Along with his passion for cello and education he is an avid reader of classic literature and sought after music
arranger. Along with performing the 6 Bach cello suites wherever he can he is working on training for his second
marathon and growing the perfect garden. He has one son who is a professional Bassoonist . He performs on a
cello made by August Gemunder made in 1899.
Jen Paulson (Viola) Violist Jennifer Clare Paulson is a member of the Madison Symphony
Orchestra and Green Bay Symphony Orchestra. In addition to performing in regional
orchestral and chamber music settings she is also a member of several new music ensembles
based in Chicago including Kyle Bruckmann’s Wrack and Guillermo Gregorio’s Madi
Ensemble. JCP also teaches at The Madison Music Foundry and works as an apprentice at
Spruce Tree Music and Repair, learning to repair and restore new and vintage string
instruments.
Jess Salek (Musical Director) Jess Salek, a Wisconsin native, began his piano study at the age
of 9. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Lawrence
University, where he received the Margaret Gary Daniels Performance Award. In 1994 he
won the piano division of the Wisconsin Federation of Music Clubs competition. He received
his Master of Music Degree from State University of New York at Stony Brook in Piano
Performance, where he was awarded the Sydney J. Gelber Award for performing excellence.
Mr. Salek worked as Accompanist and Music Theory Instructor at Interlochen Arts Academy and Interlochen
Arts Camp for 2 years before returning to Wisconsin to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Piano
Performance from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. While there he received the Jack Radunsky
Performance Award and was a winner in the Beethoven Competition.
Jess completed 2 tours with Opera for the Young, performing abridged versions of Rusalka and Pirates of
Penzance for elementary schools throughout the upper Midwest. He also was a piano instructor at Prairie Music
Academy in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.
An active performer, Mr. Salek has performed for the Viroqua Fine Arts Association for the region’s Syttende
Mai Festival, and has played both solo concerts and chamber concerts at First Unitarian Society of Madison and
Farley’s House of Pianos.
Mr. Salek has performed as Substitute Keyboardist for Madison Symphony Orchestra and Wisconsin Chamber
Orchestra. Most recently he led a number of presentations in elementary schools throughout Wisconsin on
behalf of Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra for a theme-concert entitled “Play Me A Story.”
He teaches a diverse studio of 40 students on the West side of Madison and was recently named Musical Director
of Fresco Opera Theatre of Madison. Current projects include the forming of TRIO INVENZIONE, which
debuted at First Unitarian Society in April with a program of Beethoven, Suk, and Shostakovich, as well as an
upcoming concert with Laura Burns of all the Brahms’s works for Piano and Violin in October.
Christopher Barker/ Lighting Designer Christopher Barker has been designing lighting for over three decades,
having lit many shows in the Madison area as well as Milwaukee and San Francisco. His latest opera design was
Aaron Copeland's "The Tender Land.”
Melanie Cain (Director) Melanie holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance and
a Masters of Music from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A native of Carroll, Iowa, she
received her BA in both Music and Art from Luther College in Decorah, IA.
Melanie is on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and
runs a successful private voice and piano studio in Madison. Melanie believes music is the one
thing that touches us all universally. It brings peace to the soul and awakens creativity and
passion in all aspects of our lives. Students of music are instilled with the confidence and wisdom essential for all
they wish to do in life.
Melanie has performed both in the Madison area and nationally receiving rave reviews. The Capital Times wrote,
“Melanie Cain sang with a gorgeous range and a strong, thrilling voice that projected to the top row. Cain is a
graduate student in vocal performance with a big career ahead of her.” While at UW, Cain understudied the wellknown soprano, Julia Faulkner, in the title role of Vanessa. Melanie was Assistant Director/Stage Manager of the
UW Opera’s productions of Orpheus in the Underworld and Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte and Le Nozze di Figaro
under the direction of William Farlow. She has been a finalist and semi-finalist in numerous national vocal
competitions including the Orpheus National Vocal Competition in Tennessee and the prestigious Jenson Vocal
Competition in New York.
She founded Fresco Opera Theatre in 2009 with her husband Frank. She is currently serving on the board of the
Wisconsin chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and heading up the Madison Area Opera
Singers Workshop.
Board of Directors/Advisors
President:: Jeff Turk
Secretary/Treasurer: Theo Braden
Board Member: Amy Cavanagh
Nathan Cavanagh.............................Technical Advisor
Max Wendt.......................................Publicity
Dom Giannattasio.............................Music Editing
Mike Gilmore...................................Set Construction
Cheryl Morrison-Weeks...................Public Relations/Artistic
Dave Nees.........................................Artistic Advisor
James Huschka.................................Education Advisor
Christopher Krimmer......................Legal Advisor
Tonya Hamilton................................Marketing
Our Generous Donors
Family ($500-Up)
Lila Holdsworth
Mike Cisler
Friend ($250-$499)
Hazel Cain
Luanne Anderson
Fan ($249-Under)
Nick Mason, Amanda Greene, Susan Siren/Mermaid Music School
Stephanie Arvidson, Luanne Anderson, Dave Nees, Misty Thooft
Orange and Dean Schroeder, John Argentiero, Nataraj Hauser
Erin Sura, George Abbott, Mike and Kathy Gilmore, Maddie Greene
Jane Beseler, Ellen M Stevens, Alex Hoekstra, Kim Knight
Anne Pirlot, Andy Zabbit, William Farlow, Brian Leeper, Carla Dickman,
Carrie Cleary, James Frieman, Jesse Russell, Stephanie Opstad
Kirsti Johanson, Leslie Shear and Laurel Holgerson
Hayley Mason, Benjamin Doran, Jill Burghardt, John Argentiero
Jack Kuester, Jennifer Hadley, Angie Whitiken, Penny Davis
Brianne, Mica, and Eli Rush, John Nicholas Schweitzer
Dan Altschul,Kara Stecker, Jack Kuester, Amy Cavanagh, Craig Payne
Linda DiRaimondo, Dan Shea, Shad Wenzlaff, Jeff Turk
Michael Ross, Michael Meskill, Jill Krynicki Dutcher
Gus Cavanagh, Laura Wendt, Jennifer Turk
Special Thanks
Children’s Theatre of Madison  Mike and Kathy Gilmore
Amy Carlson, NBC News  Cheryl Morrison-Weeks  Preschool of the Arts
Mary Waldhart  Mike Lawler  Nacho Cabrera  Max Wendt
Luanne Anderson  Dave Nees  John Charles Steinmuller
Amy and Nathan Cavanagh  Theo Braden  Prairie Music Academy
Dane Arts  Madison Arts Commission  Kathy Pyeatt 
Zip-Dang  Marshall-Erdmann  Balisle and Roberson, S.C.
Overture Center for the Arts ♥ C. Janousek  Mike and Sarah Cisler
Jack Kuester  Kara Stecker  Dan Altschull ♦ Craig Payne
Orange and Dean Schroeder ♠ Nick and March Schweitzer  Shad Wenzlaff
Michael Ross  Tonya Hamilton ♦ Randy Cornell ♠ Lori Westphal
The Shoe Box  Michael Meskill ♥ Charles Anderson  John Nicholas Schweitzer
Linda DiRaimondo  Dan Shea ♣ Shad Wenzlaff  Jeff Turk
Jill Krynicki Dutcher  Gus Cavanagh ♠ Laura Wendt  Jennifer Turk