End of summer is always an exciting time at PRO - so much going on! Our new season mailer is in the mail, and should start arriving within a few days, and our new website will be up within a few weeks. Wait until you see our new look! It's really exciting, what we have been able to do with Barnett Cox Associates (BCA), who we hired to help us through these next months.
Many of you know that we are approaching our 25th anniversary year - a truly exciting year for PRO, and one that will bring us much in the news in the coming months. Keep your eye on us!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Opera Camp performance on Friday
The kids of this year's opera camp are getting ready for their final performance, which is this Friday, the 24th at Mt. Carmel. It is open to the public, but attendance first come first served only.
Robert tells me that this is a particularly talented group of youngsters, and he has had a wonderful time working with them. And considering the many years of experience that Robert has in doing these sorts of camps, that is high praise indeed!
Our camp this year is possible with grants from The Hind Foundation and Catholic Healthcare West at Marion Medical Center. Hooray for our Opera Camp Sponsors! We could NOT do this without you!!
Our camp this year has been held at SLO United Methodist Church, Thank you, thank you to SLO UMC! The church secretary told me she just loves hearing
the kids singing to themselves as they walk from room to room at the church. "Sweet voices" are the words she used, if I remember correctly.The performance will be at 7 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, 1701 Fredericks St, San Luis Obispo. You should come! It will be very sweet. It always is.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Opera Camp
Opera Camp has started! This year, the kids are preparing "H.M.S. Pinafore" - kind of a Gilbert & Sullivan prelude to our main stage production in the fall.
We only had 8 children sign up, bad timing I think, as there's another childrens production happening in the North County this week. But Robert tells me that this is a particularly gifted group of children, and they are going to be able to put together a stellar show. Last I heard, he was thinking of either a concert version (with costumes!) or perhaps several pieces from G&S shows, depending on the voices of the children who signed up. More as this develops!
We only had 8 children sign up, bad timing I think, as there's another childrens production happening in the North County this week. But Robert tells me that this is a particularly gifted group of children, and they are going to be able to put together a stellar show. Last I heard, he was thinking of either a concert version (with costumes!) or perhaps several pieces from G&S shows, depending on the voices of the children who signed up. More as this develops!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Maestro's Travels
Most of our patrons know that Maestro Robert Ashens, PRO's Artistic Director, does not live
locally, but comes to SLO many times per year for PRO functions. He will emcee AND accompany our upcoming Broadway concert - which in itself is a good reason to come! If you haven't heard him play - you are in for a rare treat.
What many of you may not know is that Robert travels incessantly, teaching, conducting and performing.
Currently he is in production for OKLAHOMA (Music Director/Conductor) at the Oregon Festival of American Music (OFAM) in Eugene, OR. But since he also has a position as Principal Guest Organist at St. Dominic's Catholic Church, San Francisco, he is constantly traveling between Eugene and San Francisco. He also does many concerts in the San Francisco Bay Area in addition to a regular Opera Dinner series in Tiburon (north of San Francisco). As Principal Guest Conductor of Salem Chamber Orchestra, Robert often also travels to Salem OR.
On top of all of these, Robert is a well known vocal coach, maintaining studios in San Francisco, Oakland and Eugene.
locally, but comes to SLO many times per year for PRO functions. He will emcee AND accompany our upcoming Broadway concert - which in itself is a good reason to come! If you haven't heard him play - you are in for a rare treat.What many of you may not know is that Robert travels incessantly, teaching, conducting and performing.
Currently he is in production for OKLAHOMA (Music Director/Conductor) at the Oregon Festival of American Music (OFAM) in Eugene, OR. But since he also has a position as Principal Guest Organist at St. Dominic's Catholic Church, San Francisco, he is constantly traveling between Eugene and San Francisco. He also does many concerts in the San Francisco Bay Area in addition to a regular Opera Dinner series in Tiburon (north of San Francisco). As Principal Guest Conductor of Salem Chamber Orchestra, Robert often also travels to Salem OR.
On top of all of these, Robert is a well known vocal coach, maintaining studios in San Francisco, Oakland and Eugene.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Broadway-by-the-Sea Singers
Great news! We have the rest of our singers lined up!
Baritone Igor Vieira was a world finalist of the 1995 Luciano Pavarotti Voice Competition in Philadelphia, a recipient of the Margareth Tudor Award (Princeton) for two consecutive years and the Kaplan Foundation Award (Kansas City) for outstanding artistry, as well as Second Place on the East Bay Opera League Voice Competition in 2006 and a semi-finalist of the Competizione d'Opera in Dresden - Germany in 2008.
Igor Vieira made his professional debut in his native Rio de Janeiro at age 17 singing the role of "Le Dancaïre" in Bizet's Carmen. Subsequent roles have included "Dulcamara" in Donizetti's L'elisir d'Amore, "Eisenstein" in Straus's Die Fledermaus, the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni, Ford in Verdi's Falstaff, and Lescaut in Puccini's Manon Lescaut.
Mr. Vieira has sung 52 different operatic roles with such companies as the Teatro Municipal of Rio de Janeiro, the Amazonian Opera Festival, The Belém Opera Festival, Opera du Villecroze (France), Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Opera Theater of Philadelphia, Teatro Barakaldo (Spain), West Bay Opera, Berkeley Opera, San Francisco Lyric Opera, Fremont Opera, Rimrock Opera, Festival Opera/Walnut Creek, Oakland Opera Theater, Teatro Sao Pedro (Brazil), Belcantanti Opera, Pocket Opera and Opera Santa Barbara.
Jamie Chamberlin, soprano
Greek-American soprano Jamie Chamberlin has been recognized as one of the premiere singing actresses of her generation. Recently, she was granted the Special Encouragement Award at the 2007 MONC Western Regional Finals. Earlier in 2007, she received Third Place in the Inaugural Jose Iturbi International Music Competition in Los Angeles, and in November of 2007 she participated in the Seoul International Music Competition in South Korea as one of 46 young singers from around the world. As an artist in the prestigious Merola Opera Program in San Francisco, she received critical praise for her portrayal of Anne Sexton in Susa's Transformations, and for her sparkling Merola Grand Finale performance on the stage of the War Memorial Opera House in 2006. Ms. Chamberlin made her professional debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2004 singing the soprano solo in the world premiere of Esa- Pekka Salonen's monumental orchestral work Wing on Wing. The following season, she made her solo debut with Los Angeles Opera as the High Priestess in Aida and the Cretan Woman in Idomeneo, with Plácido Domingo.
Christopher Reames, baritone
Mr. Reames is a native of Kansas City, MO. He was recently selected as a top-ten finalist in the Franco-American Vocal Academy 2009 Grand Concours de Chant vocal competition. In February of this year, Mr. Reames appeared as Tom/John in the Opera Las Vegas production of Mollicone's The Face on the Barroom Floor and in the title role of P.D.Q. Bach's Oedipus Tex. Other recent performances include: Simon in Handel's Judas Maccabaeus, Schaunard in Puccini's La Bohème; Sid in Britten's Albert Herring; Papageno in Mozart's The Magic Flute; Richard in Barab's Fortune's Favorites; Perchik in Bock and Harnick's The Fiddler on the Roof; and Snoopy in Gesner's You're a Good Man Charlie Brown; Soloist in Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem and Five Mystical Songs. Mr. Reames is a two-time winner in the Graduate division of the 2006 and 2007 N.A.T.S. Study Award competitions for the Southern Nevada N.A.T.S. chapter. He is a recent graduate of the Master of Music degree program at UNLV. In 2005, Mr. Reames completed a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in vocal performance at William Jewell College in Liberty, MO.
Baritone Igor Vieira was a world finalist of the 1995 Luciano Pavarotti Voice Competition in Philadelphia, a recipient of the Margareth Tudor Award (Princeton) for two consecutive years and the Kaplan Foundation Award (Kansas City) for outstanding artistry, as well as Second Place on the East Bay Opera League Voice Competition in 2006 and a semi-finalist of the Competizione d'Opera in Dresden - Germany in 2008.
Igor Vieira made his professional debut in his native Rio de Janeiro at age 17 singing the role of "Le Dancaïre" in Bizet's Carmen. Subsequent roles have included "Dulcamara" in Donizetti's L'elisir d'Amore, "Eisenstein" in Straus's Die Fledermaus, the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni, Ford in Verdi's Falstaff, and Lescaut in Puccini's Manon Lescaut.
Mr. Vieira has sung 52 different operatic roles with such companies as the Teatro Municipal of Rio de Janeiro, the Amazonian Opera Festival, The Belém Opera Festival, Opera du Villecroze (France), Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Opera Theater of Philadelphia, Teatro Barakaldo (Spain), West Bay Opera, Berkeley Opera, San Francisco Lyric Opera, Fremont Opera, Rimrock Opera, Festival Opera/Walnut Creek, Oakland Opera Theater, Teatro Sao Pedro (Brazil), Belcantanti Opera, Pocket Opera and Opera Santa Barbara.
Jamie Chamberlin, soprano
Greek-American soprano Jamie Chamberlin has been recognized as one of the premiere singing actresses of her generation. Recently, she was granted the Special Encouragement Award at the 2007 MONC Western Regional Finals. Earlier in 2007, she received Third Place in the Inaugural Jose Iturbi International Music Competition in Los Angeles, and in November of 2007 she participated in the Seoul International Music Competition in South Korea as one of 46 young singers from around the world. As an artist in the prestigious Merola Opera Program in San Francisco, she received critical praise for her portrayal of Anne Sexton in Susa's Transformations, and for her sparkling Merola Grand Finale performance on the stage of the War Memorial Opera House in 2006. Ms. Chamberlin made her professional debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2004 singing the soprano solo in the world premiere of Esa- Pekka Salonen's monumental orchestral work Wing on Wing. The following season, she made her solo debut with Los Angeles Opera as the High Priestess in Aida and the Cretan Woman in Idomeneo, with Plácido Domingo.
Christopher Reames, baritone
Mr. Reames is a native of Kansas City, MO. He was recently selected as a top-ten finalist in the Franco-American Vocal Academy 2009 Grand Concours de Chant vocal competition. In February of this year, Mr. Reames appeared as Tom/John in the Opera Las Vegas production of Mollicone's The Face on the Barroom Floor and in the title role of P.D.Q. Bach's Oedipus Tex. Other recent performances include: Simon in Handel's Judas Maccabaeus, Schaunard in Puccini's La Bohème; Sid in Britten's Albert Herring; Papageno in Mozart's The Magic Flute; Richard in Barab's Fortune's Favorites; Perchik in Bock and Harnick's The Fiddler on the Roof; and Snoopy in Gesner's You're a Good Man Charlie Brown; Soloist in Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem and Five Mystical Songs. Mr. Reames is a two-time winner in the Graduate division of the 2006 and 2007 N.A.T.S. Study Award competitions for the Southern Nevada N.A.T.S. chapter. He is a recent graduate of the Master of Music degree program at UNLV. In 2005, Mr. Reames completed a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in vocal performance at William Jewell College in Liberty, MO.
More info on Laurelle
Here's the photograph and biography of Laurelle that I promised: and please note that I originally spelled her name incorrectly.
Ms. Barnett began her professional career with the national touring company of an American oratorio: John Brown’s Body, directed by John Houseman. She has appeared as the lead or featured roles in Sound of Music, A Funny Thing Happened…Forum, Fiddler on the Roof, Man of La Mancha, and The Mikado as well as classical fare such as Handel’s Messiah (both soprano and alto in various productions) and Pacific Repertory Opera’s La Traviata and Gianni Schicchi. Laurelle has also enjoyed creating a wide range of theatrical characters locally and throughout the U.S. (in Stage Door, Lion in Winter, Collected Stories and Light Up The Sky).
Ms. Barnett began her professional career with the national touring company of an American oratorio: John Brown’s Body, directed by John Houseman. She has appeared as the lead or featured roles in Sound of Music, A Funny Thing Happened…Forum, Fiddler on the Roof, Man of La Mancha, and The Mikado as well as classical fare such as Handel’s Messiah (both soprano and alto in various productions) and Pacific Repertory Opera’s La Traviata and Gianni Schicchi. Laurelle has also enjoyed creating a wide range of theatrical characters locally and throughout the U.S. (in Stage Door, Lion in Winter, Collected Stories and Light Up The Sky).
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Broadway-by-the-Sea - singer #1 - Laurelle Barnett
I'm excited to share that Laurelle Barnett, a local soprano, is returning to sing with PRO for the first
time in several years. Laurelle previously sang at our Gilbert & Sullivan concert in '04, and our (first??) Broadway concert in '00. She also performed in our 1994 production of La Traviata. Welcome back, Laurelle!
I will add Laurelle's current bio and photo as soon as I have them!
time in several years. Laurelle previously sang at our Gilbert & Sullivan concert in '04, and our (first??) Broadway concert in '00. She also performed in our 1994 production of La Traviata. Welcome back, Laurelle!I will add Laurelle's current bio and photo as soon as I have them!
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