2009 Apprentice Singers Announced
2009-06-04
This summer, 37 young singers came from as far as Germany, Spain, Korea and Buhler, Kansas to the high desert of New Mexico to participate in The Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Singer Program, one of the most respected in the nation. These talented young vocalists were selected from among a record 1,458 applicants to perform with The Santa Fe Opera during its 53rd season.
When John Crosby founded The Santa Fe Opera back in 1957, he also created the Apprentice Program for Singers – the first young artist program of its kind. At that time, many of our country’s finest young voices had to go to Europe to train and often stayed there to pursue their careers. John Crosby believed in the importance of an American opera company that would train and employ young American singers in a diverse repertory – a tradition that continues to this day.
The Apprentice Singer program affords these young artists the opportunity to work and perform with some of the most respected conductors, directors and singers in the classical music world. The apprentices form the backbone of the season’s five operas as members of the chorus and in supporting roles. They receive coaching, lessons in diction and performance and master classes by leading teachers and esteemed artists such as Gianna Rolandi, Corradina Caporello, Gerald Moore, Scott Gilmore, Diane Richardson and Kathy Kaun.
Throughout the summer, the apprentices work towards the Apprentice Scenes (August 16 and 23), which give each apprentice a chance to star on the main stage in a review of fully-staged and costumed scenes from favorite operas. Each Apprentice Scene is designed and costumed by a team of Technical Apprentices, making it an original collaboration between the Opera’s programs for young singers and technicians.
For many young artists, the Apprentice Singer Program is a significant benchmark in their professional development. The program has launched numerous distinguished careers and many former apprentices return to star on the main stage. This year’s former apprentices include Jennifer Black, Dimitri Pittas and Patrick Carfizzi in The Elixir of Love; Keith Jameson in La Traviata and The Letter; and Susanna Phillips, Kate Lindsey and Corey McKern in Don Giovanni.
The Santa Fe Opera’s 53rd summer festival season features 37 performances of 5 operas and runs from July 3 through August 29. The 2009 repertory consists of La Traviata by Guiseppe Verdi, The Elixir of Love by Gaetano Donizetti, Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, The Letter by Paul Moravec and Alceste by Christoph Willibald Gluck.
The 2009 operating budget for the Apprentice Singer Program is $627,500. The program is funded in part by proceeds from the Gala Opening Weekend Celebration, income generated from endowment funds, and contributions to the annual operating fund. Individual singers who have received named apprenticeships are indicated on the list below.
Complete roster of 2009 Apprentice Singers:
California *Aaron Blake (tenor), Palos Verdes
The Newcomb Gladney Seitz Memorial Fund
*Tom Corbeil (bass-baritone), San Diego
Carin Gilfry (mezzo-soprano), Rancho Cucamonga
de Compiegne-Wallace Foundation
*Lucas Harbour (bass-baritone), Sacramento
Lois C.A. Smith
*Nicholas Pallesen (baritone), Riverside
Colorado Maria Lindsey (soprano), Fort Collins
Donald & Luke Graham Endowment
District of Columbia *Deborah Selig (soprano), Washington, D.C.
Illinois *Katherine Drago (mezzo-soprano), Western Springs
Lois C.A. Smith
Thomas Forde (bass-baritone), Chicago
Mr. & Mrs. Terrence A. Tobias
David Govertson (bass), Chicago
*Erin Snell (soprano), Libertyville
Drs. Ray & Nancy Lutz
Iowa *Kyle Albertson (baritone), Ankeny
Jim & Jeanne Manning
Heath Huberg (tenor), Milford
Kansas Jessica Dold (soprano), Kansas City
*David Lara (baritone), Buhler
Deborah L. Berkman
Louisiana Brandy Lynn Hawkins (mezzo-soprano), Baton Rouge
Maryland Matthew Morris (baritone), Baltimore
50th Anniversary Apprenticeship
Michigan *Siân Davies (soprano), Rochester
Anne S. & Wade C. Harrison II
Minnesota Andrew Stenson (tenor), Rochester
Mississippi Daniel C. Shirley (tenor), Jackson
New Jersey Kiri Deonarine (soprano), Fair Lawn
Hale Matthews Foundation
Erin D. Johnson (mezzo-soprano), Washington
New Mexico Audrey Walstrom (mezzo-soprano), Los Alamos
The William Randolph Hearst Fund
New York Kevin Ray (baritone), Cornwall
Melody Damon Endowment
Oregon Albert J. Gluekert (tenor), Portland
Pennsylvania Joseph Barron (bass-baritone), Pittsburgh
Emily Lorini (mezzo-soprano), Pittsburgh
Emily Grace Righter (mezzo-soprano), Clarion
Isabel & Sam Jewell
Texas Jason Slayden (tenor), Plano
Washington *Jennifer Forni (soprano), Seattle
Brendan Tuohy (tenor), Tacoma
Wisconsin *Emily Fons (mezzo-soprano), Milwaukee
Dr. & Mrs. Robert M. Zone
CANADA Michael Nyby (baritone), Hamilton, Ontario
Donald & Luke Graham Endowment
GERMANY *Jennifer Jakob (soprano), Kempten
Rachel Schutz (soprano), Berlin
The Vilcek Foundation, Inc.
KOREA *Sung Eun Lee (tenor), Seoul
SPAIN Jorge Prego (tenor), Vigo
The Vilcek Foundation, Inc.
*Second-year apprentice
Press Contact: Joyce Idema, Cindy Layman, Dolores McElroy press@santafeopera.org
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