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Home , Jamie Barton, Liam Bonner, Paul Curran (director), Quinn Kelsey, Tamara Wilson

Studio Buddies Newsletter

Published tri-annually by the Houston Grand Guild December 2009

Contents  Welcome Summer/Fall 2009 1 The Studio (HGOS) has continued its tradition of excellence and innovation as the 2009/10 season has begun. We welcomed seven new artists hailing from as far Studio Alumni News 2 a w a y as Washington state to as near as Humble! We have been fortunate to see these talented

Congratulations 3 young artists perform on the main stage at the Wortham as well as in th e Recitals at Rienzi series and Opera Night Live, in addition to the amazing Studio Showcase performance. Read on! Profile 4 Summer/Fall 2009 in Review

For 2009/10 season, the Houston Fall 2009 Stephen Hopkins also served as Grand Opera Studio welcomed coach for Elixir and played in the Kiri Dyan Deonarine, soprano, Fall 2009 began with the Buddies orchestra and will be coaching Rachel Willis-Sørensen, soprano, Welcome Lunch on August 31st for The Turn of the Screw and for the Studio Artists at Wortham Catherine Martin, mezzo- Xerxes this season. Center. The Studio Buddies soprano, Nathaniel Peake, , Brendan Tuohy, tenor, Michael program provided lunch for the Following L’elisir d’amore w a s BUDDIES WELCOME Sumuel, , and Stephanie Studio Artists as a way to Maestro ’ LUNCH▼ Rhodes, pianist/ coach and welcome them to their new triumphant production of welcomed back second-year positions with the Houston Grand Lohengrin in which we a r ti s ts Octavio Moreno, baritone, Opera. welcomed back Studio alumni Richard Paul Fink (HGOS ’84-’87) Adam Cioffari, bass-b a r i to n e , The official Studio Welcome Party David Hanlon, pianist/coach, as Frederick of Telramund and was held on September 12th at Ryan McKinny (HGOS ’05-’08) as and Stephen Hopkins, pianist/ the home of Sue Patrick. S tu d i o coach. the King’s Herald as well as Artists had the chance to mingle featuring Studio members with their buddies and the Summer 2009 Brendan Tuohy, Octavio Moreno, buddies-at-large in Sue’s Michael Sumuel, and Adam Our Studio Artists keep beautiful home. Cioffari as the four Nobles. themselves busy year round and Performances for the 2009/10 November saw the first Buddies this summer was no exception. season began with the first of the ▲ Buddy Janet Sims with Kiri Dyan Deonarine was an outing for the year as we all went Catherine Martin and Rachel Recitals at Rienzi series, aptly to Ocean Palace for a glorious apprentice singer at the Santa e n ti tl e d “I’m a stranger here Willis-Sørensen at the Buddies Fe Opera, Catherine Martin w a s helping of Dim Sum. A great deal Welcome Lunch myself…” introducing new artists of exotic food was eaten and a Studio artist with the to the Studio with music by Chautauqua Opera where she many bellies were satisfied. Dvořák, Grisar, Strauss, and Duke. Following Dim Sum the Studio was the recipient of the Toni and T h i s w a s followed closely by a Joe Goldfarb Young Artist Artists and Buddies went to Chez special performance at Beignet for the best homemade A w a r d , Nathaniel Peake downtown Houston’s Discovery performed the role of Tybalt in beignets and café au lait this Green where Studio artists gave side of the Mississippi. Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette in Houstonians a preview of the Syracuse, NY and was also a part upcoming season. The second of the Recitals at of ’s Merola Rienzi series was held during the Opera Program along with The first opera of the season was first week of December. As in Michael Sumuel and Stephanie Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore and years past the December Rienzi Rhodes. Brendan Tuohy, spent featured alumnus Liam Bonner featured a holiday theme. There ▲ Buddies with Studio Artists th e summer at (HGOS ’05-’08) as the dashingly were readings from Dante's where he cov e r ed Gastone in La handsome Belcore as well as Inferno, Gilgamesh, the Traviata and the Clubman #1 in Catherine Martin in her HGO Bhagavad Gita, Homer's the world premiere of Paul main stage debut in the role of Odyssey, th e Song of Songs, Moravec's The Letter. Second- Giannetta. A m o n g th e highlights Emily Dickinson, , and year artist Octavio Moreno of the run were HGO’s high Thoreau's Walden interspersed represented Mexico in the BBC school performance nights which within the program which was Singer of the World competition showcased the talents of Kiri e n ti tl e d “The Long Journey in Cardiff, Wales, Adam Cioffari Dyan Deonarine as Adina, Home.” During this recital the sang Colline in Aspen Opera Nathaniel Peake as Nemorino, audience was treated to a piece Theaer’s production of La and Michael Sumuel as based on text by Samuel Beckett bohème. Stephen Hopkins Dulcamara. First-year artist that had been set to original w o r k e d as part of Des Moines Stephanie Rhodes served as a music by Studio artist David Metro Opera’s music staff where coach for this production and Hanlon. ▲ M i c h a e l Sumuel and Kathy he coached for Puccini will also be coaching for Kelly Tosca and Gianni Schicchi. and Queen of Spades later this The following weekend season. Second-year artist audiences were dazzled by the

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2 TYPE TITLE HERE performances in the Studio , Il Alumnus and baritone Showcase (formerly known as trovatore, Of Mice and M e n , and powerhouse Richard Paul Fink WELCOME PARTY ▼ “Studio Scenes”). This incredible Così fan tutte. Just like the who had recently appeared in performance featured scenes previous year, we were honored Houson Grand Opera’s from Turandot, Xerxes, , by the presence of HGO Studio production of Lohengrin.

Studio Alumni News Jamie Barton (HGOS ’07-’09) Angelica. Next year she will be in Joshua Hopkins (HGOS ’03-’05), spent this past summer at the Wolf Trap’s Discovery Series with who made his Metropolitan Aspen Music Festival where she Faith Sherman (HGOS ’07-’09), Opera debut as Ping in the to o k part in a recital with Ryan singing Mozart, Bach, and Britten fall’s Turandot production, also McKinny and Richard Bado, and with the Cincinnati May Festival, appeared as Argante in then presented Arias and performing under the baton of Handel’s Rinaldo, part of the Barcarolls by Bernstein with the Central City Opera’s 2009 Lorin Maazel for Suor Angelica Aspen Music Festival Orchestra. In summer festival, during which and will then make her role debut ▲ Catherine Martin, Jennifer th e fall Jamie made her he also has an opportunity to as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro Sickler, and Stephanie Rhodes debut as Met enjoy Colorado country. Josh with the L.A. Opera. Debut with 2nd Lady in Die has signed an exclusive

Zauberflöte as well as her debut recording c o n t r a c t w i t h A T M A The 15th season of the Morgan with the Colorado Symphony Library’s George London Classique and his first recital performing the Jeremiah Foundation for Singers recital recording on the label is to b e Symphony by Bernstein. Jamie series featured a sold-out duo- released in 2010. He debuted made her Kennedy Center debut recital by mezzo-soprano Joyce with his “hometown” opera this November performing in a DiDonato (HGOS ’96-’98) and company in September 2009, r e c i ta l accompanied by K a th y bass-b a r i to n e Eric Owens (HGOS Opera Lyra Ottawa, as Kelly and she will be returning to ’95-’97) in October. This was one Papageno in Die Zauberflöte. In Carnegie Hall with Kathy Kelly for of many concerts for Eric this the summer he will return to another recital. We in Houston year, including four at Carnegie Santa Fe Opera as Papageno were lucky enough to enjoy a Hall. Joyce received one of five i n th e reprise of the 2006 Tim preview of these recitals before Distinguished Achievement Albery production of Die audiences in Washington, D.C. Awards from in Zauberflöte and will be singing and New York. Jamie will be November. Sid in Paul Curran's production making her Canadian Opera of Britten’s Albert Herring. ▲ Adam Cioffari and Brenda Company debut as Emelia in Jeremy Frank (HGOS ’04-’07) Hopkins will debut with Pacific Harvey-Traylor before returning to the Met worked on Siegfried and Il Opera Victoria as Olivier in their for Die Zauberflöte again. Next barbiere di Siviglia with the L.A. production of Johann Strauss’ summer Jamie will be performing Opera this fall and next year will Capriccio in February and with the role of Marcellina in Le nozze be working with young artists in Arizona Opera in April as th e di Figaro with the Opera Theatre Seattle on , loveable rascal Figaro in of St. Louis. returning to L.A. for their complete Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia. He Ring Cycle followed by Wolf Trap also has several concert Liam Bonner (HGOS ’05-’08), w h o Opera in the summer. performances coming up. performed Belcore in HGO’s recent production of L’elisir Alicia Gianni (HGOS ’06-’08) is a James (J.J.) Kee (HGOS ’07-’09) d’amore, will make his debut with cross-over hit, making waves with w a s a w a rded a HGO Guild the Metropolitan Opera as her jazz trio and she is truly scholarship for intensive study of Moralès in as well as excited about her first album German, attending a one- covering Horatio in Ambroise month eight-hour-daily being released next year! Thomas’s before taking program in Berlin last summer, ▲ Bonnie Sue Wooldridge and on the role of Dottore Malatesta great preparation for his two- Beau Gibson (HGOS ’06-’09) Octavio Moreno in Don Pasquale with Opera New year contract with Deutche made his San Francisco Opera Jersey next summer. This past debut as First Jew in Salome Oper Berlin. “Because of your spring/summer, Liam covered the support, I was able to hit the before being featured as Cassio Gamekeeper in Rusalka a t th e in Otello. He will be returning to ground running….I speak M e t and was featured wi th th e the to perform almost exclusively in German as the role of Menaldo in Schreker's with my colleagues and Gugliermo in Così fan tutte. rarely heard Die Gezeichneten superiors, even the ones in the conducted by Conlon as part of administration. Thanks to the Rebekah Camm (HGOS ’05-’08) th e Forgotten Voices Series and HGO Guild I have made a spent the summer in Italy at the will also be seen there reprising his great first impression at th e Spoleto Festival performing in the portrayal of Froh during . Berlin is Woody Allen-directed Gianni performances o f th e complete as lovely as I imagined and I Schicchi production first Ring cycle in June. In other news, am happy to be here. premiered at the L.A. Opera. Beau and his wife Kelly welcomed Nonetheless, I miss Houston and From there Rebekah went to San a beautiful baby boy, Jack Elliott, all the people that I met th e r e , ” Francisco to sing in their fall in July 2009. J.J. wrote. J.J. is having a very production of Il Trittico performing busy year indeed. At Deutche ▲ David Hanlon, Adelma in both Gianni Schicchi and Suor Oper Berlin this season he has Graham, and Karl Loos

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CHRISTMAS PARTY ▼ taken part in or will take part in Tonya welcomed baby Louis into the principal assistant the following productions: Die their family in October, making conductor at the Deutsche Frau ohne Schatten, Die big sister Emma very proud. Oper Berlin under general music Zauberflöte, La Traviata, Carmen, director, Donald Runnicles, in Eric Melear (HGOS ’02-’04) is Il barbiere di Siviglia, La bohème, August. He will make multiple continuing to serve as Associate , Manon Lescaut, and appearances there as guest Conductor / Associate Der Rosenkavalier. conductor, with repertoire to Chorusmaster with Houston Grand include Die Zauberflöte, La Grant Loehnig (HGOS ’06-’08) Opera and this season he bohème, and Manon Lescaut. continued his role as Artist conducted the alternate cast Rogister made his Seattle Opera Teacher of Opera Studies at Rice performances of L’elisir d’amore. debut to great critical acclaim University and will be performing Eric has been spending a lot of conducting the renowned recitals in Houston and St. Louis ti m e a s Music Administrator and Robert Lepage production of this spring. In the late spring Grant Studio Manager for Wolf Trap B a r tó k ’ s Bluebeard’s Castle and will be performing performing on Opera travelling to audition and Schoenberg’s E r w a r t u n g . O th e r a Danube River “Opera Cruise” cast singers for the upcoming ▲ Jan Upole and Michael orchestral engagements in the (http://tomsgroupcruises.com/Ma summer season there. This spring Sumuel recent past include his debut y2010_RiverBeatrice.html) w i t h h i s Maestro Melear will be with the Prague Chamber partner, Julliard baritone Marcus conducting the Miller Outdoor Symphony Orchestra, in which DeLoach. In the summer Grant Theater performances for HGO. he lead a concert of concertos returns to Wolf Trap Opera as part Laquitta Mitchell-Patton (HGOS and overtures at the Dvorák Hall of their music staff. ’02-’05) will be playing Sharon in in Prague, and his debut as a Ana María Martínez (HGOS ’94- Terrence McNally’s Masterclass at guest conductor with the ’95) was featured on the cover of the Kennedy Center followed by Bochum Symphonik. the November issue of Opera Donna Elvira in at During summer 2009, Scott magazine as Rusalka from the the Opera Festival of New Jersey. Scully (HGOS ’99-’02) appeared Glyndebourne Festival’s This fall Marjorie Owens (HGOS as Nanki-Poo in Opera New production of the eponymous ’02-’06) covered Aïda at th e Jersey’s production of Gilbert opera. The accompanying article Metropolitan Opera after which and Sullivan's T h e M i k a d o . said, “Martinez(’s) … singing was she gave a joint recital with the clear, bright and never strained.” Albina Shagimuratova (HGOS legendary James Morris for the This fall Ana María performed the ’06-’08) performed the role of ▲ Catherine Martin, Susan London Foundation (from which role of Marguerite in the Chicago Queen of the Night in Die Simpson, Janet Sims, she recently received an award). Lyric’s production of Faust as well Zauberflöte at Opernhaus Stephanie Rhodes, and Jan After her upcoming marriage to as making her operatic stage Düsseldorf and the Duisburg Upole Quinn Kelsey, Marjorie will be debut in her native Puerto Rico as Opera. Later this season Albina performing her amazing lead in Mimì in La bohème. In addition to w i ll be singing in Hadyn's Il Ariadne auf Naxos with the Boston operatic performances this past Mondo della Luna a t t h e Lyric Opera after which she season, she had several concer ts Hayden Planetarium in NY as returns to the Met to cover Aïda this fall throughout the world, well as reprising her role of again. This summer Marjorie will be including several in the US with Queen of the Night at the performing Gerhilde in Die popular music performer Andrea Metropolitan Opera. Walkure a t Opéra Bastille in Paris. Bocelli. She will be returning to Soprano Tamara Wilson (HGOS Europe next year to perform Kate Emery Pogue (HGOS ’80-’81) ’05-’07) began the 2009/10 concerts with the Tchaikovsky recently released her book season as Alice Ford in Symphony Orchestra in Moscow Shakespeare’s Figures of Speech: for her debut with Washington and the Vienna Symphony before A Reader’s Guide, a dictionary / National Opera and made her going to Amsterdam to perform glossary of the figures of speech Liù in Turandot w i t h D e Shakespeare used to construct his ▲ Adam Cioffari, Imelda Gott, debut as Amelia Grimaldi in Nederlandse Opera. extraordinary language and is a and Stephen Hopkins . Tamara unique book of interest to any Ryan McKinny (HGOS ’05-’08) made her ’s Shakespeare lover or language returned to Houston this fall to star debut in July in Sydney in maven. Kate’s previous two books in Lohengrin. After Houston, he Graeme Murphy's Aïda. are Shakespeare’s Friends and shared the stage with Placido Following Sydney and Shakespeare’s Family. See the Domingo at the Los Angeles Washington Tamara headed to Spring 2009 issue of the Studio Opera as Leone in Tamerlano. He Santiago for another Aïda. Look Buddies newsletter for a feature also took on the role of Don Basilio for Tamara as Miss Jessel in Neil on Kate Pogue, in Il barbiere di Siviglia at the L.A. Armfield's staging of The Turn of http://www.hgoguild.org/Studio/H Opera. The coming year will see the Screw later this season with GOStudioBuddiesNewsletter(Sprin Ryan as Escamillo in Carmen w i t h HGO. g2009).pdf Deutsche Oper Berlin as well as Herkules in Gluck’s Alceste w i t h Conductor Evan Rogister (HGOS Oper Leipzig. Ryan and his wife ’06-’08) began a two-year stint as

Congratulations ▲ Christa Cooper and Laura Wynne Mattison, former chair of the Buddies program and 2009 HGO Guild Volunteer of the Year, Canning was recognized with the 2009 President's Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama.

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CHRISTMAS PARTY ▼

 Profile: Adelma Graham Adelma Graham has been a Adelma’s interest in classical travel. She has lived in England, beloved figure in the HGO Guild music started early as she started Germany, Spain, Turkey, for over 30 years. Most people playing the piano at age six and Ethiopia, Japan, and has visited know Adelma from her work as also learned the flute and (in alphabetical order, no less): an education docent but she is piccolo, growing up in the Czechoslovakia (Czech also a seasoned Studio Buddy. coastal Texas town of Corpus Republic, Slovakia), Egypt, Adelma is currently the buddy of Christi. As a young woman, she France, Hong Kong ( C h i n a ) , Octavio Moreno and in the past and her mother were members of India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, I ta l y , she has been the buddy of the Civic Music Association which Jordan, Kenya, Monaco, Jessica Jones (HGOS ’98-’01) would occasionally bring in opera Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, ▲ Donna Hahus, Stephanie from Atlanta, Kristin Reiersen singers to perform for them. San Saudi Arabia, Soviet Union Rhodes, and Peggy DeMarsh (HGOS ’01-’03) w h o Adelma Antonio was a short two and a (Russia), Saudi Arabia, remembers fondly as “the rose” in half hours away and they had a Switzerland, T a i w a n , Tanzania, The Little Prince, Arturo Chacon short opera season in January Turkey, Ug a n d a , Yugoslavia Cruz (HGOS ’03-’05) who, when and February and were known (Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia). covering the role of Lt. Pinkerton, for inviting world famous opera This short section is simply not was once notified on Sunday singers to perform there. Adelma enough space to do justice to morning that he would be and friends often went up to San Adelma’s travels and performing the role that Antonio to see opera there, experiences, so a special afternoon, and Ryan McKinny which is where she saw her first Newsletter Appendix has been (HGOS ’05-’08). opera, Strauss’s Elektra as well as created where readers can La bohème, Since then she has Adelma has had a fascinating learn more. Please visit: seen operas in Paris, Wiesbaden, life. As a school teacher teaching Milan, Florance, Leningrad (St. on military bases abroad and as http://www.hgoguild.org/Studio Petersburg), and Japan. an avid traveler, she has lived /NewsletterAppendix(Dec2009). and travelled to many countries Besides her love of opera, pdf

across four continents. Adelma has a great love of Thank You! ▲ Brendan Tuohy and Adam

▼ Studio Artists and Buddies after Dim Sum at Ocean Palace Cioffari sharing a laugh

▲ Rachel Willis-Sørensen being Brünnhilde

Dear readers,

We hope you’ve enjoyed this issue of the Houston Grand Opera Studio Buddies Newsletter. If we

have made any omission or errors, please accept our apologies.

If you have news to report about yourself or about a Studio member, alumnus/alumna, staff member, or Buddy, or if you have any comments or suggestions, please email Asad at [email protected] Thank you,

Asad S. Jafari Fred & Imelda Gott ▲ Isabella Smetana and Kiri HGO Guild Buddy & Newsletter Editor Studio Buddies Trustees Dyan Deonarine