…as a guest blogger!
Are you an Elgin OPERA singer, audience member, volunteer? We’d love for you to share your experiences with our growing online community!
Please contact our webmistress, Valerie Meachum, at vmeachum@elginopera.org with your thoughts.
Elgin OPERA’s 6th Annual Benefit Event is Sure to be a SCREAM!
Mark your calendars for October 24th at 5:00pm for Elgin OPERA’s 6th Annual Benefit Event at Villa Verone Ristorante Italiano, located at 13 Douglas Avenue in downtown Elgin.
For a third year in a row our benefit is a Costume Party and Dinner Concert. Dust off your best costume and come out for a “Spooktacular” time! Who knows, you could even win best costume!
Festivities begin at 5pm with check-in. At this time, you can enjoy a glass of “spirits” at the cash bar and peruse the beautiful silent auction items up for bid.
An authentic Italian dinner will be served beginning at approximately 6 pm. The cuisine is provided by our generous host, owner Pietro Verone.
The Elgin OPERA singers will “treat” you with their “boo-tiful” music at approximately 7 pm. Many of the singers from the Fourth Vocal Competition and Summer Music Festival will be performing for your enjoyment.
The cost of $50 per person ($40 for OPERA Guild Members) is fully tax deductible and includes the spectacular Italian dinner and all entertainment.
Reservations are required and can be made by calling Elgin OPERA at 847-695-5014. Reserve your seat now!
Elgin OPERA Invites you to Join us:
Sundays 6:00pm – 8:00pm Villa Verone Ristorante Italiano
13 Douglas Ave Elgin, IL
Phone: 847-742-0263
Join us every Sunday evening at Villa Verone Ristorante Italiano for classics of opera, Broadway and more, all in a casual, intimate cabaret setting.
Reservations are recommended; call the number below. For menu and other information on the restaurant, visit http://www.villaverone.net.
Great food, great music – what more could you want?
Elgin OPERA launches its First Community Outreach Summer Music Festival. Come and enjoy a wide variety of music this summer from the most popular Broadway excerpts to an evening of comedy to Best Loved Opera Scenes. Hear the winners of Elgin OPERA’s Third Annual Vocal Competition, members of Elgin OPERA and other professional singers from the Chicagoland and Fox Valley area.
Summary of the events:
· Broadway Night! Friday, July 10 & Saturday, July 11 @ 8:00 PM
· Comedy Tonight! Friday, July 17 & Saturday, July 18 @ 8:00 PM & Sunday, July 19 @ 3:00 PM
· Opera in Concert! Friday, July 24 & Saturday, July 25 @ 8:00 PM & Sunday, July 26 @ 3:00 PM
· Best Loved Opera Scenes! Friday, July 31 & Saturday, August 1 @ 8:00 PM
All Events and Performances will be held at the Kimball Street Theatre, located on the first level of the new Rider Center, on the Campus of Elgin Academy, 261 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120. (Visit our website at http://www.elginopera.org for map and directions.) Tickets are $18 for Adults and $15 for Seniors and Students. Discounted prices for members of the Elgin OPERA Guild.
Broadway Night! will be presented on Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11 at 8:00 PM. A variety of singers, including Solange Sior (Elgin), Susan Dennis (Bartlett), Robert Jastrebski (Arlington Heights), Charles Martin (Elk Grove Village), Valerie Meachum (Elgin), Kimberly & Brittany Albrecht (Barrington), Jori Jennings (Chicago), Kendra Wieneke (Barrington), Lindon Warren (Round Lake), Marianna Adaire (Evanston), Nicole Teram (Chicago), Tatiana Ranallo (Gilberts) , Annamarie Schutt (South Elgin), Katie & Kristen Das (St. Charles), Elizabeth Hadley (Carpentersville), and Gabriella Stocksdale (Elgin) will perform excerpts from Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Porgy & Bess, Sound of Music, Annie, Show Boat, South Pacific, Songs for a New World, The Light in the Piazza, and music by Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Kurt Weill.
Comedy Tonight! will be presented on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18 at 8:00 PM and Sunday, July 19 at 3:00 PM. Singers from Elgin OPERA, including Valerie Meachum (Elgin), Michelle Hackman (Cary), Jim Hinton (Elgin), Susan Dennis (Bartlett), Kendra Wieneke (Barrington), Tatiana Ranallo (Gilberts), Annemarie Schutt (South Elgin) and more, will perform a collection of parodies and humorous scenes from various genres including music by Gilbert & Sullivan, Victor Herbert, Jeanine Tesori, Tom Lehrer, Stephen Sondheim, Johann Strauss & Rossini. Be ready to laugh! “The Telephone” by Menotti, a thirty minute staged production of this funny opera will be performed in collaboration with Opera Moda, starring Genevieve Thiers (Chicago).
Opera in Concert will be presented on Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25 at 8:00 PM and Sunday, July 26 at 3:00 PM. Beautiful opera excerpts from the classical and romantic period will be presented, including music by Puccini, Mozart, Menotti, Delibes and more. The Third Act of “La Boheme” will be staged and presented under the direction of Mark James Meier. Solange Sior [Artistic Director of Elgin OPERA] (Elgin) will perform Mimi, Nancy Wiebe Mazurowski [Second Place Winner of the Emerging Artist Division of Elgin OPERA’s Third Annual Vocal Competition](Chicago) will be Musetta. Rodolfo will be sung by Cornelius Johnson (Chicago) and Marcello will be sung by Aaron Wardell (Chicago). Other singers for the evening will include Jennifer Kosharski (Chicago), Adam Horn (Sleepy Hollow), Jori Jennings (Chicago), Kendra Wieneke (Barrington), Jacqueline Schiffer (Palatine), Marcy Stonikas (Chicago) and more.
Best Loved Opera Scenes will be presented on Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1 at 8:00 PM. A staged & costumed production of “Suor Angelica”, a small opera (1 hour) by Puccini will be presented under the direction of Mark James Meier (Chicago). The title role will be performed by Marcy Stonikas [First Place Winner of the Emerging Artist Division of Elgin OPERA’s Third Annual Vocal Competition, as well as the winner of the “Most Promising Career” award] (Chicago). Barbara Landis (Chicago), Artistic Director of Chamber Opera Chicago will perform “The Princess”. Marianne Adaire (Evanston) [First Place Winner of the Young Artist Division of Elgin OPERA’s Third Annual Vocal Competition] will sing the role of Sister Genevieve. Other singers cast in the production include Paula Mrazek (Cary), Michelle Hackman (Cary), Sarah Heitman (Barrington), Margaret Schnute (Bolingbrok), Elizabeth Shuman (Chicago), Kendra Wieneke (Barrington), Danielle Floberg (Palatine), Jori Jennings (Chicago), Sara Litchfield (Chicago), and Suzanne Scherr (Oak Park).
The other part of the Best Loved Opera Scenes evening will highlight excerpts from various operas including “La Boheme”, “La Traviata”, and “Romeo & Juliet”.
Other events at the Summer Music Festival include Master Classes with Maestro Giulio Favario (former Associate Conductor and Chorus Master at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and former Principal Coach at the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists) and Philip Morehead (Pianist and Conductor, Head of Music Staff of Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists and former Chorus Master). These events are open to the general public. The Entrance fee for audience is $10 and can be paid at the door.
Elgin OPERA’s First Community Outreach Summer Music Festival is made possible by the support of the Palmer Foundation, Elgin Academy, the Illinois Arts Council, the Grand Victoria Foundation, Barbara and Barre Seid Foundation, E3 Design Group, the board and Opera Guild of Elgin OPERA, and Elgin OPERA’s generous sponsors.
For more information or to purchase tickets contact Elgin OPERA at 847-695-5014, via email at office@elginopera.org, or visit our website at http://www.elginopera.org.
First Place ($200) Winner of Elgin OPERA’s Third Annual Vocal Competition in Division I (12 years old and younger) went to Tatiana Ranallo from Gilberts. Second Place ($100) went to Christopher Knudsen from Elmhurst. Madeline Raube from Glen Ellyn won First Place ($500) in the Teen Artist Division (13 – 18 years old). Stacey Bravos from Barrington & Lindon Warren from Round Lake Beach both won Second Place ($250). Helen Knudsen from Elmhurst won Third Place ($100).
Marianna Adaire from Evanston won First Place ($500) in the Young Artist Division (19 – 26 years old). Laura Dobroth from Lake Forest won Second Place ($250) and Sarah Heitman from Barrington won Third Place ($100). Marcy Stonikas from Chicago won First Place in the Emerging Artist Division (27 years old and over) as well as the Most Promising Artist Award, for a total of $1,000, donated by Barbara & Barre Seid Foundation. Nancy Wiebe Mazurowski from Chicago won Second Place ($250). Michelle Hackman from Chicago and Margaret Schnute from Bolingbrook both won Third Place ($100).
Judges for the Final Round of Elgin OPERA’s Third Annual Vocal Competition included Maestro Philip Morehead (Pianist and Conductor, Head of Music Staff of Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists and former Chorus Master), Jennifer Kosharsky (Mezzo-Soprano), Tetyana Torzhevska (Soprano) on both days; and Ghibong Kim (Baritone), and Timothy Filliman (Bass-Baritone).
Our generous Award Benefactors for this event were Barbara & Barre Seid Foundation, Palmer Foundation, Lois Myers-Bauer (Vice-President of EO), Dr. Brad Epstein (Board Member of EO), Nicholas Bruno (Board Member of EO), William G. Kowalski (Board Member of EO), Reid & Janine Lewis, Gerhard & Hilda Wonneberger, Dr. Rise D. Jones (SCORE), and Ghibong Kim.
A total of $3,700 was awarded last weekend to these young singers. Thanks to our generous sponsors!
Winners and all Finalists to the Competition were also awarded a full scholarship to participate in Elgin OPERA’s Community Outreach Summer Music Festival. They will sing at recitals and concerts during the month of July and will prepare and perform opera scenes under the direction of Mark James Meier, participate in Master Classes with Maestro Giulio Favario (former Associate Conductor and Chorus Master at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and former Principal Coach at the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists) and Philip Morehead (Pianist and Conductor, Head of Music Staff of Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists and former Chorus Master). The Festival will be held throughout the month of July at the Kimball Street Theatre located in the new Rider Center on the campus of Elgin Academy.
Elgin OPERA’s Third Annual Vocal Competition and Elgin OPERA Community Outreach Summer Music Festival is made possible by generous support of the Palmer Foundation, Elgin Academy, the Illinois Arts Council, the Grand Victoria Foundation, Barbara and Barre Seid Foundation, E3 Design Group, the City of Elgin, the Board and Opera Guild of Elgin OPERA, and Elgin OPERA’s generous sponsors.
For more information on Elgin OPERA contact the office at 847-695-5014, office@elginopera.org or visit our website at http://www.elginopera.org.
The Final Round of Elgin OPERA Third Annual Vocal Competition will be held at the Professional Building, 164 Division Street in Elgin on June 27 & 28. Over 80 singers participated in the competition. Twenty two of them made it to the Finals. Division I and II will be competing on Saturday, June 27th, and Division III and IV on Sunday, June 28th.
This formal event is open to the public. Entrance fee is $25 per day and includes a catered buffet and admission to listen to all the singers. Reservations are required by June 23 and must be paid in advance by contacting Elgin OPERA at 847-695-5014 or via email at office@elginopera.org. Elgin OPERA is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization.
Saturday’s event starts at 1:00 pm with Division I (12 years old and under) followed by Division II (13 – 18 years old) at 2:00 PM until about 4:00 PM. The pianist for Saturday will be Rosemary Schroeder from St. Charles. Sunday’s event starts at 2:00 pm with Division III (19 – 26 years old) followed by Division IV (27 years old over) at 4:00 PM until about 6:00 PM. Pianist for Sunday’s event will be Dr. Chiayi Lee from Batavia. (See list of singers/town below)
Four professional musicians will be judging the competition on each day. Maestro Philip Morehead (Pianist and Conductor, Head of Music Staff of Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists and former Chorus Master), Jennifer Kosharsky (Mezzo-Soprano), Tetyana Torzhevska (Soprano) on both days; and Ghibong Kim (Baritone) on Saturday, and Timothy Filliman (Bass-Baritone) on Sunday.
Winners of each category will receive cash awards ranging from $100 – $500. Winners and Finalists will receive Scholarships to participate in Elgin OPERA’s First Community Outreach Music Festival. They will sing at recitals and concerts during the month of July and will prepare and perform opera scenes under the direction of Mark James Meier, participate in Master Classes with Maestro Giulio Favario (former Associate Conductor and Chorus Master at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and former Principal Coach at the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists) and Philip Morehead (Pianist and Conductor, Head of Music Staff of Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists and former Chorus Master). The Festival will be held at the Kimball Street Theatre located in the new Rider Center on the campus of Elgin Academy.
For more information contact Elgin OPERA at 847-695-5014 or via email at office@elginopera.org.
This event is made possible by the Palmer Foundation, Elgin Academy, the Illinois Arts Council, the Grand Victoria Foundation, Barbara and Barre Seid Foundation, E3 Design Group, Elgin OPERA Board Members, Elgin OPERA Guild Members, and Elgin OPERA’s generous sponsors.
Division I ( 12 years old and under)
Jessica Bailey / Chicago
Christopher Knudsen / Elmhurst
Sophia Peterson / Elgin
Tatiana Ranallo / Gilberts
Division II (13 – 18 years old)
Rana Alcheikh / Schaumburg
Stacey Bravos / Barrington
Ashleen Davey / Barrington
Adam Horn / Sleepy Hollow
Helen Knudsen / Elmhurst
Madeline Raube / Glen Ellyn
Sergio Vargas / Glen Ellyn
Lindon Warren / Round Lake Beach
Division III (19 – 26 years old)
Marianna Adaire / Evanston
Laura Dobroth / Lake Forest
Elizabeth Shuman / Chicago
Sara Litchfield / Chicago
Sarah Heitman / Barrington
Division IV (27 years old over)
Michelle Hackman / Chicago
Jori Jennings / Chicago
Nancy Wiebe Mazurowski / Chicago
Margaret Schnute / Bolingbrook
Marcy Stonikas / Chicago
Pianists:
Rosemary Schroeder / St. Charles
Chiayi Lee /Geneva
Elgin OPERA will be holding the Semi-Final Round for its Third Annual Vocal Competition on Saturday June 13 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM and Sunday June 14 from 2:00 – 6:00 PM. The event will be held at the Kimball Street Theatre located in the new Rider Center on the Campus of Elgin Academy, 261 Dundee Avenue in Elgin, 60120. Division I (12 years old and under) & Division II (13 -18 years old) will be held on Saturday. Division III (19 – 26 years old) & Division IV (27 years old and over) on Sunday.
This event is open to the general audience $15 per person and $13.50 for Elgin OPERA Guild Members.
Over 80 singers participated at the First Round of the competition last weekend. Forty of them were invited to continue to the Semi-Finals.
In Division I (12 years old and under) 6 singers are invited to continue to the Semi-Finals: Jessica Bailey (Chicago), Christopher Knudsen (Elmhurst), Stephanie Litchfield (Bartlett), Sophia Peterson (Elgin), Tatiana Ranallo (Gilberts), and Esther Suh (Northbrook).
In Division II (13 – 18 years old) 13 singers will be going on to the Semi-Finals: Rana Alcheikh (Schaumburg), Stacey Bravos (Barrington, formally from Elgin), Elizabeth Coe (Buffalo Grove), Rachel Comps (Hampshire), Ashleen Davey (Lake Barrington), Adam Horn (Sleepy Hollow), Helen Knudsen (Elmhurst), Alex Nowakowski (Palatine), Madeline Raube (Glen Ellyn), Marina Stingley (Villa Park), Chris Theodorou (Dundee), Sergio Vargas (Glen Ellyn), Lindon Warren (Round Lake).
In Division III (19 – 26 years old) 12 singers: Marianna Adaire (Evanston), Sarah Butler (Milwaukee, WI), Laura Dobroth (Lake Forest), Danielle Floberg (Palatine), Corey Fretz (Chicago), Sarah Heitman (Barrington), Amy Hutter (Geneva), Sara Litchfield (Chicago), Jacqueline Schiffer (Palatine), Elizabeth Shuman (Chicago), Emily Sites (DeKalb), Kendra Wieneke (Barrington).
In Division IV (27 years old and over) 9 singers: Michelle Hackman (Cary), Robert Jastrebski (Mt. Prospect), Jori Jennings (Chicago), Charles Martin (Elk Grove Village), Nancy Wiebe Mazurowski (Chicago), Aldo Perrelli Jr. (Highland Park), Margaret Schnute (Bolingbrook), Marcy Stonikas (Chicago)
Zhengping Liang (Monterey, CA).
Winners of each category will receive cash awards ranging from $100 – $500. Winners and Finalists will receive scholarships to participate in Elgin OPERA’s First Community Outreach Music Festival. They will sing at recitals and concerts during the month of July and will prepare and perform opera scenes under the direction of Mark James Meier, participate in Master Classes with Maestro Giulio Favario (former Associate Conductor and Chorus Master at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and former Principal Coach at the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists) and Philip Morehead (Pianist and Conductor, Head of Music Staff of Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists and former Chorus Master). The Festival will be held in June & July at the Kimball Street Theatre located in the new Rider Center on the campus of Elgin Academy.
Cash awards for Division I range from $100 to $200
Cash awards for all other divisions range from $100 to $500.
The Final Round will be held at the Professional Building, 164 Division Street in Elgin on June 27 & 28.
Division I & II will be held on Saturday, June 27th in the afternoon.
Division III & IV will be held on Sunday, June 28th in the afternoon.
For more information contact Elgin OPERA at 847-695-5014 or via email at office@elginopera.org.
This event is made possible by the Palmer Foundation, Elgin Academy, the Illinois Arts Council, the Grand Victoria Foundation, Barbara and Barre Seid Foundation, E3 Design Group, Elgin OPERA Board Members, Elgin OPERA Guild Members, and Elgin OPERA’s generous sponsors.
Preliminary rounds for all levels of the Annual Voice competition have ended. We had many fantastic singers, and are thrilled to see the turnout this year. Semi-finalists will soon be notified and will compete this weekend at the Kimball Street Theatre.
The public is welcome to watch the competition, admission is $10 for the semi-finals. The final round will take plave June 27 (1p)& 28 (2p) at the Professional Building 164 Division Street in Elgin. Reservations are required for the final round. The finals will be a wonderful performance, and finalists will be integral in the upcoming Community Outreach Music Festival throughout July.
Cheers!
Love & Fairy Tales was a delightful success1 Thanks to all who attended, and sorry it has taken me so long to update.
The Vocal Competition signup deadline approaches, and there is still room for competitors of all ages. Finalists get to participate in the exciting Community Outreach Music Festival this summer- see below for a sneak peek at what participants will get to do, plus the full details of the competition!
Elgin OPERA announces its Third Annual Vocal Competition with cash awards and scholarships to Elgin OPERA’s First Community Outreach Music Festival. Finalists in the competition and participants in the Music Festival will sing at recitals and concerts during the month of July and will prepare and perform opera scenes under the direction of Mark James Meier, participate in Master Classes with Maestro Giulio Favario (former Associate Conductor and Chorus Master at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and former Principal Coach at the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists) and Philip Morehead (Pianist and Conductor, Head of Music Staff of Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists and former Chorus Master). The Festival will be held in June & July at the Kimball Street Theatre located in the new Rider Center on the campus of Elgin Academy.
Four age divisions are set as follows:
Division I – Twinkle Little Star – 12 years old and under
Division II – Teen Artist – 13 – 18 years old
Division III – Young Artist – 19 – 26 years old
Division IV – Emerging Artist – 27 years old and over
Cash awards for Division I range from $100 to $200
Cash awards for all other divisions range from $100 to $500.
Preliminary Round and Semi-Finals will be held on June 6, 7, 13, & 14 at the Kimball Street Theatre at the corner of Kimball Street and Dundee Avenue, on the campus of Elgin Academy.
Preliminary round for Division I & II will be held on Saturday, June 6th in the afternoon.
Preliminary round for Division II & IV will be held on Sunday, June 7th in the afternoon.
Semi-Finals for Division I & II will be held on Saturday, June 13th in the afternoon.
Semi-Finals for Division III & IV will be held on Sunday, June 14th in the afternoon.
Finals will be held at the Professional Building, 164 Division Street in Elgin on June 27 & 28.
Division I & II will be held on Saturday, June 27th in the afternoon.
Division III & IV will be held on Sunday, June 28th in the afternoon.
Deadline to register is set for June 1, 2009. Brochure and registration form can be downloaded from Elgin OPERA’s website at www.elginopera.org. For more information contact Elgin OPERA at 847-695-5014 or via email at office@elginopera.org.
This event is made possible by the Palmer Foundation, Elgin Academy, the Illinois Arts Council, the Grand Victoria Foundation, Barbara and Barre Seid Foundation, E3 Design Group, the City of Elgin, the board and Opera Guild of Elgin OPERA, and Elgin OPERA’s generous sponsors.
Love & Fairy Tales is coming your way May 1, 2 & 3. 8p performances Friday and Saturday and a 3pm matinee on Sunday. Shows are in the Kimball Street Theatre, located in the Rider Center @ Elgin Academy.
The show is coming together wonderfully, with a few hiccups during the dress rehearsals, of course. All of which should be ironed out now.
Tickets are still available for all performances, so we hope that you will join us for a fabulous night of fun and delight.
Elgin OPERA Notes 