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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