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4th Annual Voice Recital Friday, May 9, 2008 Free Admission
About Us
The Caltech Opera Club (COC) was founded in 2002 to promote increased interactions among diverse members of the Caltech community through a shared interest in opera. The club also serves to expand and enrich cultural experiences of its members. The members include undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, postdocs, faculty and staff. Club gatherings are held at lunchtime during which guest speakers present talks on operas and its composers. Gatherings are informal to promote social interactions in a relaxed setting. What do we do? Come and join us at our gatherings to enrich your opera-going experience. We get-together in an informal and friendly setting. We listen to great music. We hear interesting lectures on operas and composers. Who can join our club? Anyone affiliated with Caltech or JPL is welcome to our club: Undergraduates, Graduate students, Alumni, Postdocs, Faculty and Staff, including their family members No prior knowledge of opera is required We don’t sing, so you don’t need to have a good singing voice to be a member. What does it cost to join? Absolutely nothing! We don’t charge membership fees. When do we meet? We meet at lunchtime. You are welcome to bring your lunch to our gatherings. What are the benefits of joining the club? A chance to learn more about opera and enrich your life with beautiful music. Meeting members of the Caltech community through shared interest College Club memberships (with the Los Angeles Opera) for a selected group of students, both undergrad and graduate students How can you join? Just email us at opera@caltech.edu
Calendar
4th Annual Voice Recital May 9, 2008 at 7:00 p.m Dabney Lounge Free admission The winners of the 4th Annual Voice Scholarship Competition, held on April 22nd, are: 1st place Sharlotte Kramer, Graduate student, Aeronautics 2nd place Steven Chemtob, Graduate student, GPS These individuals will perform for the Caltech community at this free recital. We are delighted that former competition winner, Shannon Browne, and former Caltech Opera Club President, Maria Ho, will be our guest performers. View the program (PDF 100 KB)
4th Annual Voice Scholarship Competition April 22, 2008 6:30 p.m to 9:30 pm. Competition will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2008, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm in Beckman Auditorium basement. If you are not available on that day, you will need to make a special arrangement with the judges prior to the official competition date. Applicants are welcome to work with Desiree LaVertu for voice coaching, prior to the competition. A piano accompanist will be provided.  Please bring music for the pianist. Applicants must memorize music. Applicants must present 2 arias/songs for the competition.  At least one aria must be of classical nature. No formal attire required for the competition. Professional attire is best. No jeans, shorts, t-shirts, sneakers, or flip flops please. Previous applicants and winners may compete again this year. Undergraduate and graduate students, and postdocs may compete. To be considered, please send an email to opera@caltech.edu. Please state in the subject line, "Voice Competition." In your message, please include your full name, status with Caltech, and Option. Also include your song selections. Email must be received by Tuesday, April 15th. Awards: Four winners will be selected and awarded a monetary prizes of $500, $400, $300, and $200. Winners will be required to perform at the Annual Voice Recital on May 9, 2008 in Dabney Lounge. Judges: Rhonda Dillon and Renee Sousa The versatile singing actress Rhonda Dillon holds master’s degrees in voice and conducting from the University of Southern California . In the fall of 1988, she made her Broadway debut in Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s the Phantom of the Opera and has subsequently appeared as both the prima donna “Carlotta” and the ballet mistress “Madame Giry” with every company in the U.S. ! She has appeared with LA Opera and the Los Angeles Master Chorale and can be heard on the soundtracks of such films as Infidelity; Like Father Like Son; Burglar; and Empire of the Sun. Ms. Dillon has sung throughout North America in roles ranging from the Puccini heroines “Suor Angelica” and “Mimi” to the Verdi Requiem and has won acclaim locally for her portrayal of the “Mother Abbess” in The Sound of Music. Ms. Dillon is on the voice faculties of Cerritos College and El Camino College. Soprano Renée Sousa is regularly seen performing with Los Angeles Opera.  Most recently, she was seen as a Noble Page in their production of Wagner's Tannheuser.  She was also a Lady Traveler in Manon and a Noble Orphan is Der Rosenkavalier.  Recently, she reprised the role of Kate Pinkerton in their performance of Puccini's Madama Butterfly.  Ms. Sousa has performed the role of Marguerite in Gounod's Faust with Pacific Repertory Opera in San Luis Obispo where the Tribune reported "her thrilling delivery of the 'Jewel Song' was the musical high point of the evening!"  Other operatic roles include Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly and Micaela in Carmen (Stockton Symphony); Lolette in La Rondine (Los Angeles Opera); Mimi in La Bohème (Arizona Opera); Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni (Santa Barbara Grand Opera); Alexandra in Regina (Opera Pacific); and the title role in Floyd's Susannah. On the concert stage Ms. Sousa recently performed Russian Seasons by Leonid Desyatnikov with the Santa Cecelia Orchestra.  Other solo concert appearances include Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, Rodrigo's Ausencias de Dulcinea (Los Angeles Philharmonic); a Hollywood Bowl tribute to John Phillip Sousa (yes, she is related) with the American Winds; Mahler's Symphony No. 8 (William Hall Master Chorale); Mahler's Symphony No. 4, Songs of a Wayfarer; Rückert Lieder; Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and Brahms' Requiem.  Ms. Sousa performs regularly with the Desert Symphony and recently performed a concert with the Asian American Philharmonic.  She also appeared with Michael Feinstein at Carnegie Hall (Weill Hall) in a unique concert exploring the influence of classical music on popular music.
Past Events 3rd Annual Voice Recital April 19, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Dabney Lounge The winners of the 3rd Annual Voice Scholarship Competition were: 1st place Steven Chemtob, Graduate student, GPS 2nd place Dingshyue (Jerry) Yang, Graduate student, Chemistry 3rd place Sharlotte Kramer, Graduate student, Aeronautics 4th place Jiaqi Guo, Undergraduate, Undeclared We were delighted that Shannon Browne, our two-time 1st place winner, a PhD candidate in ME, was our guest performer. 3rd Annual Voice Scholarship Competition April 4, 2007 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Held on Wednesday, April 4, 2007, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm in Beckman Auditorium basement. Awards: Graduate level: one $500 and one $250. Undergraduate level: one $500 and one $250 Judges: Rhonda Dillon and Don Brinegar (To view their biographies, click here.) 2nd Annual Voice Recital May 25, 2006 at 7:30 pm Dabney Lounge The winners of the 2nd Annual Voice Scholarship Competition were: Graduate level: Shannon Browne and Dingshyue Yang Undergraduate level: Theresa Grieco and Marlena Fecho 2nd Annual Voice Competition April 19, 2006 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Auditions were held on Wednesday, April 19, 2006, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm in Beckman basement. Recital: The LA Opera Sings at Caltech January 11, 2006 12 noon to 1:00 pm Dabney Lounge We were delighted to begin the year with the Los Angeles Opera.  LA Opera resident singers presented this free recital.  This event was free and open to all members of the Caltech community. To view the program and biographies, click here. Topic: Verdi's Falstaff May 23, 2005 12 noon to 1:00 pm Chris Brennen Conference Room, Center for Student Services We are delighted to announce that our music faculty Tom Neenan will present this talk at our next gathering. Please feel free to bring your lunch and join us for an enlightening lecture! 1st Annual Voice Recital May 24, 2005 at 7:30 pm Dabney Lounge Our first vocal audition, held on April 29th was a great success, thanks to our wonderful student singers and our music faculty who made it a special event. Eight talented students, both undergraduates and graduate, auditioned and the judges selected four singers who received scholarships from our club: Shannon Browne (3rd year graduate student, Mechanical Engineering)Varuntida (Tomtor) Varutbangkul (5th year graduate student, Chemical Engineering)Theresa Grieco (junior, Biology) Jesse Escobedo (senior, Mechanical Engineering) These four singers performed in a recital at Dabney Lounge. This event was open to the entire Caltech and JPL community. A special performance by a Caltech Chamber Group made the evening an enjoyable one.  The Caltech Opera Club would like to extend its utmost thanks to the following individuals: Wendy Caldwell, Accompanist Darryl Denning, Competition Judge Don Caldwell, Competition Judge Desiree LaVertu, Competition Judge Delores Bing We are especially thankful to our anonymous donor. This recital was made possible by the generous contribution from this kind individual. View the recital program (PDF)
Friends of the Caltech Opera Club
Los Angeles Opera Caltech Student Affairs Caltech Performing and Creative Arts Caltech Alumni Association Caltech Music Faculty Darryl Denning Dr. Ray Owen Ms. Doris Shimabukuro Ms. Brita Millard Special thanks to the Moore-Hufstedler Fund
Recommended Links
Los Angeles Opera Ahmanson Theater Los Angeles Master Chorale Los Angeles Philharmonic Mark Taper Forum Orange County Performing Arts Center Music Center Hollywood Bowl South Coast Repertory Theater
Recommended Reading
Budden, Julian. The Operas of Verdi. Oxford University PRess. 1981. Budden, Julian. Puccini: His Life and Works. Oxford, 2002. Fawkes, Richard, The History of Opera, read by Robert Powell. Naxos Audio Books      (audio-book on 4 CD's) Martin, George. Aspects of Verdi. Limelight Editions, 1993. Osborne, Charles. The Complete Operas of Mozart. Atheneum, 1978. Osborne, Charles. The Complete Operas of Richard Wager. Da Capo press, 1990. Osborne, Charles. The Complete Operas of Puccini. Da Capo press, 1983. Phillips-Matz, Mary Jane. Verdi: A Biography. Oxford University Press, 1993. Plotkin, Fred. Opera 101. Hyperion, 1994. Sadie, Stanley. History of Opera. W.W. Norton, 1990 Schonberg, Harold. The Lives of the Great Composers. W.W. Norton. 1997.
Contact Us
We welcome your suggestions and feedback. Please email us at opera@caltech.edu Angela Wood, Founder Cathreen Oracion, Business Manager Soyoung Park, Secretary