AMERICAN CELEBRATION
Tonight’s concert is dedicated to – Oscar Feliu –
THEATRE STAFF
Founder & Executive Director Jason Goedken
Founder & Artistic Consultant Whitney Morse
Artistic Director Angel Creeks
Director of Operations Jon Cronin
Director of Business
Sean Graham
Director of People, Projects & Culture ....................... Leslie Becker
Development Director .......... Yasmeen Stogden
Marketing Director ........Monica Berdecio, MA
Senior Manager of
Technical Operations
Booking & Contracts Manager
Clay Becker
Sierra Weiss
Assistant Production Manager Madi Carr
Audiovisual Supervisor –
Touring Productions........................ Luke Bezio
Deck & Facilities Coordinator .. Tony Fairchild
Lighting Supervisor ................... Ally Southgate
Associate Lighting Supervisor ..... Dio Raquel Jr.
Manager of Patron Services Alec Speers
Assistant Manager of Patron Services .............................. Tina Carroll
Assistant Manager of Patron Services ...........................Lonnie Goertz
Assistant Manager of Patron Services Savannah Rose Parker
Analyst, Sales & Customer Support .................... Kristin Fortuna
Marketing & Social Media Coordinator Natalie Bollinger
Marketing Account Manager Erika Nelson
Graphic Designer Krissi Kugler
Web Designer David Sponseller
Lead Housekeeper Victoria Doss
Ad Sales marketing@significantproductions.org
SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS BOARD
Production Swing Nichole Pollack
WHITNEY
The Sharon®L. Morse
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Dear Patron of the Arts,
Welcome to The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center!
This year marks a very special milestone—10 years since The Sharon first opened its doors. What began in 2015 as a bold dream has grown into a vibrant home for live performance, rooted in the adventurous and artistic spirit of my grandmother, Sharon L. Morse.
Over the past decade, we’ve been honored to earn your trust, show by show, standing ovation by standing ovation. Whether you’re here tonight to experience a beloved Broadway tour, a favorite artist, or something entirely new, know that every performance has been thoughtfully curated by our passionate team of artists and arts administrators.
As we celebrate our first ten years, we’re also stepping into an exciting new chapter: The Sharon is now proudly powered by Significant Productions, a registered nonprofit dedicated to creating meaningful, memorable arts experiences in our community. With this new foundation, we’re not only preserving what makes The Sharon special, we’re building toward a future filled with bold ideas, diverse stories, and even more opportunities to surprise and delight you.
Thank you for being part of this journey. We’re so glad you’re here. Enjoy the show, and here’s to the next ten years of discovery, connection, and applause.
See You at The Sharon, Whitney Morse
Founder & Artistic Consultant Significant Productions
ART. ARTISTS. AUDIENCE. SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS (SIGPRO) is a Non-Profit arts organization that operates The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center (The Sharon) & The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol (The Studio).
OUR MISSION; SigPro cultivates a diverse collaborative community with a focus on artists' well-being that strives to provoke thought and spark conversation through high quality performing arts.
OUR TEAM MEMBERS
We believe that fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace is essential for the creation of exceptional art. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extends to our employees. This ensures every individual who contributes to our productions feels valued and empowered. We actively promote a workplace culture that embraces differences and encourages collaboration among our diverse team of artists, technicians, administrators, and volunteers.
Thank You
FOR SUPPORTING SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS
STANDING OVATION
$2,022 A YEAR
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Elliot Sussman
John Swartz
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Russell Jr.
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DEDICATIONS
Ursula Becker
Peg Fiore
Alice Stogden
Jackson L. Straub III, M.D.
Lorraine Torgerson
Thank you to our Vibe Setters and anonymous donors.
MESSAGE FROM THE MAESTRO
Dear friends and supporters of The Villages Philharmonic,
Tonight’s concert recalls the beginning of our musical journey in this wonderful city.
From day one, we wanted to create a concert that would be a celebration of two cultures: Italian culture and this wonderful, extraordinary American culture, of which I am proud to be a part and a citizen of this exceptional country.
Today we have two remarkable guests of great importance in the world of global music: John Osborn is one of the most acclaimed tenors in opera houses around the world, and Lynette Tapia is a soprano who needs no introduction. She was our guest for the 2024-25 season, and it is a wonderful return for this sensational voice to the world of music.
But today we want to dedicate this concert to Oscar Feliu, a close friend who was a pioneer at The Villages in creating everything we have today. In fact, if it weren’t for him, we probably wouldn’t have this marvelous musical world, so well organized and of the highest caliber, in our city today.
Oscar left us 10 years ago, but he lives on in our hearts, as each of us had the opportunity to know, appreciate, and love his selfless humanity and his talent for music. Above all, he was a man who worked intensely, tenaciously, and dedicatedly throughout his life to create what we now inherit from him. He leaves us an astounding legacy that we must continue to grow and carry forward.
Thank you for your support and for all you do to ensure that art lives on for us and for future generations, whom we must win over and educate about music.
Musically yours,
Maestro Pasquale Valerio Founder,
Director, and Chair of The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra
In Dedication & Honor
Oscar Feliu performs during "Oscar and VHS Future Stars" at Church on the Square on Thursday, November 17, 2011.
by Peter Travers - Daily Sun
Photo
SUBSCRIPTIONS & SUBSCRIPTION RENEWALS ON
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Fri, Nov 21 ........................................................................ Messiah
Mon, Dec 16-17 .............................................. Holiday Celebration
Wed, Jan 28 ................ Rhapsody in Blue and Dvorak Symphony #8
Sat, Feb 14 ............................. American Music: Celebration of Love
Tue, Mar 10 .............. Classical Concert Series: Kabalevsky & Mozart
Thu, Apr 2 ....... Classical Concert Series: Mendelssohn & Beethoven
Sat, May 16 ............... Opera Gala: Magic Moments of Opera Scenes DONATE
PASQUALE VALERIO, MAESTRO
Pasquale Valerio is an internationally acclaimed Orchestral Conductor. In 2004 he founded The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra, became its musical director, and is still engaged in concerts and tours throughout Florida and worldwide. Maestro Valerio was also the founder of the Lake Sumter Chamber Orchestra as well as co-founder and conductor of the Florida Lakes Symphony from 2005 to 2006. He collaborates with various European orchestras such as the Philharmonic Orchestra ‘900 of the Teatro Regio Opera in Turin, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Prague, the Virtuosi of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, the Virtuosi of the Philharmonic of Bacau, the “A. Scarlatti” Symphony Orchestra of Naples, Orchestra Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. In 2006 had the opportunity to assist Sir Antonio Pappano, current Music Director of the Royal Opera House in London This collaboration represented a great point of reference for maestro Valerio and indelibly marked his experience of conducting growth. From 2007 to 2009 he collaborated with the internationally known Viotti music festival in Vercelli, Italy and in May 2018 he began an ongoing cooperation with the North California Music Festival as guest conductor. Pasquale Valerio was born in Naples to a family linked to cultural traditions and founding religious values. The great passion for music was evident from the first years of his life, but, only towards the tenth year of age did he begin his musical studies, first with the piano, and subsequently, at the age of thirteen years, when he began studying trumpet. It is in this period that Pasquale met Maestro Filippo Veniero, an important musical guide for subsequent studies. He studied trumpet at the school of Maestro Francesco Lentini, Bari Conservatory, with whom he obtained the middle completion and, subsequently under the guidance of Maestro Diego Benedusi, he obtained the superior completion of trumpet. After completing his trumpet studies, he collaborated as an instrumentalist with orchestras of major opera and symphonic institutions including the Opera House “Teatro di San Carlo in Naples “and with other major opera orchestras and symphonic institutions. Simultaneously he studied Composition and Score Reading at the School of Maestro Filippo Veniero.
The meeting with two conductors, J Withney and Gunther Smidth (United States) conditioned the musical journey and made it possible that in 1998 Pasquale resumed his studies started in Naples with F. Veniero. Also important was the meeting with the famous conductor Anton Coppola in 1999, who became Pasquale’s mentor and guide.
MAESTRO
Pasquale is a guest collaborator at festivals and international competitions, including:
International Piano Competition “F. Schubert” in San Cristoforo Virtuosi of the Bacau Philharmonic, Romania, Viotti Music Festival, Camerata Ducale, Italy, Piano Festival of Carrara/Arezzo
Orchestra 900’ of the Teatro Regio of Turin, Oída Symphony Orchestra (Arezzo) Philharmonic Orchestra of Benevento, New Orchestra Scarlatti and Florida Philharmonia
In the academic year 2023 he was appointed Visiting Professor of Conducting Studies at the “London Performing Arts Academy” and at the end of 2023, appointed Honor Roll of “ALTAMURA MERCADANTE FEST”.
My Fair Lady, Suite
I Could’ve Danced All Night. Be Me Love
I Want To Be A Prima Donna My Way
Somewhere Maria
Tonight, Tonight
The Prayer
~ Intermission ~ Parla Più Piano
Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu
Smile
Torna A Sorrento
Non Ti Scordar Di Me
Mattinata
Italian Street Song (Naughty Marietta)
La Danza
PROGRAM
FEATURED ARTISTS
LYNETTE TAPIA, SOPRANO
Lynette Tapia, Bolivian-American soprano, is a Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, First Place and “Prix de la publique” in the Operalia International Voice Competition Placido Domingo, First Prize George London Foundation, First Prize Licia Albanese - Puccini Foundation, an Opera Index Award.
Ms. Tapia has recently appeared as Marie in La Fille Du Régiment by Donizetti with Parnassus Society; Opera Gala: John Osborn: A Legend Returns Home, which was Winner of an Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Award for the Televised Program on Iowa Public TV; Adina in L’elisir D’amore by Gaetano Donizetti in Schloß Braunfels, Germany as well as Lucia in Lucia Di Lammermoor with Opera Classica Europa; Elvira in I Puritani with Opera Koor Rotterdam; Grote Zangers Recital with John Osborn and Thomas Bagwell in Amsterdam Muziekgebauw an ’t Ij; Phoenician International Festival of the Voice in La Boheme as Mimí; in Aalto Theater Essens’s production of Le Prophete by Giacomo Meyerbeer as Berthe; Opera Classica Europa’s productions of Carmen as Micaëla, Turandot as Liù, La Traviata as Violetta Valéry, and Rigoletto as Gilda; National Opera and Ballet Constanta, Oleg Danovski Theater in La Traviata as Violetta; Salzburg Festspiele in La Cenerentola as Clorinda.
Other roles include Die Königen der Nacht in Die Zauberflöte; Zerbinetta in Ariadne Auf Naxos; Adele in Die Fledermaus; Blondchen in Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail; Rosina in Il Barbiere Di Siviglia; and Cunegonde in Candide.
Recent concert appearances include Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Italy; Kloster Eberbach, Germany; Opéra de Genève Les Nations; Teatro Regio Parma, Italy; Alte Oper Frankfurt, Germany. Prestigious conductors include Donald Runnicles, Richard Bonynge, Julius Rudel, John DeMain, Stephen Lord, and Andrew Litton; She has recorded two albums, L’amour consacré and La coppia degli acuti with John Osborn, tenor, and Christopher Larkin, conductor, with the English Chamber Orchestra at Henry Wood Hall in London. Most recent recording includes Berthe in Le Prophete on Oehms Classics.
FEATURED ARTISTS
JOHN OSBORN, TENOR
John Osborn, tenor, from Sioux City, IA, now living in The Villages, FL has garnished international acclaim in opera houses and concert halls all around the world. He began his operatic career with Des Moines Metro Opera in 1993, is a Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Awards, and is First Place Winner of the Operalia Vocal Competition Placido Domingo.
His early career included many roles in Rossini operas including Il Conte d’Almaviva in Il Barbiere Di Siviglia, Principe Ramiro in La Cenerentola, Lindoro in L’italiana In Algeri, Conte di Libenskof in Il Viaggio A Reims, and Don Narciso in Il Turco In Italia; and Mozart roles as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Ferrando in Così Fan Tutte, Tamino in Die Zauberflőte, and Belmonte in Die Entfürung Aus Dem Serail. He was equally at home in roles by Donizetti including Nemorino in L’elisir D’amore, Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Edgardo in Lucia Di Lammermoor, Fernand in La Favorite, Tonio in La Fille Du Regiment, Percy in Anna Bolena, and Roberto in Roberto Devereux. Bellini roles include Elvino in La Sonnambula, Arturo Talbot in I Puritani, and Pollione in Norma.
His career changed paths with his debut as Prince Léopold in La Juive by Fromenthal Halévy and the Opéra National de Paris Bastille, and taking on the role of Arnold Melchtal in Rossini’s Guillaume Tell in his debut with L’Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, Italy. He has consequentially performed this epic role in more productions and performances than anyone in the history of opera. He graduated to the more lyrical role as Eléazar in La Juive, and has performed other important French leading tenor parts in Gounod’s Faust and Romeo Et Juliette; Massenet’s Manon and Werther; Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots, Le Prophete, and Robert Le Diable; Berlioz’s Benvenuto Cellini and Damnation De Faust; and Les Contes D’hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach.
John Osborn’s prestigious awards include the 2010 Goffredo Petrassi Award (cultural); 2012 Aureliano Pertile Award (tenor); 2014 Bellini d’Oro (bel canto); 2015 Friends of the Dutch National Opera “Prix d’amis” (best performance); the 2015/16 Friends of Liceu Critical Award (male singer) for his portrayal of Benvenuto Cellini; Abbiati Critics Award in Italy; and most recently an Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Award for his program; “John Osborn: a Legend Returns” with Lynette Tapia, soprano, conductor Ryan Haskins, and the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra with Iowa Public Television.
ORCHESTRA ROSTER
FLUTE
Nicolas Real, Principal
Geraldine Barazarte
OBOE
Amy Collins, Principal
CLARINET
Jadon Gibbs Principal
Dominique Keller
BASSOON
Christian Eberle, Principal
FRENCH HORN
Joseph Lewinskyl, Principal
Dann O’ Donnell
TRUMPET
John De Paola, Principal
Andree Córdova
TROMBONE
Andrea Rowlison, Principal
Richard Brady
BASS TROMBONE
Anthony Hill
TUBA
Paul Mungall
TYMPANI
Christopher Nolin
PERCUSSION
Jordan Holley
PIANO
Sergei Kossenko
DRUM SET
Simon Ramos
FIRST VIOLIN
Stewart Kitts, Concertmaster
Marius Tabacilia
José Guedez
Eugene Komarnitskiy
Elena Komarnitsakaia
David Daijang
Baoling Xu
Michael De Jesus
Carlos Jaquez
Scott Knopf
SECOND VIOLIN
Gregory Carreño, Principal
Elizabeth Kitts
Israel Méndez
Luisamar Navarro
Ivette Ferreira
Marialejandra Vásquez
Yasmary Márquez
Yenifer Laurens
VIOLA
Richard Urbano, Principal
Juan C. Siviero
Oana Potur
Andrea Oliveira
Francia Laurens
CELLO
David Calhoun, Principal
Olga Beliaieva
Roy García
Scott Crowle
DOUBLE BASS
Kevin Gallagher, Principal
Leniot Hernandez
Michael Anthony McCabe
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VPO DONORS 2025-26 CONCERT SEASON
ORCHESTRA CIRCLE
$10,000+
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Barker
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Stringer
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OVERTURE CIRCLE
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VPO DONORS 2025-26 CONCERT SEASON
Jill Cummings
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Dibartolo
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Carol Joyce Harrison
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Mark Hawke
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Dan & Carol Johns in Honor of Ann Whipple
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Brad Koozman
James Langendorfer in Honor of Anna Whipple
Steven & Jayne Lewin
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John Van Dyke
Antonio Velardi
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Mike Whitfield & Darlene Pruett
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ARIA CIRCLE
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John Voorhes
Lukas West
Bonnie Williams
MEMORIAL DONATIONS
Bill Barnes: Susan Escobedo
Fred Boyd: Frank & Janet Argenziano
Fred Boyd: Mr. & Mrs. Manning
Fred Boyd: Don & Janet Schiegel
Carolyn Johnson: Richard Johnson
BUSINESS PARTNERS
Blackston Financial Advisory Group
FMK Restaurant Group
Francesco’s Ristorante
Fross & Fross Wealth Management
Havana Country Club & Legacy Restaurant at Nancy Lopez Country Club by Suleiman Family Restaurants
Royal Décor Company
Great theatre requires talent, passion, and the support of our community. The Villages values the power of art and recognizes Significant Productions’ role in enriching our lifestyle. Join them, as we have, in ensuring that live theater continues to thrive.
POWERING art IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH
Free Memory Screens
Hand-Selected Jewelry from the World’s Finest Brands
Hand-Selected Jewelry from the World’s Finest Brands
Expert Repairs by In-House Master Jewelers
Expert by In-House Master
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Appraisals On-Site GIA Gemologists in The Community for 25 Years
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