Boston Singers' Resource News Bulletin, January 29 , 2003

They are new and loaded with talent, the Boston Vocal Artists performances of opera, art song, and selections from the American Songbook feature all-star casts.

BOSTON VOCAL ARTISTS - Steve Morris, Artistic Director; Melinda O'Neal, Music Director

Boston Vocal Artists has been producing vocal music events in the Boston area and throughout New England since 1999. At that time, Artistic Director Steven Morris, a pianist and vocal coach, felt there was an incredible need to provide professional performing opportunities for his students. He saw that the next step in their training was to be in front of an audience, giving of their talents and sharpening and deepening their skills. Over the next four years, BVA presented over ten concerts ranging from operas and opera highlights to art song recitals and programs of classics from the American Songbook. Spreading well beyond Mr. Morris' own studio, nearly 30 young singers have benefited from singing with Boston Vocal Artists.

In the fall of 2002 BVA gained 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and created a professional vocal ensemble which will specialize in repertoire from the late 19th century to the present. In honor of the bicentennial of Hector Berlioz's birth and to inaugurate this new ensemble, BVA will present a concert of French vocal solo and ensemble music of works by Berlioz, Poulenc, Duparc, Milhaud and Saint-Saëns entitled " Bon Anniversaire, Berlioz!." This concert will be performed Friday, January 31 at 8:00 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Brookline, Massachusetts and on Sunday, February 2 at 4 p.m. in Faulkner Recital Hall at the Hopkins Center of Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.

Music Director, Melinda O'Neal has done much of the research for the January 31 concert as well as for several Dartmouth concerts (where she is Professor of music). And she most recently had an article published in the ACDA Choral Journal of November entitled "Berlioz's Vocal Music - Some Programming Ideas" On March 1, 2003, Melinda will be leading the Handel Society of Dartmouth in Berlioz's ROMEO ET JULIETTE with soloists Erma Gattie, Ryan Turner and David Arnold. "We are making this a Berlioz weekend, with guest speakers, a voice masterclass given by David, and an additional recital by Ryan Turner and Erma Gattie... with yet more Berlioz solo songs to add to the mix!" says Melinda, "BSR mezzos might be interested to know of 'Premiers transports' from R&J - it's an exquisite solo -- best with harp and solo cello but can easily be done well with piano alone or piano and solo cello. Or 'Le roi de Thulé' from ;LA DAMNATION DE FAUST... Berlioz has a real gift for writing for the mezzo voice, in particular."

Plans are also underway for a concert of varied repertoire for the Summer Music Association of New London, Vermont and an Operetta Night at Deertrees Theatre in Harrison, Maine during the summer. In the fall, BVA will produce Gian Carlo Menotti's AMELIA GOES TO THE BALL. The vocal ensemble will also present another performance during the 2003-2004 season.

All opera performances will be staged with sets and costumes. "Budget permitting, some concerts may have an instrumental ensemble but, at this time, I prefer to use piano if it means having more money to pay the singers a decent sum," says Steve.

Auditions will be announced periodically (mostly through BSR). Singers may submit materials at any time and they will be contacted when auditions are held. Please send resumes, headshot to BVA, 59 Farragut Avenue,
Somerville, MA 02144 Or bostonvocal@aol.com. The BVA website will be up and running soon and more information posted there: www.bostonvocalartists.org

To sum up, Boston Vocal Artists is dedicated to enriching the cultural lives of the citizens of Boston and its surrounding communities as well as furthering the careers of talented young singers who make their homes here. To this end they will continue to add to the number of performances presented each year, increase their budget and enlarge their roster, all the while striving toward the highest level of artistic integrity.

PAST BVA PERFORMANCES:

* "A Celebration of Love: Opera's First Millennium" and "An Afternoon of Opera," Kennebunkport, Maine;
* "An Afternoon Recital," Brookline, Massachusetts - A program of songs by Purcell, Schubert, Debussy, Hahn and Rachmaninoff;
* "Prelude to a Kiss: Gershwin and Friends", Kennebunkport, Maine
* "An Evening of Comic Opera," Brookline and Wellesley, MA; Kennubunkport and Harrison, ME; Dover, NH
* CRIME AND PUNISHMENT by Jeremy Conley, Biddeford, Maine - World Premier
* "At the Heart of Opera", Deertrees Theatre, Harrison, Maine
* LA CANTERINA by Haydn, Rhode Island College, Providence, RI and Brookline, MA

BON ANNIVERSAIRE, BERLIOZ!!

Friday, January 31 at 8:00 p.m. St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Brookline, Massachusetts
Sunday, February 2 at 4 p.m. Faulkner Recital Hall at the Hopkins Center of Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Artistic Staff: Steven Morris*, Melinda O'Neal*
Cast: Charles Blandy*, Emily Browder*, Shannon Bullis*, Betha Curtis*, Jennifer Carol Hansen*, Carol Mastrodomenico*, Jason McStoots*, Laura Mennill*, Jose Perez, and Drew Poling.

BIOGRAPHIES:

STEVEN MORRIS*, BVA Artistic Director and pianist, has been working with singers as a coach, accompanist and music director for the past fifteen years. As an accompanist he has performed throughout New England and the Midwest as well as in England and Italy. Holding degrees in Piano Performance and Accompanying from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Western Michigan University and New England Conservatory, Mr. Morris has further studied at the Britten-Pears School for Advanced Musical Studies, the Kent Blossom Music Festival and the Cleveland Art Song Festival. Now a Lecturer in Music at Tufts University, Mr. Morris serves as faculty coach/accompanist and as Music Director for the Opera Ensemble.

His musical theatre credits include music director and pianist for SIDE BY SIDE by Sondheim, The ALL NIGHT STRUT and Bubbling Brown Sugar with Red Barn Playhouse in Saugatuck, Michigan; A...MY NAME IS ALICE with Kalamazoo Civic Arena Theatre; MOTHER COURAGE with Kalamazoo College Festival Playhouse and WIZARD OF OZ, RUDDIGORE, SOUND OF MUSIC with Seaglass Performing Arts of Kennebunk, Maine.

Mr. Morris has been on the faculties of the Bayview Music Festival and the International Institute of Vocal Arts in Chiari, Italy. While in Italy he served as music director and pianist for Monteverdi's L'INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA with stage director Fabrizio Melano of the Metropolitan and New York City Operas. From 1996 to 1999, Mr. Morris was the head coach with Opera Maine where he prepared and performed in numerous recitals as well as productions of THE TENDERLAND, THE TELEPHONE, L'HEURE ESPAGNOLE, TARTUFFE, THE MEDIUM, AMELIA GOES TO THE BALL, THE IMPRESARIO, RITA AND THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA

Also an active recital pianist, Mr. Morris has most recently performed with soprano Elizabeth Kennedy at the Gardner Museum and with baritone Dana Whiteside on the Vox Humana Series in Jamaica Plain. He has coach and performed with numerous singers in both student and faculty recitals at New England Conservatory, The Boston Conservatory, Boston University, Tufts University, Boston College, Eastern Nazarene College, Brandeis University and The Hartt School of Music

.MELINDA O'NEAL* is Professor of Music and Conductor/Music Director of the Handel Society, Dartmouth College's community and student oratorio society. In addition to teaching courses in conducting and vocal performance, courses she inaugurated at Dartmouth, Professor O'Neal founded the Music Department's Foreign Study Program in London, the Dartmouth Conducting Institute, and she conducted the all-undergraduate Chamber Singers for seventeen years. She recently has been in residence as visiting professor at Indiana University and University of Georgia, and was guest conductor of the Seattle Symphony Chorale (WA).

In addition, O'Neal is the Principal Guest Conductor of the Hanover Chamber Orchestra (Hanover, NH), the professional orchestra performing major works with the Handel Society, and she is Conductor of Boston Vocal Artists (Boston, MA), a newly-formed professional vocal ensemble specializing in late-nineteenth to the present vocal chamber music. She received the Julius Herford Award from the American Choral Directors Association for her doctoral paper on Berlioz's L'ENFANCE DU CHRIST and an Individual Artist Fellowship from the NH State Council on the Arts.

O'Neal holds D.Mus. and M.M. degrees in choral-orchestral conducting from the Indiana University School of Music (Bloomington, IN). She studied conducting and score preparation with Julius Herford, Robert Shaw, Helmuth Rilling, Maurice Couraud, John Nelson, Fiora Contino, Thomas Dunn, Jan Harrington and Joseph Flummerfelt. Her articles appear in the Choral Journal, Journal of the Conductors Guild, and Becoming the Complete Conductor published by E.C.S. Publishing.

O'Neal serves on the national board of the Conductors Guild and on the Research and Publications Committee for the American Choral Directors Association. She also has served on both the National Endowment for the Arts and the NH Council of the Arts advisory panels. O'Neal's continuing research interests include the relationship of text and music, historical performance practices, and the music of Hector Berlioz.

CHARLES BLANDY* recently sang the role of Uriel in Haydn's CREATION with the Cantata Singers under David Hoose. He sang in Emmanuel Music's 2002 performance of Bach's CHRISTMAS ORATORIO, and appeared as Don Ottavio in Opera Aperta's production of Mozart's DON GIOVANNI, both under conductor Craig Smith. He has also sung under conductors Raymond Leppard (as the title character in Britten's ST. NICHOLAS), Vance George, and Stanley Ritchie. Earlier this year he premiered Jorge Liderman's SONG OF SONGS with the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players under David Milnes. He has also received acclaim for performances in COSI FAN TUTTE, and in Handel's MESSIAH. He participated recently in a song festival honoring Benjamin Britten, singing the composer's HOLY SONNETS of John Donne and CANTICLE 1, MY BELOVED IS MINE AND I AM HIS, among other works. He received his Master's Degree from Indiana University, where he studied voice with Alan Bennett and Lied repertoire with Leonard Hokanson. In Chicago, he studied with Ronald Combs and Winifred Brown. He is a native of Troy, NY, and graduated from Oberlin College with a BA in religion.

EMILY BROWDER* appeared with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project last season as the Little Boy in their two performances of Lukas Foss' GRIFFELKIN at the Tangelwood Festival of Contemporary Music and at Jordan Hall, and recorded the role with them on the Chandos label. She has appeared in a number of roles with the Boston Academy of Music, including Gianetta in L'ELISIR D'AMORE, Isabel in THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, Giulia in THE GONDOLIERS, Miss Stevens in LADY IN THE DARK, and many ensemble parts. With the early music duo, Ensemble O she has sung recitals at the Harare International Festival for the Arts in Zimbabwe and in the Boston Early Music Festival. The Globe praised her performance of Pilate's Wife in the ST. MATTHEW PASSION with the Cantata Singers, with whom she has been a member since 1999 and has participated as a soloist in their chamber recital series. Emily is a graduate of the Longy School of Music and of Reed College in Portland, OR. She teaches on the Voice Faculties at the New School of Music and the Dana Hall School of Music, is the Center Director and principle teacher for Mystic Valley Music Together in Medford, MA, and is the music coach for Tunefoolery, an ensemble of musicians with mental illness.

SHANNON BULLIS* studied voice at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY and did graduate vocal performance studies at the New England Conservatory. Currently she is a student of Penelope Bitzas. Shannon has sung the roles of Mercedes in CARMEN, Buttercup in HMS PINAFORE, Bessie in MAHAGGONY SONGSPIEL and Charlotte in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. She sang the role of Nicklausse in LES CONTES DES HOFFMANN at Brevard Music Center where she was the recipient of the Frederica von Stade scholarship. Locally she performs with King's Chapel concert series, Boston Secession and Longwood Opera. Shannon has most recently performed as soloist in Britten's CEREMONY OF CAROLS with the Nashua Choral Society and as alto soloist in MESSIAH at Franklin Pierce College.

BETHA CURTIS*, mezzo-soprano, is currently pursuing a Masters degree at Boston University as a student of Penelope Bitzas. She most recently appeared in the Boston University Opera Institute's Fringe Festival as Lulu in THE JUMPING FROG OF CALAVERAS COUNTY. She also performed with the Ohio Light Opera this past summer as Kate in BRIGADOON and Jeannette in SWEETHEARTS. Betha has sung with the Boston Baroque Ensemble and the Chicago Symphony Chorus. She has been a soloist for several large choral works, including the MESSIAH, Mendelssohn's ELIJAH, and the Bach MAGNIFICAT.

Mezzo-soprano JENNIFER CAROL HANSEN*, has performed as soloist throughout northern New England with choral societies such as the Handel Society of Dartmouth College, the Brattleboro Music Center Community Chorus, the Concord Community Chorus, the Oratorio Chorale, the Androscoggin Chorale, and the Middlebury Festival Chorus, and with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. She has performed over twenty oratorio roles, including the Requiem Masses of Durufle, Dvorak, Mozart and Verdi, Mendelssohn's ELIJAH, works of Handel including the beloved MESSIAH, and the Brahms ALTO RHAPSODY. She has a special interest in the works of J. S. Bach, having performed in his ST. JOHN PASSION, ST. MATTHEW PASSION, MAGNIFICAT, and MASS IN B MINOR as well as numerous cantatas. Jennifer is a magna cum laude graduate of Dartmouth College. She has been a semifinalist in the Oratorio Society of New York Annual Solo Competition and has been a New England finalist in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Award Auditions. She has performed with Vermont Opera Theater and with Opera North. She lives and teaches voice privately in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

CAROL MASTRODOMENICO* maintains an active schedule as a guest soloist with numerous choruses, orchestras and other ensembles. Most recently she was the soloist for Handel's 1707 ROMAN VESPERS with the Fine Arts Chorale. She excels in the interpretation of great oratorios such as Beethoven's MASS IN C and NINTH SYMPHONY, Brahms'REQUIEM, Haydn's LORD NELSON MASS, Mozart's CORONATION MASS and REQUIEM, Mahler's SECOND SYMPHONY, Mendelssohn's PSALM 42, Handel's MESSIAH, Vivaldi's GLORIA, and Fauré's REQUIEM. An accomplished recitalist, Ms. Mastrodomenico has been invited to perform at the Tanglewood Music Center, Jordan Hall (in a program of works by composer David Leisner), the Warebrook Contemporary Music Festival, the Boston College concert series, the Boston Vocal Artists Series, the 1794 Meeting House concert Series in New Salem, and the Music at Noon Concert Series at the Swedenborg Chapel. Ms. Mastrodomenico is frequently heard with Boston Vocal Artists, performing the operatic roles of Rita in Donizetti's RITA AND GASPERINA in Haydn's LA CANTERINA. Her versatility has also been highlighted in BVA recitals where she has performed the works of Purcell, Schubert, Debussy and Poulenc. Ms. Mastrodomenico received her Master of Music degrees in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy at New England Conservatory of Music. She is presently on the faculties of Tufts University and Boston College.

JASON MCSTOOTS* recently had his professional debut in the Boston Lyric Opera production of Tod Machover's RESURRECTION. His recent accomplishments include a portrayal of the title role in Benjamin Britten's ALBERT HERRING with the Red House Opera Group that was described by the Boston Globe as "particularly outstanding...projecting the greengrocer's shyness, sense of duty, and longing to cut loose with sweet, appealing tone and real acting ability." His recent operatic roles include El Remendado in CARMEN with Granite State Opera, Don Ottavio in DON GIOVANNI with Longwood Opera and the Lyric Tenor in Argento's POSTCARD FROM MORACCO as a returning guest artist with the Boston University Opera Department. He is a frequent concert singer appearing as Judas Maccabaeus (Handel) and Saint Nicholas (Britten) with the Newburyport Choral Society, soloist in the LORD NELSON MASS (Haydn) with Old South Church as well as soloist in the Mendelssohn and Bach Magnificats with the Dedham Choral Society. An accomplished recitalist, he has appeared in recital as a fellow with the Tanglewood Music Festival as well as with the Cambridge Lieder and Opera Society and the Old South Church Concert Series.

LAURA MENNILL* holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice and Music Education from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Music in Opera Performance from the Boston Conservatory. A native of Canada, she is a member of the professional choir of King's Chapel in Boston, and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, the chorus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She is also a frequent performer with the Boston Academy of Music, having sung in productions of THE MIKADO, L'ELISIR D'AMOURE, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, and HMS PINAFORE. Previous solo concert engagements include Mozart's VESPERAE SOLENNES DE CONFESSORE, Faure's REQUIEM, Mozart's REQUIEM, Handel's MESSIAH and Haydn's THE CREATION. This past summer she performed in PETER GRIMES at the Saito Kinen Festival in Japan under Seiji Ozawa. Laura is a faculty member for the Voice Department of the New England Conservatory Preparatory School and Extension Division, and teaches voice and piano at the Braintree High School Conservatory.

JOSE LUIS PEREZ, baritone, graduated Cum Laude from Dartmouth College in 1995 with High Honors in Government and Music (focusing on Theory and Composition), and subsequently did his graduate work in music at the Longy School and New England Conservatory. Primary voice teachers/coaches include Donna Roll, Sandra Sliker, Thomas Enman, and Steven Morris. Aside from his regular work in the stock market, he is working on writing "Heroes United", a music drama about 9/11 and the crash of United Flight 93. He is an active member of NOMTI (New Opera Musical Theater Initiative). In February, Jose will appear with the Boston Classical Orchestra at Fanueil Hall in a program of scenes from Mozart operas.

DREW POLING, baritone, is a native of Iowa. He has enjoyed an increasing g presence in the Boston area as soloist in opera, musical theatre and oratorio. In 2002 he sang the role of Lion I in Boston Modern Orchestra Projects' production of GRIFFELKIN, Happy in LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST for Boston Academy of Music, and Bonzo for Newton Symphony's concert production of MADAME BUTTERFLY. In addition he as sung solo roles for Boston's Cantata Singers, Emmanuel Church, Tufts University, and Brandeis University. Drew has been a Young Artist in the Tanglwood Festival and Aspen Music Festivals, winning the Concerto Competition for Voice at Aspen in 1996.

For more information about BOSTON VOCAL ARTISTS please visit their website, www.bostonvocalartists.org. To contact Steve Morris or Melinda Crane, please email: smgpiano@aol.com or melinda.p.oneal@dartmouth.edu