Kate Merryman, Eric McKeever, Robyn Haines, and Eric Gibson on the set of Daytime Columbus, WCMH - 4.
Some of our Pirate Crew spent time on Daytime Columbus, talking all things Pirates of course? Did they talk like Pirates? You will have to watch to find out.
Anabella Petronsi, Argentinian mezzo-soprano, graduated from the National University of Arts in Argentina and The Ohio State University, where she served as a Graduate Teaching Associate.
She has sung Barbarina (Mozart), Serpetta (Mozart), Papagena (Mozart), Despina (Mozart), Rosita (Torroba), Poèsié (Charpentier), Berenice (Rossini), Mrs. Webster (Candey), Flora (Charpentier), Mirror 1 (Albinarrate), Mariquita Sánchez (Scher), Heraldo (Lambertini), Sorceress (Purcell), Rosine (Pasatieri), Giovanna (Verdi), Hansel (Humperdinck), Mercèdés (Bizet), and Pillar 3 (The Temple).
She worked as an Artistic Administrator and Director of Operations and Special Projects and Events for the Department of Musical Arts at the National University of Arts in Argentina. She sang with Enhorabuena Company, Opera Joven, Ensemble Tempus, and Opera of Columbus.
She is a member of the Columbus Symphony Choir.
Soprano Samantha Sayar is a fourth-year music education student at the Ohio State University. She currently studies with the area head of the voice department, Dr. Laura Portune.
She is active with the Ohio State Opera Theatre program where she has performed as the Second Woman in Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas,” Lola in Douglas Moore’s “Gallantry, and most recently, Gretel in Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel.” She also serves as the social outreach coordinator for the student division of Ohio State’s American Choral Directors Association.
She is ecstatic to be performing with Opera Project Columbus.
Come see Samantha and the rest of our talented band of pirates
Known for her cross over work in both classical and music theatre, Ruth Peart has studied voice for more than fifteen years. She performed with the Columbus Children's Choir, New World Singers touring Spain, Austria, and Hungary.
Ruth graduated from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music with a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance, studying with Professor Kimberly Gill.
A native of London, Ohio, Ruth holds a B.M. of Voice Performance from Ohio State University where she was awarded the Margaret Speaks Vocal Scholarship. She has also obtained a Vocology Certificate from Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Ruth has had many successes; most recently being awarded an artist excellence award from the Jacob’s School of Music. Ruth has performed in many productions with the Madison County Arts Council of Ohio and recently performed as Moth Fairy in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Britten) with the Chicago Summer Opera Young Artist Program. Most recently, Ruth was a part of the chorus for the JSOM productions of Romeo et Juliette (Gounod) and Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky).
Following graduation from Indiana University, Ruth plans to continue her collegiate studies in the field of Speech Pathology.
Carolyn Redman, mezzo-soprano, is originally from Bellevue, Ohio and received a MM and DMA in vocal performance from the Ohio State University. She has performed operatic roles as well as musical theater roles with various professional companies including Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera/Columbus, Opera Project Columbus, Columbus Light Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Weathervane Playhouse, and Lyric Opera Cleveland.
She was selected as an apprentice artist with both Des Moines Metro Opera and Cincinnati Opera Young Artists programs and was also chosen to perform in masterclasses and performances at the Instituto Superior de Arte of the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has been a winner or finalist in four competitions, including a first place finish in the Opera/Columbus vocal competition.
Recent roles include La Badessa in Suor Angelica, Berta in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Miss Todd in The Old Maid and the Thief, Zita in Gianni Schicchi, Gertrude in Roméo et Juliette, Martha/Ayah in The Secret Garden, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, Jo in Mark Adamo’s Little Women, Second Lady in The Magic Flute, and Countess Charlotte Malcolm in A Little Night Music. She has also been a featured soloist in oratorios and other concert works with groups such as Cantari Singers, Denison University, Columbus Bach Ensemble, Marion Civic Chorus, Master Singers, Inc. Chorale, New Albany Symphony, Saint Joseph Cathedral, Westerville Symphony, and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.
In addition to performing, she serves on the voice faculty of Denison University.
Kate is originally from the Washington D.C. area and has been labeled an “impressive singing-actress” by Broadway World (D.C.).
Her operatic roles include Nella in Gianni Schicchi and Elvira in #UncleJohn both with Opera Columbus. Other operatic roles include Lisette in La Rondine and Belinda in Dido and Aeneas with OSU Lyric Opera Theatre. Additionally, Kate has performed various musical theatre roles including Johanna (Sweeney Todd), Ellen Woods (Legally Blonde), Cinderella (Into the Woods), over 60 performances of Cosette (Les Miserables), and the Narrator (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), for which she was nominated for a Washington Area Theatre Community Honors Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical.
Kate serves as an Adjunct Professor of Voice at Otterbein University (Musical Theatre), as well as, operating her own private voice studio in Dublin, Ohio. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a Master of Arts in Vocal Pedagogy and a Singing Health Specialization Certificate.
Opera Project Columbus welcomes back to the stage Steve Valenzuela as our Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance.
Baritone Steve Valenzuela has been hailed by Opera News as a “Committed actor with a voluptuous baritone”. Valenzuela has performed standard and contemporary opera, musical theater, concert and oratorio work, and recital repertoire on stages throughout the United States.
Steve has performed with many nationally recognized opera companies including First Coast Opera, The Florentine Opera, Shreveport Opera, City Lyric Opera, Opera Project Columbus, The New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra / New Paradigm Theater.
His performances on the operatic stage include Marcello and Schaunard in Puccini’s La Bohème, Don Giovanni in Don Giovanni, Conte Almaviva and Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, Samuel in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, Howard in David T. Little’s Dog Days, Sam in Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti, Nick Shadow in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, and Danilo in Lehar’s The Merry Widow.
Opera Project Columbus’ Executive Director sat down with Kevin Lloyd of ColumbusBlack to discuss the upcoming performance of Pirates of Penzance on June 21st and 23rd.
Introducing Fitzgerald St. Louis as Samuel.
Originally from the Caribbean island of Dominica, Fitzgerald is a graduate of the Middle Tennessee State University and The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University.
Most notably he has performed Luciano Berio’s “Coro” with the Lucerne Festival Academy under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle. Past opera roles include Haly in l'itliana in Algeri, Henry in Street Scene, Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Frédéric in Lakmé, Pandolfe in Cendrillon, Dulcamara in l'elisir d'amore, 2nd Commissioner in Dialogues des carmélites and Count Almaviva in le nozze di Figaro; Fitzgerald has also been fortunate enough to premiere the roles of The Reverend in Stinney: An American Execution and Omani in Qadar.
In the past, he was a chorus member for the Nashville Opera in their productions of Rigoletto and Carmen respectively. Fitzgerald currently resides in Columbus, OH where he is still actively performing and teaching voice professionally.
Don’t miss your chance to see our pirate crew!
June 21 & 23 at The Lincoln Theatre.
Hailing from Iowa City, Iowa, David Maize has been performing in the North Carolina area for ten years, having made appearances in tandem with The Fletcher Opera Institute as Count Riccardo di Chalais in Gaetano Donizetti’s “Maria di Rohan”, Medoro in Franz Josef Haydn’s “Orlando Paladino,” Cornaccio in John Musto’s “Volpone”, and Brighella in Richard Strauss' “Ariadne auf Naxos.”
Locally and abroad, he has participated in over twenty operas with Piedmont Opera, where he made his debut as Gastone in Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Traviata” in the 22-23 season and as Don Basilio in Mozart’s “Le nozze di Figaro” just this last March. Outside of North Carolina Maize has performed at the Princeton Festival in Benjamin Britten's “Peter Grimes,” Ludwig van Beethoven's “Fidelio” and as soloist with their Baroque Orchestra.
This summer Maize will be traveling to Columbus, Ohio to debut at Opera Project Columbus as Frederic in their production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance”. Shortly after he will be participating in the International Performing Artist Institute Germany intensive in pursuit of a German audition tour.
Directed by Eric Gibson
Conducted by William Boggs
June 21 & 23
The Lincoln Theatre
Tickets are on sale now!
https://www.operaprojectcolumbus.com
$12 Children’s Tickets
and
$22 Student Tickets available
Introducing you to our Pirate King, Eric McKeever
American baritone Eric McKeever has won consistent praise for his voice of “power and brilliance” (Chicago Tribune) and “considerable flexibility and a communicative presence enhanced by expressive, crystalline diction.” (Opera News)
Recent: He performed Porgy and Bess in concert in his debut with the Pablo Casals Festival in Puerto Rico, Michele in Il tabarro with New York’s On Site Opera, a concert with Brian Stokes Mitchell with the Delaware Symphony, , William Still in Paul Moravec’s Sanctuary Road in his Penn Square Opera debut, the title role of Kaiser von Atlantis in his Carnegie Hall debut with On Site Opera, Don Alfonso in Cosi Fant Tutte in his OperaDelaware debut, the title role of Don Giovanni with Indianapolis Opera, Tebaldo (cover) in Giulietta e Romeo with Teatro Grattacielo; and concerts with Baltimore Concert Opera, Opera on the James, and OperaDelaware.
This season includes singing Mozart's Requiem in his Princeton Symphony debut, Monterone in Rigoletto with OperaDelaware, and Opera Baltimore, Schaunard in La bohème in his debut with Opera Memphis, and a return to Opera Columbus for their immersive reimagining of The Magic Flute entitled, The Temple.
Next season: He returns to On Site Opera for the world-premiere of Laura Kaminsky’s new opera Lucidity, then makes his Seattle Opera debut in the same role. He returns to Nashville Opera as Sir Joseph Porter in HMS Pinafore, joins Indianapolis Opera in their 50th Anniversary Gala concert, then makes his role and house debut as Alidoro in La cenrentola with Fort Worth Opera.
Come see Eric and the brilliant cast of The Pirates of Penzance.
Opera Project Columbus is excited to welcome Bart Smith to the stage for The Pirates of Penzance in the role of Major General Stanley.
He is thrilled to be making his debut with Opera Project Columbus! Bart has been singing for central Ohio audiences for nearly 40 years, having performed dozens of roles with Opera Columbus, Columbus Light Opera, and many other local and regional companies. Equally comfortable on the musical theatre stage, Bart appeared most recently as The Chairman (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), and Judge Turpin (Sweeney Todd). Additional favorite roles have included Lord Chancellor (Iolanthe), Dick Deadeye (H.M.S. Pinafore), Dr. Craven (Secret Garden), Gaston (Beauty and the Beast), and King Arthur (Spamalot!). Many thanks and all the love to Belinda, Jarod, and Colin. Shenanigans still inspired by Mark and Chris.
Directed by Eric Gibson
Conducted by William Boggs
June 21 & 23
The Lincoln Theatre
Tickets are on sale now!
https://www.operaprojectcolumbus.com
$12 Children’s Tickets
and
$22 Student Tickets available
Vocal Auditions for all Principal and Ensemble positions
Auditions will be held Sunday, April 7
Broad Street Presbyterian Church (address in sign up)
for
The Pirates of Penzance
Opera Project Columbus
Eric Gibson, Director
William Boggs, Conductor
Performances June 21 & 23
All performers in the production will be compensated.
Audition Repertoire: 1 selection in English AND 1 selection of performer's choice in any language.
OPC will have an accompanist on site.
All auditionees should bring their current bio and headshot.
In person auditions are preferred. However, if you are unable to attend, please contact us to submit your materials electronically to Megan@operaprojectcolumbus.com by Saturday, April 6.
The Pirates of Penzance centers around Frederic, an apprentice to a band of tender-hearted pirates. When Frederic turns 21, he is released from his apprenticeship and sets out to begin his new life. He meets the daughters of Major-General Stanley, including Mabel, and the two young people fall instantly in love. Frederic however learns that he was born on the 29th of February, Leap Year, and the terms of his apprenticeship which were miscommunicated by his nursemaid, specifically stated he remain with the pirates until his “21st birthday,” not 21 years of age. Technically, he has a birthday only once every four years on leap day, which means he must serve for another 63 years. Bound by his own sense of duty, Frederic’s only solace is that Mabel agrees to faithfully wait for him. More hijinks ensue as the story continues with everyone hoping for a happy ending!
The Pirates of Penzance is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. Its official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City, December 31, 1879, and its London debut was April 3, 1880, at the Opera Comique, where it ran for 363 performances. The Pirates of Penzance remains a frequently referenced and recognized work by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Many will recognize the Major-General’s aria, “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General”. The challenging and witty patter has proved irresistible and continues to be parodied and imitated.
The Pirates of Penzance is a family friendly performance, and we hope to see audience members of all ages at our shows.
We are offering up to 2 $12 children’s tickets (12 and under) with an adult ticket purchase.
Opera Project Columbus recently held open auditions for opera singers for consideration for future OPC performances.
A special thank you to The Ohio State University, School of Music for hosting us as we welcomed some amazing talent.
If you missed the audition and would like to be considered for casting, please be sure to send your materials to Megan@operaprojectcolumbus.com
Opera Project Columbus will be holding open auditions for opera singers Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
Please bring an aria in English and one in any language.
Future seasons may include Pirates of Penzance, Street Scene, and Die Fledermaus.
Bring photo (b/w or color) and printed resume.
Accompanist will be provided by OPC.
If time slots fill, we will consider adding more at the end of the evening.
If you are unable to attend, please contact us to submit your materials electronically to Megan@operaprojectcolumbus.com
Auditions will be held in Weigel 177 in the Timashev Family Music Building at The Ohio State University School of Music; 1900 College Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210
*Please allow yourself time for parking and getting to Weigel 177 as we will begin promptly and would like to stay on schedule.
Dates for chorus auditions will be held in the Spring with dates to be announced at a later time.
Sign up here.
Joining us in our panel discussion is pianist Edward Bak.
Pianist Edward Bak enjoys an active career as a vocal coach and collaborative pianist. The international press has hailed him as “a pianist who knows how to combine fury and restraint, elegance and lyrical effusion” and praised him for playing of “fire, excitement, and a real sense of grandeur,” as well as being a collaborator of “great sensitivity and refinement.”
He served as assistant musical staff to Seiji Ozawa at the Tanglewood Music Center and has performed in concert with such leading artists as Carol Wincenc, Richard Stoltzman, Vitya Vronsky, Anthony Dean Griffey, and Giuseppe Filianoti. He has been chosen as recital partner by artists from The Cleveland Orchestra, The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, The Montreal Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, among others. Bak has performed in such venues as the Festival Lanaudière, Severance Hall, The Phillips Collection, Kolarac Hall, The Monnaie, and the National Recital Hall in Taipei.
Mr. Bak’s involvement with the opera has included appointments as coach/accompanist with The Cleveland Lyric Opera, Dayton Opera, Opera Columbus, and the Nevada Opera. He was music director for the Wendy Taucher Dance Opera Theater for performances in Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, and Key West. He served as Artistic Administrator for Opera Project Columbus for whom he initiated the VIVA online opera academy and the video series celebrating works by African-American composers, “I, too, sing America.” Outside of the USA Bak was appointed principal coach for a production at the National Theater in Taipei, and he lectured and presented a master class at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.
Edward has worked with the Martina Arroyo Foundation in New York City, The American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria and The Sankt Goar International Music Festival Academy in Germany, as well as the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices.
Mr. Bak is currently a professor at The Ohio State University School of Music.
Previous teaching appointments include the Longy School, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and The Peabody Institute.
Brian Keith Johnson has performed many roles in opera from Figaro in “il barbiere di Siviglia” to Ford in Falstaff. As a member of Actors’ Equity Association, he has also performed a variety of musical theatre roles ranging from Jim in “Big River” to Father/God in “Children of Eden”. His concert repertoire includes most of the major baritone works such as “Carmina Burana”, Elijah, “The Verdi Requiem”, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, The Brahms Requiem and The Faure’ Requiem. He has performed operatic and musical theatre roles across the United States including performances with The Cleveland Orchestra, Akron Symphony Orchestra, Canton Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, Blossom Festival Orchestra, Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh, Opera Western Reserve, Carolina Master Chorale, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and Porthouse Theatre.
Mr. Johnson received his BM Degree from The University of Akron and has also studied abroad at The New Opera Academy of Rome in Rome, Italy and The American Institute of Musical
Studies in Graz, Austria. Brian is currently in his 34th year of teaching music in The Akron Public School System. He taught 27 years at Akron Garfield High School as the Choir Director. His
current assignment is teaching General Music at Findley CLC. This season’s engagements include “Sweeney Todd” and “Ragtime” (Coalhouse Walker
Jr) at Weathervane Playhouse, Dvorak’s “Te Deum”, Two Concerts with The Cleveland Composer’s Guild, Michael Haydn’s requiem in C Minor, Willcocks’ “From Darkness To Light: A Requiem of Hope”, “The Messiah”, “Amahl and the Night Visitors” and The Brahms Requiem.
The lyric Baritone, Brian Keith Johnson, will be on the Stage at The Lincoln Theatre for our recording of the 5th installment of, “I, Too, Sing America”.
