Monteverdi & Messiah

Another big week with many exciting events.  First, the KCVI Charity Auction has many items with auctions ending tonight and tomorrow.  To see the auction catalog and to find out more information, please visit www.kcvocalinstitute.com/auction.  The proceeds from the auction will help give free music education for children and families in Kansas City.

For all the Eric Whitacre fans - which I know there are many - his items are not doing so well in the auction.  This will be your last chance to get an incredible deal for an autographed CD or an autographed score of "The Seal Lullaby".  If you are interested, please go to www.kcvocalinstitute.com/auction and browse the catalog for Eric Whitacre items.

On Sunday, I will be the tenor soloist for a production of Messiah at Centennial United Methodist Church in Kansas City, MO at 4:00pm.  If you grew up with classical music, there is no doubt that you will know many of the movements in Messiah including the Hallelujah Chorus.  It should be a fun night with many talented professionals.

As many of you know, tomorrow night is the 400th Anniversary concert for the Monteverdi Vespers with the Conservatory Singers, Kansas City and St. Louis Symphony baroque ensembles, and I sing two solo movements and many other solos.  It is a really unique piece with many incredible cadenzas, melismatic phrases, and ornaments.  Please come if you are in the area.  The Vespers begins at 7:30pm at Visitation Catholic Church in Kansas City, MO.

In preparation for the Vespers, I have had many weird and ancient instruments to get you in the Monteverdi mood.  The last one will be the Regal.  It is a simple organ that needs several people to operate.  One to play the keyboard, one to move the pumps, and one to turn pages (naturally).  Here is an example of the Regal.

Current Audition Info & Results

Missouri NATS - October 30-31 - 2nd Place Advanced Division

Santa Fe Opera - applied 9/16 - not invited 10/22

Chautauqua Opera (New York) - attended, waiting for results

Wolf Trap Opera (Washington D.C.) - applied 10/8 - not invited 10/18

National Opera Association Competition (San Antonio) - applied 10/12

Crested Butte Opera (Colorado) - attended, waiting for results

Sugar Creek Symphony (Chicago) - attended, waiting for results

Shreveport Opera Competition - applied 10/12

Symphony in the Valley (Colorado) - applied 10/13

Ash Lawn Opera (near Washington D.C.) - applied 10/13

Upcoming concerts:

December 7, 2010 - Featured Soloist - Monteverdi Vespers (400th Anniversary Concert) - Visitation Catholic Church -  Kansas City, MO - 7:30pm

December 12, 2010 - Tenor Soloist - Messiah by Handel - Centennial United Methodist Church - Kansas City, MO - 4:00pm

December 15, 2010 - Voice Juries - UMKC Conservatory

March 17-20, 2011 - Don Giovanni by Mozart - Don Ottavio - White Recital Hall

April 23, 2011 - Gloria by Poulenc - White Recital Hall