Opera in the Afternoon: Rossini’s Soirée Musicale

Thursday January 9, 2014 Concert 4:00 pm followed by Reception

First Congregational Church Karin White, Soprano A Concert of Favorite Opera Music Ed Pember, Baritone Chairs:The Cappallis and Campbells David Dash, Trumpet Price: $40 Alexandra Carlson, Pianist

This year we are presenting our most ambitious live performance yet. Join us to hear an all-star cast of international artists perform some of Opera’s most popular arias. Soprano Karen White, Baritone Ed Pember and accompanist Dr. Ron Doiron will be joined by Philharmonic trumpeter David Dash, and piano soloist Alexandra Carlson of St. Petersberg, Russia. Included in this program will be favorites from The Marriage of Figaro, The Barber of Seville, La Traviata, and some delightful Art Songs written by Rossini for his famous Saturday Music Soirées. Though he wrote no operas after the age of 37. he retained a interest in the musical scene, composed several hundred

In this performance of Opera in the Afternoon we will bring you a re-creation of a Rossini Soirée Musicale for your musical entertainment. Performer’s Bio

Karin White, Well-known to the opera stage and concert audiences throughout the United States, this year soprano KARIN WHITE sang the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor with Miami Lyric Opera and the Michigan Opera Theater. She has also performed as soloist with the Musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in “An Evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein”, Bach’s “Cantata 51 and other Baroque Selections” with the Macomb Symphony, “A Night at the Opera” with the Dearborn Symphony and was honored with a nomination by the Detroit Music Awards for “Outstanding Classical Vocalist 2011.” Other performances include Violetta in La Traviata, Mimi in La Boheme , Leonora in Il Travatore, and the Countess in La Nozza di Figaro. Ms. White is an adjunct professor at Madonna University and maintains a private voice studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Ed Pember As soloist for the US Air Force Band for nine years, Ed performed for three Presidents, other heads of state, and dignitaries throughout the US and Europe. He has sung several times for the United Nations in Geneva and was a monthly featured performer on Sud West Deutsche Rundfunk. Recent performances include: Enrico in Arbor Opera Theater’s production of Lucia, the role of Leporello in Flint Light Opera’s production of Don Giovanni, and as baritone Soloist in Carmina Burana with The Detroit Concert Choir. Ed has appeared as a guest artist on NBC's "The Today Show" and CBS's "The Phil Donahue Show". He has also performed as a featured artist with numerous symphony orchestras and chorales, including The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, The Flint Symphony. The Detroit Concert Choir, Arbor Opera Theater, and Flint Light Opera.

Ron Doiron Dr. Doiron is known as an educator as well as a performing musician. In addition to serving as the Conductor and Artistic Director of The Bach Ensemble, he was invited and served as the Founding Music Director of Opera Naples. He performs regularly with the Naples Opera Society and is also the Director of Music and Organist at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Marco Island. He is on the Faculty of First Music Academy at First Presbyterian Church in Bonita Springs, and an Adjunct Professor of Voice at Edison University in Ft. Myers. Ron earned a Bachelor of Music magna cum laude in Organ Performance from Chapman University in Orange, California, a Master of Music in Church Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Music and Choral Conducting with secondary studies in Music History and Vocal Pedagogy with departmental honors from the University of Southern California. David Dash Mr. Dash is the assistant principal trumpet of the Naples Philharmonic and a member of the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra. He gives several annual recitals with the Naples Philharmonic Brass Quintet and performs frequently in a duo with his wife, trumpeter Mary Bowden. David was previously a member of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band where he performed as a soloist and toured much of the United States. He has performed with the Baltimore , the Atlanta and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestras. Mr. Dash was a Moy Fellow at the Attergau Orchestra Institute in Austria and has recorded for Koch International, Albany Records, and with "The President's Own". David received his Bachelor’s degree from Rice University where he studied with Armando Ghitalla. He received his Master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Robert Sullivan. David’s first instrument was the piano, and he still plays this instrument at home.

Alexandra Carlson

Alexandra earned her Master of Piano Performance and her Doctorate of Musical Arts, cum laude, from the St. Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory. She now performs a wide range of solo, chamber and orchestral works in Russia, Europe and the USA. Dr. Carlson has won awards at the Maria Yudina International Piano Competition (Russia), the “Hopes, Talents, Masters” Competition (Bulgaria), the London International Piano Competition (England) and at the Valentino Bucci International Competition (Italy). The New Horizons Project (USA) awarded her a fellowship with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She has appeared in the Baltic International Piano Duo Festival, the Junger Kunstler Bayreuth Festival, the US-Russia Educational Bridge Project Festival and the Atlantic Music Festival. Recently, she performed at the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Hall, the Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall and at the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts.