PARTNERS FOR THE ARTS

President: Leilane G. Mehler Summer 2013 Vice President: Robert Misbin, MD Vol. 1, No. 1 Secretary: F. Victoria Tresansky Treasurer: Audrey Pendergast Artistic Advisor: Elaine Walter, PhD Membership: Cyd Everett NEWSLETTER It has been a busy and successful four months!

The incredible encouragement of our Washington DC, represented by to earn valuable cash prizes and to be partners—Baltimore Concert Opera, president emeritus Aurelius heard by those who make hiring Lyric Opera Baltimore, Opera Fernandez, and of the Wagner Book decisions in opera companies. Delaware, Opera Lafayette, Virginia Group, an offshoot of The Wagner Opera, Washington Concert Opera, Society, for a light-hearted look at The final round of the competition is The National Philharmonic at the music and life of Richard open to the public without charge. Strathmore, the National Building Wagner, who celebrates his 200th Your presence is the best Museum, and Addy Bassin’s birthday this year. Authentic and encouragement for our MacArthur Beverages —reinforces varied catered German food, wines, singers! Please join us on, Sunday, the idea that we are on the right road and beers were served. A good time October 27, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. to fulfill our mission. Moreover, we was had by all, thanks to the have been very lucky! PARTNERS generosity of our treasurer Audrey We invite you to consider joining us for the Arts started its year with the Pendergast. in our endeavors to support the trust and support of many friends emerging talent in this field by who believe in our mission. We are happy to announce that all becoming a member of PARTNERS, three prizes for PARTNERS’ Vocal if you have not already done so—and Since its inception, PARTNERS Awards Competition have been to enjoy a thrilling time at our has presented two very successful generously donated: the first prize musicales hearing wonderfully gifted musicales, the first in March that will be The Misbin Family Memorial performers, our concerts, and master launched the organization and the Award, the second prize The Robin classes and lectures. second in April at the residence of Phillips Award, and the third prize the Bulgarian Ambassador, which The Annie Totah Award. We also invite you to attend our was so well received that the Partners’ productions. They have an Ambassador invited us to perform at We are delighted to announce that the exciting season ahead filled with her residence again in September. preliminary round of PARTNERS’ drama, intrigue, passion, comedy, Apart from introducing PARTNERS Vocal Awards Competition will be love, betrayal, forgiveness, and and its mission, these two events held on Saturday, October 26, and beautiful music all reserved for us. served as fund-raisers to begin the final round on Sunday, October Please see the last page for details of collecting the money necessary to 27. Both rounds will take place at their performances. hold our first Vocal Awards The Lyceum in Alexandria. This Competition this fall. competition will fulfill one of Operatically yours, PARTNERS’ main reasons for In June, PARTNERS’ members were coming into being—to give emerging Leilane Grimaldi Mehler, President invited at no cost to join with singers about to start their Please visit our web site: members of The Wagner Society of professional careers the opportunity www.partners4thearts.org

Partners for the Arts encourage and promote the careers of emerging vocal artists not under professional management, interact with arts organizations and schools of music in mutually beneficial activities, and nurture audience development. HIGHLIGHTS--MARCH MUSICALE

HIGHLIGHTS--APRIL MUSICALE PARTNERS’ Partners Events and Emerging Singers In January, mezzo-soprano Leah MARCH MUSICALE Hawkins received an Encouragement Award at the Mid-Atlantic Region Finals of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. PARTNERS’ first musicale February saw us at Opera received the support of two well- OPERADELAWARE’S GALA Delaware’s Gala. The ballroom of established singers, baritone the Dupont Hotel was filled. Lots of Gustavo Ahualli and soprano fun. In the same month, members of Fabiana Bravo, and also featured PARTNERS enjoyed Peter future tenor star, Issachah Savage. Russell's lecture series for Washington Concert Opera. WASHINGTON CONCERT OPERA April was the time to go to PETER RUSSELL Washington Concert Opera, to hear Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda. Also in April, we went to a production of APRIL Mozart’s The Magic Flute, performed by MUSICALE students at George Mason University. We also attended the Opera Workshop class of the Benjamin WASHINGTON CONCERT Renowned pianists Ralitza T. Rome School of Music at The OPERA’S Patcheva, Ivo Kaltchev, Catholic University of America. MARIA STUARDA accompanist Frank Conlon, It was great to hear the stars of CENTER: BARITONE PATRICK CARFIZZI and emerging singers soprano tomorrow in both productions. Yeji Yoon and mezzo-soprano May started with Opera Lafayette’s Leah Hawkins made Actéon. It was followed by beautiful music Baltimore Concert Opera’s for our members. Carmen, OperaDelaware’s Lady Macbeth, and Lyric Opera Baltimore’s Rigoletto. OPERA WORKSHOP AT CUA Also in May, mezzo-soprano Leah Hawkins graduated from Morgan JUNE State University with a degree in music CELEBRATING and voice performance. WAGNER’S In June, Issachah Savage wowed the 200TH BIRTHDAY Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage audience with a program that included OPERA LAFAYETTE’S works by Beethoven, Quilter, and ACTĖON Wagner. Below are Issachah and his family with John Edward Niles, director of The Wagner Society’s Emerging Singers Program. President emeritus of The Wagner Society, Aurelius Fernandez, blows out the BALTIMORE CONCERT birthday candles. OPERA’S CARMEN CENTER: SOPRANO HEATHER JOHNSON AND TENOR BENJAMIN WARSCHAWSKI Join the fun! Come with us to these events presented by our Partners!

September 2013 Sat. 14 National Philharmonic Handel’s Messiah Sun. 22 Washington Concert Opera I Masnadieri Sun. 15 National Philharmonic Handel’s Messiah Thur. 26 Baltimore Concert Opera L’Elisir d’Amore Sun. 22 National Philharmonic Washington Symphonic Brass Fri. 27 Partners’ Musicale Sat. 28 National Philharmonic Beethoven’s January 2014** Eternal Masterworks Fri. 17 Opera Lafayette Les Femmes Vengées Sun. 29 National Philharmonic Beethoven’s Eternal Masterworks February Sun. 29 Baltimore Concert Opera L’Elisir d’Amore TBA Partners’ Lecture Fri. 14 Virginia Opera Ariadne auf Naxos October Sun. 16 Virginia Opera Ariadne auf Naxos Fri. 11 Virginia Opera Falstaff Thur. 28 Baltimore Concert Opera Les Pêcheurs de Perles Fri. 11 OperaDelaware L’Elisir d’Amore Sun. 13 Virginia Opera Falstaff March Sun. 13 OperaDelaware L’Elisir d’Amore TBA Partners’ Event Fri. 18 Opera Lafayette Cosí Fan Tutte Sun. 2 Baltimore Concert Opera Les Pêcheurs de Perles Sat. 19 Opera Lafayette Cosí Fan Tutte Fri. 7 OperaDelaware Les Pêcheurs de Perles Sat. 26 National Philharmonic Zuill Bailey Cello Sun. 9 OperaDelaware Les Pêcheurs de Perles Recital--Mostly Schumann Sun. 9 Washington Concert Opera Il Corsaro Sat. 26 National Philharmonic Romantic Fri. 28 Bulgarian Music Society Partners’ Competition Sentiments Winners Sat. 26 Partners’ Vocal Competition: Preliminary April Round Fri. 11 Virginia Opera Carmen Sun. 27 Partners’ Vocal Competition: Final Round, Fri. 11 Baltimore Concert Opera Il Trovatore at the Lyceum* in Alexandria, VA. Open to the Sun. 13 Virginia Opera Carmen public. Sun. 13 Baltimore Concert Opera Il Trovatore Sun. 27 National Philharmonic Romantic Sentiments Wed. 30 Opera Lafayette The Salon November May Sun. 3 Lyric Opera Baltimore Tosca TBA Partners’ Concert 2013 Competition Finalists Thur. 7 Partners’ Lecture on Verdi Fri. 2 Opera Delaware Il Trovatore Sat. 9 National Philharmonic Lost Childhood-- Sun. 4 Opera Delaware Il Trovatore Concert Opera Sun. 18 Lyric Opera Baltimore Nabucco Sun. 17 Lyric Opera Baltimore Dialogues of the Carmelites *201 South Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Fri. 22 Baltimore Concert Opera Norma **For the National Philharmonic season in 2014, please visit Sat. 23 National Philharmonic Verdi’s Requiem www.nationalphilharmonic.org Sun. 24 Baltimore Concert Opera Norma December For more information on our Partners’ events or Fri. 6 Virginia Opera The Magic Flute Partners’ events, please visit our web site: www.partners4thearts.org Sat. 7 Partners’ Holiday Party or e-mail: [email protected] Sun. 8 Virginia Opera The Magic Flute

Partners for the Arts, Inc. 6858 Grande Lane, Falls Church, VA 22043 - Tel: 703/241-5496 - Fax: 703/241-0584 E-mail: [email protected] - Web site: www.partners4thearts.org Partners for the Arts, Inc. is a nonprofit organization qualified under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Contributions to Partners for the Arts, Inc. are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.