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Vocal Competition 2021 Program

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April 11, <strong>2021</strong> | 3PM<br />

April 9, <strong>2021</strong><br />

Maryland Hall


A Message from the Artistic<br />

and Music Director<br />

Welcome to the final round of Annapolis Opera’s<br />

annual <strong>Vocal</strong> <strong>Competition</strong>. For 32 years, the<br />

Annapolis Opera has supported emerging artists<br />

through this competition which has cultivated<br />

generations of young talent, connecting them to<br />

audiences and industry professionals while also<br />

providing crucial financial support. This year, over 300 applicants from<br />

all over the country submitted their arias virtually. After reviewing the<br />

41 semi-finalists, we’re excited to share these 9 finalists with all of you.<br />

In addition to today’s presentation, all of the applicants were invited as<br />

our guests to Will Liverman’s stunning live-streamed recital this past<br />

Friday evening. Joining me in adjudicating the competition are Will<br />

Liverman, baritone, Lee Anne Myslewski, Vice President for Opera and<br />

Classical <strong>Program</strong>ming at Wolf Trap, and Louisa Muller, international<br />

stage director. We’re grateful to this esteemed panel who bring a<br />

wealth of diverse perspectives to our competition.<br />

There is so much to look forward to in the coming months as we plan<br />

for a full season of programming starting next fall. In the meantime, be<br />

on the lookout for our additional virtual and in-person programming<br />

this spring. Thank you for your support, continue to stay safe, and<br />

enjoy today’s competition!<br />

Craig Kier


A Message from the President<br />

Thank you for attending the <strong>2021</strong> <strong>Vocal</strong><br />

<strong>Competition</strong>. We are excited to present this<br />

important event with the help of virtual technology.<br />

This season we have been able to expand beyond<br />

the mid-Atlantic region and draw a broader range<br />

of applicants from across the nation. This resulted<br />

in a record-setting 305 singers in the competition: 285 new<br />

applications in the preliminary round and 20 returning semi-finalists<br />

from last year’s cancelled competition. Of this year’s 41 semi-finalists,<br />

14 were from newly eligible states. The range of voice types: Baritone<br />

3, Bass 1, Bass-baritone 1, Countertenor 1, Mezzo 6, Soprano 24,<br />

Tenor 5. The nine finalists you will hear today, come from California,<br />

Illinois, Texas as well as New York and Pennsylvania. They are<br />

competing for almost $20,000 of prize money, also an all-time high.<br />

Many thanks to the donors of the prizes; without them, this<br />

competition would not be possible! Particular thanks go out to Jim and<br />

Sylvia Earl of the Helena Foundation for their many years of<br />

sponsorship for the overall event.<br />

At this point in our history, we have awarded over 200 vocal<br />

competition prizes. In my interactions with other opera companies, I<br />

often encounter former competition winners, and I have come to<br />

realize that one outcome of the competition, in addition to furthering<br />

the development of emerging performing arts professionals, is the<br />

creation of a network of friends of the Annapolis Opera Company.<br />

And speaking of friends of the Annapolis Opera, I would like to thank<br />

Leah Solat, chair of the <strong>Vocal</strong> <strong>Competition</strong> committee. She has<br />

managed this competition since 2011 as it has evolved and matured.<br />

This will be her last year—or so she claims—and many thanks to her<br />

for doing such a wonderful job over these years, bringing the<br />

competition to the level of excellence that it currently enjoys.<br />

Thomas DeKornfeld


You to Our<br />

Thank<br />

Sponsors<br />

Norman and Doris<br />

Fisher Foundation<br />

The Helena Foundation<br />

Jim and Sylvia Earl<br />

David and Carol<br />

Stern<br />

Nancie Kennedy<br />

Thomas DeKornfeld<br />

and Nina Fisher<br />

Leah and Norman<br />

Solat<br />

Lorraine and Robert<br />

vom Saal


<strong>Vocal</strong> <strong>Competition</strong> Committee<br />

The Board of Trustees of Annapolis Opera acknowledges with gratitude the<br />

dedication, hard work and fruitful ideas contributed by the members of the<br />

<strong>Vocal</strong> <strong>Competition</strong> Committee.<br />

Barbara Bohl-Watkins<br />

Ed Crump<br />

Wendy Dykeman<br />

Sylvia Earl<br />

PROCESS<br />

Richard Hack<br />

Richard Krimm<br />

Michael Lehr<br />

Andrew Noel<br />

Creating this year’s competition, while still under the pandemic's isolating<br />

factors, was truly unique. Totally virtual, and open to all US residents, this year’s<br />

competition attracted over 300 applicants. Artistic and Music Director Craig<br />

Kier listened to all applicants and selected 41 semi-finalists, including twenty<br />

who were carried over from last year. A panel of judges selected nine finalists<br />

and will be selecting the award recipients heard in today’s streamed Finals<br />

presentation.<br />

The <strong>Vocal</strong> <strong>Competition</strong> Committee is very grateful to Artistic and Music Director<br />

Craig Kier, General Director Kathy Swekel, Operations Associate Victoria<br />

Mangum and Administrative Assistant Soraya Karkari for the creativity,<br />

technical ingenuity and innovative work which made it possible to have the<br />

competition in these challenging times.<br />

CONSIDERATIONS<br />

Clarissa Ocampo<br />

Melissa Osmond<br />

Leah Solat, Chair<br />

The following are among the many elements considered by the judges:<br />

Voice – quality, suitability for opera repertoire, suitability for composers’ styles,<br />

vocal size (ability to fill medium-sized opera house with full orchestra)<br />

Music – varied styles, tempi, tessitura, language<br />

Musicianship – pitch/intonation, rhythm, phrasing<br />

Technique – breath control, language/diction, flexibility<br />

Interpretation – projection, understanding of aria, characterization/acting ability<br />

Stage Presence/Personality<br />

Potential for Career in Opera<br />

SUPPORT<br />

Annapolis Opera is deeply grateful to James and Sylvia Earl, whose Helena<br />

Foundation has generously underwritten the competition for 22 years.<br />

through their support, the Helena Foundation provides an invaluable<br />

opportunity for young artists to advance their careers and for both new and<br />

experienced opera-goers to enjoy a truly unique experience.


The Awards<br />

The Annapolis Opera acknowledges the donors of these generous and deeply<br />

appreciated awards. Their contributions support the continued development<br />

of tomorrow’s opera stars and the art form.<br />

FIRST PRIZE $5,000<br />

The Clarence and Adrienne Berenson Goldberg Memorial Award, donated<br />

by their daughter, Susan Goldberg, in memory of her parents, longtime<br />

Annapolitans who cared deeply about the arts and supporting the careers of<br />

young singers.<br />

SECOND PRIZE $3,500<br />

Comprised of The Marie E. Crump Memorial Award, gifted by The Maryland<br />

Opera Society and Edward Crump, former Annapolis Opera Trustee, in<br />

memory of the late Marie E. Crump, a former board member of the Prince<br />

Georges Opera Company and a co-founder The Maryland Opera Society and<br />

its <strong>Vocal</strong> <strong>Competition</strong>. Mrs. Crump had a life-long love of opera and devoted<br />

much of her life to sharing that love with others, and was committed to<br />

assisting young aspiring opera singers in the pursuit of their careers.<br />

And The Director/Conductor Award, given by Ronald Gretz, Annapolis Opera<br />

Artistic Director and Conductor Emeritus, and Braxton Peters, Annapolis<br />

Opera’s former Stage Director. Both served as adjudicators at the <strong>Vocal</strong><br />

<strong>Competition</strong> and offer the award as an incentive to the winner to pursue an<br />

operatic career.<br />

THIRD PRIZE $2,500<br />

The Hughes Award is given by Madeleine Hughes and former Annapolis<br />

Opera Trustee George Hughes, in honor of their grandchildren to encourage<br />

their love of opera and the world of music.<br />

ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD $2,000<br />

The William W. Watkins Memorial Award, given by his wife, Annapolis Opera<br />

Trustee Barbara Bohl-Watkins, and her sister, Margaret Bohl, to honor his lifelong<br />

passion for opera and his many years of support to Annapolis Opera. A<br />

frequent volunteer, serving in many capacities, Bill was a devoted attendee at<br />

all of the company’s events. He is remembered especially for his deep<br />

enjoyment of and appreciation for the Annapolis Opera <strong>Vocal</strong> <strong>Competition</strong>.


Awards<br />

The<br />

ENCOURAGEMENT AWARDS $1,000<br />

The Professor William B. and Carrie Kellogg Ray Memorial Award is funded<br />

by Betty and Calvin Austin, to honor their long-time friends former Annapolis<br />

Opera Trustee Professor William Ray, internationally known African American<br />

baritone, and his wife Carrie Kellogg Ray, a renowned vocal coach and teacher.<br />

Also contributing are Chris and Kathy Swekel, Annapolis Opera General<br />

Director, and Annapolis Opera Trustee Richard Krimm. They treasure<br />

memories of working with Bill on the <strong>Vocal</strong> <strong>Competition</strong>, in which he was<br />

involved for over 30 years until his death.<br />

The Jessica’s Voice Award is donated by her aunt, Margaret Hiltabidle Wilson,<br />

to help further the career of young singers like soprano Jessica Lauren<br />

Hiltabidle, whose rising career was cut short by her untimely illness and death<br />

in 2018.<br />

The Patricia A. Edwards Memorial Award is donated by her family to<br />

recognize her devotion to the Arts in Annapolis, her love for the opera, and<br />

her desire to support the careers of rising young singers.<br />

The Cheryl and Richard Hack Award is given by Cheryl and Annapolis Opera<br />

Trustee Richard Hack to support an emerging artist’s continued pursuit of an<br />

operatic career and Annapolis Opera’s mission of providing opportunities for<br />

emerging opera singers.<br />

The Melanie and Michael Teems Award is donated by both former Annapolis<br />

Opera Trustees and long-time patrons, Melanie and Michael Teems who are<br />

pleased to support the Company’s mission of fostering opportunities for<br />

singers early in their careers.<br />

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD $1500<br />

The Todd Duncan Memorial Award, established by Rose Thorman in 1992, is<br />

funded in her memory by her daughter, Jan Thorman. Rose Thorman<br />

dedicated this award in remembrance of her teacher, Todd Duncan, whose<br />

performance as the original Porgy in George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess broke<br />

new ground and who was the first African American to be awarded a principal<br />

contract by a major US opera company. Mr. Duncan lived for many years in<br />

Arundel on the Bay. Also contributing to this award are: grandson, Todd<br />

Duncan; Pamela Duncan, daughter-in-law; and Philip Allen, former Annapolis<br />

Opera Trustee, opera enthusiast and an Arundel on the Bay historian.


Judges<br />

CRAIG KIER<br />

Annapolis Opera, Artistic and Music Director<br />

In the 2019-2020 season, Craig Kier made his Annapolis<br />

Opera debut, and was named the company’s Artistic and<br />

Music Director in January 2020. Maestro Kier continued his<br />

work as Director of the Maryland Opera Studio, a position he<br />

has held since 2014. Last season’s engagements included his<br />

San Francisco Merola Opera Center debut, Indianapolis<br />

debut, a return to Opera Birmingham and Houston Ballet, and leading the yearlong<br />

Kurt Weill Festival at the University of Maryland as Artistic Director,<br />

conducting performances of The Road of Promise, Mahagonny Songspiel, and<br />

Street Scene.<br />

Recent season highlights include The Rape of Lucretia with Wolf Trap Opera, La<br />

cenerentola with Brevard Opera Center, Don Pasquale with Anchorage Opera,<br />

Madama Butterfly with Arizona Opera, Falstaff with Opera Saratoga, La traviata<br />

with Opera Birmingham, and since 2011, a relationship with Houston Ballet<br />

leading their Nutcracker production. From 2010-2013, Kier was Associate<br />

Conductor under Patrick Summers at Houston Grand Opera, where he led<br />

performances of Madama Butterfly, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Die Fledermaus, Trial by<br />

Jury and the world premiere of Huang Ruo’s Bound.<br />

WILL LIVERMAN<br />

Baritone<br />

Called “a voice for this historic moment” by The Washington<br />

Post, baritone Will Liverman continues to bring his<br />

compelling performances to audiences nationwide. The 2020<br />

winner of the Marian Anderson <strong>Vocal</strong> Award, Will brings a<br />

breadth of genres to the stage with equal authority and<br />

beauty.<br />

He will star in the Metropolitan Opera’s re-opening production of Terence<br />

Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up In My Bones in fall <strong>2021</strong>, in addition to reprising his<br />

roles in Akhnaten (Horemhab) and The Magic Flute (Papageno) during the Met’s<br />

21-22 season. In the 2020-<strong>2021</strong> season, Liverman has appeared in a solo<br />

recital at The Kennedy Center and in Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ production of<br />

Highway 1 U.S.A as Bob. He will also curate OTSL’s Juneteenth Concert together<br />

with soprano Nicole Cabell. Will’s new opera, The Factotum, written together<br />

with DJ/recording artist K. Rico, was also developed in partnership with Lyric<br />

Opera of Chicago and the Ryan Opera Center this season.


Judges<br />

LOUISA MULLER<br />

Stage Director<br />

Heralded by Opera News for her “absorbing, provocative<br />

staging,” Louisa Muller recently made her UK debut directing<br />

a critically-acclaimed new production of The Turn of the Screw<br />

for Garsington Opera, which won a 2020 Royal Philharmonic<br />

Society Award and named by The Guardian as one of the Top<br />

10 Classical Music Events of the year.<br />

This season she directs Porgy and Bess at the Internationales Musikfest<br />

Hamburg and Don Giovanni at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp. Future<br />

engagements include productions of Rinaldo for Pinchgut Opera, a return to LA<br />

Opera for Tannhäuser, Tosca for Lyric Opera of Chicago and Opera Colorado.<br />

Her 2017 staging of Das Rheingold with the New York Philharmonic, the New<br />

York Times named in its list of the Best Classical Music Performances of the<br />

year. At Wolf Trap Opera she has directed of Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles,<br />

The Rape of Lucretia, Tosca, and Roméo et Juliette.<br />

As a member of the Metropolitan Opera’s directing staff, Ms. Muller has helmed<br />

revivals of Don Giovanni, Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci, and L’elisir d’amore. She<br />

has also directed at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera, Grand<br />

Théâtre de Genève, Houston Grand Opera, Minnesota Opera, Santa Fe Opera,<br />

and Opera Queensland.<br />

LEE ANNE MYSLEWSKI<br />

Wolf Trap, Vice President for Opera and Classical <strong>Program</strong>ming<br />

Lee Anne Myslewski joined Wolf Trap in 2006, and has since<br />

heard over 7,500 live auditions and participated in casting<br />

and programming more than a decade of WTO’s operatic<br />

productions. She conceived of the "Untrapped" series of<br />

programming which has featured artistic partnerships with<br />

the Shakespeare Theatre, Taffety Punk, Halcyon, AMP at<br />

Strathmore, Children’s National Medical Center as well as partnerships with The<br />

Phillips Collection, the Library of Congress and the National Orchestral Institute.<br />

She oversees Wolf Trap Opera, the most venerated summer training program<br />

for emerging artists in the country. Alumni of this artist-centric program are<br />

singing in every opera house in the nation, and also across the world –<br />

including The Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Vienna Staatsoper, Komische Oper<br />

Berlin, Sydney Opera House and Deutsche Opera Berlin.<br />

She oversees the classical music programming for The Filene Center and The<br />

Barns. She also serves as the executive producer and co-host of Center Stage<br />

from Wolf Trap, a nationally-syndicated radio program aired on public radio<br />

stations across the country.


<strong>Program</strong><br />

WELCOME Craig Kier<br />

“Non disperar” from Giulio Cesare<br />

Elena Villalón, soprano<br />

“Wie du warst” from Der Rosenkavalier<br />

Shannon Keegan, mezzo-soprano<br />

“La fleur que tu m’avais jetée” from Carmen<br />

John Park, tenor<br />

George Frideric Handel<br />

Richard Strauss<br />

Georges Bizet<br />

“Ich bin euer liebden serh verbunden” from Der Rosenkavalier Richard Strauss<br />

Raven McMillon, soprano<br />

“D’oreste d’Ajace” from Idomeneo<br />

Daniele Beckvermit, soprano<br />

“Am I in your light?” from Doctor Atomic<br />

Katherine Beck, mezzo-soprano<br />

“Come dal ciel precipita” from Macbeth<br />

Edwin Davis, bass<br />

“Se giunge un dispetto” from Agrippina<br />

Véronique Filloux, soprano<br />

Starbuck’s Aria from Moby Dick<br />

Blake Denson, baritone<br />

“Cara speme” from Giulio Cesare<br />

Shannon Keegan, mezzo-soprano<br />

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart<br />

John Adams<br />

Giuseppe Verdi<br />

George Frideric Handel<br />

Jake Heggie<br />

George Frideric Handel


<strong>Program</strong><br />

“Ernani, Ernani involami” from Ernani<br />

Daniele Beckvermit, soprano<br />

Giuseppe Verdi<br />

“O tu che in seno agli angeli” from La Forza del Destino Giuseppe Verdi<br />

John Park, tenor<br />

“A vos jeux mes amis” from Hamlet Ambrose Thomas<br />

Elana Villalón, soprano<br />

“His Name is Jan” from Breaking the Waves<br />

Véronique Filloux, soprano<br />

July Fourth Speech from Frederick Douglass<br />

Edwin Davis, bass<br />

“Padre, germani, addio” from Idomeneo<br />

Raven McMillon, soprano<br />

Missy Mazzoli<br />

Dorothy Rudd-Moore<br />

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart<br />

“É sogno? O realtà?” from Falstaff Giuseppe Verdi<br />

Blake Denson, baritone<br />

“Tanti affetti” from La donna del lago<br />

Katherine Beck, mezzo-soprano<br />

Gioachino Rossini<br />

“O Tixo, Tixo Help Me” from Lost in the Stars Kurt Weill<br />

Joshua Conyers, baritone, 2019 <strong>Vocal</strong> <strong>Competition</strong> Winner<br />

INTERVIEW<br />

Joshua Conyers - 2019 <strong>Vocal</strong> <strong>Competition</strong> Winner<br />

Audience Choice Award Voting<br />

AWARD PRESENTATION<br />

Craig Kier Will Livermen Louisa Muller Lee Anne Myslewski


About the Artists<br />

KATHERINE BECK, Mezzo-Soprano<br />

Hometown: Bennington, VT<br />

Katherine is currently an artist with the Ryan Opera Center<br />

at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. In 2020, she performed on<br />

the Metropolitan Opera stage as a semi-finalist in the<br />

National Council Auditions and won the George London<br />

Foundation <strong>Competition</strong>. In 2019, Beck made her debut at<br />

Santa Fe Opera as Karolka in Jenufa. She was applauded for her roles as Mary<br />

Johnson in Gregory Spears’ Fellow Travelers and Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro<br />

at Arizona Opera. Beck has been featured in opera, recital, and crossover<br />

genres in recent virtual performances with Lyric Opera of Chicago.<br />

DANIELLE BECKVERMIT, Soprano<br />

Hometown: Kingston, NY<br />

Danielle was named a Grand Finalist in the Metropolitan<br />

Opera National Council Auditions and made her mainstage<br />

Carnegie Hall Debut in 2018. A graduate of the Mannes<br />

School of Music and SUNY Fredonia, Danielle has sung a<br />

wide range of roles, including Donna Anna in Don Giovanni,<br />

Alice in Falstaff and the title role in Susannah. An award winner in The George<br />

London Foundation <strong>Competition</strong> in 2020, Beckvermit was an apprentice artist<br />

with the Santa Fe Opera in 2019 and just completed her two-year residency<br />

with the Minnesota Opera.<br />

EDWIN JHAMAL DAVIS, Bass<br />

Hometown: Utica, MS<br />

He is an alumnus of Jackson State University where<br />

he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with dual<br />

minors in Chemistry and Music. In 2014, while studying<br />

voice with soprano Phyllis Lewis-Hale, he made his<br />

professional debut with the Mississippi Opera singing<br />

Simone in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. He is a Master's Degree recipient of the<br />

Manhattan School of Music where he studied with well-acclaimed baritone and<br />

bass-baritone, Mark Oswald and James Morris. He was crowned the national<br />

winner of the Marian Anderson <strong>Vocal</strong> Arts <strong>Competition</strong> hosted by the National<br />

Association of Negro Musicians in its centennial celebration and is also a<br />

Metropolitan Opera Eastern Region award winner. He is currently serving as<br />

Bass in Residence with the Portland Opera Association, for the 2020-<strong>2021</strong><br />

season.


About the Artists<br />

BLAKE DENSON, Baritone<br />

Hometown: Paducah, KY<br />

This past year Mr. Denson was named a Grand Finalist<br />

winner of the 2020 Metropolitan Opera National Council<br />

Auditions. Currently, Mr. Denson is a studio artist at<br />

Houston Grand Opera. Recently Mr. Denson has been a<br />

finalist and winner in the Opera Mississippi <strong>Competition</strong>,<br />

SAS Performance <strong>Competition</strong>, NOA <strong>Vocal</strong> <strong>Competition</strong>, and Pasadena <strong>Vocal</strong><br />

<strong>Competition</strong>. Mr. Denson is an Alumnus of Rice University and the University of<br />

Kentucky.<br />

VÉRONIQUE FILLOUX, Soprano<br />

Hometown: Redwood City, CA<br />

French-American soprano Véronique Filloux is a current<br />

Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist, where she sings Despina in<br />

Così fan tutti, Chan in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird, and the title<br />

role in Semele. This summer she sings L’Amour and covers La<br />

Folie in Platée with Des Moines Metro Opera. Recent roles<br />

include Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, the title role in La damoiselle élue with Central<br />

City Opera, covers Doodle in The Scarlet Ibis and Brigitta in Iolanta with Chicago<br />

Opera Theatre, and Tigrane in Radamisto with Opera Lafayette. Véronique is a<br />

MONC Pittsburgh District Winner, Orpheus <strong>Competition</strong> prize winner, Central<br />

City Young Artist Award winner, and Musicians Club of Women prize winner.<br />

SHANNON KEEGAN, Mezzo-Soprano<br />

Hometown: Naperville, IL<br />

Shannon Keegan is a multifaceted cross-over artist<br />

dedicated to encouraging an artistic culture of curiosity,<br />

boldness, and sincerity. In <strong>2021</strong>, Ms. Keegan will join<br />

Broadway International’s The Sound of Music for a<br />

yearlong tour of Asia. In 2020, Ms. Keegan was invited<br />

to join the Santa Fe Opera as a young artist but the season was canceled. In<br />

2019, Ms. Keegan joined Houston Grand Opera’s YAVA and Des Moines Metro<br />

Opera as a young artist. In her free time, Ms. Keegan is a voracious bibliophile,<br />

writer, and equestrian. She is currently based in Illinois with her Siamese cat<br />

and several cast-iron pans.


About the Artists<br />

RAVEN MCMILLON, Soprano<br />

Hometown: Baltimore, MD<br />

As a studio artist at the Houston Grand Opera, Raven can<br />

be seen in the 2020-<strong>2021</strong> HGO Digital season as Rona<br />

Richards in The Impresario, Peter in The Making of The Snowy<br />

Day documentary, and Gretel in Hansel and Gretel. Ms.<br />

McMillon also performed as a soloist in the Giving<br />

Voice concert as well as the HGO Studio Recitals. She will return to Houston<br />

Grand Opera as a second year studio artist for their <strong>2021</strong>-2022 season. Raven<br />

received her MM <strong>Vocal</strong> Performance at the University of Cincinnati-College<br />

Conservatory of Music and her BFA in <strong>Vocal</strong> Performance at Carnegie Mellon<br />

University.<br />

JOHN KUN PARK, Tenor<br />

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA<br />

Korean-American tenor, John Kun Park was invited to<br />

perform in <strong>2021</strong> with the Palm Springs Opera Guild for a<br />

Patron’s event and will be an Apprentice Artist with Des<br />

Moines Metro Opera for their Summer Season. He also<br />

had the privilege of competing as a semi-finalist in the<br />

Cardiff singer of the World <strong>Competition</strong>. John has appeared nationally with<br />

companies such as Sarasota Opera, Central City Opera, Des Moines Metro<br />

Opera, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, West Bay Opera, and Long Beach Opera.<br />

ELENA VILLALÓN, Soprano<br />

Hometown: Austin, TX<br />

Elena Villalón was a Grand Finals winner of the 2019<br />

Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and a<br />

current Studio Artist at Houston Grand Opera. She is a<br />

recent graduate of the Cincinnati College – Conservatory of<br />

Music, has been a young artist at Opera Theatre of Saint<br />

Louis, Tanglewood Music Center, and was scheduled to make her debut at<br />

Santa Fe Opera before COVID-19.


Coming Soon<br />

The Annapolis Opera is very excited to announce the production of our<br />

first filmed opera, Acis and Galatea. This unique program is being<br />

presented in partnership with the TriCities Opera Company and this<br />

new production will be coming to you soon - so stay tuned!<br />

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS<br />

The Annapolis Opera acknowledges the loss of many of our patrons,<br />

community members and supporters during this difficult time. These<br />

are but a few that have had an impact on our community, our families,<br />

and our organization, and we remember them here.<br />

Judy Bender - Beloved by all, an educator and children's advocate. Wife<br />

of Melvin Bender, Annapolis Opera Trustee.<br />

Patricia Edwards - Community builder and ambassador for all the arts in<br />

Annapolis. Her enthusiasm was infectious.<br />

Nancie Kennedy - Advisory Trustee, maven of the arts, and a leader in<br />

arts education. Her opera lectures were always a sell out!<br />

Thea & Howard Pinsky - Community investors, benefactors to many<br />

Annapolis organizations, and business owners that gave back.


Annapolis Opera Donor List<br />

The Annapolis Opera gratefully acknowledges<br />

our members and supporters.<br />

Included are gifts that would have been acknowledged last<br />

season if not for the pandemic closure in March 2020.<br />

January 1, 2020 – March 15, <strong>2021</strong><br />

THE RUBY SOCIETY ($30,000 PLUS OVER 3 YEARS)<br />

James and Sylvia Earl, The Helena Foundation<br />

Norman and Doris Fisher Foundation<br />

Nancie R. Kennedy<br />

David and Carol Stern<br />

IMPRESARIO CIRCLE ($10,000 PLUS) DIVA CIRCLE ($5,000–$9,999)<br />

Arts Council of Anne Arundel County<br />

Maryland State Arts Council<br />

Chaney Enterprises Foundation<br />

BRAVO CIRCLE ($2,500–$4,999)<br />

CovingtonAlsina<br />

Thomas J. DeKornfeld & Nina Fisher<br />

Susan Goldberg<br />

Joyce Pratt & Jeffrey K. Harris<br />

M&T Charitable Fund<br />

Leah and Norman Solat<br />

Robert and Lorraine vom Saal<br />

Baum Jackson Investment Group<br />

Melvin and Judith Bender<br />

Murray & Teddy Blank<br />

Paula H. Tarzian Ciferni<br />

Chesapeake Think Tank<br />

Fidelity Investments<br />

Richard & Cheryl Hack<br />

Richard & Lisa Hillman<br />

George & Madeleine Hughes<br />

Patrick M. Lee<br />

John J. Leidy Foundation, Inc.<br />

Michael and Melanie Teems<br />

COMPOSER CIRCLE ($1,000–$2,499)<br />

Paula Abernethy<br />

Barbara Bohl-Watkins & Margaret Bohl<br />

Mark & Mary Doran Brown<br />

Joy Chambers & Peter Bungay<br />

Brad Clark<br />

Georgianne Clark<br />

Joseph & Elizabeth Coelho<br />

Georgianna Crosby<br />

Edward & Marlyn Crump<br />

Kathryn Dahl<br />

Gladys & Michael Datch<br />

Ann Tran & Mark Davis<br />

Donna F. Durkan<br />

Patricia Edwards<br />

The Edwards Family<br />

Fiduciary Trust International<br />

Lee Finney<br />

Anna E. Greenberg<br />

Jill Kidwell<br />

Craig & Rebcca Kier<br />

Richard W. Krimm<br />

Michael & Katherine Lehr<br />

Rosalie E. Lijinsky<br />

Maryland Capital Management


COMPOSER CIRCLE (Continued)<br />

James & Elizabeth Morley<br />

Joyce A. Olin & Chris Nelson<br />

Andrew & Stephanie Noel<br />

Stephen & Melissa Osmond<br />

Ronald J. Gretz & Braxton Peters<br />

Howard & Thea Pinskey<br />

Lester & Colleen Prosser<br />

RBC Capital Markets, LLC<br />

ARIA CIRCLE ($500-$999)<br />

Rev. Dr. Carletta Allen<br />

Calvin & Betty Austin<br />

Bryan & Elizabeth Barrett<br />

Joel & Mary Bergsman<br />

Charles Berliner<br />

Campion Hruby Landscapes<br />

James Cheevers<br />

Maria Colucciello<br />

Combs Custom Carpentry<br />

Kathy & William Clatanoff<br />

Thomas J. DeKornfeld, Sr.<br />

Robert & Lois DeMoyer<br />

ORCHESTRA CIRCLE ($250-$499)<br />

Herbert & Sally Abeles<br />

Philip & Susan Allen<br />

Calvin & Betty Austin<br />

Cynthia Wells & Bernard<br />

Bradpiece<br />

Bravo Brio Restaurant Group<br />

Enser & Marguerite Cole<br />

Faith Goldstien & Jesse Cunitz<br />

Henry & Silvia Driver<br />

Charles & Cindy Drucker<br />

Pamela T. Duncan<br />

CHORUS CIRCLE ($100-$249)<br />

Todd Duncan<br />

Robert Duckworth<br />

Richard & Carole Falk<br />

Stephen E. Faust<br />

Grande Yachts<br />

Collot Guerard<br />

Robert & Susan Hecht<br />

Duncan Kennedy<br />

Lydia N. Morrow<br />

Linda Orff<br />

Joel Otto<br />

Rocco & Karen Pangallo<br />

Gayle Filo<br />

Patricia A. Frese<br />

Charles & Julie Grudzinskas<br />

Mary HIltabidle<br />

Ben & Margaret Hutchinson<br />

Robert & Shelley Katz<br />

Michael J. Kurtz<br />

Robert & Dori Libson<br />

Mark and Nancy Lindley<br />

Beverly Nash<br />

Cary Melnyck & Tim McDonough<br />

Edward & Shannon Sausville<br />

Chris & Kathy Swekel<br />

Matthew & Kemba Eneas Walden<br />

Margaret Hiltabidle Wilson<br />

Jean M. Zajac<br />

William Tham & Susan Zimmerman<br />

Marguerite Pelissier<br />

Nicholas Petrelli<br />

Christopher & Kathleen Potter<br />

Felix C. Rosario<br />

Randolph Rice<br />

Christopher & Anita Rizek<br />

Julie Schuelke<br />

Irwin & Maxine Silber<br />

Sims & Campbell Estates & Trusts<br />

Stephan & Tamara Tymkiw<br />

Carl & Katherine Wick<br />

Roslyn Zimmerman<br />

Jean Opilla<br />

Harold & Margie Packman<br />

Edgar & Jeanne Paglee<br />

Edgar H. Parker<br />

Howard & Gloria Pressman<br />

William B. Ray<br />

Glen & Janis Rotner<br />

Francine Tolson<br />

Christina Wilson<br />

John & Carol Wisthoff<br />

John & Linda Allen<br />

Karen & Fettah Anadol<br />

Robert & Kathleen Arias<br />

Lawrence & Gisela Berns<br />

Nicholas & Janet Berry<br />

Carolyn Bialousz<br />

Patsy Blackshear<br />

David Bliden<br />

Marna Bornick<br />

George & Ann Brown<br />

Kim Burke<br />

Florence Calvert<br />

Cindy Carlton<br />

Patricia Caudell<br />

Helen L. Chin<br />

Georgianne Clark<br />

Prudence Clendenning<br />

Tara B. Clifford<br />

Clark Conkling<br />

Ted & Pat Connell<br />

Stanley & Eileen Cornett<br />

Robert & Denise Daly<br />

Timothy R. Dangel<br />

Norman & Rosemary Dawley<br />

Donald W. DeGeorge<br />

Donald W. Deibert<br />

Charles & Edith Dolberg<br />

Diana L. Elson<br />

Janice Evans<br />

Dennis & Kathleen Faleris<br />

Sidsel E. Fox<br />

Stephen & Vivian Gauss<br />

Susan & Noel Giesecke<br />

Vito & Eileen Giardina<br />

Rick & Kathy Gibb<br />

Ann Glenn


CHORUS CIRCLE (Continued)<br />

Amir & Jody Goldsmith<br />

Neil Greenberger<br />

Dieter & Gisela Grotheer<br />

David & Valerie Gutterson<br />

Mary Thanh Hai<br />

Michael Halbig<br />

Pamela Hansmire<br />

Alicia Hardisky<br />

Kena Herod<br />

Clarence & Patricia Harris<br />

Donald & Eleanor Harris<br />

Robert & Diane Heaney<br />

Barbara Hoffstein<br />

David & Eleanor Huggins<br />

Kate Jackman<br />

Elizabeth Janthey<br />

Allan & Claire Jensen<br />

John & Elizabeth Knupp<br />

Margaret Balacki Leffler<br />

Nancy Lisbon<br />

Bill & Rose Lovelace<br />

Joseph J. Maggio<br />

Robert Maloney<br />

Sandra L. Makauskas<br />

Nadja Maril<br />

Jennifer L. Marshall<br />

David & Judy Mauriello<br />

John & Joan MoffatDennis<br />

Monk<br />

Colleen Moore<br />

Edwin G. Moses<br />

Jill Moton<br />

Paul & Ruby Naas<br />

Joe & Julie Natoli<br />

Virginia Naughton<br />

Thomas & Patricia Nees<br />

Lee & Vivian Ottenburg<br />

Theodore & Evangeline Pedas<br />

Alexander Ray<br />

Philip S. Reynolds<br />

Carol Richards<br />

Candace Ridgway<br />

Lorraine N. Ross<br />

Shelley Rubin<br />

Stanley & Suan Ryder<br />

Robert & Sibylle Sampson<br />

Everett & Barbara Santos<br />

William & Constance Scott<br />

Paul Shells<br />

Nadine Sielecki<br />

Charles & Mary Sjoquist<br />

Edgar Smith<br />

SUPERNUMERARY CIRCLE (Up to $99)<br />

Gene & Mary SmithArt &<br />

Angela Smookler<br />

Nancy Steere<br />

Anne K. Stratton<br />

Tom Strikwerda<br />

Al & Caroly Strunk<br />

Jan Talor<br />

Judith Templeton<br />

Corey & Jared Tendler<br />

Anthony & Kathleen van Hover<br />

Howard & Mary Vickery<br />

James Wagman<br />

Matthew & Kemba Walden<br />

Loretta Walz<br />

Martin & Barbara Wasserman<br />

Freida O. Weise<br />

Donna Welensky<br />

Charles Wheeler<br />

Jill Whitall<br />

Francis & Joanna White<br />

James & Iris Williams<br />

Edward & Margaret Wisenbaler<br />

Francis & Maureen Wright<br />

Timothy Yarbrough<br />

Delores Ziegler<br />

Nancy O. Zimmerman<br />

Stephanie Abrmason<br />

Mary Ann Bailey<br />

Dorothy L. Bartolotta<br />

Jaclyn Bindus<br />

Mary Beth Blessing<br />

Shirley M. Bolton<br />

Jill Booth<br />

Howard & Patricia Brooks<br />

Randolph & Barbara Bruns<br />

Gordon & Jane Cash<br />

Alice G. Chambers<br />

Richard & Nina Ciferni<br />

Mark & Marcia Clasen<br />

Tara B. Clifford<br />

Ken & Deborah Coons<br />

Mary Crook<br />

Judith Cummings<br />

Caryl P. Curry<br />

Barbara Downey<br />

Rose Dziedzic<br />

Terry & Colleen Eberhardt<br />

Angela W. Eggleston-Howard<br />

Kimberly Eleki<br />

Karen Elliott<br />

Darius Elmore<br />

Dave & Janet Ewing<br />

Rick & Deborah Estabrook<br />

Elena Falls<br />

Alexandra M. Fotos<br />

Ed Frost<br />

Thomas Garton<br />

Gale Gillespie<br />

Ann Glass<br />

Leonard & Charlene Gringlas<br />

Joni Guhne<br />

JodyHarrington<br />

Frank & Norma Hetrick<br />

Robert & Rita Horner<br />

Thomas & Laurie Jarboe<br />

Jenny Jefferson<br />

Brian Lees<br />

Edward Johnson<br />

Dorline Koplin<br />

Brian Lees<br />

Lauren Leigh<br />

Cecil & Ingrid Lemon<br />

Melissa Mackey<br />

Peter & Manelle Martino<br />

Charles Mauro<br />

Lois A. McGovern<br />

Chatry & Yolanda Perry<br />

Samuel & Ruth Rondberg<br />

William & Juliana Rottkamp<br />

Joan Ruhl<br />

Joan Scott<br />

Janice Sheppard<br />

Lynette M. SongyElva Thompson<br />

Frederick & Barbara Tower<br />

MiAnn Tran<br />

Herman & Joan Urbach<br />

Richard Welch<br />

Cynthia Wells<br />

Shane Yanagisawa

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