Past Events

Thomson/Stein – Four Saints in Three Acts

Oakland Opera Theater’s first annual December production of the one-act opera by Virgil Thomson and Gertrude Stein, fellow expatriates in 1920’s Paris.
Directed by Tom Dean. Musical Direction by Deirdre McClure. (6 performances)

Lorca – Así Que Pasen Cinco Años

Federico Garcia Lorca’s play set to music by Thomas S. Dean and David Barrows, combining opera with elements of jazz and traditional Spanish melodies. Musical direction by Deirdre McClure. (12 performances)

The Music Lesson

Music Director/Pianist for Tammy Ryan’s award-winning drama about two Bosnian music teachers who escape Sarajevo for a new life in America.  Directed by Amy Glazer.  With Wieslav Pogorzelski, violin.  (34 performances)

Graduate Theological Union

Music for the Installation of The Rev. Dr. Arthur G. Holder as Dean of the GTU.  Faure Elegy with Dr. Rebecca Parker, cello.

Bizet – Carmen

Opera Institute of California production of Carmen.
Directed by Rose Senerchia-Kingsley and Charles Riecker.
(2 performances)

Thomson/Stein – Four Saints in Three Acts

Oakland Opera Theater’s second annual December production of the one-act opera by Virgil Thomson and Gertrude Stein, fellow expatriates in 1920’s Paris.
Directed by Tom Dean. Musical Direction by Deirdre McClure. (6 performances)

Rob Bailis – Clarinet Concert

“With and Without You”, a program of music on themes of partnership.
Opening concert of the Trinity Chamber Concerts 29th season.
Brahms Sonata in E flat, Op. 120, No. 2
Weber Grand Duo Concertant, Op. 49

Sonia Gariaeff – Winners’ Concert

Concert with Sonia Gariaeff, winner of the grand prize in the Carmel Music Society 2003 Voice Competition.
Mozart – “Non so piu” from Le Nozze de Figaro
Mozart – “Parto, parto” from La Clemenza di Tito
Debussy – Trois chansons de Bilitis
Schoenberg – “Gigerlette” and “Seit ich so viele Weiber sah” from Cabaret Songs

Mascagni – Cavalleria Rusticana

Opera Institute of California production of Cavalleria Rusticana followed by opera arias performed by the cast.
Co-directed by Rose Kinglsey and Charles Riecker. (2 performances)

Gertrude Stein Collaborative Works

Sunset Center for the Arts – Grand Opening

First performance in the new Sunset Center Hall, with mezzo-soprano Sonia Gariaeff, winner of the Carmel Music Society 2003 Voice Competition

Me and My Girl

Marin Theatre Company/Allegro Theatre Company co-production of the Tony award winning musical comedy. Directed by Lee Sankowich. Musical direction by David Lohman. (35 performances)

CD Release Concert

“In Love with the Violin” concert, with Donna Lerew, violin, and Donna Davis, narrator.
Favorites from four concert programs: The Story of the Violin, Music from Vienna, Music from the Movies, The Gypsy Violin.
Celebrating the release of the CD “The Story of the Violin”.

University Chamber Chorus

University Chamber Chorus concert presented by the UC Berkeley Department of Music.
Meredith Monk Book of Days.
Kelly Crandell, conductor.

Winter Choral Concert

Performances by the five choirs of the Mill Valley Middle School. Jessica Stewart, Director.

Philip Glass – Akhnaten

Oakland Opera Theater production of the three-act opera Akhnaten by Philip Glass was directed by Ellen Sebastian Chang, with musical direction by Deirdre McClure. Chosen as one of the San Francisco Chronicle’s Top 10 Classical Music Events of 2004, critic Joshua Kosman wrote, “Operating on a tiny scale with a boatload of resourceful ambition and musical-theatrical savvy, this small company made Philip Glass’ 1984 Egyptian pageantry shine and touch the heart.” (12 performances – presented again in September 2004)

Cantare tra gl’anni

Operatic duets (and solo arias) with soprano Tara Generalovich and mezzo-soprano Jennifer Boesing.
Hellman Hall.

Musical Theater Workshops

Stravinsky – The Rake’s Progress

Oakland Opera Theater production of Stravinsky’s opera to a libretto by W.H. Auden and Chester Kallman. Updated from 18th century London to 1970’s Manhattan, with choreography by Corey Action. (12 performances)

Julia Kierstine Vocal Recital

Menotti – The Consul

North Bay Opera production of the Pulitzer Prize winning opera The Consul.
John Kendall Bailey, conductor. (5 performances)

Sacred and Profane

White Darkness

Oakland Opera Theater mash-up production combining music and plot elements from Prokofiev’s opera The Fiery Angel, figures from voodoo religion, Haitian rhythms, and the horrific events of 1978 San Francisco – Dan White and Jim Jones. Score by Tom Dean. Libretto by Tom Dean and Lori Zook. Stage direction and choreography by Michael Mohammed. Music direction by Deirdre McClure. (8 performances)

Philip Glass – La Belle et la Bête

Oakland Opera Theater fully-staged production of the Philip Glass opera, originally composed as a soundtrack to Jean Cocteau’s film of the same name. Stage direction by Tom Dean. Musical direction by Deirdre McClure. Circus Arts choreography by Jodi Power. Performances began in a sidewalk “French cafe” outside the theater and moved inside to the lair of the Beast as scene five began. (12 performances)

Brundibar and Comedy on the Bridge

Rehearsal pianist for Berkeley Rep’s productions of Martinu’s Comedy on the Bridge and Hans Krasa’s Brundibar.
Libretti adapted by Tony Kushner.
Production design by Maurice Sendak with Kris Stone.
Directed by Tony Taccone.
Valerie Gebert, Music Director/Conductor.

Peace through Song

Oakland Opera Theater concert production exploring anti-war compositions of the 20th century. Featuring Johnny Johnson, a rarely performed opera by Kurt Weill and Paul Green. With songs about WWI and WWII by Kurt Weill, Mary Watkins, John Jacob Niles, Hans Eisler, Pesach Kaplan, and selections from The Good Soldier Schweik, an anti-WWI opera by Robert Kurka. Stage direction by Tom Dean. Musical direction by Deirdre McClure. Chorus preparation by Susan Swerdlow.
Ensemble: Shain Carrasco on cello, banjo, guitar; Cornelius Boots on clarinet and bass clarinet; Chris Grady on trumpet; John Hanes percussion; and Skye Atman, keyboard. (3 performances)

Two Comedies by Mozart

Shoebox Opera production of The Impresario and Abduction from the Seraglio, two comic operas by Mozart.
With Martin Bell, Cheryl Keller, Matt Lecar, J. Raymond Meyers, Richard Mix, Kathryn Offer, Krista Wigle, and Stuart Offer as the Narrator.
McLean Chapel

Mozart – The Magic Flute

Concert version in English in honor of Mozart’s 250th Birthday. A benefit for Golden Independent School.
Foss Auditorium.

Broadway Revue

Youth Musical Theater Company Winter 2006 student Workshop production. (2 performances)

Opera Fresca Soiree

Art Show

2006 Student Art Show and Spring Open House.
Art viewing music with Donna Lerew, violin.

Wounded Warriors Benefit Concert

A benefit concert with soprano Jessica Julin and baritone John Dooley in support of the Wounded Warriors Fund and the Sentinels of Freedom.

The Grand Seducers: Giovanni Meets Xi-men Qing

An operatic creation combining Mozart’s Don Giovanni with classic Chinese opera characters.
Libretto by Cao Lusheng. Music by Gang Situ.
Directed by Isabel Milenski. Conducted by Brian Alhadeff.
With singers Eugene Brancoveanu, Eugene Chan, Richard Galyon, Thomas Glenn, Jennifer Boesing, Sabrina Hou, Heidi Moss, Larry Zhang.
With instrumentalists Michel Taddei, double bass; Hong Wang, erhu, zhonghu, drum; Youxiang Chen, lead percussion, and Lai Chu So, Wing Hui, percussion. (3 performances)

Anthony Davis – The Life and Times of Malcolm X

Oakland Opera Theater’s acclaimed revival of the opera about Malcolm X was named one of the top ten musical events of 2006 in the Bay Area. Joshua Kosman wrote in the SF Chronicle, “Anthony Davis’ 1986 biographical opera has probably never seemed as at home as it did in the Oakland Opera Theater’s scrappy, brilliant, storefront production, with the superb Joseph Wright in the title role.”
Production Director, Martin Bell. Stage direction by Michael Mohammed. Musical direction by Deirdre McClure. Jim Davis, chorus master. (6 performances)

All-Mozart Concert

Vocal concert of arias from Mozart operas:
Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute, The Marriage of Figaro, Cosi fan tutte, The Abduction from the Seraglio, Ascanio in Alba

Godspell

Musical Director for Youth Musical Theater Company production of the musical Godspell.
Directed by Jennifer Boesing. Choreography by Pam Crane.
With John Hanes on drums and Simon Hanes on electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, and bass. (3 performances)

NATS Student Recital

National Association of Teachers of Singing student recital.  Fireside Room.

Ayelet Cohen – Vocal Recital

Opera and classical music with soprano Ayelet Cohen, presented by the JCC Concerts Series.

Overstimulated Opera

An afternoon of music celebrating caffeine and sugar.
Shoebox Opera production of The Coffee Cantata by J.S. Bach and La Serva Padrona by G. Pergolesi.
Co-sponsored by Tempo, a volunteer group supporting the Oakland East Bay Symphony.

Philip Glass – Les Enfants Terribles

Oakland Opera Theater’s fully-staged production of the Philip Glass opera with libretto by Jean Cocteau, based on his 1929 novel (and later play and film). Stage direction by Tom Dean. Deirdre McClure, conductor. Choreography by Danny Nguyen. Scored for 3 grand pianos and featuring Skye Atman on piano one, Paul Caccamo on piano two, and Daniel Lockert and Kymry Esainko sharing responsibility for piano three. (11 performances)

By George, It’s War!

Dale Polissar’s dynamite anti-Bush Musical Show. Choreographed and co-directed by Doree Clark.

Soul Music

Mezzo-soprano Lauren Carley in a solo vocal recital featuring the premier of Shtetl Songs by Ofer Ben-Amots and songs by Leslie Adams, Charles Lloyd Jr., Erik Jekabson, Paul Suits, Noel Da Costa, William Grant Still, Mark Fax, Florence B. Price, Undine Moore.
With Gail Alcock, cello and Sandi Poindexter, violin.

Tchaikovsky – Nutcracker

Celesta in the Fremont Symphony’s complete Nutcracker ballet. David Sloss, conductor. (5 performances)
Gary Soren Smith Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.

Les Choristes

Holiday concert by members of Les Choristes, a choral apprenticeship program specializing in sacred music, directed by Steven Olbash.

Holiday Recital

A holiday recital by the vocal students of Donna Olson.

Great Moments in American History Set to Music

A New Opera Workshop presentation by Oakland Opera Theater. Excerpts from two new operas in progress:
The Panthers by Clark Suprynowicz and Lynne Morrow, and Dark River, events in the life of civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, by Mary Watkins. Production Director, Martin Bell. Stage Director, Michael Mohammed. Music Director, Deirdre McClure. (2 performances)

Britten – Turn of the Screw

Oakland Opera Theater production of Benjamin Britten’s 1954 opera with libretto by Myfanwy Piper based on the Henry James novella. The double cast children’s roles featured Nick Kempen and Brooks Fisher as Miles, and Madelaine Matej and Kelty Morash as Flora. Aerial trapeze stunts by the Starlings Trapeze Duo. Stage direction by Tom Dean. Musical direction by Deirdre McClure. Scored for 13-piece chamber ensemble. (7 performances)

East Bay Opera League

Scholarship gala, with soprano Joanne Um

Royal Holiday

College Park High School Choirs holiday concert.  Danelle Johnson, conductor.

GSE Winter Concert

Graduate School of Education Chorus concert and holiday singalong.  Frank Worrell, Director.

Lauren Carley vocal recital

A program of Christmas songs and arias with mezzo-soprano Lauren Carley.

Il Viaggio a Berkeley

Shoebox Opera adaptation of Rossini’s party piece for the coronation of Charles X of France, Il Viaggio a Reims

Lauren Carley vocal recital

Gershwin, Kurt Weill, Leslie Adams, Florence Price, and selections from John Carter’s Cantata, with mezzo-soprano Lauren Carley.

Violin and Voice

East Bay Music Foundation solo evaluations for students of violin and voice.

Art Songs and Spirituals

Third Sunday Series recital series: art songs and spirituals commemorating Black History Month. With mezzo-soprano Lauren Carley and Kelly Takunda Orphan, drum.
John Carter Cantata, selections from Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert, and art songs by William Grant Still and others.

Pocket Broadway

A works-in-progress presentation by Youth Musical Theater Company of Berkeley Winter 2008 workshop participants. Co-directed by Jennifer Boesing and Pam Crane. (4 performances)

Bartok – Bluebeard’s Castle

Concert performance of Bartok’s one-act modernist opera with soprano Amyrose McCue Gill and bass Richard Mix. Conducted by John Kendall Bailey. The John Dizikes Music Event presented by Cowell College.

ReMix 8

Opera Frontier Song and Dance Troupe production of scenes from Carmen, Rigoletto, Don Giovanni, Lucia di Lammermoor, Herodiade, Candide. Gail Simpson, Director. John Kendall Bailey, Conductor. Sarah Bush, Choreographer.

Music from Stage and Screen

Ensemble and choral music from opera, musical theater, and the movies presented by The Douglas Morrisson Theatre Chorus. Cesar Cancino, director and conductor. With Joanne Romeo on drums/percussion and Rick Owen on bass. (3 performances)

Sara Couden recital

Songs by Strauss and arias by Rossini with mezzo-soprano Sara Couden. The Friday Morning Program of the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society.

Duke Ellington – Queenie Pie

Oakland Opera Theater’s landmark presentation of Duke Ellington’s unfinished comic opera about a Harlem beauty queen, loosely based on the life of cosmetics entrepreneur, Madame C.J. Walker. Music and story by Duke Ellington. Arranged, realized, and orchestrated by Marc Bolin. Additional libretto by Tommy Shepherd. With a fifteen-piece Big Band led by Deirdre McClure. Produced by Martin Bell. Stage direction and choreography by Michael Mohammed. (11 performances)

Santa Rosa Symphony

Celesta in Stravinsky’s The Firebird (complete 1910 ballet). Bruno Ferrandis, conductor. (3 performances)

Into the Woods

Junior version of the Sondheim/Lapine musical presented by Convent and Stuart Hall High Schools. Billy Philadelphia, music director. (3 performances)

Circus and Variety Show

Presented by The Underworld Opera Company With The Diva soprano Lisa Bolin.

Watkins – Dark River

“Talkin’ and Testifyin’: An Evening Honoring Fannie Lou Hamer, presented by the San Francisco Freedom School. Selections from Mary Watkins’ opera Dark River with soprano Helen Dillworth.

Variety Pack

Concert by the choral group Variety Pack! Lauren Carley, director.

Mozart – Marriage of Figaro

Rehearsals and continuo for Mozart’s Mariage of Figaro. Allan Pollack, conductor. (2 performances)

Music of the Americas

Choral concert by the Douglas Morrisson Theatre. Cesar Cancino, director. With Devon Hood, electric/acoustic bass and Joanne Romero, drums/percussion. (3 performances)

What They Seem

Two Mimes Productions: A Fantasy Opera for Adults and Children, inspired by fairy tales. Music by Red Bennett. Lyrics by Red Bennett and Sherry Boschert. Michael Mohammed, director. Cole Thomason-Redus, musical director. (3 performances)

Rachel Warner Vocal Recital

Arias, art song, and musical theater selections with mezzo-soprano Rachel Warner.

Stravinsky – Histoire du Soldat and Renard

Oakland Opera Theater’s double bill of musical works by Stravinsky also included a performance of his Pastorale, sung by soprano Kimarie Torre. The libretto to Histoire du Soldat was updated by Rebecca Lenkewicz and set in present-day Irag. Scored for 7 musicians with notoriously difficult parts. The comic one-act opera Renard, with libretto by Robert Craft and Stravinsky, features a rooster, a lady fox, a cat, and a goat. Choreography by Shannon Gaines. Stage direction by Tom Dean. Music direction by Deirdre McClure. (8 performances)

Sara Couden recital

Handel arias and Debussy songs with mezzo-soprano Sara Couden, at the Friday Morning Program of the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society.

Anti-Defamation League

Showcase gala of the Anti-Defamation League with soprano Ayelet Cohen.

Variety Pack concert

Choral concert by members of Variety Pack! Lauren Carley, Artistic Director.

Armienta – River of Women

Opera Cultura production of Hector Armienta’s opera River of Women. Emily Ray, conductor. (2 performances)

GSE Chorus Concert

Graduate School of Education Chorus Fall Concert and Singalong. Frank Worrell, director.

Ayelet Cohen recital

Opera arias, traditional Jewish and Israeli songs with soprano Ayelet Cohen; with Nils Bultmann, viola and Achi Ben Shalom, guitar.

House Concert

Meghan Dibble recital

Selections from Massenet’s Cendrillon and Irving Fine’s Childhood Fables for Grownups with mezzo-soprano Meghan Dibble presented by the Etude Club.

Offenbach – Tales of Hoffmann

Orchestral keyboard for Berkeley Opera production of Offenbach’s comic opera The Tales of Hoffmann. Ernest Knell, conductor. (2 performances)

Puccini – Madama Butterfly

Rehearsals, supertitles, Act Two piano performance for Pacific Repertory Opera production of Madama Butterfly. Ross Halper, stage director. Robert Ashens, conductor. (2 performances)

Musical Stages

The Douglas Morrisson Theatre Chorus in concert. Cesar Cancino, director. With Rick Owen on bass. (3 performances)

GSE Chorus Concert

Graduate School of Education Spring concert and singalong. Frank Worrell, conductor.

Jonathan Pevsner Memorial Concert

Concert series in memory of Temple Beth Israel’s cantor, with soprano Ayelet Cohen.

Star Spangled Summer

Concert of Cello and Poetry. Shostakovich Sonata, Op. 40, with Gail Alcock, cello.

Purcell – Dioclesian / Alburger – Diocletian

San Francisco Cabaret Opera production of Purcell’s 17th c. and Alburger’s 21st c. operas. Harriet March Page, director. Mark Alburger, conductor. (6 performances)

Handel – Agrippina

Oakland Opera Theater’s satirical production of Handel’s Agrippina, originally composed in 1700, here reset in the Year 2000 U.S. political arena. Score arranged for four musicians. Stage direction by Tom Dean. Musical direction by Deirdre McClure. (3 performances)

Songs of Voyage

A voice recital with baritone Axel Van Chee. Songs by Faure, Grieg, and Vaughan Williams Four Last Songs. Recital shared with soprano Katherine Howell and pianist Kristin Pankonin.

Kol Nidre 5770

The Bruch Kol Nidre with violinist Beeri Moalem. (2 services)

Verdi – Un Giorno di Regno

Shoebox Opera production of Verdi’s opera buffa. Adapted by Matt Lecar.

Watkins – Dark River

Commissioned and premiered by Oakland Opera Theater, Dark River by Bay Area composer Mary Watkins tells the story of civil rights pioneer Fannie Lou Hamer. This world premier featured soprano Raina Simons in the lead role. The cast of 22 singers portrayed 40 historical characters, as well as appearing in ensembles of sharecroppers, protestors, bystanders, Civil Rights workers, convention delegates, SNCC members, and church-goers. Gospel and jazz combine with classical in Watkins’ score, played by two keyboards with strings, winds, and percussion. Directed by Darryl V. Jones. Conducted by Deirdre McClure. (8 performances)

GSE Chorus Concert

Graduate School of Education Fall concert and singalong. Frank Worrell, conductor.

Story of the Violin

Historical review of violin music from Vivaldi to Fiddler on the Roof, with Donna Lerew, violin.

Strictly Sondheim

Master Class

Music by Sheli Nan

Pocket Broadway

Works-in-progress presentation by participants in the Youth Musical Theatre Company’s winter 2010 workshop.

Puccini – La Boheme

Virago Theatre production of La Boheme
Robert Lundy-Paine, director
Andrew Whitfield, conductor (4 performances)

Holt Memorial Scholarship

Vocal auditions for the Henry and Maria Holt Memorial Scholarship.

Copland – The Tender Land

Orchestral piano for Berkeley West Edge Opera production of Copland’s The Tender Land.
Phillip Kuttner, conductor (3 performances)

The Story of the Violin

Gateway Clubhouse: Narrated concert of music for violin and piano.
With Donna Lerew, violin

Spring chorus concert

Graduate School of Education spring concert.
Frank Worrell, conductor

Life is a Cabaret

Benefit show for Youth Musical Theater Company of Berkeley.
With Artistic Director Jennifer Boesing and young artists.

Ancora Chorus Senior Recital

Solos and ensembles with 7 graduating seniors of the Ancora Chorus, the elite treble chamber group of the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir. Bob Geary, director.

Lammermoor, Inc.

Opera Frontier production of Lammermoor, Inc., a Business Tragedy in Two Operas
(3 performances)

Concert on the Island (Alameda)

An Afternoon of Opera
House concert with soprano Eileen Meredith and tenor Ray Chavez

Contra Costa Performing Arts Society

Winners’ Concert: High School Vocal Competition.
tenor Malcolm Trimnell-Ehrlich
sopranos Jennie Walstrom, Katelan Bowden, Samantha Smith

Oakland Symphony Benefit concert

Concert with soprano Angela Moser and bass-baritone Paul Murray to benefit the Oakland East Bay Symphony MUSE program.
At Eden United Church of Christ, Hayward.

House Concert

Bizet – Carmen

Rehearsals and supertitles for Mendocino Music Festival production of Carmen.
Michael Mohammed, director. Allan Pollack, conductor.

Singer-Actor Workshops

Youth Musical Theater Company of Berkeley: Two week-long musical theatre workshops for teens

The Unsung Diva

The Unsung Diva:  The Life and Times of Sissieretta Jones
piano accompaniment for playwright and soprano Angela Dean Baham and others
at the Berkeley Repertory School of Theatre

Ayelet Cohen vocal recital

opera and art song with soprano Ayelet Cohen

Ayelet Cohen vocal recital

with soprano Ayelet Cohen at the 26th Annual Jewish Music Festival

Handel – Xerxes

Preview of selections from Berkeley Opera production.
with Sonia Gariaeff, Elspeth Franks, and others

Art Music

Music for Art Exhibit reception.
with soprano Eliza O’Malley and tenor Fred Winthrop

A Holiday Pastiche

Opera Frontier production of Hard to Handel and other seasonal numbers.
with Gail Simpson, Maria Mikheyenko, Dalyte Kodzis, Julia Hathaway

Deborah Massell vocal recital

New Year’s Day recital – art song and opera

Chamber Arts House – Works in Progress

Accompany singers/instrumentalists in monthly series.

Ceremony at Starr King

Starr King School for the Ministry ceremony honoring the service of President, Dr. Rebecca Parker
with Donna Lerew, violin, Bartok – Romanian Dances

Verdi – Falstaff

North Bay Opera production of Falstaff
Philip Kuttner, conductor (3 performances)

Once on this Island

Willows production of Once on this Island
Directed by Eric Inman. Pat Parr, Musical Director (27 performances)

Holt Memorial Scholarship

Singers’ auditions for Holt Memorial Scholarship

Master Class

Victoria Lim – Etude Club

Audition for Etude Club scholarship

Spring chorus concert

Graduate School of Education chorus
Frank Worrell, conductor

Opera Arias

with tenor Ben Bongers and soprano Elisabeth Russ

Cosmos: A Journey through the Elements

Bollywood Lakme

A performance piece of the “Flower Duet” from Lakme with singers Julia Hathaway, Dalyte Kodzis, Maria Mikheyenko, Gail Simpson, and Zachary Puran Grewal (dhol, tabla) and Ben Kunin (sarod).
Opera Frontier video shoot.

Smarts Unlimited recital

Annual recital of Smarts Unlimited voice students

Leoncavallo – Pagliacci

Verismo Opera production of Pagliacci
Curt Pajer, conductor (7 performances)

Festival Orchestra Concert

Bernstein Mambo
Copland Rodeo
Adams The Chairman Dances

We Love You, Lenny – Bernstein on Broadway

with Lauren Post, Shawnette Sulker, Pedro Rodelas, Michel Taddei
Mendocino Music Festival

Festival Orchestra Concert

Gorecki Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, 2nd movement
Ravel Daphnis and Chloe, Suite 2

Jennifer Kosharsky vocal recital

Hillside Club, Rossmoor

Chamber Arts House – Works in Progress

Monthly performance series

Pop-Up Opera

Opera Frontier brunch event

Wagner – Das Rheingold

Verismo Opera production of Das Rheingold – piano-only performance

Sara Couden and friends Vocal Recital

Contra Costa Performing Arts Society

Wagner – Das Rheingold

Verismo Opera production of the first opera in the Ring Cycle.
Michael Shahani, conductor (5 performances)

The Magic of Christmas Concert Series

Contra Costa Children’s Chorus Concert

Chamber Arts House – Works in Progress

Accompany singers/instrumentalists

Private Vocal Recital

Master Class

The Light in the Piazza

The Willows Theater, Concord, CA
30 Jan – 3 March (33 performances)
Kim Vetterli, Music Director

Fundraiser – Selections from Ragtime

Private Vocal Recital With Anne Marie Ballinger

North Bay Opera “For the Love of Opera” Concert

Fairfield Center for the Creative Arts, Fairfield, CA
Philip Kuttner, conductor

Chamber Arts House – Works in Progress

Chamber Arts House, Berkeley, CA
Accompany singers/instrumentalists

Maria Calderazzo – Senior Vocal Recital

St. Mary’s College, Moraga, CA
6:00 p.m. Chapel

Puccini – Madama Butterfly

Virago Theatre production of Madama Butterfly
Hillside Club, Berkeley, CA
Robert Lundy-Paine, director. Jerry Kuderna, conductor
5 performances. March 30 2012 – April 22 2012

The Voice of Broadway – Spring Show

The Voice of Broadway Vocal Ensemble
St. Mary’s College, Moraga, CA

Chamber Arts House – Works in Progress

Chamber Arts House, Berkeley, CA
Accompany singers/instrumentalists

Music of the Night Concerts

Graduate School of Education Chorus Spring Concert

Certificate of Merit Vocal Performances

Music at Noon Concert Series

With mezzo-soprano Donna Olson and her vocal studio.

Weill/Brecht – Happy End

Weill/Brecht – Happy End (Sunday Matinée)

Goat Hall production of Happy End by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht.
Sun 2:00 p.m. (4 performances)

Mendocino Music Festival – Private Event Soirée

Mendocino Music Festival

Annual three-week music festival in the big tent on the Mendocino Headlands, July 13-27.

Festival Orchestra Concert

Mahler Das Lied von der Erde
Allan Pollack, Conductor

Festival Orchestra Concert

Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition
Allan Pollack, Conductor

Puccini – Madama Butterfly

Verismo Opera production, Michael Shahani, conductor.  (5 performances)

Master Class

Puccini – Madama Butterfly

Piano-only performance of Verismo Opera production.

The Book of Jobs Publication

150th Anniversary Gala

Voice of Broadway vocal ensemble performance at St. Mary’s College 150th anniversary celebration.

The Book of Jobs Launch Event

Reception featuring insanely great music, awesome visuals, reading from The Book of Jobs, question and answer session about life on The Cloud, and a free McIntosh for all (pastry courtesy Sweet Adeline Bakeshop). In the Bradley Walters Auditorium of the Main Library.

Opera Brunch

Opera Frontier event at The Palace Hotel Sunday Brunch. Staged and choreographed operatic arias, duets, ensembles. Cast of 7 singers.

Opera Noir

NATS Student Recital

National Association of Teachers of Singing, SF Bay Area Chapter, annual student recital.

Winter Concert Series

With the Tapestry Ringers and Singers Ensemble.

Winter Concert Series

With the Tapestry Singers and Ringers ensemble.

Winter Concert Series

With Tapestry Singers and Ringers ensemble.

GSE Chorus Concert

Graduate School of Education Chorus concert and holiday singalong. Frank Worrell, Director.

Voice of Broadway

Winter show by the music-theater vocal ensemble of St. Mary’s College. The Soda Center.

Voice of Broadway

Winter show by the music-theater vocal ensemble of St. Mary’s College. The Soda Center.

GSE Faculty Party

Graduate School of Education chorus at the annual holiday party.

Vocal Recital

Voice students of Donna Olson in a holiday recital.

Twelfth Night Concert

With the Tapestry Singers and Ringers Ensemble

OperaWorks Auditions

San Francisco auditions for OperaWorks Summer 2013 training programs for Emerging and Advanced Artists.

Freedom: The Song of The Soul

Celebrating Swami Vivedananda’s 150th birthday in word, song, and image, with composer John Schlenck and singers Angela Moser, Kathleen Moss, Jonathan Smucker, and Paul Murray. All-day event featuring panel discussions and Q&A in the morning and music in the afternoon. Free, including complimentary luncheon with RSVP.

Book of Jobs is Book of the Month

The Book of Jobs: what Steve is doing on The Cloud is the March Book of the Month at Sweet Adeline Bake Shop. Vintage photo gallery of the geniuses, insanely great coffee, memorable pastries, autographed copies on sale.

Fremont Symphony

Annual Fremont Symphony Children’s Concerts, featuring original compositions by local school classes plus the Young Artist winner as well as examples of exciting orchestral rep.

Q&A about The Book of Jobs

Opera Night at Venezia

The last Opera Night at Caffe Venezia, which will be closing soon after 33 years in Berkeley. With tenor Ben Bongers and soprano Jillian Khuner.

Anywhere But Here

Goat Hall Productions, Season 13/Mischief and Mayhem presents Anywhere But Here: Strange Bedfellows — a program of scenes and arias by Mozart, Weill, and Menotti, all deeply spiritual inhabitants of tumultuous times, who not only move us, but move us away out of the present and into our dreams.
Two performances with piano.

Anywhere But Here

Goat Hall Productions, Season 13/Mischief and Mayhem presents Anywhere But Here: Strange Bedfellows — a program of scenes and arias by Mozart, Weill, and Menotti, all deeply spiritual inhabitants of tumultuous times, who not only move us, but move us away out of the present and into our dreams.
Two performances with piano.

Guest Author Appearance

Spring Show

Voice ensemble students at St. Mary’s College present their Spring Show: Broadway and the Classics.

Spring Concert Series

With the Tapestry Singers and Ringers – women’s vocal ensemble and handbell choir directed by Cindy Krausgrill.

Spring Concert Series

With the Tapestry Singers and Ringers – women’s vocal ensemble and handbell choir, directed by Cindy Krausgrill.

Spring Concert Series

With the Tapestry Singers and Ringers – women’s vocal ensemble and handbell choir, directed by Cindy Krausgrill.

Spring Concert Series

With the Tapestry Singers and Ringers – women’s vocal ensemble and handbell choir, directed by Cindy Krausgrill.

Mozart Requiem, KV 626

West Coast premiere of the Carl Czerny 4-hand piano arrangement of Mozart’s Requiem, with pianist Carla Bradbury and the Contra Costa Chorale. Also on the program: Haydn’s  Insanae et vanae curae and Mozart’s Ave verum corpus, KV 618.

Mozart Requiem, KV 626

West Coast premiere of the Carl Czerny 4-hand piano arrangement of Mozart’s Requiem, with pianist Carla Bradbury and the Contra Costa Chorale. Also on the program: Haydn’s  Insanae et vanae curae and Mozart’s Ave verum corpus, KV 618.

Mendocino Music Festival

Once again in the tent on the Mendocino Headlands! July 13-27, 2013

July 13 Verdi Vespri Siciliani, Prokofiev Cinderella Suite No. 3, Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2
July 19 Rossini Il Signor Bruschino, one-act comic opera
July 24 Sheng Fanfare from China Dreams, Takemitsu To the Edge of Dream, Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez, Debussy La Mer
July 27 Bruch Kol Nidre, Bernstein Jeremiah Symphony and Chichester Psalms, Mozart Ave Verum Corpus,
Beethoven Hallelujah from Christ on the Mount of Olives

Debussy – La Damoiselle Elue

Presented by Opera Non Troppo, with the Resmiranda Vocal Ensemble and soprano Victoria Varieur, directed by Renee Fladem-Kamm.  Subtitled “Chansons and Madrigals of Love and Loss”, the program includes a capella French vocal music by Faure, Machaut, Rameau, Ravel, Roussel, and others.

Party for our Earth

With Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker, cello. An evening of music, poetry, storytelling, teaching, dancing, and community building, celebrating our Earth and sustainable living. Featuring Dr. Joanna Macy reading her translations of Rilke’s poetry. Free event open to all.

Mozart Requiem, KV 626

Reprise of the West Coast premier of the Carl Czerny 4-hand piano arrangement of Mozart’s Requiem, with pianist Carla Bradbury and the Contra Costa Chorale. Also on the program: Haydn’s  Insanae et vanae curae and Mozart’s Ave verum corpus, KV 618.

Shawnette Sulker, soprano

“A Musical Journey” with soprano Shawnette Sulker. A recital of art songs including Schubert’s Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, Faure’s Poeme d’un Jour, the Strauss Brentano Lieder, Samuel Barber’s Knoxville Summer of 1915, and songs from Iceland, Jamaica, and Guyana. The opening program of Sunday Afternoons at Congregation Beth Shalom 2013-14 season.

The East Bay Music Salon

November Nocturnes

Fall concert of Tapestry, the women’s vocal and handbell ensemble, featuring patriotic and folk music of America.

November Nocturnes

Fall concert of Tapestry, the women’s vocal and handbell ensemble, featuring patriotic and folk music of America.  Concert includes the rollicking third movement of Copland’s Duo for Flute and Piano.

November Nocturnes

Fall concert of Tapestry, the women’s vocal and handbell ensemble, featuring patriotic and folk music of America.  Concert includes the rollicking third movement of Copland’s Duo for Flute and Piano.

November Nocturnes

Fall concert series of Tapestry, the women’s vocal ensemble and handbell choir, directed by Cindy Krausgrill. Nov 15, 16, 17, and at Rossmoor on Nov 20.

Classics to Broadway

Fall concert of the St. Mary’s College Vocal Ensemble, featuring classical arias and musical theatre show tunes, staged and choreographed.

Classics to Broadway

Fall concert of the St. Mary’s College Vocal Ensemble, featuring classical arias and musical theatre show tunes, staged and choreographed.

Student recital

Vocal students of soprano Angela Dean Baham performing in recital.

Dawn Farry vocal recital

Elizabeth Gentner recital

Elizabeth sings arias and songs from her European summer tour, with commentary.  Opera, operetta, and some Kurt Weill.

Spring Concert Series

Tapestry Singers and Ringers spring concert series featuring timeless favorite songs, from the medieval tune Summer is a Coming In to the beloved Flower Duet from Delibes’ opera Lakme to Ease On Down the Road from The Wiz.

Spring Concert Series

Tapestry Singers and Ringers spring concert series featuring timeless favorite songs, from the medieval tune Summer is a Coming In to the beloved Flower Duet from Delibes’ opera Lakme to Ease On Down the Road from The Wiz.  This is the annual pie concert.

Spring Concert Series

Tapestry Singers and Ringers spring concert series featuring timeless favorite songs, from the medieval tune Summer is a Coming In to the beloved Flower Duet from Delibes’ opera Lakme to Ease On Down the Road from The Wiz.

Contra Costa Chorale

“New York, New York!”  spring concert featuring composers who were born or lived in NYC.  Four hand arrangements with pianist Cara Bradbury of Bernstein, Copland, Coleman choral works, plus Gershwin’s Three Preludes for piano duet.

Contra Costa Chorale

“New York, New York!”  spring concert featuring composers who were born or lived in NYC.  Four hand arrangements with pianist Cara Bradbury of Bernstein, Copland, Coleman choral works, plus Gershwin’s Three Preludes for piano duet.

Sostenuto

The annual fund-raising dinner for the Mendocino Music Festival, at the Bauccio river home, featuring the stars of the Festival.

Mendocino Music Festival

The annual out-of-this-world two-week music festival in the big tent on the Mendocino headlands – July 12-26. Dress warmly. Come Friday night, July 18, to see this year’s opera – Don Giovanni.

Oakland Symphony Chorus

Summer Sing-In with Lynne Morrow and the Oakland Symphony Chorus. Spirituals and American songs.

Kurt Weill – Mahagonny Singspiel

Oakland Opera Theater production of Kurt Weill’s Aufsteig und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny. Conducted by Deirdre McClure. Stage direction by Tom Dean. Orchestral arrangements by Marc T. Bolin.

Fri-Sun Nov 21, 22, 23

Tapestry

Fall concert series with Tapestry – the Bay Area’s only women’s chorus and handbell ensemble.

Dec 3 at Rossmoor (7:00) / Dec 5 at Sam Ramon Community Center (7:00)/ Dec 7 at United Methodist Church Walnut Creek (4:00)

C’era Una Volta

Opera night featuring and benefiting Alameda’s only opera company, Island City Opera. With singers Eileen Merideth, Ellen St. Thomas, and Ray Chavez.

Puccini/Rossini – Il Tabarro and El Signor Bruschino

Island City Opera’s double bill production of Puccini’s tragedy Il Tabarro and Rossini’s comedy Il Signor Bruschino. Two one-act operas playing Friday nights March 6 & 13 @ 7:30 pm and Sunday afternoons March 8 & 15 @ 2:00 pm.

Spring Concert Series

The Tapestry Singers and Ringers concert series for Spring 2015 presents classic music about emotions and feelings on Friday May 1st at Walnut Creek United Methodist Church, Saturday May 2nd at Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church, Wednesday May 6th at the Rossmoor Event Center, and Saturday May 9th at Stoneridge in Livermore.

GSE Chorus Concert

Spring choral concert by the Graduate School of Education chorus, followed by audience singalong, conducted by Frank Worrell.

Brahms Liebeslieder

A Summer Sing-In of Brahms Liebeslieder, op. 65, with the Oakland Symphony Chorus conducted by Vance George. Duo pianist with Sue Bohlin.

Mendocino Music Festival

Opening night orchestra concert: Shostakovich Jazz Suite No. 2 and Prokofiev Symphony No. 7 .

Mozart Requiem

Community sing-along of the Mozart Requiem, with the Contra Costa Chorale, Cindy Beitman, conductor. With Cara Bradbury in the four hand piano version by Carl Czerny.

November Nocturnes

Tapestry’s Fall concert series includes patriotic and seasonal favorites for women’s chorus and handbell ensemble with organ, guitar, bass, percussion, and trumpet. Cindy Krausgrill, Director. Public concerts are free, with donations supporting Swords to Plowshares, a service organization for American Veterans.
Nov 11 at 7:00 pm at Rossmoor (private event)
Nov 13 at 7:00 pm at Walnut Creek United Methodist Church
Nov 14 at 7:30 pm at Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church
Nov 15 at 4:00 pm at St. John’s Parish, Clayton

GSE Holiday Concert

Noon-time concert by the GSE choir, with conductor Frank Worrell.
Seasonal selections, plus an audience sing-along.

C’era una Volta

Opera night at the restaurant, a benefit for Island City Opera, featuring soprano Eileen Merideth, mezzo Ellen St. Thomas, tenor Sigmund Seigel, and bass Leland Morine, and introducing soprano Skye Seeley.

Christmas Concert

Premier of a new work by composer Peter B. Allen. “John the Baptist and the Christ Sunrise Explosion” is a biblical drama in 7 movements for 2 pianos, 2 singers, organ, strings and woodwinds. Christian Science Church in Santa Rosa.

Mills College Choir

“On Broadway” program, featuring the Mills College Choir in musical theatre selections from 1920-2017. Directed by Cindy Beitmen, with pianist Cara Bradbury. At the Littleton Concert Hall in the Music Building.

GSE Spring Concert

Annual Spring Concert by the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education Chorus, directed by Frank Worrell. Audience singalong after the performance.

NATS Recital

National Association of Teachers of Singing (SF/Bay Area) Recital. Private party for teachers of singing to sing for each other.

Mendocino Music Festival

This year’s opera: Mozart’s Abduction from the Seraglio, directed by Erin Neff,  conducted by Allan Pollack, Artistic Director of the annual Festival. Featuring sopranos Nikki Einfeld and Molly Phelan, tenors Sergie Gonzales and Chester Pidduck, and bass Phil Meyer.  One night only in the big white tent on the headlands.

Schubert Auf dem Strom + Aesop’s Fables

African-American Spirituals Singalong

A community singalong workshop of African-American spirituals, led by renowned conductor Dr. Lynne Morrow. Free reception follows the singing.

Donizetti – Don Pasquale

Donizetti’s comic opera Don Pasquale with Island City Opera, starring Bojan Knezevic in the title role. Music Direction by Philip Kuttner, Stage Direction by Erin Neff.
Preview Wed Jan 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Opening night Fri Jan 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. Jan 22 and 29.
Fri night Jan 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Dinner Concert

Dinner concert of opera arias by Eileen Meridith and Ellen St. Thomas for residents of Water’s Edge Lodge.

Black History Month

The GSE Chorus performs “Lift Every Voice and Sing” followed by a sing-a-long of protest songs during the last week of Black History Month. Frank Worrell directs.

Massenet – Don Quichotte

This poignant story of redemption is brought to the stage by Bill Pickersgill in the title role with Buffy Baggot as his Dulcinea. An Island City Opera production directed by Igor Viera (who also portrays Sancho) with a 26-piece orchestra conducted by Philip Kuttner.
Preview March 1st, Fridays March 3 and 10 at 7:30, Sunday March 5 and 12 matinees at 2:00.

Brian Nesby

An evening of Negro spirituals presented in cabaret style by New York countertenor Brian Nesby. In the Chapel at the Pacific School of Religion. Reception after the recital.

Brahms – Requiem

The Contra Costa Chorale presents the Brahms Requiem in a four-hand arrangement by Brahms himself. Directed by Cindy Beitman, with fellow pianist Cara Bradbury, and soloists baritone Sepp Hammer and soprano Rita Lilly. Maestro John Kendall Bailey will guest conduct.

Brahms Requiem

The Contra Costa Chorale presents the Brahms Requiem in a four-hand arrangement by Brahms himself. Directed by Cindy Beitman, with fellow pianist Cara Bradbury, and soloists baritone Sepp Hammer and soprano Rita Lilly. Maestro John Kendall Bailey will be the guest conductor.