Opera Orlando has received a $120,000 grant from Dr. Phillips Charities. The grant will underwrite the upcoming production of Massenet’s “Cendrillon.” The work will not only be a mainstage production, but will also be presented at local schools and children’s hospitals such as AdventHealth Children’s Hospital and Nemours Children’s Hospital. “Words cannot express our gratitude to Dr. Phillips Charities for {…}
Opera Orlando has raised $100,000 for the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida The money was raised from its recent concert performance of “DEFIANT REQUIEM: Verdi at Terezín” on Sept. 14, 2024. The performance was sold out with more than 500 free tickets given to students and educators. “Words cannot express our immense gratitude to the Opera and {…}
Opera Orlando has announced its Stetson School of Music Apprentices for 2024-25. The program was initiated between the opera company and university as a pilot apprenticeship last season and is now being expanded to allow four students the opportunity to perform with the opera company. The four voice performance students include bass-baritone Kenneth Browning, soprano Rachel Castillo, baritone Nicholas Dieux, {…}
Opera Orlando has announced its 2024-25 Studio Artists. The artists include Kristen Marie Gillis, Erika Vasallo, Pedro Valdez, and Thandolwethu Mamba. The artists will appear in MainStage and Opera on Site productions, starting with the Florida Premiere of “Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín.” “I am very excited to welcome this new quartet of singers into the Opera Orlando family,” said {…}
Opera Orlando has announced its “Summer Concert Series.” First up is “A Duet With Destiny” featuring Norman Garrett and Catherine Martin. They are accompanied by Ammon Perry Bratt. Performance Date: August 11, 2024 ”Dreams + Desires” will be headlined by soprano Lindsey Ohse and pianist Robin Stamper. Performance Date: August 18, 2024 “Your Heart’s Desire” will feature Dominick Chenes and {…}
Opera Orlando has announced its 2024-25 season, titled “Destiny + Desire.” “Our ninth annual season will feature five productions all presented at Dr. Phillips Center for the first time in company history, meaning subscribers can get more opera for less,” said Opera Orlando general director Gabriel Preisser in an official press statement. “Each production highlights the universal human emotion of {…}
Opera Orlando is now accepting applications for its next cohort of singers for the 2024 Summer Institute for the Next Generation of Singers “SINGS!” The SINGS! program is designed specifically for young singers, ages 15 to 20, interested in pursuing a classical singing career. This program provides professional-level training to help young singers navigate and prepare for college auditions, while {…}
Opera Orlando has announced its annual Valentine’s Day Event “Music & Words of Love.” Scheduled for Feb. 11, 2024, the event will feature performances by soprano NaYoung Ban, tenor Matthew White, Opera Orlando general director, and Grammy winner Gabriel Preisser. They will be joined by pianist Maria Pikoula and violinist Andreas Volmer. Per the official website, the program will include {…}
Opera Orlando’s Youth Company has announced that it will present its annual “Soup Opera.” The presentation is scheduled for Dec. 16, 2023 at Park Lake Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. local time. The program will feature company singers (ages eight to 18) as they take on opera solos, musical theatre songs, and holiday favorites. Additionally, audiences will get to taste {…}
Opera Orlando and Stetson University are joining forces for an apprenticeship Pilot Program. The program aims to allow two students to work with the company per semester. During the apprenticeship, they will hone their vocal skills and fine arts business acumen. They will also receive credits toward their degree. For the first program, the participants will be Nidia Guevara-Nolasco and {…}
Opera Orlando has announced that Glorivy Arroyo will be the company’s new development manager. Arroyo is a mezzo-soprano who has over 20 years of experience in arts administration, language, and music education. She has also worked with Odyssey Opera where she secured major gifts from the National Endowment for the Arts. Working under senior development director Russell P. Allen, Arroyo {…}