ANDREA BOCELLI
BENEFIT CONCERT
PHOTO I GALLERY
Performing in front of a sold-out crowd, the 64-year-old Bocelli, singing in a celestial voice of exquisite tone, indescribable range, with impeccable artistry, wowed the audience throughout the two-hour concert. Accompanied by the Charlotte Symphony led by Maestro Steven Mercurio, the total effect of Bocelli’s concert, enhanced by the spectacular participation of Opera Carolina’s resident company members, was breathtaking. Adding impressive opera arias and songs from his repertoire, such as “Con te partirò” to the event was the key to success!
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
Celebratory Concert
November 9,
2024
Belk Theater
A harmonious shower of Opera Stars will fall at the Belk Theater for “A Night to Remember”, a Grand Gala* Concert to celebrate Opera Carolina’s 75th Season, will forever hold a special place in your heart. You will want to say, “I was there!”.
* Free admission thanks to the generosity of Dr. Matteo Fregosi.
CARMEN
by G. Bizet
February 6, 8 & 9, 2025
Belk Theater
A young gypsy loves passionately. She is fearless, free spirited and independent. She is the target of her ex’s jealousy. Carmen – Grand Opera’s fiery heroine – is loved by two men. And when the inevitable happens, she is fearless, defiant and strong. She is, after all, Carmen
LA BOHEME by G. Puccini
APRIL10, 12 & 13, 2025
Belk Theater
Before Rent, the life of the starving artist took the stage in Puccini’s masterpiece La bohème La bohème’s Friends are filled with life and love. They are carefree until reality shatters their innocence. A timeless story for all ages. `
Giacomo
Since 1999, the Hearst corporate office in Charlotte and the Hearst Foundations in New York have provided a reliable, firm foundation for Opera Carolina’s philanthropic campaigns. Hearst corporate has been the Title Sponsor of the Season-Opening opera production in each year from the 2001/02 season to the 2025 season-opening production of Carmen . This amazing support is made more significant by the investment the Hearst Foundations have made in Opera Carolina
THANK YOU TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAKE HEARST A SPECIAL CORPORATE PARTNER.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2024/25 SEASON
OFFICERS
CAROL Y. KENDRICK Board Chair. Arts Advocate
CHRISTOPHER T. MARDANY Vice-Chair. Hearst
DARYL HOLLNAGEL Secretary. Shumaker Loop and Kendrick
PHYLLIS ZANGHI Treasurer. Gaming Intelligence
FRANK BONCIMINO Assistant Tresurer AIG
MEMBERS
AARON BENJAMIN Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
ROB BOISVERT I-77 Mobility Partners, LLC
CRAIG SELIMOTIC DANFORTH Bernstein Priv. Wealth Mng.
JOHN HARMELING Grant Thornton
ROBERT HARRINGTON Robinson Bradshaw
SHARON HARRINGTON Novant Health Foundation
BARBARA HOLT Arts Advocate
CACI JAEGER Arts Advocate
PAUL KARDOUS Row Architecture
JENNIFER MARTIN Arts Advocate
MARCUS MARTIN U.S. Bancorp
MATTHEW MOORE JP Morgan Chase
ANN REED Arts Advocate
JORDAN STERN U.S. Bancorp
ELIZABETH TRENARY Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein
AUNDREA WILSON Arts Advocate
LIFE MEMBERS
DR. KI-HYUN CHUN CPA, Ph.D., LL.D, The Chun Group
LESLIE PALIYENKO Metropolitan Opera National Council
CHARLOTTE D. PAYNE Arts Advocate
PEG POVINELLI Arts Advocate
EMILY SMITH Arts Advocate
OC2020 CAMPAIGN CHAIRS
ROB ENGEL Wells Fargo
MARY TABOR ENGEL Queens University
OUR TEAM
DR. SHANT É P. WILLIAMS
General Director
CLAUDIO FERRI Deputy Director & Acting Artistic Director
Artistic
O
EMILY JARRELL URBANEK Director of Music Preparation & Principal Coach
Development
ALINA MACNICHOL Senior Director of Development
PHIL VOLPONI
Corporate Development & Government Affairs
NAKISHA PROCOPE Development Consultant
Community Engagement
TEIL TALIESIN Learning Programs Manager
GAIL GARVIN
Community Programs Manager
DARIA RUZHYNSKA Coach & Accompanist
Operations
SARAH WATSON Operations & Ticketing Manager
ROMAN KUZMICH Website Manager
Production
VALERIE WHEELER
Production Stage Manager & Acting Director of Production
WILBERT FERGUSON Technical Director
JAY GRAVES Assistant TD and Properties Manager
Finance
SHALIL GIANNONE
Finance Consultant
75th ANNIVERSARY SEASON
The Queen City has a new annual tradition, A Night to Remember
An impressive number of new, young audience and new donors came to this very successful event!
Opera Carolina celebrated 75 years in the Charlotte community with a shower of stars. We appreciate all our performers from around the globe!
AVANTICREDITS
Publisher OPERA CAROLINA
Editor in Chief DR. SHANTÉ P. WILLIAMS
Co-Editor CLAUDIO FERRI
Art Creator & Designer
STEFANO VIGNATI
Contributors
ALINA MACNICHOL
GAIL GARVIN
NAKISHA PROCOPE
SARAH WATSON
Pictures courtesy:
Charlotte Ballet, Rick Belden
A Night to Remember, Jorge Torres
A Night to Remember, MItchell Kearney
Dr. Shanté Williams, Brandon Grate
75th Anniversary, Opera Carolina Archive
Carmen Amaya, Keystone Picture USA
Bella Notte 2024, Jon Strayhorn
Georges Bizet
CARMEN
Opera in Four Acts
First performed in Paris on 3 March 1875.
FEBRUARY
6, 8, AND 9, 2025
• BELK THEATER, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
This production is made possible by
THE CAST
Carmen Alyson Cambridge
Don José Jonny Kaufman**
Escamillo Daniel Scofield*
Micaëla Melinda Whittington**
Zuniga Dan Boye
Frasquita Corey Lovelace**
Mercédès Peyton Wheeler**
Remendado Logan Webber
Moralès Christian Blackburn**
Dancaïro Kendrick Williams**
CREATIVE TEAM
Conductor James Meena
Director Dennis Robinson, Jr.
Lighting Design John P. Woodey
Scenic Design Annabelle Roy
Costume Design Susan Memmott Allred
Wig and Make up Design Martha Ruskai
Fight Choreographer Dale Girard
*Opera Carolina debut **Opera Carolina Resident Company Member
Members of the Opera Carolina Chorus, Youth Academy, and The Charlotte Symphony
Costumes Provided by Utah Symphony | Utah Opera
CARMEN
ACT 1
Soldiers parade in the square. Micaëla arrives, looking for José. Moralès tells her that José is on the next watch. He tries to persuade her to wait with them, but Micaëla decides to return later. A crowd of street children appears, followed by the relief guard headed by Zuniga. The square fills up with soldiers and women from the factory. Carmen attracts the most attention. Before returning to the factory, she throws a flower to José, which he picks up when everyone else has dispersed. Micaëla returns and gives José a letter from his mother. Suddenly there is uproar in the factory and a crowd of women rushes out. They accuse Carmen of drawing a knife during a fight with another girl. Carmen refuses to answer Zuniga’s questions and he decides to send her to prison. While Zuniga is writing out the warrant, Carmen seduces José, who lets her escape.
ACT 2
Carmen and her friends, Frasquita and Mercédès, are entertaining Zuniga and Moralès. A crowd of soldiers arrives with the celebrated bullfighter Escamillo. He is instantly attracted to Carmen. Carmen, Frasquita and Mercédès are left alone with Dancairo and Remendado, who have a plan for which they need the girls’ help. Frasquita and Mercédès are ready, but Carmen says she cannot join them because she has fallen in love with José and is expecting him. José’s voice is heard in the distance. He declares his love for Carmen, who dances for him. When the roll-call sounds from the barracks, José is torn between his military duty and his feelings for Carmen. At the moment José decides to leave, Zuniga returns. José is fiercely jealous and starts a fight with his superior officer. Carmen’s associates return and deal with Zuniga. José realizes that his army career is over and he now has no choice but to join them.
ACT 3
Black-market smugglers come by night to the border. Carmen’s and José’s love affair has run its course: she has grown tired of him and he, though still obsessed with her, is tense and unpredictable. Frasquita and Mercédès hope to read their fortunes in a pack of cards; when Carmen cuts the cards, they foretell only her death. The women leave to distract some customs guards, and José remains behind in the camp. Micaëla and Escamillo converge on the deserted encampment, seeking José and Carmen respectively. Micaëla hides as José confronts and fights Escamillo. Carmen and the smugglers return and stop them, and Escamillo invites the whole party to his next bullfight. Micaëla is discovered. She begs José to return to his dying mother.
ACT 4
A crowd has gathered for Escamillo’s bullfight. The toreros enter to enthusiastic acclaim; Carmen is with Escamillo. After Escamillo has entered the arena, Carmen meets José. She taunts him and he kills her.
D GEORGES BIZET
(Paris 1838 - Bougival 1875)
uring his brief career, Bizet composed in several musical genres, including some thirty operas, many of which remained unfinished. Two of those that did reach the stage, The Pearl Fishers and The Fair Maid of Perth enjoyed only limited success.
At the age of nine he joined the Paris Conservatoire (their usual entry age was ten) where he studied with accomplished composers Charles Gounod and Fromental Halévy.
In 1858, Bizet travelled to Rome however distracted by Roman social life he only composed one piece during his first six months which failed to impress. Apprehensive, and averse to writing more religious music, Bizet wrote an opera buffa (comic opera) Don Procopio which was praised by the Académie’s judges.
As a composer, he came under the influence of Charles Gounod. Even before he came under the influence of Italian composers such as Donizetti and Rossini, he had begun writing his first operas, which include the still occasionally performed one-act operetta Le Docteur Miracle. In 1869 he married Geneviève Halévy, the daughter of the composer of the opera La Juive Three years after he composed the music for Alphonse Daudet’s play L’Arlésienne (1972).
His indisputable masterpiece, Carmen (1875), failed to enjoy immediate acclaim, though it was later to become one of the most famous operas ever composed and continues to enthral audiences. Bizet, unfortunately, died in Bougival for a fatal heart attack on 3rd June 1875 aged just 36 years, three months after Carmen’s premiere, unaware of his achievement.
CAST THE Carmen
JAMES MEENA, Conductor
Maestro James Meena has held principal and resident conducting posts with the Cleveland Ballet, Toledo Symphony, Toledo Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, and Opera Carolina in addition to guest conducting appearances that include a nationally televised Thanksgiving concert for the Korean Broadcasting System Symphony; performances of Stravinsky’s tour de force La Sacre du printemps with the National Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan; concerts with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra; and concerts with the orchestras of the Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, the Orchestra Regionale Toscana in Italy, the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Memphis Symphony, the Mexico City Philharmonic, the Orlando Symphony, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the KBS Symphony (Seoul) and the Toledo Symphony. In the field of grand opera, he has been engaged as guest conductor with Arizona Opera, Edmonton Opera, Luglio Musicale Trapanese Sicily, Teatro Greco Syracuse, Teatro Antiche Taromina, Teatro del Giglio Lucca, Teatro Verdi Pisa, Teatro Alighieri Ravenna, Teatro Pavarotti di Modena, Teatro Goldoni di Livorno, the National Arts Center Ottawa, Manitoba Opera, NYCity Opera, Opera Pacific, l’Opera de Montreal, Pittsburgh Opera, Portland Opera, Opera Pacific, Sarasota Opera, Teatro Sociale Como, Teatro Grande Brescia, Teatro Fraschini Pavia, Teatro Ponchielli Cremona, Utah Opera, and the Washington Opera. For Manitoba Opera, he conducted the world première of Transit of Venus by the Canadian team of composer Victor Davies and librettist Maureen Hunter, which was recorded for national broadcast on the CBC. His Opera Carolina performances of Faust, Eugene Onegin, and Il trovatore are captured on recording for NPR World of Opera. Maestro Meena made his professional début with the Pittsburgh Symphony conducting Haydn’s monumental oratorio The Creation and was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by his undergraduate alma mater in 1997 for his commitment to visionary excellence and growth of cultural institutions.
DENNIS ROBINSON, JR, Director
As a stage director, Dennis Robinson, Jr. continues to create a diverse body of work telling stories. Dennis’ recent directing engagements include Porgy & Bess at Opera Carolina and North Carolina Opera. Mr. Robinson’s previous engagements include productions at The Glimmerglass Festival, Pittsburgh Opera, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Toledo Opera, New Jersey State Opera, and the Virginia Arts Festival.
With a passion for opera and a commitment to fostering community connections through the arts, Dennis is a seasoned connector. As director of Programs and Partnerships at Seattle Opera, Dennis is responsible for developing and directing the company’s programs for all ages and building and nurturing organizational relationships to expand the company’s civic impact, build audiences, and enrich the experiences of current patrons. Driven by his dedication to creating meaningful and inclusive cultural experiences, he takes pride in re-engaging communities that have been historically excluded from the opera experience. He aims to pioneer new approaches to community engagement in opera through dynamic programming and collaborative initiatives that establish sustainable partnerships, reignite student engagement, and advance the company’s Racial Equity and Social Impact plan. Previously serving at Palm Beach Opera, City Theatre Company, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, he has a proven track record of creating inclusive programs that resonate with a broad audience. In 2024, he was awarded the Washington Governor’s Arts & Heritage Young Leader Award and named one of the Puget Sound Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.
CAST THE Carmen
ALYSON CAMBRIDGE, Carmen
American soprano Alyson Cambridge is one of the most compelling vocal artists on the scene today. She is praised for her “powerful, clear voice” (The New York Times) and hailed by critics for her “radiant…and artistically imaginative” performances (The Washington Post). Combining a striking stage presence and affecting musical interpretation, she has nearly two decades of success on the world’s leading opera and concert stages, including The Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Washington National Opera at The Kennedy Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera, London’s Royal Albert Hall, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Vienna Konzerthaus, and New York’s Broadway Theatre. Recent engagements include the title role of Tosca with Opera Carolina, Hannah in The Merry Widow with Toledo Opera, and reprising Elsa in The Sound of Music with Arizona Opera. Last season she reprised her Elsa in The Sound of Music with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, took her musical fusion show Rock Me Amadeus – Live! to Pensacola Opera, and returned to the title role of The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson at Pittsburgh Opera. This season, Alyson returns to Opera Carolina to sing and to Washington National Opera to sing Bess in Porgy & Bess.
In their review of tenor Jonny Kaufman’s portrayal of Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Broadway World noted, “…Kaufman, as Pinkerton, has a voice so grand — even heroic — that there are many times when, lost in the glory of that voice, we quite forget what a cad the Lieutenant is. Superb!” Last season, Kaufman rejoined Opera Carolina for their productions of Cavalleria Rusticana and Madama Butterfly as Turiddu and Pinkerton, respectively. He sang Don José in Opera Western Reserve’s Carmen, Rodolfo in La bohème with Opera Grand Rapids, and Cavaradossi in Tosca with Opera Wilmington. This season he makes his role début as Samson in Samson et Dalila with St. Petersburg Opera, which he also covers for New Orleans Opera, and he returns to Opera Carolina to sing Don José in Carmen. He also joins Fort Worth Symphony to sing the Steersman and cover Erik in Der fliegende Holländer and North Carolina Opera to cover the title role in Ernani. Other recent engagements include house débuts at New Orleans Opera as Pinkerton and Opera Western Reserve as Rodolfo, as well as returns to Opera Carolina to cover Cavaradossi in Tosca and Winter Opera St. Louis to sing Macduff in Macbeth.
JONNY KAUFMAN, Don José
DANIEL SCOFIELD, Escamillo
At the beginning of an exciting international career, Daniel Scofield’s “burnished tone marks him as a name to keep an eye on – surely a future Verdian of note (Bachtrack)”. Recent debuts include new productions with the Glyndebourne Festival Opera (La bohéme), Prague State Opera (Der ferne Klang), Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester (Les Naufrageurs), Staatsoper Hannover, with additional engagements with the Teatro San Carlo in Napoli (Die Walküre), Lyric Opera of Chicago (Macbeth), and the Houston Symphony (Salome). In 2024/25 Daniel travels to Germany, where he will create a new production of Pagliacci with Staatstheater Hannover. In February, he will debut with Opera Carolina as Escamillo in Carmen. Further engagements include a return to the State Opera Prague in Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci, where he will later make his debut in May in Der Fliegende Holländer.
Daniel Scofield is a two-time regional finalist of the Metropolitan Opera Competition and a recipient of the Olga Forrai Foundation grant for dramatic voices in opera. Apart from his opera performances, Mr. Scofield has appeared with top orchestras around the world, in repertoire ranging from Dame Ethel Smyth, Sir Benjamin Britten, and Gustav Mahler to the oratorios of Giuseppe Verdi, Joseph Haydn, and others.
MELINDA WHITTINGTON, Micaëla
American soprano Melinda Whittington has performed with opera houses all over the country and loves calling Charlotte and Opera Carolina her home. Last season, Melinda sang her first Verdi Requiem with the Charlotte Symphony and made her role debut as Mimì in Minnesota Opera’s new production of Puccini’s La bohème, where she “could blow your hair back with her electrifying high notes.” (Star Tribune) She will return to the role of Mimì later this spring with Opera Carolina and performed duets with Andrea Bocelli in his gala concert in the fall. Her other recent roles include the title roles of Rusalka and Arabella, Violetta in La traviata, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Ada in Higdon’s Cold Mountain, Nedda in Pagliacci, Contessa in Le nozze di Figaro, Juliette in Roméo et Juliette, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Marguerite in Faust, Homecoming Soldier in Redler’s The Falling and the Rising, and Marie Antoinette in Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles. Melinda was a young artist at the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, a Merola young artist at San Francisco Opera, and a Filene young artist at Wolf Trap Opera. She holds a Master of Music degree from the University of North Carolina Greensboro and a Bachelor of Music from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition to performing, Melinda maintains a private voice studio here in Charlotte and teaches at Davidson College. To hear or learn more, visit her website at www.melindawhittington.com.
CAST THE
DAN BOYE, Zuniga
Dan Boye, a BS graduate of Emory and Henry College and holds a PhD from the University of Georgia, is currently the Paul B. Freeland Professor of Physics at Davidson College. He maintains an active research program in 3D volumetric x-ray imaging as it applies to art and artifact, and in the development of new optical and luminescent materials. Dedicated to bringing together the visual arts, the performing arts, and science, he has taught a broad range of physics courses including 3 courses for non-science majors entitled Musical Technology, Sights and Sounds, and currently Music: Sound with Impact. He has provided educational opportunities for thousands of public-school students and adults of all ages, and musical and scientific backgrounds through programs, workshops, and lectures. With a rich and strong bass-baritone voice, he has been widely featured as an operatic and musical theater performer and an oratorio soloist. Appearances with Piedmont Opera in Winston-Salem include the French General in Silent Night, Cecil in Maria Stuarda, and Father Julien in Joan of Arc: Trial at Rouen. A veteran of over 40 Opera Carolina productions, his most recent roles include Baron Duphol in La Traviata, Coroner in Porgy & Bess, and J. Edgar Hoover in I Dream.
COREY LOVELACE, Frasquita
Corey Raquel Lovelace hails from Chicago but happily calls the Carolinas home. She made her spectacular debut as Nedda in Pagliacci last season, filling in at the 11th hour for an indisposed Barbara Frittoli. Mrs. Lovelace had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Andrea Bocelli as a featured artist in October of 2024. This season Mrs. Lovelace takes the stage with Opera Carolina in both Carmen and La bohème, performing the roles of Frasquita and Musetta. She will be featured in WDAV Classical Public Radio’s Small Batch Concert Series this February for a special Valentine’s Day-themed concert. Mrs. Lovelace appears regularly on the concert stage premiering new works by Ukrainian composer, Sophia Pavlenko-Chandley. She made her role debut as Leonore in Fidelio with the Mid-Ohio Opera Company in 2023. Other title roles include Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah and Adriana Lecouvreur. Mrs. Lovelace returned to the opera stage post-pandemic performing Mimì in La bohème with Opera North, and she made her company debut with Opera Carolina as Musetta. Internationally, she has performed in China with the iSING! Music Festival and made her European debut with the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Additional performing credits include Cendrillon in La Cendrillon, Kate in Connection Lost: The Tinder Opera, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, and Lady Billows in Albert Herring
PEYTON WHEELER, Mercédès
Hailing from Morganton, NC, mezzo-soprano Peyton Wheeler is a proud graduate of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she earned her degree in Vocal Performance with a minor in German. During her time at UNCG, she performed a variety of roles, including Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), Hata (The Bartered Bride), and Babs (Roman Fever). Outside the university stage, Peyton brought Dorabella to life at Opera in the Ozarks in Eureka Springs, AR, and further honed her craft at Middlebury College’s German for Singers Program. Currently, Peyton is thrilled to continue her work as a featured resident artist with Opera Carolina, performing the role of Mercédès in Carmen. She is grateful for the invaluable experience and mentorship her residency has provided. Peyton also studies under the guidance of mezzo-soprano Victoria Livengood, whose expertise has been pivotal in her artistic development. Looking ahead, Peyton is preparing to audition for graduate school, eager to take the next step in her journey as a performer and scholar. She is excited to refine her artistry further and pursue advanced training that will shape the next chapter of her career.
LOGAN WEBBER, Remendado
With a “rich voice—powerful, yet tender and endearing” (CVNC) and his “amusing flair” (The L.A. Times), Colorado Springs native Logan Webber has performed with companies such as Hawaii Opera Theatre, Opera Carolina, Virginia Opera, Opera Orlando, Charlottesville Opera, The Princeton Festival, Chautauqua Opera, Piedmont Opera, Pacific Opera Project, Amelia Island Opera, The Richmond Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, Salisbury Symphony and more. Mr. Webber has also performed with the Maryland Opera Studio, including the academic premiere of Justice Scalia in a reading of the opera Scalia/Ginsberg. Highlights include Jonathan Dale in Piedmont Opera’s Silent Night, to national acclaim, and is a three-year member of the Indianapolis Symphony AES Yuletide Celebration as The Father, under hosts including Ben Crawford and Sandi Patty. Recent highlights include performing alongside the Kenyan triplet ensemble, MOIPEI; and Joan of Arc: The Trial at Rouen with Piedmont Opera. He is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of his colleagues, friends, his mother, and their Cavapoo, Rocky. Logan feels fortunate to have such a wonderful network of people around him as he continues his artistic journey.
CHRISTIAN BLACKBURN, Moralès
Christian Blackburn, baritone, originally from Lakin, Kansas is currently a student of Victoria Livengood residing in the Triad of North Carolina. A seasoned performer, Christian has been seen with many companies across the Midwest and Southeast. Most recently, Christian was seen as a principal artist with North Carolina Opera in their productions of Die Zauberflöte (Speaker) in April 2022, Don Giovanni as Masetto in January 2023, La traviata as Dr. Grevil in October 2023, and La Fanciulla del West (Jake Wallace) in 2024. In addition, he made his principal debut with Greensboro Opera as Masetto in their recent production of Don Giovanni in 2024. Performing regionally in concert, Christian has been seen with several Triad-based choral societies and orchestras as the baritone soloist in Handel’s Messiah. In addition, Christian was the featured baritone for the Charlotte Master Chorale in 2019 for Mendelssohn’s Die Erste Walpurgisnacht and was a featured soloist with the Carolina Philharmonic in the same year. When not performing, Christian spends time with his three-year-old Lilla and one-year-old Ruby, his dogs Pablo and Appa, and his incredible wife Talia, to whom he owes everything.
KENDRICK WILLIAMS, Dancaïro
Renowned for his warm, captivating lyrical tone, Kendrick Williams is a distinguished classical vocalist. His commanding stage presence has shone in productions of iconic operas such as Tosca, The Magic Flute, La bohème, and Carmen. Williams has performed with esteemed ensembles like the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Recent career highlights include Jake in Porgy & Bess with Opera Carolina and North Carolina Opera, as well as Yamadori in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. He is currently preparing for his role debut as Dancairo in Bizet’s Carmen with Opera Carolina where he is a Resident Artist. Williams studies with acclaimed mezzo-soprano Victoria Livengood. He is also the author of the newly released children’s book, Noah’s Big Opera Dream www.kendricksings.com
There are few stories as timeless as Carmen Carmen was first performed in 1875 in Paris, it was met with critique as being vulgar and immoral for its portrayal of the underclass. Carmen showed a self-confident woman who smoked in public and was not afraid to be in a physical altercation or to express her most intimate desires unashamedly. Carmen was by those standards a woman that did not represent the ideals of women.
Today Carmen is the world’s most popular Opera. Its arias can be heard in commercials, the story line has been on the Broadway stage, parodied in cartoons, and adapted several times in film.
Two notable adaptations include Carmen Jo-
“nes, starring Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte, boasting an all-Black cast and Carmen: A HipHopera starring Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. What is most remarkable is that through each adaption the strong female representation has remained virtually untouched.
Around the world women are fighting for the freedom of expression that George Bizet showed in his leading lady in 1875. While audiences seem to love an audacious female character, conventional norms and mores still frown at the notion of a woman who makes the rules for her own life.
One of the perks of being a female CEO in male-dominated industries is fully embracing the spirit of Carmen and writing my own rules and challenging the status quo.
ONE OF THE PERKS OF BEING A FEMALE CEO IN MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRIES IS FULLY EMBRACING THE SPIRIT OF CARMEN AND WRITING MY OWN RULES AND CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO.
CARMEN - A STRONG WOMAN CAN STAND THE TEST OF TIME
by Dr. Shanté Williams
I also get to see the next generation of female leaders unabashedly chasing their dreams. Young women like Reece Garrison, our Youth Chorus Soloist who is already sharing her talents on the main stage with Opera Carolina (Tosca and Turandot) and with other artists from the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra in Black Notes Project. As an eighth grader the young Ms. Garrison already has some impressive credits to her name.
I recently had an opportunity to witness the Laffont Competition for the NC District, artfully put on by Mrs. Pauline Chinnis, where many young people prepared and competed for an opportunity to chase their dreams at the Metropolitan Opera. This year’s competition will hold a special place in my memory as I was able to make the first official donation from the Dr. Shanté Foundation, and as icing on the cake one of our very own Resident Company members is one of our finalists this year.
Alexandria McNeely will represent Opera Carolina in the regional competition and we will be cheering all the way!
The Dr. Shanté Foundation will be committed to the mission of enabling Women around the world to break barriers and chase their dreams. In an ever-changing world we need women like Carmen to be bold enough to speak up for themselves, against injustice, and to challenge the systems that perpetuate the inequity and stereotypes that keep them on the fringes of success, unable to break through glass ceilings.
Carmen was the first opera that I saw performed and while the character on stage met the severe consequences of her actions it lit a fire within me that fuels my desire to support those who are empowering women to act, think, and dance to the beat of their own drum. If there is one note we can take from the legacy of the work—it’s that strong women truly stand the test of time. They won’t be bullied, they won’t be silenced, and they will overcome. If the future is indeed female then it is the Artists on stage that will show us the way. Long live the spirit of Carmen.
DOLCE&GABBANA
TRUNK SHOW
MAY 10TH 2025
In 2025, Dolce & Gabbana, with the support of the De Martino family, will again support Opera Carolina with a fantastic Trunk Show on May 10. This year, the exclusive event will showcase the renowned brand’s global jewelry collections, including an exciting men’s collection. This Trunk show allows you to view an entire collection by D&G that you may not otherwise have the chance to see. Be part of something exclusive, be with us, write history, and support the arts.
If you want to attend this year’s Trunk Show, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Deputy Director Claudio Ferri claudio@operacarolina.org.
Opera Carolina
Grand Opera
CARMEN
February 6, 8 & 9 | Belk Theater
LA BOHÉME
April 10, 12 & 13 | Belk Theater
ARTS
Charlotte Symphony
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is one of the premier music organizations in the Southeastern United States and the oldest continuously operating symphony orchestra in the Carolinas. As Charlotte’s most active performing arts group, the CSO presents around 150 concerts each season, reaching over 130,000 music lovers.
ELGAR’S ENIGMA VARIATIONS
Friday, February 14 & Saturday, February 15
7:30 p.m. | Belk Theater
BECOME OCEAN
Friday, February 28 & Saturday, March 1
7:30 p.m. I Blume Studios
Saturday, March 1
3:00 p.m. | Blume Studios
RACHMANINOFF’S PIANO CONCERTO #2
Friday, March 7 & Saturday, March 8
7:30 p.m. | Belk Theater
CHRISTOF PERICK CONDUCTS WAGNER
Friday, March 21 & Saturday, March 22
7:30 p.m. | Belk Theater
Charlotte Ballet
Bechtler Museum
operacarolina.org
charlottesymphony.org
Charlotte Ballet is renowned for its exceptional dancers and diverse repertoire, which spans from classical masterpieces like “The Nutcracker” to bold contemporary works. The company, consisting of 27 professional dancers who call Charlotte home, presents five performance series each year, typically from October to May. With an international roster of choreographers, Charlotte Ballet is dedicated to introducing new works both locally and globally.
A REALM OF EXISTENCE
Friday, March 6 & Saturday, March 7
7:30 p.m. | Knight Theater
Sunday, March 8
2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. | Knight Theater charlotteballet.org
The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, located in Uptown Charlotte, is the only museum in the Southern U.S. dedicated to European and American modern art. Its collection, drawn from the Zürich-based Bechtler family, includes works by iconic modernists like Calder, Picasso, Warhol, and Miró. The museum, designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta, features Niki de Saint Phalle’s striking Firebird sculpture at its entrance.
MUSIC AND MUSEUM
A Tribute to Hans and Bessie Bechtler
Sunday, February 23
6:00 p.m.
MUSIC AND MUSEUM
Mexican Modernism: A Musical Journey with Virginia Jaramillo
Sunday, March 23
6:00 p.m.
bechtler.org
CALENDAR
Charlotte Master Chorale
The Charlotte Master Chorale is an auditioned chorus that performs an annual season of masterworks and contemporary works primarily in the Charlotte region. Our Main Chorus of over 100 singers serves as the resident chorus of the Charlotte Symphony. The Chamber Singers, Charlotte’s premier chamber choir, consists of 30 volunteer singers of professional caliber drawn from the Main Chorus. We operate as an independent, nonprofit performing arts organization.
CELEBRATION OF JOY
Saturday, March 8
4:00 p.m. | Christ Lutheran Church
Mint Museum
Established in 1936, The Mint Museum is a leading, innovative cultural institution and museum of international art and design.
KENNY NGUYEN: ADAPTATIONS
On view through March 2
Mint Museum Uptown
COINED IN THE SOUTH 2024
On view through April 27
Mint Museum Uptown
THE DELHOM SERVICE LEAGUE: 50 GOLDEN YEARS
On view through June 8
Mint Museum Randolph
WOMEN OF LAND AND SMOKE: PHOTOGRAPHS BY GRACIELA ITURBIDE AND MAYA GODED
On view through August 10
Mint Museum Randolph
Charlotte Museum of History
Charlotte Museum of History saves and shares the Charlotte region’s history, connecting the past to current issues and opportunities. We believe a shared understanding of the past can enrich the community’s future, and we work to tell the stories of all parts of our community and all those who have inhabited the Queen City and Piedmont region.
QUEEN CHARLOTTE’S BALL AND BANQUET
Saturday, February 15
6:00 p.m. | Charlotte Museum of History
2025 AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL
Saturday, February 22 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Charlotte Museum of History (Free)
WDAV
Classical Public Radio
WDAV Classical Public Radio enriches lives and builds community through inclusive and diverse classical music experiences and excellent, accessible content. In addition to producing 149 hours per week for its own broadcast use on 89.9FM, HD-1, HD-2, and wdav.org channels, the station produces nationally distributed programs, including Concierto, NoteWorthy, and Reel Music. WDAV’s broadcasts can also be heard live online 24 hours a day at wdav.org and the WDAV mobile app. A service of Davidson College in Davidson, NC, WDAV’s main source of operating revenue comes from annual member contributions.
WDAV’S SMALL BATCH CONCERT SERIES: Opera Carolina, “Voices of Love”
Thursday, February 13 7:00 p.m. | Free Range Brewing
SMALL BATCH
CONCERT SERIES: Charlotte Strings Collective
charlottemaster chorale.org
mintmuseum.org
charlottemuseum.org
Thursday, March 27 7:00 p.m. | Free Range Brewing wdav.org
OCSopranos
Lindsey Brakhage
Peg Broughton
Kimberly Butler
McKenzie Coleman
Brittany Currie
Bethany Gilmore
Stacee Lyles
Madeline Seconi
Margaret Tyler
Julia Woodward
Fan Yang
Mezzo Sopranos
Kimberly Blanchard
C.C. Cooper
Chloe Cox
Kristi Cutler
Madeline Olivera
Brooke Rice
Lauren Nicole Russell
Rachel Turner
Tia Wilson
Opera Carolina Chorus
Emily Jarrell Urbanek, Chorus Master
Tenors
Craig Allen
Gerry Clonaris
Harrell Cornell
Lamar Davis
Noah Rice
Nicholas Setzer
Nickolus Stewart
Jacob Wade
Logan Webber
David Young
Baritones
Christian Blackburn
Dan Boye
Sean Buggs
Drizzie Burston
Trevor Hagan
Bradford Holshouser
Charlie Lang
Jarvis Miller
Gustavo Morales
Michael Stromar
Larry Toppman
Justin Traxler
Kendrick Williams
Opera Carolina • Production Staff
Valerie Wheeler, Production Stage Manager & Acting Director of Production
John P. Woodey, Lighting Designer
Kate Evans, Assistant Lighting Design
Emily Jarrell Urbanek, Director of Music Preparation/Coach/Pianist
Daria Ruzhynska, Coach & Pianist
Hanna Atkinson, Assistant Stage Manager
Alexandria Griner, Assistant Stage Manager
Allison Collins, Costume Coordinator
Alexander Lieberman, Costume Assistant
Martha Ruskai, Wig & Make Up Designer
Mark Boley, Wig & Make Up Assistant
Wilbert Ferguson, Technical Director
Jay Graves, Properties Manager & Assistant Technical Director
Supers
David Broughton
Chancelor Forman
Scot Garris
Skyler Garris
Scot Garris Jr.
Samuel Hutagalung
Garrett McCluggage
Larney Michael
Youth Academy
Eleanor Blank
Corbin Burton
Adalynn Canton
William Clonaris
Hannah Cohen
Eva Iskandarani
Leela Jacobs
Regina Kuncoro
Maelle Kuzin
Jasmine Lee
Ivette Lezama
Sophia Rose Mehta
Kaia Nekkanti
Remmy Papa
Ana Russell
Anastasia Shirman
Sophia Shirman
Sophia Siragusa
Evie Steude
2024 · 2025 MUSICIAN ROSTER
Christopher James Lees, Resident Conductor Christopher Warren-Green, Conductor Laureate
FIRST VIOLINS
Calin Ovidiu Lupanu Concertmaster
The Catherine & Wilton Connor Chair
Joseph Meyer*
Associate Concertmaster
Kari Giles
Acting Associate Concertmaster
Dustin Wilkes-Kim
Acting Assistant Concertmaster
Susan Blumberg°°
Jane Hart Brendle
Cynthia Burton
Ayako Gamo
David Horak†
Lenora Leggatt
Jenny Topilow
Angela Watson†
Hanna Zhdan
SECOND VIOLINS
Oliver Kot, Principal
The Wolfgang Roth Chair
Kathleen Jarrell
Assistant Principal
The Pepsi-Cola Foundation of Charlotte Chair
Carlos Tarazona°
Monica Boboc
Martha Geissler
Sakira Harley
Tatiana Karpova
Ellyn Stuart
VIOLAS
Benjamin Geller, Principal
The Zoe Bunten Merrillt Principal Viola Chair
Kirsten Swanson†
Acting Assistant Principal
Matthew Darsey†
Ellen Ferdon
Wenlong Huang
Viara Stefanova
Ning Zhao
CELLOS
Jon Lewis, Principal
The Kate Whitner McKay Principal Cello Chair
Allison Drenkow
Assistant Principal
Alan Black, Principal Emeritus
Marlene Ballena
Jeremy Lamb
Amy Sunyoung Lee
Sarah Markle
DOUBLE BASSES
Jason McNeel, Acting Principal
Judson Baines, Assistant Principal
Justin Cheesman†
Jeffrey Ferdon
HARP
Andrea Mumm Trammell
Principal
The Dr. Billy Graham Chair
FLUTES
Victor Wang, Principal
The Blumenthal Foundation Chair
Amy Orsinger Whitehead
Erinn Frechette
PICCOLO
Erinn Frechette
OBOES
Timothy Swanson, Principal
The Leo B. Driehuys Chair‡
Erica Cice
Jamison Hillian†
Terry Maskin*
ENGLISH HORN
Erica Cice
CLARINETS
Taylor Marino, Principal
The Gary H. & Carolyn M. Bechtel Chair
Samuel Sparrow
Allan Rosenfeld
E ♭ CLARINET
Samuel Sparrow
BASS CLARINET
Allan Rosenfeld
BASSOONS
AJ Neubert, Principal
Joshua Hood
Nicholas Ritter
CONTRABASSOON
Nicholas Ritter
The CSO is a proud member of the League of American Orchestras.
HORNS
Byron Johns, Principal
The Mr. & Mrs. William H. Van Every Chair
Andrew Fierova
Bradley Burford
The Robert E. Rydel, Jr. Third Horn Chair
Richard Goldfaden
Paige Quillen
TRUMPETS
Alex Wilborn, Principal
The Betty J. Livingstone Chair
Jonathan Kaplan*
Peter Stammer†
Gabriel Slesinger
Associate Principal
The Marcus T. Hickman Chair
TROMBONES
John Bartlett, Principal
Thomas Burge
BASS TROMBONE
Scott Hartman, Principal
TUBA
Colin Benton, Principal
The Governor James G. Martin Chair
TIMPANI
Jacob Lipham, Principal
The Robert Haywood Morrison Chair
PERCUSSION
Brice Burton, Principal
° Non-revolving position
°° Alternates between first and second violins
† Acting member of the Charlotte Symphony
‡ Funded by The Symphony Guild of Charlotte, Inc.
* On leave
This roster lists the full-time members of the Charlotte Symphony. The number and seating of musicians on stage varies depending on the piece being performed.
Legacy Gifts and Estate Planning ensure the future of Opera in our region. Please consider discussing a planned gift to Opera Carolina with your investment counsel.
To learn how you can participate in building a secure future for Opera Carolina, please contact Claudio Ferri (claudio@operacarolina.org) or Alina MacNichol (alina@operacarolina.org) or Phil Volponi (phil@operacarolina.org)
HONORING
LESLIE PALIYENKO
Each issue, Opera Carolina highlights a patron whose philanthropic work has transformed our company and the community.
by Alina MacNichol
During this 75th Anniversary season we are celebrating members of the Opera Carolina family who have been pivotal in shaping the organization we are today. Leslie Paliyenko’s journey with Opera Carolina began as a singer in the chorus and has continued for over 55 years. She sang with the chorus from 1969 to 1985, founded the Opera Chorus Association and served as its President. She then joined the staff in 1984 as Director of Public Relations. In the 1980s and 1990s, Leslie was active in every support group in the Opera Carolina family. In fact, she has served as President of all of them! Leslie also served on the Board of Directors of Opera Carolina and is now a Life Member in recognition of her extraordinary service to us.
Leslie also is part of the Metropolitan Opera National Council. She was Director of the North Carolina District for 25 years and organized the District Auditions, which have discovered some of the most outstanding young opera singers performing today. One fun fact that many current Charlotteans don’t know – Leslie was responsible for bringing Luciano Pavarotti to Charlotte.
When did you first become associated with what is now known as Opera Carolina? September 1969, and it was then known as Charlotte Opera.
Why? I had studied voice with some success before marriage but had to put those aspirations aside when motherhood took precedence. It was a void in my life that needed to be filled once the timing was right.
Who got you involved? What made their ask so appealing?
Actually, I saw an ad in the Charlotte Observer for open auditions for the Charlotte Opera Chorus. My husband Paul encouraged me to give it a try. And I did. That began my 55 year old love affair with opera in Charlotte.
What is your greatest personal triumph with the Opera?
I have many, one of which is receiving the company’s first Award of Merit in 1980. I have had the joy and privilege of being the president of four of the opera’s support groups – The Opera Chorus, Friends of the Opera, Opera Guild of Charlotte and Charlotte Guild Debutante Club and serving on the board as Vice President. And I subsequently became a staff member in 1984 as Director of Public Relations. Perhaps my greatest personal triumph came in 1986 when I forged a relationship with Tibor Rudas, promoter for Pavarotti which gave Charlotte Opera the opportunity to present Luciano Pavarotti in concert, his first in the Carolinas. That was a great marketing success for our company.
What is the most exhilarating thing for you about being a part of Opera Carolina?
When I sit in the audience now and watch the splendor and quality of the productions, I am very proud to have had a part in the growth of this company from those earlier days of a primarily volunteer driven organization to the professional excellence we exhibit today. From those early days to the present, one thing has never wavered –the commitment to providing our community with an opera company that truly contributes to the cultural quality of life in the region.
What is the hardest thing you have to do as an enthusiast of Opera Carolina?
Since everything I do on behalf of Opera Carolina benefits me directly, I frankly do not find any involvement “hard.”
Why is Opera Carolina worth the engagement? Why is it worth the expenditure of energy?
First and foremost – the opera productions! But I must state that for me and my family, our greatest benefit has been the wonderful, cherished friendships that have developed through our involvement in the opera family. The opera has truly enriched our lives far beyond our expectations and is worth every ounce of energy to ensure its continuance for future generations.
Ayisha MCMILLAN CRAVOTTA
is Academy Director for Charlotte Ballet (CB). Aiysha danced with CB for 5 seasons before transitioning to her role with the Academy in 2011.
THE ACADEMY
What was the impetus behind starting the Academy and how has it grown over its 31-year history?
The Ballet Academy started in 1993. CB was then North Carolina Dance Theater, and it had just moved from Winston-Salem to Charlotte. There was a strong understanding that to be fully part of the Charlotte community we should have a school with engagement programs. The artistic staff and company artists all teach in the academy and interact directly with students to the extent that their schedules allow. Our artists come from all over and relocate to Charlotte after auditioning into the company, so it’s that direct connection that embeds them in the community. And generations of families become part of the company through the school.
From the early days of having just a few classes, now we serve around 300 students in 3 locations: our facility in Uptown; at Charlotte Country Day School in South Charlotte; and in Cornelius at the new Caine Center for the Arts. And for 5 weeks in the summer, we have 100 additional students from all over the country, training for 6 days a week.
The Academy experience is about expression, structure and giving tools to build confidence. “ “ Charlotte
In addition to our training track, CB’s REACH program operates out of 5 Parks and Recreation centers all around Charlotte. That is a full scholarship dance instruction program which can feed students into our academy on a scholarship basis.
Why do you think that the Charlotte Ballet and particularly the Academy is important to Charlotte? We have a wonderful community of artists that we are dedicated to growing here. From Alejandro [Cerrudo, Artistic Director] and his artistic vision, which is internationally informed and celebrated, to the artists who he brings in as choreographers or as dancers and the way that they interact with our faculty, and the way we are developing curriculum and introducing our students as directly as we can to what is possible and what is next. We work to infuse that vision into a creative and transformational experience, for the dancers and the audience.
Charlotte Ballet
Written by Alina MacNichol
Even if you don’t become a professional ballet dancer, the Academy experience is about expression, structure and giving tools to build confidence. In life, this transfers to breaking down a seemingly insurmountable task into manageable pieces, lots of practicing, learning patience. Whether that applies to career or what’s possible within us and what we can be capable of and what we can learn to be capable of, it covers every aspect of life.
Opera Carolina’s Bella Notte Gala has been a signature event in Charlotte since 2005. This year’s fundraiser for our region’s premiere opera company was held on the stage of the Belk Theater amid scenery for the season opening production of Bizet’s Carmen, featuring dramatic décor by John Lupton Events.
Co-Chairs Charlotte Harris Lucas and Allison Welch joined Maestro James Meena and Opera Carolina General Director Dr. Shanté Williams to welcome guests to the 20th Anniversary Bella Notte Gala. The delicious seated dinner was curated by Chef Bruce Moffett for Best Impressions.
BELLA NOTTE 2024 THE MOST
GLAMOUROUS NIGHT OF THE YEAR
Aris Quiroga, Aris S. Quiroga and Anne Margaret O’Malley opened the evening entertainment with Spanish guitar and Flamenco dancing, Opera artists Corey Lovelace and Johnathan White performed during dinner, and Re-Drum had guests dancing until the very end. Many thanks to all who made this evening such a success!
“ BELLA NOTTE MEANS BEING PART OF SOMETHING UNIQUE! “
1. Dr. Shanté Williams
2. Ronald Waters and Andre Procope
3. Pasquale and Alessandra De Martino
4. Maestro James Meena
5. Allison Welch, Charlotte Lucas, Win Kelly, Callie Kelly, Dave Shuford, Liz Shuford, Liz Faison, Dr. Shanté Williams, Fred Lowrance, Caci Jaeger, and Max Jaeger
6. Claudio Ferri, Barbara Holt and Maestro Stefano Vignati
BELLA NOTTE I CELEBRATING 20 YEARS
HONORING THE PAST CHAIRS
2005. Kay and Robert Norris
2015. Laura and Stephen Philipson
2006. Gay Boswell and Emily Smith
2016. Alex and Todd Holleman
2007. Hillary and Fairfax Cooper
2017. Anne Carter and Dean Smith
2008. Laura Vinroot and Perry Poole
2018. Angela and Jesse Cureton
2009. Sarah and Trey Pearce
2010. Stephanie and Howard Bissell
2019. Julie Haack and David Murray with Natalie and Jonathan Stewart
2020. Preeti and Vinay Deshmukh
2011. Paige and Arthur Roselle
2012. Barrie and Matt Benson
2013. Karen and Brandon Perry
2014. Laura Vinroot and Perry Poole
2021. Caci and Max Jaeger with Amy and Matt Moore
2022. Liz and Lane Faison with Liz and Dave Shuford
2023. Callie and Win Kelly with Nazy and Durham Weeks
2024. Charlotte Harris Lucas and Allison Welch
A LEGACY OF EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP
89.9 FM / WDAV.ORG / MOBILE APP / SMART SPEAKER
The Classical Oasis For Your Mind, Body, and Soul
HANNAH HOYT
by Alina MacNichol
You may recognize Hannah Hoyt as one of Opera Carolina’s Resident Company members featured on the main stage, as an Opera Xpress performer, or in our Musical Storytimes at local libraries. Hannah has been singing for Opera Carolina since she was part of the Youth Chorus in Tosca, in 2005, when she was 14 years old.
Opera has been the catalyst for many milestones in Hannah’s life and her experiences with OC are part of nearly every aspect of her professional and personal life. Hannah and her husband, Tim, met as teens, discovering a shared love of music as they sang a duet together. After they had finished college, married and had settled in Charlotte, Hannah came back to Opera Carolina as a young artist and Tim joined the Opera Chorus. They have since had many experiences together on the Belk stage, as well as performing together as part of the opera’s 2018 Opera Xpress tour of The Billy Goats Gruff. Those of us who sing with them in the Opera Chorus have shared in their joy as they bought their first house and started their family, which now includes two lovely daughters.
Hannah is a creative and innovative performer – as a life-long Trekkie, she has even sung in Klingon!
She won the Miss Klingon Empire competition at the 2015 Dragon Con in Atlanta by singing an operatic selection in Klingon, which she translated herself.
She was dubbed the Diva of Divas by the Daily Dragon Online: “Hoyt’s rendition of [the Queen of the Night’s] aria from The Magic Flute … had the spectators spellbound and trembling in their seats.”
Hannah truly exemplifies all aspects of Opera Carolina’s work in the community and on stage.
Her first experiences with live opera were Opera Carolina’s Student Nights and educational programs at local venues.
When asked why she chooses to focus on operatic singing instead of other genres of music, Hannah remembers sitting at the very front of a community performance, watching a singer perform the Habañera from Carmen and transforming herself into the character.
It was this experience that sparked Hannah’s love of opera. Hannah says “Opera is storytelling, and the story becomes real to me as I perform on stage.”
Now her musical journey, which started with OC, has come full circle.
Hannah truly exemplifies all aspects of Opera Carolina’s work in the community and on stage.
THANK YOU
OperA CArOliNA COrpOrATe & FOUNdATiON MAjOr SpONSOrS
The George W. Bauer Family Foundation
The George W. and Ruth R. Baxter Foundation
MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR COMMITMENT
CITY OF CHARLOTTE
$1.5 MILLION AND ABOVE Bank of America
C.D. Spangler Foundation / National Gypsum Company
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Trane Technologies
$600,000 - $1 MILLION
Albemarle Foundation
Atrium Health
Barings
Duke Energy
Honeywell
JELD-WEN, Inc.
LendingTree Foundation
Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
Novant Health
Red Ventures
Truist
$300,000-$600,000
Ally Financial
The Centene Charitable Foundation
Childress Klein Properties
Coca-Cola Consolidated
Deloitte
EY
The Gambrell Foundation
Moore & Van Allen
PwC
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
Rodgers Builders
Wells Fargo
UP TO $300,000
Fifth Third Bank
Foundation For The Carolinas
Deidre and Clay Grubb
Leslie and Michael Marsicano
Jane and Hugh McColl
Nucor Corporation
PNC Bank
OCAnnual Fund For Excellence
We gratefully recognize the following donors who share Opera Carolina’s commitment to excellence on stage, in schools, and throughout the community. The listing reflects donations received between July 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024.
Verdi Society
DIAMOND CIRCLE
(Gifts from $25,000 and above)
Anonymous
Art & Science Council
The George W. Bauer Family Foundation
Julie and Joel Bernard
Black Pearl Vision
Charlotte Business Journal
Hearst
The Hearst Foundations
Infusion Fund
Fred Lowrance and Alice MacKay
Mary and James Meena
Estate of Marie Mitchell
North Carolina Arts Council
Novant Health Foundation
The Opera Guild of Charlotte
Ann M. Reed
The Philip L. Van Every Foundation
Dr. Shanté Williams
PLATINUM
CIRCLE
(Gifts from $10,000 to $25,000)
Betty Garriss and W. Thad Adams III
Ally Financial
Mary G. Bobis
Bragg Financial
Brighthouse Financial
Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates, P.A.
Pauline and William Chinnis
Chun University
Marian and Peter Clark
Closet by Design
Susan and Jack Davis
Pasquale and Alessandra De Martino
- In honor of Claudio Ferri
Dolce & Gabbana
Daniele Donahoe and Erik Rosenwood
Mrs. Roddey Dowd, Sr.
Fairfield Inn
Arlene Ferebee
Lisa Lust and Dean M. Fischbeck
Dr. Matteo Fregosi
- In honor of Claudio Ferri
Dr. Robert A. Gaines and Ms. Toni Burke
William & Patricia Gorelick Family Foundation
Isabelle and William Griesmyer
Hendrick Automotive Group
Jessie J. Knight, Jr. and Joye D. Blount
Tamara and Stavros Kotronis
Sandra Levine
John Lupton Designs
Dr. Marie-Claire Marroum and Paul E. Kardous
Holly and Christopher Maurer
Kaye and Dennis McGarry
McShane Partners
Marilyn and Michael Modak
Amy and Matt Moore
Karen L. Oldham
PDM US
Mary Margaret and Fritz Porter
Peg and George Povinelli
Nelly and Jack Purcell
Amanda and August Roth
Barbara and Terry L. Scott
So-Chung Shinn and Tony W. Lee
- In honor of Claudio Ferri
Liz and Dave Shuford
Ms. Laura VanSickle
Herb M. Verbesey
- In Memory of Tess Verbesey
WDAV 89.9
Phyllis Zanghi and Scott Hulse
GOLD CIRCLE
(Gifts from $5,000 to $10,000)
Barringer Construction
Mary Margaret and Josh Beaver
Anthony Bracken
Capitol
Joan and Jim Carroll
Jane Conlan
Craig Selimotic Danforth
Trey Davis and Marium Abdul Hamid
Peggy and Charles Dickerson
Dena Diorio and Phil Volponi
Liz and Lane Faison
Pattie and George Fulford
Laura and Mike Grace
Karen Gunther
Peter Guild
Janet Haack
Katherine Hall
Lauren Harkey
Sian Hughes Harris and Robert I. Harris III
Radmila and Daryl Hollnagel
Barbara Holt
Dr. and Mrs. Rogers G. Howell, III
Nora and Thomas J. Hughes
Ivester Jackson | Christie’s International Real Estate
Callie and Win Kelly
Michael Kemper
Carol Y. Kendrick and John DeMicco
Lisa Letson
Barbara and James Little
Katherine and Mark Love
Srini and Zsofia Mannava
Marand Builders, Inc.
Elizabeth and Christopher Mardany
Jennifer and William Martin
Robert Norville, Jr.
Richard J. Osborne
Alexandra Paliyenko
Laura and Stephen L. Philipson
Gloria Pippin
Laura Vinroot and Perry Poole
Kimberly and John Rothwell
Sherry and Charles Rumbough
Pat and Paul Scheible
Anne and Steve Schmitt
Shumaker Loop & Kendrick, LLC
Kati and Chris Small
Steinway Pianos of the Carolinas
TowneBank
Margaret and Dr. T.C. Price* Zimmermann
SILVER CIRCLE
(Gifts from $2,500)
Audi of Charlotte
Natascha A. Bechtler
Sherri and Jon Bennett
Lakana and Tony Bikhazi
Amy and Frank Boncimino
Joy Bowling
Mary and Charles Bowman
Heather and Ben Braun
Sheryl and Brian Bucci
Shannon Burton
Jan and Robert Q. Busch
Dan Chambless
Andrea and Eric Chaniot
Charlotte North Rotary
Beth and Michael Clifton
Jordan and Walker Collier
Hillary and Fairfax Cooper
Brian Crutchfield and Ken Davis
Susan DeVries
Sarah Elizabeth and Nick Dockery
Peggy and Richard Dreher
Element Financial Corporation
Denise and Patrick Folmar
FTI Consulting
Renata Gasparian and Caio Lima
Katie and Rashid Hallaway
Rachel and Justin Hannon
Lucy and Hooper Hardison
Jennifer and John Harmeling
Sharon and Rob Harrington
Elizabeth and Mark Hindal
Wizzie and Dan Irvin
Caci and Max Jaeger
Bruce Johnson
O CLucille F. and Edwin L. Jones Endowment
Amy and Evan Kerr
Athena and William Kortesis
James Lake
Maryann Largen
Davis Ligon
Mary Lovegreen
CONadia and Eric Meredith
Ms. Valerie Mitchener and Mr. Joe Pelligrini
Emily and William Oliver
Estate of Gilbert Pirovano
Kathleen D. Prokay
Publix Super Markets Charities
Dr. Gwendolyn Reichbach and Mr. Michael Fonzo
Donald Renaldo
Irena and Lee Rimler
Sara Garcés and Daniel Roselli
Rotary Club of Ballantyne
Dr. Mahesh Sardesai and Varsha Mathur
Dr. Stephen P. Schultz and Ms. Donna Dutton
Emily and Zach Smith
Rev. and Mrs. Sydnor* Thompson, III
Jill and Chris Trainor
Audrey Truman and Rob Boisvert
Catherine Turgeon
Paul Vadnais
Susana Vega
Neely and Mark Verano
Tara Walker
Mindy and George Webster
Allison and Alan Welch
Rad and Odon von Werssowetz
Aundrea and Stephen Wilson
ENCORE! SOCIETY
BENEFACTORS
(Gifts from $1,000)
Brian Adair
David Alexander
John Amols
Anonymous
Ana Baide
Richard Bainbridge, Jr.
Joyce Baker
Keyla Barresi - In honor of Claudio Ferri
Helen and Lincoln Baxter
Bernstein
Brittany Box
Margaret and Waldo Bradley
Robin and William Branstrom, III
Michelle Branton
Mary and Frank Brown
Natalie J. and Rudolph Brown
Jane Caldwell
Sean Calloway
Jeffery Calo
Suzanne and Thomas Cambern
Jennifer Campbell
Austin and Jamie Carey
Chamber Music for All
Warren Chang
Jie Chen
Laura and Jake Clark
Keri and Nicholas Clavin
Nancy Coblenz
Debbie Cohn
Victoria Custodi and Andrew Tate
Wesley Dangerfield
Cheryl DeMaio
The Dickson Foundation
Pontea and Jonathan Dixon
Marko Djuranovic
DLR Group
Tara Douglass - In honor of Kimberly Mize
Nicole Dumagane
Patricia Earnesty
Jonathan Eaton
Colleen Ellison
Debra Engelhardt-Nash
Anne Everman
Elizabeth and John Fagg
Edith Faial
Deborah Fogleman
Kristin and Joe Foster
Nathan Foster
Amanda and Grady Frank
Elizabeth Gaither
Cecilia Garver
Courtney Gates
Courtney and Richard Goettke
Raluca Gold-Fuchs
Myron Gray
GreerWalker
Tobias Guillemin
Melissa and Trent Gustafson
Cate and Emerich Gutter
Heather and Larry Gwaltney
Murielle and Ziad Hage
Sherry and Andy Harris
Joe Harten
Susan and Dave Hetzler
Wilbur Hetzler
Liz Hilliard and Lee Kennelly
Donors
The Howe Foundation
Kara and Graham Hunt
Bill Hyder
Valentina and Francesco Incalza
Paulette Isoldi
Karen Hite and John B. Jacob
Daryl and Ivars Jaunakais
Michael Jewell
Paige and Erik Johnson
Chuck Keeley
Catherine Ruth and Alex Kelly
Tracy and Todd Kerrins
Carol and John Kissane
- In honor of the marriage of Amy and Frank Boncimino
Mr. and Mrs. Dovy Klarberg
Anna Blair and Jamie Kneisel
Angela Kober
Maurice Kophamer
Chris Kropac
Layla R. Kushner
Connie Lacy
Leslie Lamb
Juliette and Collin Lane
Amanda and Brandon Lanier
Paul LeBlanc
Rachel Lee
Rosemary Lee
Stephanie Leon
Allie Lin and Joseph Thomas
Cindy Locala
Charlotte Lucas
Betsy and Jason Mayer
Anna and John McCoy
Lindsay and Stanton McCullough
Rob Roy McGregor
Loy McKeithen
Bethany Miller
Joan Stephanie Morgan
Larry Mosley
Hector Munoz
Meghan and Ben Murphy
Janie and Gavin Myers
Courtney and Frederic E. Nauck
Verna Neal
Karen Nelson
Aubrey and Kyle O’Brien
Scott Olsen
Helen and Dr. Arvind Patil
Drs. Melinda and Andrew Pavelyev
Terrence Pavlin
Charlotte Payne
Patricia and James Petillo
Jerrold Pettus
Mr. and Mrs. Rodney C. Pitts
Prager Metis CPAs
Alan Premel
ProForm Finishing Products, LLC
Lucy A. Quintilliano
Agnes and Thomas Ragsdale
Kathy and Paul A. Reichs
Charles Rolph
Elizabeth Rostan
James Ruf
Ruth and Trevor Runberg
Thomas Ryan
Kim and Matt Salsbury
Donald Schmit
John L. Scott
Natalie and John Scott
Bruce Seaton
Sentinel Risk Advisors
Glenn Sherrill and Jennifer Hunter
Blair and Emily Shwedo
Michael Silverman
Marsha and John Small
Melody Smitchko
Dana Smith
Diane Smith
Liz Smith
Sherry Smith
Vicki and Greg Smith
Dominick Soldano
Mary and Bill Staton
Maxine and Robert M. Stein
Elizabeth Sterling
Jennifer and Matt Sullivan
Mark Tofano
Jayme Trainor
Truist
Molly Burton Tull and Chris Tull
Jay Vandura
Skyler Walker and Ben Friedell
Rebecca and James Watson
Lauren and Elliott Weeks
Ava White
Suzanne Wilkerson
Betsy and Jim Williams
Ryan Williams
Carolina and Trey Winslett
Devapriya Mecredy Wong
James Worrell
Gia and Kevin Wright
Maureen and Ron Young
Tommy Zitiello
OCPATRONS
(Gifts from $500)
Bozena and John Adamczuk
Jay Adsit
- In honor of Julie Bernard
Helen Anne Alford
Shannon and Marc Allen
- In honor of Fred Lowrance and Alice MacKay
Wade and Patrice Alley
Catherina and Michael Aswad
Dalton Bancroft
Emerson Bell
Ronald Belter
Sally Beveridge
Melanie Bowen
Alice Brinkley
Joyce Buchanan
Peggy and Steven C. Burke
Christi and Bob Busch
Kim Casanova
Maria Childers
Everette Clark
Michèle T. Classe
Shirley and Ronald Coffman
Debra Corbett
Ken Davis
Kevin Demeter
Kendra and Al Dodds
Susan and Jeffrey Dudas
Connie Engelbrecht
Robert English, Jr.
LaToya Evans
Keith Fender
Claudio Ferri and Stefano Vignati
Michael Fomil
Amanda and Matt Forbis
Jerry Freeman
Catherine Frenkel
William Garnett
Cynthia R. Greenlee
Lu Griffin
Rachel Hatcherian
Rose Hayden
Nancy Hendry
Kathleen Hill
Maria Hurden
Paulette Isoldi
Jennifer Jackson
Whitney Jackson
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Johnson
Margot Kaiser
Dan Kaspar
Amy Keister
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Keith
Amir Khalid
Kabee and Dennis Kokenes
Dr. and Mrs. Norman J. Kramer
Madalyn Lasine
Laura Little
Meghan and Luis Lluberas
Billie Lyda
Meredith and Joshua Marr
Christy Miller
Kimberly and Geoffrey Mize
Tom Moreno
Karen and Martin O’Gorman
Ynez Olshausen
Paula and Neal Orr
Adelle Ostensen
Sharon K. Owens and Jeff Adamson
Lily and Victor M. Pineiro
Susan Pollan
Jeanie and John Presto
Thi and John Preysner
Nakisha and Andre Procope
Christina Quaine
John Ramallo
Diego Ramon
Ann Reynolds
Karma Rodholm
Matthew L. Rollins
Alice Schulte
Daniel Shanks
Lin She and Maggie Li
Joanne Shea
Dr. Henry L. Smith
Janet Smith
Rosalie S. Spaniel
SPS North America
Brenda Gail Summers
Dr. and Mrs. H. Grant Taylor
William Taylor
Brenda and Rick Wheeler
Leslie Whitman
Kevin Wiley
Nancy Williams and Roger Dahnert
- In memory of Helen and Stewart Blake
Pat and William Williamson
OPERACAROLINA O C
CONNECT
• Facebook.com/operacarolina
• X Twitter.com/operacarolina
• Instagram.com/operacarolina
• LinkedIn.com/operacarolina
• YouTube.com/operacarolina
• Email: eclub@operacarolina.org
• Website: operacarolina.org
• Mailing Address
The Elizabeth Roddey Dowd Opera Center
1600 Elizabeth Avenue, Charlotte, North Carolina 28204
• Phone: (704) 332.7177 ext.100
• Fax: (704) 332.6448
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AVANTI includes interviews with Greater Charlotte creatives, insights into the great operas, a Sponsor Spotlight and much more.
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Enjoy Opera, then relax.
