Elgin, IL 60123 326 Wilcox Ave. ELGIN OPERA Competition Judges

Susan Dennis: A featured Soprano soloist with the Symphonic Pops Orchestra of Chicago, Navy Pier Pops Orchestra and the Opening Night Broadway Review Troupe. She has performed with Bowen Park Opera Co., Basically Bach, WTTW Sunday Evening Club, Appletree Theatre, Illinois Theatre Center and Organic Theatre and Elgin OPERA. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Eastern Illinois University and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Northwestern University. She is on the Vocal Faculty at Harper College. Susan is the Administrative Assistant for Elgin OPERA.

Teppei Kono, Baritone, is originally from Fukushima, Japan and has been working as a free-lance opera singer in Chicago. He was recently seen in the Elgin OPERA production of "Elixir of Love" as Belcore. He has performed with Chicago Opera Theater, Chamber Opera Chicago, and DuPage Opera Theater. Outside of Chicago, Mr. Kono has performed with Singapore Lyric Opera and with such companies as San Francisco Opera Center Merola Program, Cleveland Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland. Mr. Kono holds a Bachelor of Music and Professional Studies in Voice Performance from Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Performance Diploma in Opera with Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. He will be seen as Escamillo in "Carmen" with Chamber Opera Chicago this coming March 2008.

Francesco Milioto is the Music Director of the Skokie Valley Symphony and Principal Conductor of the Highland Park Strings. This past summer was his 4th year as a pianist/assistant conductor at the Ravinia Festival where he played for Lynn Harrell, Sir James Galway, and assisted James Conlon on a production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Mr. Milioto recently returned to Elgin OPERA for a third time, as Music Director for Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore. For this production he led the New Millennium Orchestra, an ensemble he co-founded in 2005. Mr. Milioto is looking forward to continuing the Opera Theater Workshop for Teens with Chicago Opera Theater and After School Matters. He is also eager to begin touring his school show “Not Just Figaro!” in collaboration with Urban Gateways.

Rosemary Schroeder: active concert pianist/vocalist-Australia, USA, Europe, Latin Amer, China. Jury: NATS, MENC, MTNA Voice-Piano- Instrumental state/regionals. Degrees: BME-vocal & piano, MSEd- psychology thesis, Northwestern Fellowship-opera direction/conducting. Students in: Sarasota Opera, Seattle Opera. Sop Roles: M. Butterfly, Romeo & Juliette, Messiah, Solomon, The Creation, A German Requiem, Elijah, Stabat Mater, Verdi-Requiem, The Sound of Music - with Naples Opera, Gulf Coast Opera, DePaul U Orch, SW Florida Symph, Naples-Marco Phil, Choral Arts Society-Orch, R & R Opera, Naples Players, Naples Concert Band, Washington DC-MENC Orch. Studied with: Mario Rinaldi, Rïse Stevens, Kathryn Witwer. Bd-Norris Cultural Arts, Elgin OPERA, Lyric Opera Far West; Member-Opera Second Volunteer Int'l, Friends of Metropolitan Opera.

Solange Sior: Winner of the Canadian Music Competition and winner of the National Bel Canto Competition, as well as finalist of The Metropolitan Opera National Council. She is a graduate with Bachelor and Masters Annual degrees in Vocal Performance from the University of Montreal and a former apprentice with Lyric Opera Center for American Artists (Chicago). She has Nonprofit Organization performed with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Florentine Opera Company, Light Opera Works, Lincoln Opera, Chamber Opera Chicago, Albany Symphony U.S. Postage Paid Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Chicago Symphony, La Permit No. 455 Vocal Bergerie Theatre, Opera Viva, New Music Chicago, and CBC Radio Canada and at the prestigious Shaker Mountain Music Festival. Solange Elgin, IL Sior is the Artistic Director and founder of Elgin OPERA. Tetyana Torzhevska : In 1991 she graduated from National Academy of Competition Music "P.I.Tchaikovsky" in Kiev, Ukraine. She made her opera debut in 1989 at the State Opera Studio in Kiev performing role of Parasya in Mussorgsky's "Sorotchintsy Fair". She won First Prize with International Festival "Golden Lyre" in Poland (1993). She has performed at the Kiev State Opera, Army Opera Center (Kiev), State Operetta Theater (Kiev), 2008 National Opera of Ukraine, and with Lviv State Opera. In the USA she performed with Madison Opera, Madison Symphony, Lewis University Chorus and Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra and with da Corneto Opera in Chicago. Elgin OPERA Audition Locations and Registration Form Requirements $30 non-refundable April 7, 2008 Deadline Second Annual Vocal Competition Registration Fee Saturday April 12, 2008 Vocal Division I – Twinkle Little Star – 12 yrs and Division I PRELIMINARY COMPETITION: AFTERNOON  under Twinkle Little Star: 12 years old and under Location: St. Hugh of Lincoln Episcopal Church 1st Prize: $200 36W957 Highland Ave.  Vocal Division II – Teen Artist – 13 – 18 yrs old 2nd Prize: $100 Elgin, IL 60123  Vocal Division III – Young Artist – 19 – 26 yrs old Division II Sunday April 20, 2008 Teen Artist: 13 – 18 years old SEMI FINALS: AFTERNOON 1st Prize: $500 Location: Villa Verone Restaurant Name 2nd Prize: $250 13 Douglas Avenue Address 3rd Prize: $100 Downtown Elgin, IL 60123 City State Zip Division III Friday April 25, 2008 Phone Young Artist: 19 – 26 years old FINALS: DINNER EVENT Location: Elgin Community College 1st Prize: $500 Fox Valley University and Business Center E-mail 2nd Prize: $250 1700 Spartan Drive Date of Birth (proof of age may be requested at any time) 3rd Prize: $100 Elgin, IL 60123 Voice) Type Twinkle Little Star Vocal Selection Repertoire Requirements – One (1) Selection Method of Payment: The Elgin OPERA Training Ensemble 1. Musical Theatre or Disney song or Folk song in English Check to OR any selections in the Teen Artist or Young Artist Elgin  The finalists will be invited to participate Categories.  OPERA  Mastercard on a scholarship with the EOTE. This  Discover  Visa includes various programs throughout the Teen Artist year including the Opera chorus with our Vocal Selection Repertoire Requirements – Three (3) Selections 1. Opera or Oratorio: English, Italian, French or German Credit Card No. Expiration Date Main Stage Opera at the Hemmens 2. Art Song: German Lied, Classic Italian or French Cultural Center in the Spring of 2009. Melody Name on Card 3. Musical Theatre / Jazz / Operetta selection (comic accepted) Billing Address City State Zip Young Artist Elgin OPERA Training Ensemble is a Vocal Selection Repertoire Requirements – Three (3) Selections Phone No. performance group where singers can nurture 1. Opera or Oratorio: English, Italian, French or German and develop their gifts in an encouraging yet challenging environment, which mingles young 2. Art Song: German Lied, Classic Italian or French people, capable amateurs and emerging Melody professionals to new levels of performance. The 3. Musical Theatre / Jazz / Operetta selection (comic EOTE is open to the community, regardless of accepted) race, gender, age, education, or disability. Elgin OPERA is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.  Previous finalists and winners in all divisions must present a new selection of music Elgin OPERA Training Ensemble Mission: To create a community of singers where Mail to everyone can feel accepted and appreciated. To Elgin OPERA: Attn: Vocal Competition maintain an atmosphere of friendship, support  Chiayi Lee, DMA will accompany at all 3 events. and respect between all singers and to provide a  All Vocal students who participate in the Elgin 326 Wilcox Ave. professional environment where everyone can OPERA Vocal Competition will receive a critique of Elgin, IL 60123 bloom and grow artistically to their full their vocal audition by the Judges. potential.  Please mail two (2) copies of your vocal selections to (ALONG WITH VOCAL SELECTIONS) Elgin OPERA. Phone: 847-214-8340 Email: [email protected]