Meet the Artists: Patience chorus members

We've said it before, but it bears repeating. The Opera Omaha chorus members are the reason that our productions have a true "big opera" feeling, sound, and appearance. We think that they are the most talented and professional group of part-time professional singers on the planet. In short, we can't do what we do without them.

This blog article introduces you to four of our chorus members for the Monday, July 23 performance of selections from Patience. We are delighted to present chorus members, Brandon Shostak, Megan McGuire, Allison Harvey, and Brett Epperson. Each of them was asked to provide a Twitter-ready 140 character or fewer biography, their favorite musician or music group, and a bit about their first opera experience. The results are below. Enjoy!

Brandon Shostak

Twitter-ready bio: Le Mars IA native, Morningside grad, private voice and fitness coach. Performed at The Rose and Opera Omaha. Sings Elvis.

Favorite musician: Frank Sinatra/Brian Setzer Orchestra

First opera: Turandot; I was in college and at first I didn’t know how to handle it, but by the 2^nd act I really enjoyed it!

Megan McGuire

Megan is featured in the role of "Jane" in Patience.

Twitter-ready bio: Performed in 48 states as a character actress in musical theatre and opera. Does radio voiceovers. Patience is 3rd show with Opera Omaha.

Favorite musician: My favorite musical group changes all the time, but currently I'm listening to the Whitefield Bros. quite a bit. 

First opera: I believe the first Opera I ever heard or saw was Eugene Onegin, at Opera Omaha. Although I was a singer, I had not yet considered Opera - I was there because it was sung in Russian, and I was studying that language at the time. I fell in love and have been a sincere Opera buff ever since. I might have been fourteen?

Allison Harvey

Twitter-ready bio: Recent graduate from UNL and is currently on the move to Chicago. Appeared in UNL productions including Le Nozze di Figaro and Our Town.

Favorite musician: Guster

First opera: The first time Allison heard opera was during high school voice lessons. She was completely freaked when she found out she would have to sing in Italian! 

Brett Epperson

Twitter-ready bio: Graduate of Luther College and will be teaching vocal music at Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, IA this fall.

Favorite musician: John Mayer

First opera: I saw La Boheme at the University of Nebraska when I was a senior in high school (17 years old). I really enjoyed parts of the music (Quando m'en vo), but thought the whole show was much too long!

Less than a week until Patience!

Less than one week from today, professional singers will be performing selections from Gilbert & Sullivan's operetta, PATIENCE, right here in the Opera Omaha offices. We have a wonderful rehearsal hall in our office space. Join us to enjoy a night of magnificent singing and our new space. Check us out!

Join us for PATIENCE on Monday, July 23 at the Opera Omaha office, 1850 Farnam Street, Omaha. Light hors d'oeuvres and wine are included in the ticket price of only $20 for the general public and $15 for Opera Omaha or Joslyn Castle members. Beverage service begins at 6:00pm with show time at 6:30pm. The entrance to the building is on 19th street between Farnam and Douglas Streets with free parking available in the Wells Fargo Employee lot just west of 20th and Farnam Streets. Get your tickets today by calling 402-595-2199, online, or with cash or check at the door.  

Meet the Artist: Amanda DeBoer Bartlett, Soprano

Our Meet the Artist series returns with a post about the talented and lovely soprano, Amanda DeBoer Bartlett. Opera Omaha welcomes Ms. DeBoer as "Patience", the title character in our July 23 presentation of selections from Gilbert & Sullivan's operetta. The young singer is a native of Omaha and has performed in locations across the United States and Mexico. She uses her formidable instrument to showcase contemporary composers with the Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, Ensemble dal niente, and the Color Field Ensemble.

Wynne Delacoma with the Chicago Classical Review had this to say about one performance: "Amanda DeBoer deployed her expressive voice like a painter with an inexhaustible palette." She is sure to bring her best voice to her home town of Omaha. We look forward to working with Ms. DeBoer and to hearing her vocal interpretation of Patience.

Join us for PATIENCE on Monday, July 23 at the Opera Omaha office, 1850 Farnam Street, Omaha. Light hors d'oeuvres and wine are included in the ticket price of only $20 for the general public and $15 for Opera Omaha or Joslyn Castle members. Beverage service begins at 6:00pm with show time at 6:30pm. The entrance to the building is on 19th street between Farnam and Douglas Streets with free parking available in the Wells Fargo Employee lot just west of 20th and Farnam Streets. Get your tickets today by calling 402-595-2199, online, or with cash or check at the door.  

For more information about Amanda DeBoer Bartlett, please see her official biography posted below the photo. Or, please visit her website or any of the sites linked above. Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of Amanda DeBoer Bartlett, http://www.amandadeboer.com/look.html

Official biography of Ms. DeBoer, available on her website at: Amanda DeBoer Bartlett

"DeBoer…was an unexpected tour de force" says Jan Jezioro of Buffalo's Artvoice. Soprano Amanda DeBoer has been performing as a soloist and ensemble member with Ensemble dal niente, Color Field Ensemble, and Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble on national and international stages. Recent and upcoming performances include Nichols Concert Hall (Chicago), Elastic Arts Foundation (Chicago), The Gershwin Hotel (New York), the City Auditorium of Maccagno (Italy), Overture Center for the Arts (Madison), Manhattan School of Music (New York), Eastman School of Music (Rochester), and The Cla-zel Theatre (Bowling Green).

As a musical innovator and contemporary music specialist, Ms. DeBoer has commissioned dozens of works from both emerging and established composers, and has collaborated with composers, poets, and directors to develop large-scale projects including operas, musicals, dance and video collaborations, and large chamber works. She is known for her adventurous performances and fearless approach to challenging repertoire.

Ms. DeBoer received a Bachelor of Music from Depaul University, where she was fortunate to study with Christopher Lorimer and Harry Silverstein, a Master of Music from the University at Buffalo where she worked extensively with soprano Tony Arnold, and is currently completing a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Bowling Green State University, where she studied with Dr. Jane Schoonmaker Rodgers and was advised by Professor Ronald C. Scherer, PhD.

Ms. DeBoer’s first solo album will be released Fall of 2012.

Auditions are coming!

Ballet Nebraska “Nutcracker” & Opera Omaha Youth Auditions

Choral auditions will be held for Ballet Nebraska’s December production of “The Nutcracker” in conjunction with Opera Omaha Youth Auditions on Sunday, August 5, 2012 between 2:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. at Motion 41 Dance, 2819 S. 125^th Avenue, Suite 256 (near 125^th & Center). These auditions are open to girls ages 12-18 and must be scheduled in advance. 

Ballet Nebraska will present “The Nutcracker” on November 30, 2012 at the IWCC Arts Center and on December 2, 2012 at the Omaha Music Hall. Ballet Nebraska is looking for 16 young girls to sing as the “Northwind Chorus” during the Land of Snow scene in the production. 

J. Gawf, Opera Omaha’s Resident Music Director, will help assemble the chorus for Ballet Nebraska. 

Audition requirements:

Girls ages 12-18

One song (w/sheet music for the accompanist) to be performed with piano accompaniment. An accompanist will be provided.

 

Auditions space is limited and scheduled on first come basis.

Must be available for all rehearsals/performances Oct. 6, Nov. 12, 16, 19, 24 & Nov. 27 - Dec. 2. 

Auditions must be requested through e-mail. E-mail Cammy Watkins, cwatkins@operaomaha.org, to schedule an audition. 

Photo courtesy of Ballet Nebraska