NORTH CAROLINA OPERA SUPPORTERS
North Carolina Opera extends its deepest gratitude to the following generous individuals who have contributed to making this season possible. This list represents gifts received between July 1, 2023 and August 14, 2024.
INDIVIDUAL GIVING
DIAMOND PATRON
Gifts over $150,000
Rosemarie Sweeney and C. Thomas Kunz
GOLD PATRON
Gifts between $50,000 and $74,999
Ross W. Lampe Jr.
SILVER PATRON
Gifts between $25,000 and $49,999
Jacobi Daley
Nancy and Philip Hablutzel
Amy Moss and Bill Brown
UNDERWRITER
Gifts between $15,000 and $24,999
Paul Fomberg and Roy Cromartie
E.T. Franklin, Jr.
Rae and James Gulick
Francine and Ralph Roberson
GRAND SPONSOR
Gifts between $10,000 and $14,999
Anna and James Romano
SPONSOR
Gifts between $5,000 and $9,999
Jane and Francis Acquaviva
Joel R. Adams
Chip Anderson
Amanda and Michael Bambrick
Danielle and Andrew Blass
Kelvin Currie and Sandra Cook
William L. Hampton
Karen and Clark Havighurst
Mia Kang and Tony Acquaviva
Judith LeGrand
Elizabeth and John Lunsford
Vicky Kruckeberg and Carl R. Nold
Susan and Dale Oller
Mary Louise and William Rustin
Richard Sarles
Nerre Shuriah
Cathy and Jim Stuart
Shohreh Taavoni and Alan Kronhaus
Holly and Paul Tesar
Brigette Wilds and Michael C. Byrne
John Williamson
Jeanie Wozencraft-Ornellas
PATRON
Gifts between $2,500 and $4,999
Heather Brown
Yvonne Bryant
Ruth Buck
Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Byrne
Ruth and Sidney Cox
Anne Faircloth and Fred Beaujeu-Dufour
Mary-Owens Fitzgerald
Sofie Franzen-Moyle
Vivian Clark and Bryan Gilliam
Peter Hamilton
Kim Kotlar and James Hargrove
Emmett and Hubert B. Haywood, III
Douglas R. Holbrook
Chancy and Keith Kapp
Thomas Kenan III
Lauren Kennedy-Brady and Charlie Brady
Larry Lisle
Dr. Bill and Dr. Margaret McCulloch
Robert W. Morrison
Linda and Wendell Murphy
Susan Osborne and Stephen Reynolds
Aurora K. Pajeau, MD, MPH
Tom Roberg
BENEFACTOR
Gifts between $1,000 and $2,499
Carol and Robert Bilbro
Eva Buck
Amna Cameron
Linda Carlson and Cheryl Thomas
David Casteel
S. Worth Dunn, III
Connie and Bob Eby
Sallie and Joe Exum
Lois T. Flaherty
James Gray
Paula S. Greenman
Margo Lynn Hablutzel
George E. Hall, Jr.
William F. Hamlin, Jr.
John Hammond
Phyllis Pomerantz and Charles Hochman
Sally and William Johnson
Stefanie Kahn
Martha and Peter Klopfer
Ekaterina Korobkina and Robert Golub
Jo Ann Lutz and Lawrence H. Muhlbaier
Jane Lynch
Patricia McWaters
Ruth Mokeba-Ekangaki and Abie Ekangaki
Susan Moore and Doug Hammer
Nelson Oyesiku
Florence and James Peacock
Ms. Jane Pinsky
Kelley Russell
DD Donates
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sandman
Kay Schoellhorn
Sarah and Steve Shaber
Patrick Shanahan
Edwina Hardy Shaw
James S. Stringfellow
Sally and Robert Tiller
Susan and Dick Timmons
Edmund Tiryakian
Gary Travis
Ann and Steve Tyler
Josephine Walker
Mary Warlick
Diane and Floyd Whitney
Rosemary and Smedes York
SUSTAINER
Gifts between $500 and $999
Judith and Jack Adler
Perri Anderson
Susan and David Baker
Wendy Lapish and John Beck
Sharon and Byron Braswell
Earlene and Joseph Briggs
Stanford Brown
Governor and Mrs. Roy Cooper
Simmie Kastner and Jerome Davis
Cheryl and John Denardo
Martha Dimes
Frank Dworsky
Elizabeth and Joseph Kahn Charitable Fund
Ann Erickson
Donna and Richard Falvo
Alison and Ken Faulkner
Douglas Flint
Patricia Friedman
John Gaitenby
John Gebhardt
Brenda and Ron Gibson
Kimberly Gooden
Ruth Gross and Hans Kellner
Dotty and Lee Hanson
Susan and Carl Hibbert, Sr.
Mark Jalkut and Eloise Watson
Melissa and Robert Johnson
Valerie Johnson and Linda Edwards
Mary and Rick Kane
Deborah and Thomas Keefe
Suzanne Kennedy-Stoskopf
Martha N. Keravuori and Chuck Galle
Moyra and Brian Kileff
Lou and Donald Kline
Kathy and Tom Lada
Andy Lawrence
Joy Lewis
Dorothy Lichtwardt
Carolyn Maness
Susanna Martin
Sarah and Frank Moorman
Advised Fund of the Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc.
Carol and Rusty Parks
Melanie Rankin
Janet and James Rapp
Christie Roeder
Frances Rollins
John Sarratt
Chapman Williams
Rachel Starr
NORTH CAROLINA OPERA
Fran and Jack Steele
Emmett E. Stobbs, Jr.
Sally Thomas
Lee Whitener
SUPPORTER
Gifts between $250 and $499
B. Jasmine Adams
Eugenie Almeida
Kelly and Landy Anderton
Anonymous
Agnes F. Marshall and Robert M. Auman
Anna Ball Hodge
Paul Berry
Joel Buccellato
Steven Burke
Dawn and David Burtt
P. Carrigan Byrd, Jr.
The Honorable Ann Marie Calabria and Robert Calabria
Linda and Philip Carl
Mary Lovelock and W. R. Chapman
David Clegg
Deborah and Andrew Dalgliesh
Mary and George Deaton
Georgia and Alec Donaldson
Gayle Eisner
Saskia Ziolkowski and Martin Eisner
Mary Ann Felton
Ellen Fort
Penelope Gallins
Mair Glosson
Jim Konold and Tim Hackett
Leslie Harris
Greg Hirsh
Deborah Huff
Carol and Rick Johns
Rachel Kaplan and Jeremy Pienik
Timothy A. Kuhn
Annie Lang
Betsy and Steven Levitas
James A. and Elaine Lewis
Rosemary Lunsford
Jordan Malik
Amy and David Marschall
Patty Matthews
Larry Mintz
Eric Mitchko
Carolyn and Peter Olejar
Fran Page
Linda Pukenas
Susan Russell
Margaret and Matt Segal
Susannah Smith
Perry and William Suk
Yvonne Terry
Roberta Titchener
Pamela Trent
Lizbeth and Jean-Marie Videau
Katherine and James Wilson
Ginny Zehr
MEMBER
Gifts up to $249
Virginia Adams & Martin Salzman
Robin and Dwight Allen
Lydia Alleyne
Trish Anderton
Susi Lieff and Arthur Axelbank
Henry Baker
Helen Koo and Richard Bilsborrow
Peter Bleckner
Natalie and Gary Boorman
Hermis and Roy Boston
Anne Margaret and Richard Braham
Anna Bess Brown and Eric Hale
Louise and Charles Bryan
Dolores and Burton Carnegie
Bill Carroll
Laurel Carter and James Todd
Rosalind Coleman and James Rolleston
Rena and Philippe Courtay
Sandra Craig
Tammy and Bill Crook
Judith Bruno and Michael Cyzewski
Lester Czukor
Tanya and Alonzo Dean
Catherine Anderton and José Delgado
Yvonne DeWald
Cynthia and Roger Didio
George Douglas
Amy Edge
Aldert Edmonson
Karen Edwards
Sydelle and Tarek Elshenawy
Jennifer Errande
Jonathan Flescher
Katherine Tyson and Mark Foster
Phyllis and Stephen Gordon
Lynne and Cory Grant
John Graybeal
Dr. Gilbert Greggs
Robert Hablutzel
Carl and Sue Hamill
Rich Haney
Elizabeth Hely and Bruce Simon
Sharon Henderson
Suzanne and Nick Herman
Martha Hsu
Sara Oswald and Eric Hyman
Lewis H. Kairys
Jo and James Kalat
Gail and Eugene Karcher
Jason Karn
Joan and Howard Kastel
Devon Kearney
Kathleen Klesh
Peggy and Chuck Korte
Lewis Lampiris
Lynda and Charles Lankford
Brigitte Abrams and Francis Lethem
Alexandra LoBianco
Maria and Josmar Lopes
Erin Lunsford and Sean Norton
Rebecca and Scott MacLeod
Erica Manley
James Marrow
James May and Richard Cox
Ida Merritt
Courtney Miller
Bob Mitchell
Loretta Mitchell
Christina and Thomas Mitchko
Allen and Maureen Murray
Elizabeth Nackley
Jodee Nimerichter and Gaspard Louis
Connie O’Neil
Susan Royster
Stephen Schaeffer
Pat and Paul Scheible
Georgiana and Stephen Snyderman
Rudy Spruill
Donald Stoll
Julie Kelly-Stump and Mark Stump
Susan Swartz
Earleen Thomas
Allison Tolksdorf
Joe Tooley
Kristina Troost
Robert W. Upchurch
Alice Watkins
John Watson
Margaret Weir
Sally and Ron Wenda
Julie and George Williams
Marti and Dan Wilson
Pamela Wolf-Brewer
Mary and Peter Zimmerman
We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the gifts listed in our programs. If you notice an error or omission, please let us know by emailing angela.grant@ncopera.org and we will promptly make a correction. Thank you!
THE NORTH CAROLINA OPERA LEGACY SOCIETY
North Carolina Opera is honored to have been included in the estate plans of the following visionaries that are helping to ensure the future of opera in the Triangle.
The Joel R. Adams Trust: An Endowment for the Arts
Yvonne Bryant
Jacobi and Jerry Daley
Allison R. Northcutt
Rosemarie Sweeney and C. Thomas Kunz
The following is a list of gifts to North Carolina Opera in honor or in memory of beloved individuals. This list represents gifts to North Carolina Opera between July 1, 2023 and August 14, 2024.
HONORARY GIFTS
In Honor of Jane and Fran Acquaviva
Rachel Starr
In Honor of Nancy Hablutzel
Margo Lynn Hablutzel
Robert Hablutzel
In Honor of Nancy and Phil Hablutzel
Margo Lynn Hablutzel
In Honor of Joanne Kearney
Devon Kearney
In Memory of Ruth A. Benton Anonymous
In Loving Memory of Dana Ann Hall
George E. Hall, Jr.
In Memory of Donald Hunter
Sandra Craig
In Memory of Tom Kunz
Joel R. Adams
Jean Carden
Karen Edwards
Donna and Richard Falvo
Paula S. Greenman
The Hablutzel Family
Carl and Sue Hamill
Jo Ann Lutz and Lawrence Muhlbaier
Jane Lynch
Eric Mitchko
Jodee Nimerichter and Gaspard Louis
Carl Nold
Connie O’Neil
In Honor of Amy Moss
Judith and Jack Adler
In Honor of Carter Skinner and Chapman Williams
Margaret Weir
In Honor of Brigette Wilds
Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Byrne
In Honor of Brigette Wilds and her support for tickets for underrepresented individuals
Advance Auto Parts Foundation
MEMORIAL GIFTS
Marjorie Satinsky
James S. Stringfellow
Triangle Wagner Society
Shirley Warren
Walter Family Foundation
Julie and George Williams
In Memory of Ruth and Thomas Martin
Susanna Martin
In Memory of Bernard Eugene Mitchell, Sr.
Loretta Mitchell
In Memory of John Russell
Sarah and Frank Moorman Advised Fund of the Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc.
In Memory of Iris E. Stoll
Donald Stoll
In Memory of Don Wilder, Former Music Director of the National Opera Company
Judith Bruno and Michael Cyzewski
We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the gifts listed in our programs. If you notice an error or omission, please let us know by emailing angela.grant@ncopera.org and we will promptly make a correction. Thank you!
NORTH CAROLINA OPERA SUPPORTERS
North Carolina Opera gratefully acknowledges the following community leaders for their generous support in making this season possible. This list represents gifts to North Carolina Opera between July 1, 2023 and August 14, 2024.
FOUNDATIONS AND GOVERNMENT
GRAND UNDERWRITER
Gifts of $100,000 or more City of Raleigh
UNDERWRITER
Gifts between $25,000 and $49,999
North Carolina Arts Council
North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The John William Pope Foundation
CO-SPONSOR
Gifts between $5,000 and $9,999
Triangle Community Foundation’s Carver Fund for North Carolina Opera
CO-SPONSOR
Gifts between $5,000 and $9,999 Morningstar Law Group
The Freedom Forum
United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County
Walter Family Foundation
SUPPORTER
Gifts between $2,500 and $4,999
George Smedes Poyner Foundation
Ella Ann and Fank B. Holding Foundation
FRIEND
Gifts up to $2,499
Eddie and Jo Allison Smith Family Foundation
Opera America
CORPORATIONS
FRIEND
Gifts up to $2,499
Advance Auto Parts Foundation
Cornerstone Custom Printing
English Speaking Union of the United States – Research Triangle Branch
The FabFoo Galloway Ridge at Fearrington
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
North Carolina Opera would like to thank
International Young Artists Project
The Juliette Club
King’s Auto Service, Inc.
Meredith College
Mitchell•Casteel - A Fine
Catered AffairThe Pavilion at the Angus Barn
Triangle Wagner Society
Jane Acquaviva
Carmen Buckner
Amy Burns Carolina Ballet
David Casteel
Jerry Espy
Paul Fomberg
Jane and Francis Acquaviva
Dr. Yvonne Bryant
Anne Prince Cuddy
Martha Dimes
James Gray
Karen and Clark Havighurst
Mark Hogan
Ekaterina Korobkina and Robert Golub
Ellen Fort
Rae Gulick
Audrey Hubbard
Abby Jones
Angel Kelley
Patricia McWaters
Meredith College
CHARTER SUBSCRIBERS
Kathy and Tom Lada
Ross Lampe, Sr.
Dr. Bill and Dr. Margaret McCulloch
Christina and Thomas Mitchko
Robert W. Morrison
Linda and Wendell Murphy
JoAnn and Donald Parkerson
Florence and James Peacock
Janet Norris
Marco Rodriguez
Shaw University
Lorraine Snyder
Jeanie Wozencraft-Ornellas
Darla Yancho
Francine and Ralph Roberson
Mary Louise and William Rustin
Sally and Robert Tiller
Allison Tolksdorf
Lizbeth and Jean-Marie Videau
Brigette Wilds and Michael C. Byrne
Ellen Williams
John Williamson
TYSON DEATON CONDUCTOR
Known for his broad range of repertoire and versatility of style, Tyson Deaton has established a reputation for leading energetic and inventive performances. With his musical roots in the standard canon, his affinity for contemporary works is also acclaimed by audiences and critics.
Deaton led Cipullo’s Glory Denied in his Fort Worth Opera debut, yielding the first professional recording of this work (Albany), rated “Best of 2013” (Washington Post), and one among “12 Best Full-Length Opera Recordings of 2014” (OperaNews). Other audio releases include the Offenbach rarity L’île de Tulipatan (Albany), and with Julia Kogan, In Jest, (First Hand Records) recorded at Champs Hill.
Adept on the concert stage as in the orchestra pit, his recital partners have included Denyce Graves, Michael Norsworthy, Talise Trevigne, Linda Wang, Judith Kellock, Julie Landsman, Victoria Livengood, Craig Mumm, Adrienne Danrich, Sherrill Milnes, and Matthew Worth. Jacob’s Pillow, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The John F. Kennedy Center count among the venues where he has been a guest.
Joining San Francisco Opera for Sweeney Todd, he has also worked with Houston Grand Opera, New York City Opera, American Modern Ensemble, Anchorage Opera, Atlanta Opera, Sarasota Opera, and Kentucky Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, and others.
A fervent advocate for the music of our time, Deaton is a frequent consultant for new work development, and has led premieres of composers such as Libby Larsen, Zach Redler, David T. Little, Tarik O’Regan, Robert Paterson, Kennedy Verrett, and Stewart Copeland.
Recent credits include Mimì at Florida Grand Opera, Leonore (Fidelio) Opera Company of Middlebury, Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) Charleston Opera Theater; Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors) Dayton Opera; Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) Indianapolis Opera; Stella (A Streetcar Named Desire) FGO; and Julie Jordan (Carousel) Indianapolis Opera.
As a Fest and Guest Artist at the Luzerner Theater in Switzerland, she sang Donna Anna, Elisabetta (Maria Stuarda), Alice Ford (Falstaff), Gretchen (Faust-Szenen), Raja (Dschungel), Tatyana (Eugene Onegin), and First Lady (Die Zauberflöte). Previous notable performances include Violetta (La traviata) Kentucky Opera; Micaëla (Carmen) El Paso Opera; & Cynthia (Two Boys) in the final workshop of Nico Muhly’s premiere at The Metropolitan Opera.
@rebeccakrynskicox
JASON KARN TENOR
Tenor Jason Karn has impressed critics and audiences with his vibrant, bright tone and dramatic characterizations.
In 2023, Jason sang Gastone in La Traviata with NC Opera, and stepped in to save the show in the middle of the final performance to sing Alfredo from the pit. Before that, Jason sang Edmondo in the company premiere production of Manon Lescaut and Jacquino in Fidelio in a memorable rendition to reopen live performances post-Covid with NC Opera. He will appear as Arcadio in this season’s production of Florencia en el Amazonas.
In 2021, Jason returned to reprise Don José in New York City Opera’s Carmen in Bryant Park.
tysondeaton.com @tyson.deaton
REBECCA KRYNSKI COX
SOPRANO
Hailed by The New York Times as a “vibrant soprano...with a secure, appealing sound and eye-opening volume,” Rebecca Krynski Cox is thrilled to debut with North Carolina Opera. Other highlights of the 24-25 Season include Mimì ( La bohème) with Knoxville Opera, Wendy Torrance (The Shining) with Portland Opera, and Verdi’s Requiem with the Key Chorale in Sarasota, FL.
Jason’s noteworthy engagements include his debut with New York City Opera as the Young Gypsy/Beppe in Aleko/Pagliacci, and his performance alongside the American Symphony Orchestra in the American premiere of Vincent D’Indy’s Fervaal at Avery Fisher Hall. He also made an impressive debut at the Washington National Opera as Scaramuccio in Ariadne auf Naxos. Other notable engagements include his roles as Cassio in Otello with Opera Carolina and Arizona Opera, Al Joad in The Grapes of Wrath with Pittsburgh Opera, and Ferrando in Così fan tutte with Opera Carolina and Chautauqua Opera.
Jason holds a Bachelor’s degree in Voice from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
@jkten
TAYLOR RAVEN
MEZZO-SOPRANO
Taylor Raven, a North Carolina native, has been praised as a “vocal sensation” (Washington Classical Review) with a “deep range” (OperaWire). She made her North Carolina Opera debut in 2022 in Sanctuary Road . Last season Taylor performed as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Seattle Opera, Carmen with Des Moines Metro Opera, Fatima in Omar with San Francisco Opera, Diana/Giove Cavalli’s La Calisto with the Glimmerglass Festival, and Flosshilde in Das Rheingold with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. She originated the role of Charmian in Adams’s Antony and Cleopatra with San Francisco Opera and will make her Metropolitan Opera debut reprising the role in the coming season.
The upcoming season includes a role and house debut as Sesto in La Clemenza di Tito with Pacific Opera Victoria as well as many concert stage debuts. Other upcoming highlights include debuts with the Minnesota Orchestra (Mozart’s Requiem ), Duisburger Philharmoniker (Perry’s Stabat Mater) and a solo recital with the Kaufman Music Center.
Taylor is an alum of the LA Opera Young Artist Program and holds degrees from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the University of Colorado-Boulder.
@taylorelaineraven
BENJAMIN TAYLOR BARITONE
Baritone Benjamin Taylor’s 24/25 season includes debuts at Arizona Opera for La bohème (Marcello), Madison Opera for Il barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro), Charleston Opera Theater for La bohème (Schaunard), and Washington National Opera for Porgy and Bess (Jake). On the concert stage, he debuts at Fort Wayne Philharmonic as the baritone soloist in Prokofiev’s Lt. Kijé, Charleston Symphony Orchestra and Buffalo Philharmonic for Sanctuary Road (William Still, the role of his North Carolina Opera debut), and Dayton Philharmonic as the baritone soloist in Fauré’s Requiem
In 23/24, Benjamin opened the season with a return to Opera Philadelphia for Simon Boccanegra (Paolo). Other season engagements included debuts with Austin Opera for Pagliacci (Silvio), The Princeton Festival for Così fan tutte (Guglielmo), and returns to the Metropolitan Opera for Carmen (Moralès), Detroit Opera for Breaking the Waves (Jan), and Bayerische Staatsoper for La fanciulla del West (Bello). He debuted at Boston Lyric Opera in La bohème (Schaunard) followed by debuts with OperaDelaware/Opera Baltimore for La traviata (Germont), and Opera Philadelphia for Schaunard. He returned to the Metropolitan Opera for The Magic Flute (Papageno) and Dialogues des Carmélites and Berkshire Opera Festival for La bohème (Marcello). On the concert stage he made his debut with The Cleveland Orchestra in La fanciulla del West (Bello).
Additional recent engagements include his debuts at the Metropolitan Opera in Fire Shut Up in My Bones (Chester), Michigan Opera Theatre and Spoleto Festival USA as Schaunard, Cincinnati Opera for the world premiere of Castor and Patience (West), and Baltimore Concert Opera for Adriana Lecouvreur (Michonnet).
Past highlights include Papageno with Pittsburgh Opera and Pique Dame (Tomsky), Platée (Satyre), and Fellow Travelers (Tommy McIntyre) with Des Moines Metro Opera. Additionally, he workshopped Factotum (Garby) at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Mr. Taylor is a graduate of the Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist Program where some of his assignments included La bohème (Schaunard), Glory Denied (Older Thompson), and Tosca (Sciarrone). As a Gerdine Young Artist and Richard Gaddes Festival Artist at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis where he was seen in The Barber of Seville (Fiorello), Shalimar the Clown (Cowardly Giant), and Madam Butterfly (Prince Yamadori).
@bentaylor100
1ST VIOLIN
Carol Chung
Margaret Partridge
Ariadna Ilika
Eric McCracken
Anne Leyland
Nonoko Okada
Leah Peroutka
Krista Cala
2ND VIOLIN
Emi Hildebrandt
Ashley Kovacs
Suzanne Kelly
Cortney Baker
Sarah Griffin
Lucy Greanleaf
Jaimi Grether
Robert Rempher
