Mason Opera: Amahl and the Night Visitors, Dec 2-3, 2022

Mason Opera Presents Amahl and the Night Visitors Gian Carlo Menotti Stage Director: Dr. Gene Galvin Music Director & Conductor: Professor Joseph Walsh Director/Producer: Professor Patricia Miller

Gregory Family Theater

Hylton Performing Arts Center Friday, December 2nd at 3:00pm & 8:00pm Saturday, December 3rd at 3:00pm & 8:00pm

HyltonCenter.org

Cast Principals Amahl Juliana Cardine* Rosalind Gabrielle Chan**

The Mother Madeline Manaker* Alexandra Coburn**

King Kaspar Bronson J. Rodriguez

King Melchior Luis Flores

King Balthazaar David Maeng

The Page Ross Calvin

Chorus of Shepherds Amelia Bailey, Sarah Calvino, Anissa Clay Zelaya, Evie Errett, Joshua Fahy++, Lydia Fahy++, Sophia Ferolito+, Aaron Islam, Julianne Kim, Kyla Larkin, Nathaniel McCay, Jennifer Amarillis Reisberg Mills, Mikayla Mindiola, Todd Wilcox, Spencer Wilde+, Brett Womack+ *Friday Matinee at 3pm and Saturday Evening at 8pm **Friday Evening at 8pm and Saturday Matinee at 3pm + Dancer ++ Children

Orchestra Conductor – Professor Joseph Walsh Violin I Andrea Vercoe

Oboe Megan Stallings

Violin II Sheyna Burt

Flute/Piccolo Zoey Lamb

Viola Michael Garrahan

Percussion I Phillip Todd

Cello Joan Burdette

Percussion II Keegan Phillips

Keyboard Jiye Kim* Yingfei Li**

Pianist Dr. Eunae Ko Han

*Friday Performances **Saturday Performances

Note from the Director I wonder if rich people know what to do with their gold?

When I was invited to fill in this semester and direct Amahl, I got out the score and watched the 1951 original video. This line jumped out at me. Some things seem not to have changed since 1951 – or the 1951 years before that – but much has. Miracles of generosity, divine or human, can occur in any season. Rich or not, we all have something to give. I hope we all can follow Amahl’s example. For it is by giving that we receive.

– Gene Galvin, Stage Director

A scene from the 1965 performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors on NBC. https://www.cpr.org/2013/12/19/the-500-year-oldpainting-that-inspired-amahl-and-the-night-visitors/

Synopsis Amahl and the Night Visitors. Opera for television in one act by Gian Carlo Menotti to his own libretto; NBC, New York, 24 December 1951.

The stage is in two parts. One is the stark interior of a shepherd’s hut; surrounding it is the exterior showing distant hills, a road winding offstage to the left and re-appearing among the hills, and a starry sky with the star of Bethlehem shining brightly. After a very short prelude of soft, tender music, Amahl (boy soprano, about 12 years old), who is crippled, is seen and heard (oboe) playing his shepherd’s pipe. It is a cheerful C major tune, totally diatonic, over a drone C–G bass 5th. He is seated outside the hut wearing an oversized cloak. His mother (soprano) calls him to go to bed.

He delays as long as possible but finally takes his crutch and hobbles into the hut. He tells her of the large bright star and she replies that he is a chronic liar and complains of their poverty. Amahl begins a short duet – comforting his mother – which closes with ‘Good night.’ While they sleep, he on a bed of straw and she on a bench, the voices of the Three Kings are heard in the distance: Kaspar (tenor), Melchior (baritone) and Balthazar (bass). Amahl wakes up and hobbles to the window. He tells his mother that he sees three kings and, of course, she does not believe him. The kings and a page (baritone) are allowed in by the bewildered mother. They settle in, the kings seated on the bench and the page on a stool, to a stately but sprightly march from the orchestra. During the following conversation there is a humorous song by Kaspar – ‘This is my box.’ He shows off the precious gems in his box, but most important is the licorice. He gives some to Amahl. In stage performances, this song is often sung with Kaspar walking among the audience tossing out sweets.

The kings speak of the Child they seek, led by the star, and Melchior begins a very moving quartet. Immediately following the quiet close of the quartet the shepherds arrive to a joyful four-part chorus. This is followed by a lively ballet for the shepherds. They then depart on a quiet chorus of good night and farewell which fades into a return of the tender opening music of the opera. All sleep except the mother who is envying the king’s riches. She thinks that they won’t miss a little of it, but as she is about to take some she is caught by the page. The kings are stunned and angry at first, and Amahl reacts to seeing his mother in the clutches of the page by beating him with his crutch. But Melchior forgives her in a beautiful aria accompanied by the tender opening music. As the kings are about to leave, Amahl offers them his crutch that he made himself to take to the Child: a miracle occurs – he can walk! There is amazement and joy, and Amahl begins a lively quintet. They grant Amahl’s request to go with the kings and take the crutch to the Child himself. The shepherds are heard in the distance singing of the dawn of peace. Amahl plays his shepherd’s pipe as they leave, recapitulating his C major tune from the beginning which gradually fades to silence.

Amahl was the first opera written expressly for American television. The head of the NBC Opera Company, Samuel Chotzinoff, suggested that NBC commission Menotti to write an opera. Menotti at first seemed not very interested in the idea and it lay dormant for several years. A visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art brought the inspiration, when Menotti was deeply impressed by The Adoration of the Magi by the Flemish Renaissance artist Hieronymus Bosch. He began the opera only weeks before the scheduled broadcast on Christmas Eve 1951, and rehearsals were begun before the score was completed. The premiere was a great success and for years the opera was transmitted on Christmas Eve. Amahl is scored for a small orchestra: two oboes and one each of flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, harp and piano, plus percussion and strings. This factor and the non-virtuosos vocal writing has allowed Amahl to be performed by church, college and community opera groups. The music has tonal charm, is diatonic and non-dissonant, and has many memorable melodies.

Synopsis by Bruce Archibald from The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, Vol. 1.

MASON OPERA DIRECTORS Dr. Gene Galvin, Stage Director, Mason Opera Professor Joseph Walsh, Music Director, Conductor, and Opera Coach Professor Patricia Miller, Director of Vocal Studies, Opera Director & Producer Dr. Eunae Ko Han, Opera Coach & Pianist

ARTISTIC AND PRODUCTION STAFF GMU Production Team Carrie Cox, Technical Director Sean Cox, Lighting Designer Laurel Dunayer, Costume Designer Elisabeth Dupuy, Stage Manager Dan Hobson, ASU Production Manager Ariel Kraje, Choreographer Jonathan Dahm Robertson, Set Designer Stephan Starling, Assistant Technical Director Alexandria Wade, Props Designer Sarah Alspach, Costume Shop Assistant Vicki Burroughs, Costume Shop Assistant Juliana Cardine, Supertitles Assistant Rosalind Gabrielle Chan, Supertitles Assistant Alexandra Coburn, Supertitles Assistant Gene Galvin, Supertitles Creator Vika Hearne, Production Intern Anna Jungkeit, Production Intern Susan Lane, Paint Intern Madeline Manaker, Supertitles Assistant

Caleb McMurtry, Running Crew & Production Intern Jeremy Pritchard, Running Crew & Costume Shop Intern Luke Rahman, Props Intern Jackson Ramos, Costume Shop Intern Luisa Romero, Costume Shop Intern Chloe Scheel, Scenic Painter Maddie Southard, Lead Carpenter Viann Tran, Production Intern Hannah White, Costume Shop Intern

MASON OPERA ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF Professor Patricia Miller, Director of Vocal Studies, Opera Director & Producer Dr. Gene Galvin, Stage Director, Mason Opera Professor Joseph Walsh, Music Director, Conductor, and Opera Coach Julie Thompson, Executive Director, Center for the Arts Dr. Eunae Ko Han, Opera Coach & Pianist Rachel Bradley, Mason Vocal Studies and Opera Assistant

HYLTON PRODUCTION STAFF Mark Ormesher, Audio Video Supervisor Kevin Smith, Technical Director Julie Thompson, Executive Director, Center for the Arts

MASON OPERA GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES Dr. Rick Davis, Dean, College of Visual & Performing Arts Dr. Linda Monson, Director, Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music Julie Thompson, Executive Director, Center for the Arts Dan Hobson & the Arts Support Staff

MASON VOICE FACULTY Prof. Patricia Miller, Director of Vocal Studies; Director/Producer, Mason Opera Prof. John Aler Prof. Jim Van Slyke Prof. Lisa Berger Prof. Debby Wenner Dr. Alisa Jordheim Prof. Kerry Wilkerson Prof. Seong Won Nam Dr. Mira Yang Dr. Darden Purcell

IMAGE CREDITS Painting Title: “The Adoration of the Magi.” Artist: Hieronymus Bosch. Date: ca. 1475 Still photo of homeless encampment in Washington, D.C. https://wjla.com/news/local/gallery/dc-permanent-removal-homeless-encampments?photo=3 Used with permission. We thank WJLA-TV for their contribution to this production.

MEET THE ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION TEAM Dr. Gene Galvin (Stage Director), Bass-Baritone, praised in Opera News for his “rich voice and superb musicianship,” has appeared as a soloist with the Washington, Wolf Trap, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Sarasota and National Operas, Opera New England, Opera Theater of Northern Virginia, and Summer Opera Theater, New York Grand Opera, Opera Lafayette, North Carolina HIP Festival, Mallarmé Chamber Players, North Carolina Opera, National Symphony, Arlington Symphony and Williamsburg Symphonia, and in venues from the Kennedy and Lincoln Centers to home plate at Nationals Stadium. He has shared the stage with a wide range of colleagues, from Julius Rudel, Jerome Hines and Jennifer Lattimore to Victor Borge, Ute Lemper and Patti Lupone in dozens of roles that include Basilio, Don Giovanni, Colline, Dulcamara and Gianni Schicchi. Mr. Galvin holds a D.M.A. in Opera Performance from the University of Maryland, where he studied with Dominic Cossa. As a teacher and stage director, Mr. Galvin has been on the faculties of The University of Maryland, The University of Carolina Chapel Hill, Catholic University of America, Shenandoah Conservatory, Catholic University and George Washington University, George Mason University and as opera scenes director for the Amalfi Coast Music and Arts Festival in Maiori, Italy. He currently teaches as half of Galvin Music with his wife, pianist Mary Lou McDonald Galvin, as serves as a member of the Grace Episcopal Choir.

Patricia Miller (Director of Vocal Studies, Director/Producer Mason Opera) is a Distinguished University Professor of Music at George Mason University, received her Bachelor of Music from Boston University, her Master of Music from New England Conservatory, and, as a Fulbright scholar, her Artist Diploma from the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. She completed advanced studies at the Schubert Institute in Baden-bei-Wien and the Mozarteum in Salzburg. Miller is a distinguished international opera and concert artist and an esteemed music educator. Included in her extensive artistic career as a leading mezzo-soprano are performances with San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera, Theatre Châtélèt Paris, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Victoria State Opera (Melbourne), Arena di Verona (Italy), and Deutsche Oper (Berlin), among others. Her concert appearances include the Musikverein (Vienna), Beethovenhalle (Bonn), Avery Fisher Hall-Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, Strathmore Music Center, and the Smithsonian. Her master classes and lecture recitals at universities and conservatories around the world include Moscow State University, Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine, Hochschule für Musik Franz Lizst in Weimar, Germany, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and Ewha Womans University in Seoul, Korea. Miller’s students have garnered top awards in state, regional, national, and international competitions, including First Place at the National Opera Association Collegiate Scenes Competition. She has trained extraordinary young student artists who are now singing with major opera companies domestically and internationally, including Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, Virginia Opera, Netherlands Opera, the “President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band and U.S. Army Chorus, and a Tony Award-winning Broadway revival. Miller has provided Mason students opportunities to study and perform abroad in Italy, Germany, France, Russia, and Korea. Professor Miller is a 2018 recipient of the John Toups Presidential Medal for Excellence in Teaching at George Mason University.

Joe Walsh (Music Director/Conductor) has presented and served as music director for opera and musical theater productions in Virginia, across the country and internationally. He served on the musical staff at Virginia Opera for 17 years where, most, recently, he held the positions of Associate Artistic Director and Associate Conductor. Joe was music director for Riverside Dinner Theater’s acclaimed production of The Pirates of Penzance during the summer of 2019. He has been a regular Music Director with the In Series and Alexandria’s Metro Stage. He is on the faculty at Levine Music and has served as artistic advisor for the National Society of Arts and Letters Vocal Programs, Washington D.C. chapter. Joe has judged the Middle Atlantic Region of the MET National Council auditions, as well as The Partner for the Arts, National Society of Arts and Letters and many other voice competitions. Joe is a member of the faculties of both the School of Music and the School of Theater at George Mason University. At Mason, he has served as music director for productions of Head Over Heels, Cendrillon, Footloose, Gaining Ground, Spring Awakening, Rags, Merry We Roll Along, Big River, Dido and Aeneas, and Hansel and Gretel, among many others.

Dr. Eunae Ko Han (Opera Coach/Pianist) received her DMA in Collaborative Piano at the University of Maryland in College Park (UMCP). She has extensive experience as an accompanist and a chamber musician, performing in numerous concerts and recitals throughout United States, Korea, China and Japan. She held positions as opera coach at Seoul National University and UMCP, and has wide repertoire of vocal works including operas, oratorios, choral and song literatures. She received the McCoy Award for Collaborative Pianist, First Place in Ulrich Competition at UMCP and received rave reviews from the Washington Post for her performance of Mozart’s opera, The Impresario, at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. She made several recordings including a chamber music CD and a classical CD with renowned artists. She currently is the music director for New Life Foundation (NLF), a non-profit organization that supports young, underprivileged musicians; music director for Christian Art Mission (CAM); and an Adjunct Professor of Music at George Mason University. She actively performs throughout the Greater Washington Metropolitan area as well as in New York/New Jersey. Recently, she performed with chamber groups at various conservatories at Turkey, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyztan.

Sean Cox (Lighting Designer) is the Assistant Director of Event Services at George Mason University and is thrilled to join the creative team for the Mason Opera for this production. A graduate of George Mason University with a MA in Arts Management and Auburn University with a BFA in Theatrical Production & Stage Management, he served as Production & Company Manager for Olney Theatre Center from 2008 to 2010. He also has worked on the creative team for several productions and attractions at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, including scenic designs for Entwined, Gloria, and Open Casket. Previous designs have been featured at NextStop Theatre Company in Herndon, VA, including lighting design for Snow White, The Giver, and 45 Plays for 45 Presidents as well as projections design for Urinetown, 45 Plays for 45 Presidents, and Godspell.

Laurel Dunayer (Costume Designer/Costume Shop Supervisor) has been at GMU since 2006. After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an MFA in Theater-Costume Design in 1998, Mrs. Dunayer moved to New York City and worked at Carelli Costumes, a Broadway costume shop. Favorite Broadway costume credits include Kiss Me Kate, The Rocky Horror Show, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Other previous work experience includes Draper at Colorado Shakespeare Festival for seven summer seasons and American Players Theater in Wisconsin.

Elisabeth Dupuy (Stage Manager) is a fourth-year Theatre Major, happy to lend her skills to the School of Music again. She previously was Assistant Stage Manager for La Cenerentola and Boy Detective Fails last semester. She is glad to work for the CVPA and hopes to continue working professionally in the future.

Ariel Kraje (Choreographer) is a professional performer, choreographer, dance teacher, and video editor located in the DMV area.

Performance credits include Workhouse Arts Center: The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Wendy/Dance Captain); Synetic Theater: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck), The Madness of Poe (Ensemble), and Dracula (Wives Understudy). Choreography credits include The Mason Opera: Cendrillon; The Mason Players: The Boy Detective Fails; Academy Center of the Arts: Matilda. She also assistant directed and choreographed Synetic Theater’s Teen Twelfth Night. Ariel received her B.F.A. in Theater with a concentration in Musical Theater from George Mason University. She would like to thank her friends and family for their constant support! Luke 1:37 @ariel.kraje | arielkraje.com Jonathan Dahm Robertson (Set Designer) is a scenic and projections designer for opera, theater, and events. Selected Opera credits: Nixon in China, Fidelio, Peter Grimes (Princeton Festival); Candide, Un Ballo En Maschera, Cosi Fan Tutte (Opera in the Heights).

Selected Theater credits: Nollywood Dreams (Round House Theatre); Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Murder for Two, One Slight Hitch, Jesus Christ Superstar (Totem Pole Playhouse); Day of Absence, Blood at the Root (Theater Alliance); The Agitators, Oh God (Mosaic Theater Co.); The Christians (Theater J); The Mamalogues, Broadway Bound, Member of Wedding (1st Stage) and many more. Member USA829 www.jdahmrobertson.com

MEET THE CAST Amelia Bailey (Shepherd) is a freshman Vocal Performance Major in the studio of Professor Patricia Miller. Prior to coming to Mason, Amelia performed with the Governor's School for the Arts opera program as Ruggiero in Alcina, and as Ms. Pinkerton in The Old Maid and the Thief. Amelia performs with the George Mason University Singers.

Ross Calvin (Page) is a junior Vocal Performance Major studying under the tutelage of Professor John Aler. Ross performs with the University Singers and serves as section leader in the Church of the Good Shepherd Senior Choir. Recently, Ross performed the role of Eisenstein in the Arts by George presentation of Die Fledermaus (Act II Finale) as well as Nero in the aria “Pur ti miro” from L'incoronazione di Poppea.

Sarah Calvino (Shepherd) is a BM Major with a concentration in vocal performance in the studio of Professor Patricia Miller. Sarah performs with the University Singers and the Washington Master Chorale as well as performing in the Mason Opera production of Cendrillon last year. She is currently the music director at Queen of Apostles Church in Alexandria.

Juliana Cardine (Amahl) is a Junior Vocal Performance Major in the studio of Professor Patricia Miller. Juliana sings with George Mason Chamber Singers and St. Patrick Orthodox Church choir. Juliana has previously performed the Fairy Godmother in Mason Opera's Cendrillon.

Rosalind Gabrielle Chan (Amahl) is a senior Musical Theater BFA student in the studio of Professor Kerry Wilkerson. Rosalind Chan has participated in both school of music and school of theater productions including Cenerentola, Mademoiselle de la Halle, Women of Lockerbie, Love's Labors, and Rags.

Anissa Clay Zelaya (Shepherd) Anissa Clay Zelaya is a first- year grad student at George Mason studying with Professor Patricia Miller. She has performed Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus), First Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Musetta (La Boheme), and Susanna (Le Nozze do Figaro) in a scenes performance with George Mason Opera. In May 2022, Anissa graduated with a BM in Voice Performance from Baldwin Wallace University, studying with Dr. JR Fralick. She performed Countess Almaviva in Baldwin Wallace University’s production of Le Nozze di Figaro in March 2022. Anissa performed Zelda '18 in The Ghosts of Gatsby, a partnership with Baldwin Wallace and Cleveland Opera Theater as part of the National Opera Association (NOA) conference in January 2020. Anissa was an apprentice with Pittsburgh Festival Opera during the summer of 2020, performing Countess Almaviva in their young artist scenes program. She graduated from Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in 2018. Mrs. Clay Zelaya has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as a member of the Junior Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. Anissa was a high school apprentice with the Pittsburgh Opera, where she has performed in two mini-lecture recitals.

Alexandra Coburn (Mother) is a professional mezzo-soprano from Houston, TX. She began her undergraduate degree at Louisiana State University and had many lead roles in the operas during her time there including Mistress Quickly in Falstaff, Katasha in The Mikado, Zulma in L’italiana in Algeri, Mother Goose in The Rake’s Progress and performed with local opera companies in the area.

She was also asked to perform as the La Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica with OperaFestival di Roma in 2017. She returned to Italy on scholarship to study at the Bel Canto in Tuscany School of Opera in 2018 and performed all over Italy. After finishing at LSU she moved to Virginia to continue her study of voice with The Potomac Vocal Institute. Alexandra was also hired by Washington National Opera with the Kennedy Center in 2019 and is still an active member. She will be in their 2022-23 season in Verdi’s Il Trovatore and Puccini’s La Boheme. Alexandra is at Mason finishing her undergraduate degree with a BA in Music and a minor in Arts Management. She is in the studio of Professor Kerry Wilkerson.

Evie Errett (Shepherd) is a sophomore music minor learning in the studio of Dr. Alisa Jordheim. Previously, they have been a part of various musical theater performances, but this is their first time in an opera. Evie has also performed with the George Mason Chamber Singers for two years now.

Joshua & Lydia Fahy (Shepherd Children) Joshua and Lydia Fahy are from Warrenton, VA where they are homeschooled. They have both performed with the Fauquier Community Theater and Joshua has also performed with the Torch Drama Club in Warrenton.

Sophia Ferolito (Shepherd/Dancer) is a freshman Musical Theatre major in the studio of Professor Jim Van Slyke. Sophia recently was in the ensemble of the Mason Players’ production of Head Over Heels, and has been in various other shows including Legally Blonde (Elle) and Heathers (Veronica), in addition to several years of dance with her local studio.

Luis Flores (Melchior) is a senior studying Vocal Performance at George Mason University, studying with Professor Debby Wenner.

He has performed with various ensembles including the George Mason University Chorale and Chamber Singers, Liberty University Chorale and Singers, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and Maryland Lyric Opera Chorus. Mr. Flores has sung at prestigious venues such as The White House, The Washington National’s stage, The Kennedy Center, The Strathmore Music Center and Carnegie Hall. Mr. Flores has sung roles with Mason Opera including Liberto in Claudio Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea and Count Barigoule in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon, as well as scenes in Die Zauberflöte as Papageno, and La Bohème as Marcelo.

Aaron Islam (Shepherd) is a Freshman Biology Major. While he has no formal opera experience, he is in both University Singers and University Chorale. He went to a performing arts high school where he studied opera and vocal performance. This will be his first opera at George Mason and he is looking forward to working with them again.

Julianne Kim (Shepherd) Julianne Kim is a senior Music and Psychology student in the studio of Dr. Alisa Jordheim. Julianne has performed with Mason Opera as La Fée and Maguelonne in Massanet’s Cendrillon, Frasquita in excerpts from Carmen, and Papgena and Second Lady in excerpts from Die Zauberflöte.

Kyla Larkin (Shepherd) is a transfer Vocal Performance student studying under Dr. Alisa Jordheim-Cohen. She has previously performed as Poppea from L'incoronazione di Poppea in Mason Opera's Scenes program earlier this year. This will be her first full opera production with Mason Opera.

David Maeng (Balthazaar) is a Junior Vocal Performance student in the studio of Professor John Aler. David performs with the George Mason University Singers and University Chorale. David has previously performed with Mason Opera as Alidoro in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Baron Pictordu in Viardot’s Cendrillon, and Antonio in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, Act II Finale.

Madeline Manaker (Mother) is a second year Master’s student in Vocal Performance in the studio of Dr. Alisa Jordheim. Recent performances with Mason Opera include the title role in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Armenlinde in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon, and in scenes from Bizet’s Carmen as Carmen, Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte as Dritte Dame, and Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin as Olga. In 2022, Madeline performed with the Mason Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the Concerto Competition. Madeline performs regularly with the Maryland Lyric Opera and has appeared in the chorus for performances of Fauré’s Reqiuem, Verdi’s Macbeth, and Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera.

Nathaniel McCay (Shepherd) is a Junior at George Mason University. He is mainly involved with The Mason Players, having appeared in shows such as Eurydice and Love's Labors. He was most recently in the ensemble for Midsummer Rekindled featuring the music of Gilbert & Sullivan.

Jennifer Amarillis Reisberg Mills (Shepherd) is a junior Vocal Performance Major in the studio of Professor John Aler. Jennifer has performed with La Music Lirica program in 2021 as Una Novizia in Suor Angelica and ensemble in La Traviata. This is Jennifer’s first semester performing with Mason Opera. She was Annio in the Opera Scenes Recital. Jennifer also performs with the George Mason Chamber Singers.

Mikayla Mindiola (Shepherd) is a Masters student in Vocal Performance in the studio of Professor Patricia Miller. Last summer she was seen as Jeanie in Hair with the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival. During her undergraduate studies at Illinois State, she performed and filled various leadership roles with the Gamma Phi Circus. She is currently the alto soloist/sectional leader at Westmoreland Congregational UCC. Bronson J. Rodriguez (Kaspar) is a senior Vocal Performance Major in the Studio of Professor John Aler. This being his first role with Mason Opera, Bronson also performs with the George Mason University Chamber Singers, and most recently appeared as Roderigo in Shakespeare Opera Theater’s production of Verdi’s Otello. Bronson will step into the role of Kaspar again with Shakespeare Opera Theater once Mason’s production comes to a close.

Todd Wilcox (Shepherd) is a first year Music Composition major, and this his first time performing in an opera. He has previously played guitar for the musicals Cats and Godspell and recently premiered his newest composition for open instrumentation, “Week 11.”

Spencer Wilde (Shepherd/Dancer) is a freshman Musical Theater Major in the studio of Professor Jim Van Slyke. He has recently performed in the Mason Player's Head over Heels as Ens/Basilius Understudy and Road to the End as Young Steve. He is very excited to perform in his first opera!

Brett Womack (Shepherd/Dancer) is a sophomore Musical Theatre and Mathematics Major in the studio of Professor Jim Van Slyke.

Brett is heavily involved with the School of Theater and the Mason Players, having performed, designed, written, and marketed for numerous shows. Excitingly for Brett, this is their first opera credit.

Amahl and the Night Visitors

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