Spring 2017From the President 2News & High Notes 3Membership Notes 4Volunteer & Donor Recognition 5Applause! Applause! 5

Guild supporters shine at 2017 Opera BallHundreds of stars and nearly 200

guests lit up the night at the Opera Guild of Dayton’s annual Opera Ball in April.

Guests danced and dined the night away at a new venue, The University of Dayton River Campus, and raised critical funds to support the Guild's mission—and specifically opera pro-ductions with surtitles and the Art-ist-in-Residence program.

Vic Bonneau, president of Electrical Power Integrated Systems at GE Avi-ation, and his wife, Karen, led off the dancing with a bolero while Dayton Opera Artist-in-Residence tenor Brian Skoog treated the crowd to a beautiful performance of ‘Starry, Starry Night.’ Later, six instructors from the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Miamisburg

Above, Guests at the Dayton Opera Guild's

2017 Opera Ball enjoyed an evening of dinner,

dancing and socializing on the grounds of the University of Dayton's

Research Institute. Bottom left, Cathy Kileg and Larry Jaffe; bottom

right, Anne and Keith Freimark

Opera season packs powerful punchesWhile all of the composers featured

in the Dayton Opera’s 2017–2018 season, “The Great Ones,” hail from the great land of Italy, it would be hard to imagine a greater variety of opera experiences in one season. The series opens with a staged and cho-reographed dramatization of Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem, often referred to as

OPERA SEASON AT A GLANCERequiemSeptember 16 (8 pm) & 17 (3 pm), 2017The ConsulOctober 20 (8 pm) & 22 (3 pm), 2017The Barber of SevilleMarch 2 (8 pm) & 4 (3 pm), 2018TurandotMay 18 (8 pm) & 20 (3 pm), 2018

See OPERA BALL page 6

See SEASON page 7The Consul delivers a powerful look at the quest for freedom from bureaucratic oppression.

2 | OPERA NOTES Spring 2017 operaguildofdayton.org

PresidentPenny Wolff

Executive Vice PresidentNancy Farkas

Managing Vice PresidentsEducation

Peggy Conner

FundraisingJane Reynolds

Marketing/CommunicationsSue Falter

MembershipMargarete Jennings

Special Events/HospitalityHelen Miller

Office Management Corresponding Secretary

Kathy Brown

Recording SecretaryEllen McCloskey

TreasurerDolores Anderson

Member at LargeKimberly Robinson

Past PresidentBetty Holton

OPERA NOTESEditor/Designer

Heather Martin, MartinInk

PhotographyKim Coughnour , Red Leaf Photography

ContributorsSuzanne Crippen, Sue Falter,

Penny Wolff, Angela Whitehead

CONTACT US126 North Main Street, Suite 210

Dayton, OH 45402 | 937/224-3521, x1099operaguildofdayton.org

OPERA GUILD OF DAYTON MISSIONThe Opera Guild of Dayton encourages and promotes opera in the Greater Dayton area and supports

Dayton Opera through fundraising, marketing and educational activities.

from the president

We are deep into spring. Colors are fresh and vibrant again, and new growth is everywhere—especially at the Opera Guild of Dayton. With expanded support from busi-nesses and new members, prestigious honors from Opera Volunteers International (OVI) and new projects under way, the Guild is more energized than ever to pursue its mission of promoting opera and the arts in Dayton.

Perhaps the most obvious change is the new look of Opera Notes. We stopped the presses for a few months to determine how best to use this quarterly newsletter to inform and inspire you, and now we’re back with a fresh design and a new editor. We’d also like to start distributing this newsletter in a digital format, but let us know if you would prefer to keep receiving the print version. Keep an eye out, as well, for the revival of Gourmet on the Go, a series of festive events sponsored by generous hosts in more-intimate settings. A new team is bringing this pro-gram back in an entirely new way, and I know it will be fantastic.

You may have noticed more Guild activity online, too. With a grant from OVI, we have been able to pay for tech-nical training and increased content creation to keep our digital profile more current and useful. Check out operaguildofdayton.org and our Facebook and Pinterest pages. Give us your feedback on what kinds of posts you’d like to see.

Speaking of renewal, by now you should have received my letter asking you to continue to support the Guild with your membership. Please complete and return the renewal form before it gets lost in your “giving pile.” Volunteer to participate in and enjoy the important work the Guild does.

As I conclude my term as president, I feel very passion-ate about the continued growth of the Guild and about expanding collaboration with and cooperation among our leading arts and arts-supporting organizations—the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, the Dayton Philharmonic Volun-teers Association and the Ballet Barre. It is imperative that we all work together to strengthen and grow the performing arts in Dayton.

Penny Wolff, PresidentOpera Guild of Dayton

Renewal, rebirth, and regeneration

Penny Wolff

“I feel very

passionate

about the

continued

growth of the

Guild and about

expanding

collaboration

with and coop-

eration among

our leading arts

and arts-

supporting

organizations. “

OPERA NOTES Spring 2017 | 3operaguildofdayton.org

Singing some of opera’s most demanding works, the region’s finest young voices gathered to perform at the Guild’s annual college and high school vocal contests earlier this spring.

On April 2, six finalists from a pool of 30 hopefuls from 16 schools in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky vied for top honors at the 29th annual Tri-State College Vocal Competition, held at Kettering Seventh Day Adventist Church. Baritone De’Ron McDaniel from the University of Cincinnati won first place and a $2,500 prize for his performances of ‘Hai già vinta la cau-sa?… vedrò, mentr’io sospiro’ from Le Nozze di Figaro, by Mozart, and ‘Within this Frail Crucible’ from The Rape of Lucretia, by Britten.

A few weeks earlier, 20 local high school students gathered for the Guild’s 44th annual High School Vo-

Opera Volunteers International (OVI) is singing the Opera Guild’s praises.

With a $1,500 OVI matching grant, the Guild is making website and social media improvements that allow us to better engage opera lovers of all ages. The funds also will help stream-line online applications for the High School and Tri-State College vocal competitions.

OVI also gave a Partners in Excel-lence Award to the Guild’s Children’s Traveling Opera volunteers, who adapted The Pirates of Penzance into a one-hour program that elementary students could perform, with the help of a coach.

Baritone De’Ron McDaniel from the University of Cincinnati won the Opera Guild’s 2017 Tri-State

College Vocal Competition.

Vocal challenges draw 50 college, high school singersNEWS & HIGH NOTES

Guild receives tech funds, volunteer award

Tri-State College Vocal CompetitionFirstDe’Ron McDaniel (baritone)University of Cincinnati

Second (tie) Marie Engle (mezzo soprano) Prayner Conservatory, Vienna

Caitlin Gotimer (soprano) University of Cincinnati

Audience FavoriteCaitlin Gotimer

Preliminaries JudgesDr. Minnita Daniel-Cox, University of DaytonDr. Nolan Long, Sinclair Community College

Finals JudgesTom Bankston, general and artistic director, Dayton Opera

Kara Shay Thomson, renowned American soprano

Jeffrey Powell, conductor and chorus master, Dayton Opera

High School Vocal Competition FirstAnna Hlinomaz, Centerville High School

SecondGalen Adkins, Lebanon High School

ThirdDestiny Donelson, Stivers School for the Arts

Honorable Mentions Anna Greco, Lakota West High SchoolSarah Lavilla, Beavercreek High School

JudgesDr. Minnita Daniel-Cox, University of DaytonBrian Skoog, Dayton Opera Artist-in-ResidenceAlice Hotopp, private vocal coach

Centerville High School student Anna Hlinomaz (center) won the Opera Guild’s 2017 High School Vocal

Competition. At left is second place winner Galen Adkins, Lebanon High School; at right is Dr. David

Sievers, University of Dayton. See SINGERS page 7

Students from Shaw Elementary School in Beaver-creek performed an adapted version of The Pirates of Penzance, created by Children’s Traveling Opera. CTO

has been a vital part of the Guild’s education program since 1982, introducing 2,500 children a year to opera.

4 | OPERA NOTES Spring 2017 operaguildofdayton.org

Nearly 100 guests attended the Guild’s annual Membership Lun-cheon in March at Dayton Country Club. Dayton Opera’s Artists-in-Res-idence provided entertainment, and generous donors provided door prizes.

Toni Winger chaired the event, with help from Linda Rountree, Pat Ferguson, Judy Reeve and Judy Hudson.

The membership luncheon is a favorite of many Guild members because it’s a wonderful opportunity for our diverse volunteers to socialize.

In Review: Membership Luncheon

NEW MEMBERS & RED BOOK CHANGESNew MembersJames & Sue Ellen AterBox 24339Dayton, OH 45424Home: 937/845-2388Cell: 937/477-5559se.ater@hotmail.com

Barbara Hudson Banner929 Sunset DriveEnglewood, OH 45322Home: 937/287-6056bhudsonb@gmail.com

David & Sandra Benevento2799 Amberwood DriveTroy, OH 45373Cell: 954/822-4360sandra_alberiche@ yahoo.com

Megan Cooper106 High St.Dayton, OH 45403Cell: 937/643-0691cooperme78@hotmail.com

Jamie Cordes1015 Creighton Ave.Dayton OH 45420Home: 937/258-0640Cell: 937/775-3501jamie.cordes@wright.edu

Susan J. Daly4460 James Madison TrailDayton, OH 45440Home: 937/291-3132Cell: 937/620-5548dalylink@earthlink.net

Carol Endres850 Greenhouse DriveDayton, OH 45419Home: 937/296-1253carol.endres@wright.edu

Dr. David Sievers4314 Sugarcreek DriveBellbrook, OH 45305Cell: 937/542-9460dsievers@udayton.edu

MEMBERSHIP NOTES

Renew your MEMBERSHIP.

Log on to operaguildofdayton.org

to complete your application by June 14.

Membership Benefits

• early bird pricing for Opera Ball

• invitation to 30th anniversary of BRAVO!

• invitation to Membership Luncheon

• invitation to Garden Party

Next Red Bookpublishes soon.

Above left: Carol Graff, Lucretia Ball, and Kay Cohen; above right: Jane Reynolds;

lower left, 2017 Artists-in-Residence; lower right: Gary and Marilyn Mitchner

OPERA NOTES Spring 2017 | 5operaguildofdayton.org

The Opera Guild is grateful for the gener-osity of patrons who contribute their time, their homes and other resources to support our opera performers and production teams as they create their art.

Special Events/ HospitalityHelen Miller

HospitalityRosalie Jennings, chairRon Anderson & Robb SloanAnna & Robert BargmeyerKathy & Tom BrownSharon & Pete GrattoJackie & Bill LockwoodHelen MillerTerri Warwok

Susie & Paul WeaverMarcia & Robert Weygant

Dress Rehearsal UshersAnna & Robert BargmeyerBob & Isabel CapowskiTim ConnairPeggy ConnerCarol GaekeConnie GoverKathy HedgesVivienne HimmellSusan KellarKathy LindahlBarb RuhlTerri WarwokSusie & Paul WeaverMarcia & Robert Weygant

Cast RefreshmentsKimberly Robinson, chairKathy BrownSuzanne CrippenMyrna Cunningham

Martha DeBoldAnita DelaneyLaura FikePat FinleyKathy HedgesBetty HoltonMargarete JenningsRosalie JenningsDana KaneLeora KlineCheryl LewisAmy LombardoHelen MillerLeslie MooreBrenda PhillipsJane ReynoldsToni WingerPenny Wolff

If you would like to support opera by hosting an artist or providing food, contact Helen Miller, daidocent@aol.com.

Applause! Applause!

About Jenell Jenell is the only second-generation African-Ameri-can female automobile dealer in the country. She stepped into a leadership role at Bob Ross Auto Group in 1997 after the untimely death of her father. She became president in 2010 after the death of her mother, Norma Ross.

Arts & Guild Support The Norma J. Ross Youth Foundation has provided money for cash prizes for the winners of the Guild’s annual High School Vocal Competition since 2010. “It is important to support the efforts of the vocal competition,” Ross said, “because my mother was a major arts enthusiast and she always wanted to help expand the reach of the arts with our youth, especially minority youth.” Jenell Ross also was a member of the inaugural board of the Dayton Per-forming Arts Alliance.

Community Support Jenell serves on the boards of several organizations, in-cluding the University of Dayton, the Miami Valley School Alumni Council and the Dayton Leadership Advisory Council for the Ohio Minority Suppli-er Development Council. She also is a mentor in the YMCA Mentors Matter program.

Jenell Ross

VOLUNTEER & DONOR RECOGNITION

Hear! Hear!

REMEMBRANCE FUNDThe Remembrance

Fund helps support the Guild’s High School and Tri-State College vocal competitions.

When you make a gift to honor a birthday, an anniversary or a

loved one or to promote an event you help the dreams of many talented young people come true. Contact Evie Lewis, 937/299-4825, for more information or to make a contribution.

Recent GiftsIn memory of Damon E. BostickAnn JorgensenKathleen MillerRita PriceWilliam QuinlivanWilliam Tully

Let’s go digital.Not ready? Call 937/224-3521, ext. 1099,

to keep receiving a print Opera Notes subscription.

6 | OPERA NOTES Spring 2017 operaguildofdayton.org

performed an exhibition number. The live auction generated a lot of

excitement, as bidders vied for spec-tacular trips stateside to Nashville and overseas to Australia, Ireland, and Italy; while two raffle winners went home with beautiful jewelry from Jaffe.

The Guild is grateful to the sponsors who supported the ball, including pre-

senting sponsor GE Aviation, co-spon-sor University of Dayton and gold sponsor Marion’s Piazza. Underwrit-ing was provided by Heidelberg Dis-tributing; Andi Rabiner; Mike Houser; Lee Monnin and David Criner; and Diane Morgan of the Pillar Advisory Group of Raymond James. Bob and Diane Johnson, Sebaly Shillito+Dyer and Bill and Jackie Lockwood also

gave significant donations.The annual ball is one of many

events the Guild has created to sup-port Dayton Opera during the last 50 years. In that time, the Guild has contributed several million dollars to the opera and has developed and expanded educational programs to energize and educate generations of opera lovers.

OPERA BALL continued from page 1

Jennifer and Shaun Yu

Jean and Bob Beecher

Irene Marsidi and Charles Alberry

Instructors from the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Dayton danced for Opera Ball guests.

Susan and Jonas Gruenberg

Buy your Dayton Opera SEASON TICKETS today.888/228-3630 | daytonperformingarts.org

OPERA NOTES Spring 2017 | 7operaguildofdayton.org

Many vocal competition singers have gone on to fulfill very successful operatic careers.

Countertenor Eric Jurenas won first place in the college competition in 2011 while attending

the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Later, he earned his master’s degree from The Juilliard School.

Eric sings in opera productions and in concert mode and has appeared as

a featured artist with the Dayton Philharmonic, Wolf Trap Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, The Santa Fe Opera, the Bel Canto Chorus of Milwau-kee and American Bach Soloists, among others.

his greatest work. October brings Gian Carlo Menotti’s gripping opera The Consul to The Benjamin and Mari-an Schuster Performing Arts Center for the first time. Rossini’s sparkling comedy The Barber of Seville cavorts across the stage in March, and the sea-son concludes in May with Puccini’s magnificent Turandot. The Great Ones are truly at the center of the Dayton Opera universe this season.

All the forces of the Dayton Perform-ing Arts Alliance combine an innova-tive, dramatic realization of Requiem. Four soloists, double chorus, orchestra and dancers heighten the meaning and emotional impact of this compelling masterpiece. Lighting and graphic pro-jections will convey and intensify the composer’s theatrical elements.

Menotti’s first full-length opera, The Consul, won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for Music. In it, political dissident John Sorel is fleeing the secret po-

lice. His wife, Magda, and his mother conceal him. John plans his escape and tells Magda to apply for a visa to leave the country. He will wait at the border until he knows his family is safe. The emotional climax of the opera comes when Magda, thwarted in her quest for a visa, addresses the consul’s indiffer-ent secretary in a stirring lament over the world’s inhumanity to suffering.

Mischief and matchmaking run rampant when opera’s most famous

barber, Figaro, returns to Dayton in The Barber of Seville. When ardent young Count Almaviva needs a hand wooing high-spirited Rosina, he turns to Figaro to help him outwit her selfish old guardian, Dr. Bartolo.

Filling the stage with Imperial guards, executioners, priests, Manda-rins, dignitaries, wise men, handmaids, soldiers and the populace of Peking, China, Puccini’s Turandot closes this magnificent season in grand style.

SEASON continued from page 1

cal Competition, chaired for the first time by Dr. David Sievers, at Fairmont Presbyterian Church in Kettering. For her performance, Anna Hlinomaz of Centerville High School earned the top prize of $600.

The college competition day began with a luncheon chaired by Helen Miller at Moraine Country Club and concluded with a reception hosted by Susan Herman in the church par-lor. The competition was chaired by Tammy Schaff with assistance from Managing Vice President for Educa-tion Peggy Conner.

For the seventh year, all of the high school winners’ cash prizes were made possible by a $1,350 donation from

the Norma J. Ross Youth Foundation. “Our sincerest thanks go out to the foundation for its generous assis-tance,” said Guild President Penny Wolff.

Thanks also to a generous gift from one of the judges, Dr. Minnita Daniel-Cox from the University of Dayton, the high school competition’s two honorable mention winners each received a full scholarship to UD’s 2017 Vocal Performance Institute in June.

“Every year, the level of talent we attract to these highly competitive events is incredible,” Wolff said. “This year’s talent was just as impres-sive.”

SINGERS continued from page 3

Eric Jurenas

Buoyed by Rossini’s bubbling music, the zany romance The Barber of Seville sweeps through twists and turns.

Turandot, Puccini’s final work, will transport audiences to China’s exotic Forbidden City.

Where are they now?

Working to win new friends for opera.

COMING EVENTSWednesday, June 14, 201710:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.BRUNCH & ANNUAL MEETING(with Friend of the Year and BRAVO! award presentations)Dayton Country Club555 Kramer RoadDayton, OH 45419

Sunday, June 25, 201725th ANNUAL GARDEN PARTYhome of Drs. Hyacinth Paul & Malay Dey

Friday, September 8, 201710:30 – 1:3030thBRAVO! CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH & FASHION SHOWSinclair Community College Ponitz Center444 West Third St.Dayton, OH 45402

September 16, 8 p.m.September 17, 3 p.m.VERDI’S ‘REQUIEM’ The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center1 West Second St.Dayton, OH 45402

126 North Main St., Suite 210Dayton, OH 45402'937/224-3521, x1099operaguildofdayton.org

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