grantparkmusicfestival.com
www.ravinia.org
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grantparkmusicfestival.com
www.ravinia.org
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grantparkmusicfestival.com
www.ravinia.org
.
grantparkmusicfestival.com
www.ravinia.org
.
 Lyric Opera of Chicago
Four talented young
singers join eight second- and third-year ensemble members Gianna Rolandi, director of the Lyric Opera
Center for Announces the 2006-2007 Roster of Singers for the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists American Artists (LOCAA), is pleased to announce that soprano Marjorie Owens, baritones Phillip Dothard and Jordan Shanahan, and bass-baritone Darren Stokes have joined current LOCAA sopranos Kathleen Kim and Susanna Phillips, mezzo-soprano Elizabeth De Shong, contralto Meredith Arwady, tenors Bryan Griffin, Joseph Kaiser, and Rodell Rosel, and bass-baritone Brandon Mayberry to make up the Opera Center’s 2006-2007 artistic roster. The singers are natives of Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Korea, Michigan, Ohio, Quebec, Pennsylvania, the Philippines, and Virginia (2). Each year the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists, the professional artist-development program of Lyric Opera of Chicago, selects gifted young singers from some 500 applicants. Soon after arriving at Lyric in April, incoming LOCAA members begin an intensive full-year residency under the guidance of Gianna Rolandi and numerous other opera professionals. Coaching sessions and master classes are augmented by performance and understudy experience in productions mounted by Lyric Opera of Chicago, including the eight operas of Lyric’s regular season. New ensemble members generally remain in the program for two to three years. “The 2006-2007 Opera Center ensemble includes eight singers who performed impressively last season at Lyric, plus four new ensemble members who have already earned attention nationally for their singing,” says Rolandi. Marjorie Owens was one of five grand-prize winners in the Metropolitan Opera’s 2006 National Council Audition Finals ($15,000), and Jordan Shanahan was one of six George London Award winners in 2006 ($10,000). “In preparation for Lyric's 2006-2007season, during which these young singers will understudy leading and featured roles, and perform many smaller ones, the ensemble will have extensive coachings in languages, musical styles, acting and movement,” Rolandi notes. The singers’ overall vocal and artistic development will be overseen by Rolandi, who adds, “Along with our formidable coaching staff of Bill Billingham, Alan Darling, Phil Morehead, Tim Shaindlin, and Eric Weimer, we are fortunate this summer to have Frank Lopardo, Sherrill Milnes and Craig Rutenberg as guest instructors.” On Weds., May 24, at 6:30 p.m. soprano Susanna Phillips will give a solo recital as part of the free “Vocal Journeys” series at the Chicago Cultural Center. Soprano Kathleen Kim has earned rave reviews as Madame Mao in Chicago Opera Theater’s production of John Adams’s Nixon in China, which continues May 25 and 27. In early June LOCAA ensemble members Kim, Phillips, De Shong, Griffin, Rosel, and Shanahan will travel to North Dakota as part of the Great American Voices Military Base Tour, presented by the National Endowment for the Arts and made possible by The Boeing Company. On June 7 they will perform a program of opera and Broadway classics at Grand Forks Air Force Base, and on June 9 at Minot Air Force Base. Their visit will also include education activities for children and adults. Along with mainstage artists Mark Delavan, Vladimir Galouzine, Susan Graham, Andrea Gruber, and Patricia Racette, LOCAA ensemble members will also perform at the Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park free concert on September 9. Lyric Opera Center for American Artists – 2006-2007 Ensemble Sopranos Kathleen Kim (2nd year) Marjorie Owens (1st year) Susanna Phillips (2nd year) Mezzo-Soprano Elizabeth De Shong (2nd year) Contralto Meredith Arwady (2nd year) Tenors Bryan Griffin (2nd year) Joseph Kaiser (3rd year) Rodell Rosel (2nd year) Baritones Phillip Dothard (1st year) Jordan Shanahan (1st year) Bass-Baritones Brandon Mayberry (3rd year) Darren Stokes (1st year) Current Opera Center ensemble member casting for Lyric Opera’s 2006 -2007 season: · Turandot:
Rodell Rosel (Altoum), Bryan Griffin (Prince of Persia), Brandon Mayberry (Mandarin)
· Iphigénie en Tauride: Susanna Phillips (Diane), Kathleen Kim (1st Priestess), Elizabeth De Shong (2nd Priestess), Marjorie Owens (A Greek Woman), Brandon Mayberry (A Minister), Darren Stokes (A Scythian Man) · Salome: Joseph Kaiser (Narraboth), Elizabeth De Shong (Page), Darren Stokes (1st Soldier), Brandon Mayberry (A Cappadocian), Jordan Shanahan (2nd Nazarene), Rodell Rosel (2nd Jew), Bryan Griffin (3rd Jew) · Il trovatore: Rodell Rosel (Ruiz) · Roméo et Juliette: Meredith Arwady (Gertrude), Bryan Griffin (Tybalt), Rodell Rosel (Benvolio), Phillip Dothard (Paris), Jordan Shanahan (Gregorio) · Dialogues des Carmelites: Joseph Kaiser (Chevalier), Meredith Arwady (Mère Jeanne), Brandon Mayberry (Javelinot), Jordan Shanahan (Jailer), Bryan Griffin (1st Commissioner), Phillip Dothard (2nd Commissioner), Darren Stokes (Officer) · Die Fledermaus (student matinees): Susanna Phillips (Rosalinde), Kathleen Kim (Adele), Elizabeth De Shong (Prince Orlofsky), Joseph Kaiser (Eisenstein), Bryan Griffin (Alfred), Darren Stokes (Frank), Rodell Rosel (Dr. Blind) Ensemble members will also understudy several principal and featured roles over the course of the season. Opera Center alumni casting for Lyric’s 2006-2007 season: · Turandot: Quinn Kelsey (Ping), David Cangelosi (Pang), Scott Ramsay (Pong) · Salome: Andrew Funk (2nd Soldier), David Cangelosi (1st Jew) · Il trovatore: Buffy Baggott (Inez) · Roméo et Julliette: Dina Kuznetsova (Juliette), Matthew Polenzani (Roméo), Christopher Feigum (Mercutio), Wayne Tigges (Capulet) · Die Fledermaus: Lauren Curnow (Ida) · Così fan tutte: Erin Wall (Fiordiligi), Lauren McNeese (Dorabella) · Die Fledermaus (student matinees): Lauren Curnow (Ida) LOCAA’s Final Audition Sponsor is the Cozad Family Foundation, and the National Auditions Sponsor is American Airlines, the Official Airline of Lyric Opera. LOCAA’s Training Program Sponsor is the National Endowment for the Arts. |
