Performance Schedule

My performance schedule for this year is always fluctuating.  Now, when you come to my blog, you can just click on the link in the black bar above to check out what concerts I have coming up!  As always, I will be singing at Village Presbyterian Church every Sunday morning - but this would be a very long post if I included all of that!

Behold...

Saturday, January 26

Horse, "How the Camel Got His Hump" opera
WORLD PREMIERE
White Recital Hall, KC, MO
10:00am - $10

Sunday, February 10

55th Annual Grammy Awards
Los Angeles Convention Center and Staples Center
Los Angeles, CA
7:00pm CT - CBS

KC Chorale nominated for "Best Choral Performance" and "Best Engineered Album, Classical"

Sunday, February 24

Conservatory Choir Concert
White Recital Hall, KC, MO
7:30pm - Ticket info not available

Monday, February 25

Kansas City Chorale and The Concordia Choir
Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, KS
7:30pm - $10-$25
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Saturday, March 2

Conservatory Choirs
A Celebration of Peace
Community of Christ Temple
Independence, MO
FREE

Saturday, March 9

Rock of Ages
Kansas City Chorale
St. Michael the Archangel, Leawood, KS
7:30pm - Price $30 (student $10) 
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Sunday, March 10

Rock of Ages
Kansas City Chorale
Visitation Church, KC, MO
2pm - Price $30 (student $10)
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Tuesday, March 12

Rock of Ages
Kansas City Chorale
Asbury Methodist, Prairie Village, KS
7:30 - Price $30 (student $10) 
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Sunday, March 17

Rock of Ages
Kansas City Chorale
Liberty United Methodist, Liberty, MO
7:30 - Price $30 (student $10) 
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Saturday, April 6

Rock of Ages
Kansas City Chorale
Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Ticket info to come...

Sunday, April 14
Evangelist, St. John Passion - J.S. Bach

with UMKC Conservatory Singers
Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, KC, MO
7:30pm - FREE

Sunday, April 28
Soloist, B Minor Mass - J.S. Bach

Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, KC, MO
7pm - FREE
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Monday, May 6

Beethoven Symphony No. 9
UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance
Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, KC, MO
 7:30pm - Price $31 
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Saturday, May 18

Conservatory Commencement
Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, KC, MO
10am - FREE
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Friday, May 24

The Chorale at the Kauffman: the Durufle "Requiem"
Kansas City Chorale (with great friend, Jan Kraybill) Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, KC, MO
8pm - Price $46 
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

PREVIOUS CONCERTS

Sunday, October 7

Northern Lights
Kansas City Chorale
Redemptorist Church, KC, MO
2pm - Price $30 ($10 student) CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Sunday, October 7

CANTATE!
UMKC Conservatory Singers
White Recital Hall, KC, MO
5pm - Not Open to the Public

Tuesday, October 9

Northern Lights
Kansas City Chorale
Asbury Methodist Church, Prairie Village, KS
7:30pm - Price $30 ($10 student) CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Sunday, October 14

UMKC Conservatory Singers Concert
Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, KS
3pm - FREE

Sunday, October 28 - Soloist, Mass in C - Beethoven

Beethoven in the Village
Village Orchestra, Village Choir, JCCC Chamber Choir, Valley View UMC Chamber Choir
Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, KS
5pm - FREE

Tuesday, October 30

David Farwig recital
UMKC Conservatory Singers
Old Mission UMC, Prairie Village, KS
7:30pm - FREE

Friday, November 2

CRESCENDO
UMKC Conservatory Singers
Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, KC, MO
Invitation Only

Wednesday, November 7

John Corigliano Concert
UMKC Conservatory Singers
White Recital Hall, KC, MO
7:30pm - Price $9 (free for students) CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Saturday, November 10

The Sacred Around Us
Te Deum Vocal Ensemble
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, KC, MO
7:30pm - FREE

Sunday, November 11
The Sacred Around Us
Te Deum Vocal Ensemble
Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, KS - 3pm - FREE

Monday, November 12

The Sacred Around Us
Te Deum Vocal Ensemble
Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Lawrence, KS
7:30pm - FREE

Saturday, December 1

Harvester's Concert
UMKC Conservatory Singers
Visitation Catholic Church, KC, MO
7pm - FREE

Saturday, December 8

Family Holiday Concert
Kansas City Chorale, 8 High School Choirs
Visitation Church, KC, MO
7pm - Price $10 CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Sunday, December 9

The Holidays in Great Britain
Kansas City Chorale
Redemptorist Church, KC, MO
2pm - Price $30 (student $10) CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Tuesday, December 11

The Holidays in Great Britain
Kansas City Chorale
Asbury Methodist, Prairie Village, KS
7:30pm - Price $30 (student $10) CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Sometime, December 2012

Bryan Pinkall's Doctoral Recital - Village Presbyterian Church (hopefully) - tba

Sunday, December 16

Tidings of Joy
Village Orchestra, Village Choir
Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, KS
3pm & 6pm - FREE

KC Chorale & Yale Wrap-up

Today is my last first day of school.  It also may be the first last day of my car, which wouldn't start after I returned from my fellowship at Yale's Norfolk Chamber Music Festival.

Life on the Estate at Yale's Norfolk Festival

Life on the Estate at Yale's Norfolk Festival

I had an amazing experience with the folks in Connecticut.  The performing went great, but I couldn't tell if I was in Connecticut or in Tolkien's Shire living in my cottage on the Ellen Battell Stoeckel estate (however, the Shire didn't have a chef that could make me gain weight!) It was a perfect week. I was surrounded by brilliant musicians from all over the world, and not to sound too pretentious, but it was nice to not be around "normal" people for awhile.  I cannot wait to meet up with some of my new friends and colleagues in the future.  I have already tried to arrange some recordings when some of us are both in the same part of the world.  Most of all, I am excited about music again.

Before I go any further, I need to say that I will have my upcoming performance schedule available next Monday on my blog - but if you cannot wait to know any concert dates, you can always email me at bryanpinkall@gmail.com.

My schedule in the first half of the year was incredible and torturous, but now I am completely rejuvenated and motivated - thanks, especially to the brilliant Simon Carrington.  This year, as I stated before, I will be performing as a soloist for several concerts: Beethoven's Mass in C, Bach's St. Matthew Passion, and Bach's B Minor Mass at the Kauffman Center.  I am also continuing my internship at Village Presbyterian Church (the third largest Presbyterian church in the nation) and I am loving it - I am still excited about great music performed by enthusiastic singers of any age.

When I was picked up from the train station last week, I was asked, "Where are you from?"  I said, "Kansas City!" The driver responded, "Oh, the Choral Capitol of the World."

Now, I've heard that expression before, but only from people around Kansas City.  However, when a Yale Professor says that; it makes me think a little differently about the comment.  Of course, many great choral directors have and still do direct in the Kansas City metro area, and I am very proud to be a part of the choral community here. In fact, this year, I will be performing as a soloist in several Bach Cantatas at the Conservatory in the monthly Bach's Lunch chamber concerts, which are incredibly fun, especially when there is a room filled like an arena, seating on all sides, with Bach enthusiasts, eating their sandwiches as quietly as possible.  I will also be on scholarship with the Conservatory's top choral ensemble, Conservatory Singers, with Dr. Robert Bode.  As I stated before, I will join the chamber choral group Te Deum for several concerts including the Bach B Minor Mass on my birthday next year at the Kauffman Center with the Kansas City Baroque Consortium. And finally, I am announcing that I will also be performing with Kansas City's premiere vocal ensemble the Kansas City Chorale.

The KC Chorale is a world-famous ensemble, Grammy Award-winning, and passionate about making stellar choral music.  I am very excited to begin working with them, and I cannot wait to see what all the next year will hold, but I do anticipate even more exciting gigs and events.

Many of my upcoming concerts will be held here - Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Summer Choral Institute 2012

Of the many projects and jobs that I work on during the year, few come close to the amazement of the Summer Choral Institute at Kansas State University, where I am the Administrative Director.  This program was nominated for a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award this year, and it is likely one of the greatest leadership training programs in the country for High School singers.  High School Sophomore and Junior students from 12 states applied to participate.  We accepted only 40 students and required that they proficiently learn their music before they arrive.  We actually have a screening process on the opening day to make sure they have learned their music - if not, they are sent home!  Thankfully, this year was the first year that everyone passed the screening!

Their week culminates in a large choir concert, but in between they participate in lessons with some of the nation's most accomplished musicians, accompanist instruction, recitals in the most amazing venues, a high ropes challenge course, masterclasses, a night at the old football stadium under the lights, bowling, a trip to the art museum, visits from professional musicians and instrumentalists, a class on the history of rock and roll, a trip to a water park, talent show, dance party, and hours of leadership training in rehearsals.  We encourage the students to be bold, share their greatest fears and insecurities, and discover that all of these great young musicians are so similar.  

In many ways, I hate to describe SCI because I cannot - the students are absolutely incredible people.  Many times, their generosity towards the other campers cause the staff to bawl (happily) and the love shared between these people who have just met for the first time is incredible!!!  This year especially had some of the most amazing leaders;  I observe a lot of things during the week, but the general love and caring towards each other completely astounds me.  To think these young musicians will sacrifice their own selves to encourage another time and time again, completely impresses and encourages me to keep teaching and performing music.  

Here are some of their facebook comments from the week:

"I want to thank every single individual who attended this year for making this one of the best weeks of my life...But I, for one am excited to go back to a 'normal' life with a different perspective, attitude, changed morals, as well as a better understanding of music."

"It makes me realize how lucky I am to be able to appreciate the life changing effects of music. I Hope that I can share what I have learned with others, because I believe that we can change the world with music."

"I have to say this past week goes down as one of the BEST weeks in my life and I want to thank y'all for letting experience it with you:)"

"Guys, I have to say that this past week was the greatest week of my life...I'm pretty sure we all know that we became better people throughout the course of the week, so imagine what we could do in our schools over the course of a year! :D I just want to let you all know that I love you all and I WILL be keeping in touch:)"

"I think the most important part of this camp was how much it kept you out of your comfort zone and pushed you. Whether you're singing a different voice part, climbing of a 40 foot pole, or allowing your insecurities to be shared. It showed us no matter where we come from or how developed our choral programs are, we are all so similar... SCI took great musicians and made them great people...it made us great people. For that I am forever grateful."

"...And not only were you guys some of the best musicians I've encountered, but you were also some of the best people I have ever met."

"Summer Choral Institute 2012 - it has changed my life. This has to be one of the most incredible things I've ever done and one of the most incredible weeks of my life. I learned so much about being a better musician and a better person. All of you that I met this past week have inspired me beyond anything I could have imagined."

"Never met such AMAZING, TALENTED people in my life. I've never been so impacted by so many people in my life either."

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This week I will be off to Pennsylvania working on an opera.  Much more info to come...

Yesterday, I saw the Broadway production of Next to Normal at the Kauffman Center.  It was spectacular, and the story was the most exciting part.  If you get a chance to see it - SEE IT!!!

Next week, I will have some commentary on this year's Tony Awards!!

Too Much Excitement!

I have some great news to share with the world!   First, I just found out yesterday, that I have been awarded the Ellen Battell Stoeckel Fellowship from Yale University!  With recommendations from some amazing people and through a rigorous application process, I was selected to be one of the singers performing at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, which is held at Yale University in August.  The Festival is North America's oldest music festival and attracts many of the world's leading composers and musicians.  Essentially, I will be performing - and rehearsing - the whole time.  This fellowship is a prestigious honor to me, since it recognizes academic achievement in a real way - one that collaboratively makes music with the world's leading musicians.  Plus, I've never been able to be of interest to an Ivy league school, so now I can gratuitously flaunt my new-found Connecticut accent - obviously in boat shoes and fluffy cravat!  I am very excited and I hope that this will help me in many ways.  http://music.yale.edu/norfolk/

Second, I was asked early last week by the Kansas City Symphony to sing as a soloist on their upcoming Education Series concerts.  These concerts have been sold-out since sometime in November.  I will be singing at Helzberg Hall in a unique situation.  If you are old enough to remember, Leonard Bernstein offered Young People's Concerts on national television from the Symphony Hall at Lincoln Center.  He had the New York Philharmonic play famous music for children who would come and learn about what a whole-tone scale was, or what instruments played a duck or hunter in Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.  Bernstein would begin each piece by (passionately) describing what was going to happen, and then the Symphony would play the piece.  Kansas City is doing the same thing, and it is a great way to teach music, inspiring many children to dream big, and dream to play in a symphony and in one of the most magnificent halls in the world.

Not only that, it is almost completely free.  The children and teachers get books, a semester-long curriculum, instruments, a concert ticket, busing to the hall, for only $5 per child.  Also, the orchestral scores are all free and the kids participate in the concert in various ways.  It's an amazing program produced and provided by both the Kansas City Symphony and Carnegie Hall - the children have spent all semester learning many pieces including pop music, Brazilian dances, classical music like Beethoven's Fifth, The Blue Danube, The Toreador Song, even an Arvo Pärt piece.

Helzberg Hall - Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Home of the Kansas City Symphony

With all that said, I was honored and excited to be asked.  I had a meeting this afternoon to find out exactly what I will be doing, and IT IS INTERESTING - some of it is kind of funny too...but, I will keep you on pins and needles in the meantime.  Soon, I will be providing more information, details, and perhaps video, but since it is at the Kauffman Center, you never know who might have a dressing room nearby - one time it was Placido Domingo, another time Itzahk Perlman, then Yo-Yo Ma, and Juan Diego Florez, but as luck would have it, this time it'll be with royalty - a certain Queen of Soul.  Well, I'll leave you hangin' but I'm excited to give you some video and pictures of everything going on in the coming weeks!

A Famous Hat

Third, the 34th Summer Choral Institute (sponsored by the Master Teacher Institute for the Arts) ended its application process and we completely shattered all of our applicant records.  I am the Administrative Director of the Institute and it is one of the most amazing weeks of my year. More students applied this year than ever before - students representing 12 states and many, many schools.  I am so excited to bring together some of the nation's most talented high school singers and some of the most amazing conductors and musicians that I've had the high privilege to know for a week of awesome, life-changing music.

Fourth, the Kansas City Vocal Institute is holding it's online auction through Monday.  Items include an autograph of a Star Wars score by John Williams, and lots of other autographed items by Melissa Etheridge, Chanticleer, Norah Jones, Betty White, the Kronos Quartet, Donald Trump, Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego Florez, Zubin Mehta, Martina McBride, and Yo-Yo Ma.

Finally, I have an intense upcoming schedule.  Tomorrow, I will attend the Barber of Seville at the Kauffman Center with the KC Lyric Opera, then perform in the other hall at the Kauffman Center on my birthday (Saturday) with the Conservatory Orchestra and Singers - performing the famous Rite of Spring and Chen Yi's new Chinese Myths Cantata, which features me in the fourth balcony singing whole-tone scales in complete darkness, in Mandarin (Chinese) no less, with eleven other singers!  And, on Sunday I will be in Salina, KS singing in a church service and an afternoon concert to commemorate the new sanctuary at University United Methodist Church.  The following week, I will be the tenor soloist for Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass at Washburn University in Topeka, sing at a UMKC graduation in Kansas City, and sing the Canadian National Anthem at a Sporting KC game.  (not to mention that the KC Symphony stuff begins in earnest after that!)

So, it's a busy and exciting time!!!  I will try to bring you videos and pictures of all the excitement.

Muriel Kauffman Theater - Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Home of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Livestrong Sporting Park
Home of Sporting KC

Doctoral Recital - The Volga German Genocide

I have had an amazing and heartbreaking week.  There are many stories that I would love to share, but alas this is a very public forum.  Unfortunately, I will wait a few years to tell some of the lessons that I have learned this week - not all good things, but great life lessons and professional lessons.

Tonight, I will be singing in the Conservatory's production of Carmina Burana.  I know you all know it - CLICK HERE TO SEE IF YOU DO.  We will also be performing some exciting world premiere pieces including one by the current Pulitzer Prize winner in music, Zhou Long, who is an instructor at the Conservatory here in Kansas City.  You can watch it live on the internet here at 7:30: http://www.umkc.edu/ia/streaming/live-streams.cfm

I have to say that all the time I've spent this weekend in Helzberg Hall has been absolutely incredible.  If you are a choral music person, there is no better place on earth to sing than Helzberg.  I guarantee it will be a religious experience - it's the perfect place for singers.  It's no wonder why many of the greatest singers in the world have scheduled performances here in the coming year.  For example, Juan Diego Florez, the most famous tenor in the world, sang a recital here yesterday.  He only scheduled recitals for Paris, Salzburg, Vienna, and Kansas City!  This place is for real...if you are living in the area, and haven't seen it, you are missing one of the world's greatest performing venues.

But, the biggest event for me this week is certainly my Doctoral Recital:

"Wir wollen Deutsche bleiben"

7:30 PM

THIS SATURDAY

February, 25, 2011

White Recital Hall

Kansas City, Missouri

It should be, hopefully, one of the most unique recitals that you have heard in a long time.  I have waited several years to put this particular recital together.  Watch the video below and I'll explain some of the really unique things that I will be doing.

The phrase "wir wollen Deustche bleiben" or "we want to remain German", was a phrase that the Volga Germans used to solidify the importance of their ancestry in the face of this horrific slaughter.  They were influenced by many cultures and governments but they desired to peacefully live in their agricultural society with a simple but vibrant Germanic society.  Knowing their sacrifice and that their struggle, known as the Forgotten Genocide, completely obliterated their world, I too feel that it is important to keep at least this small portion of their story and culture alive.

I will begin the concert with "Ach, wenn Mutter Wolga" by Cui.  Cui was a famous Russian composer and this is a patriotic hymn to the Tsar.  It was originally written in Russian, but I will sing it in German.  The Volga Germans were forced to sing these in the early 20th century.  It sounds very "Russian" with a somber mode, but if you understand that the point of this concert is to celebrate the Volga Germans, you should know that this is about the darkest and saddest of all songs.  Tsar Nicholas II initiated the genocide on the Volga Germans, so to sing a patriotic song in German, would be the equivalent of Jews in Poland being forced to sing a song praising Hitler in Polish.  It is gut-wrenching.

Then I will sing some songs that highlight the many cultures of their part of the world.  They lived in an area that was filled with many cultures because of the trade routes between Asia and Europe.  They were influenced by India, China, Persia, Russia, and Western Europe.  So, I will sing the first movement from Ravel's Scheherazade.  Scheherazade is a famous Persian tale, and the first movement is called "Asie" or Asia.  It talks about China, India, and all the wonders and dangers in the Orient.  It is normally sung by a mezzo, but is written for high voice and clearly with tenor in mind.  However, I will be making one of the only tenor Scheherazade recordings that I know of existing, so it should be very unique.  I will follow that by singing an aria from the Russian composer, Rimsky-Korsakov, called "Chanson Indoue" or The Song of India.  Both of these selections are in French.  How perfectly multicultural!

Then I will sing Respighi's "Nebbie" - a tenor favorite.  Respighi was an Italian composer, and this piece is in Italian describing the fog rising and setting, a very spooky allegory to life and death.  Respighi was a student of Rimsky-Korsakov and was the principal violinist of the Russian Imperial Orchestra in St. Petersburg.

I will also include some selections that highlight the cultural history of the Volga Germans, which obviously includes German music - so, I will sing a short lied by Brahms and a tenor favorite by Wolf, both German/Austrian composers.

Then I will sing Lenski's Aria from Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin.  It is in Russian and certainly one of the most famous Russian arias of all time.

Lastly, I will sing the World Premiere of John Mueter's "Three Volga German Folk Songs".  I contacted the library at the conservatory in Salzburg where they have a massive collection of folk songs of Germanic peoples.  They were very kind to allow me to search high and low for songs with their origin in the lower Volga river region.  I found about 30 and they sent them to me over the internet and I sent some of them to John, who was very eager to work on the project.

He composed three songs "Abschied", which is a beautiful song of farewell, then "Soldatentod", which tells the story of a soldier's death on the battlefield with gruesome depictions of the dead scattered under the moonlight, and finally "Der Zecher", which is about a drunk that is sitting at home drinking when Death shows up at his door.  The drunk offers Death a drink, but Death pours it out as a toast to his cousin, Plague's, health.  Death then asks "do you think I can be sold with a drink?" but the drunk pleads, "I'm trying to become a doctor, and if you let me live, I'll give you half my patients."  Death agrees to let the drunk live as long as he is his obedient servant.  So, the piece ends with the drunk, drunkenly singing the joys of living forever because of his deal with Death.  All of these are in German, natürlich.

I have been wanting to do a program like this for several years, and I am very excited to present it this Saturday.  It means so much to me because this is my ancestry, its culture is dying very fast, and it is the 70th anniversary of the mass deportation of the Volga Germans to the GULAG labor camps.  After the genocide, most of the Volga Germans either fled to the United States or Germany or were assimilated into USSR, losing their language and with it, much of their culture.  Today, the most vibrant culture is in the middle of the United States where they still cook, speak, dance, and drink like they did in the Volga region.  However, with the loss of their language in recent generations, there just aren't enough decedents to promulgate their culture further.  Sadly, it all was irreversibly destroyed in the genocide.

An Operatic Christmas Wishlist

I know I am a little late this week, but I wanted to throw some Christmas gift ideas out there for any opera lovers in your lives.  This week and next week, I will have five unique gifts.

1. Renee Fleming's album "Dark Hope".  Renee is one of the world's greatest opera singers, but last year she produced a pop album, singing remakes of famous pop songs.  Here is the closing track, Hallelujah - which was made famous by Leonard Cohen.

Renee Fleming - Hallelujahfound onChillout

There's not much I can say as far as a critique is concerned, because it isn't performed with intent of great vocal virtuosity, as are most pop songs.  Essentially, if you are entertained, then she did a good job in my opinion.  And, I really like this song.  You may remember, and I certainly do, that this song was sung as the "song of peace" at the 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremony.  I cannot play the video from the broadcast, but here is a home video from it.

Anyway, Renee certainly doesn't get as vocally involved as what many pop singers would, but the album is somewhat interesting for those who love and know her voice.  HOWEVER, don't be confused that I am hinting that I want this for Christmas.  I am certainly content with Renee's PBS Christmas specials.

2.  Perhaps I'm biased but these T-Shirts based on Kansas City's Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts are pretty awesome.

3.  Japan has a new trend! - which is great for us in America because we certainly need more things to laugh about in these gloomy times.  Behold - Pro Voice Pills!  They cost about $2.50 and contain Magnesium and Malic Acid - commonly found in Apple Juice.  On the onset, most singers would say, "oh! that makes sense" since many blindly revere Apples as a kind of wonder fruit for singing.  HOWEVER, this sweet-tart-flavored pill also, evidently, makes your throat slightly numb, thereby calming your throat and nourishing your body to create a great singing voice.  Numbing is a big no-no.  Pain is a good thing, because it tells you when you are going too far.  If you can't tell that, you can easily injure your voice.  Nonetheless, I'm sure - as many people often debate against me when it comes to "old wives' tales" - it's all in their heads.  I tend to rely on science when it comes to debating, and I am fairly certain that if anyone has any benefit from this, it must either be from a placebo effect or because they enjoy losing arguments.  This would be a great gift for those in your family who are musically challenged - however, they will likely try to sing if you give it to them...on second thought, be sure you have a glass of wine first so you can bear the torture.

4.  Pavarotti is for sale at the Haven on Earth Animal League in Fort Myers, FL http://capecoral.ebayclassifieds.com/cats-kittens/fort-myers/domestic-short-hair-black-and-white-pavarotti-medium/?ad=14191707

5.  I'm not trying to be pretentious (I just am) but I really want a "no coughing sign" to hold up during performances.  It would be ideal if it would light up so I can just hold it up while an aria is sung, so the old guy hacking in the back that doesn't want to be at the opera anyway would kindly leave so I could at least hear one whole phrase!  

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Last weekend I was privileged  to perform at the Kansas City Southern Railroad's winter ball at the beautiful Union Station in Kansas City.  Here are some pictures from the event.  The place is gigantic, like a capitol building, and echos about as intensely.  I performed some Christmas carols with two other singers, and sang a solo Ave Maria - sadly, the Schubert version...Bach/Gounod is my favorite, but I couldn't find the right key as I was looking for it at the last minute.

The place and event were gorgeous, as you would expect with brass choir, string quintet, opera singers, a red carpet with a bouncer.  The appetizers were set out along an enormous ice train sculpture (as seen below).  They had giant shrimp, crab claws, and oysters.  Oh, and for a plate, a giant seashell...how cool is that?  I only was able to have the appetizers, but it appeared as if they had bottomless wine!  I was jealous.

Busyness Business

Hopefully everyone had a great time looking at my Basilio pictures.  And for your entertainment (and my embarrassment) here is yet another one from my facebook page.

I had several muses for the role, including a friendly drag queen and Jack Sparrow.

Hopefully, I will now be able to retire this character.  Where are all the heroic tenor roles?  I once had to play the role of a Rhinestone Cowboy in a Pasatieri opera.  I suppose I just give off some weird vibes in my opera auditions.

Anyway, I am very thankful to have a week free to celebrate Thanksgiving, watch football, and relax.  I haven't talked very much about my upcoming schedule, but it is packed with all kinds of awesome things.

YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO SEE MY FULL SCHEDULE

Once again, I have several auditions in New York next week.  I am trying to get them all during the same period so I don't have to make too many trips out there.  My schedule is packed as it is.  Anyway, for this trip, the companies that I received invitations from are New Jersey Opera, Saratoga Opera, Pine Mountain Opera, and (tentatively) Opera North.

Following that, I will be the tenor soloist in Messiah at Calvary Bible College on December 2 in Kansas City. I am so lucky to be just the kind of tenor that Messiah was meant for.  I have a feeling that I will have a lifetime of Christmas and Easter Messiah productions.  Luckily, I really enjoying singing the tenor arias, unlike many tenors.  The Baroque period was very unkind to tenors...the castrati ruined everything!

Also at the beginning of December, I will be singing with the Conservatory Choirs in their Christmas festival concert at Visitation Catholic Church on December 3rd.  We will use this unique space to sing some antiphonal pieces.

On the evening of the 10th of December, I have been asked to sing at the holiday party for a major American railroad company at Union Station in Kansas City.  I will sing some classical holiday selections in what will be an incredible venue for music, as the cavernous marble-laden lobby will certainly echo music like an enormous cathedral would.

The following day, December 11, I will be singing a Lessons and Carols concert with the Spire Symphonic Chorus at the Community of Christ Peace Temple, which is one of the most amazing music venues that I know of.  The concert will feature one of my good friends and certainly one of the world's greatest organists, Jan Kraybill.

On December 13, I am very excited for a special audition for the Kansas City Symphony that I was generously offered.  I don't have much to say about it right now other than it requires my Cyrillic Alphabet reading skills.

The following weekend, I will be singing with the Kansas City Symphony and the Kansas City Symphony Chorus in their Christmas Festival.  It will certainly be a blast and DON'T MISS IT IF YOU LIVE IN THE AREA!  There are many performances, and it will get you in the Christmas spirit.  Of course, this concert will be in Helzberg Hall at the beautiful Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Additionally, I will be a soloist for a couple of concerts with the Village Symphony and Chorus on December 18 in their "Tidings of Joy" Christmas festival.  As you can see, if you need to get some extra Christmas spirit in you, just hang out with me!!  Unfortunately, I can get a little grouchy, scroogey, and grinchy with my life being a near endless stream of Christmas music.  (It can become annoying in a way...similar to how I can't ever figure out the words to Wooly Bully, and then it gets stuck in my head because I like the tune, which means I have to whistle it, all the while I still can't figure out the words, and frustration ensues.)  Christmas music so easily gets stuck in my head, partly because it is enjoyable or perhaps it is just simple and catchy, and becomes annoying over a long period of time if that is all that I can think about!  Nevertheless, I hope to see you in the audience, as these concerts will be a lot of fun!

I will soon have a lot more to say about my schedule for next year.  I am performing a recital in January dedicated to the memory of those lost in the Soviet genocide of the Volga Germans 70 years ago, featuring a new song cycle based on Volga German folk tunes written by composer John Mueter especially for this occasion.  I am so thankful for the work that he produced, and the enthusiasm that he had for writing this. And the day before the recital, I will be a soloist in a Bach cantata back at the beautiful Visitation church. 

In February, I will be singing with the Kansas City Symphony Chorus at the Kauffman Center in their production of Mahler's Second and I will be singing with the Conservatory Choirs later that month in a production of Carmina Burana also at the Kauffman Center.  

In March, I will be Don Jose in La tragedie de Carmen at the Conservatory, and then competing at the regional NATSAA competition in Chicago.  

In April, I will be singing with the Conservatory Symphony and Choir in a production of Chen Yi's Chinese Myths at the Kauffman Center and I will be a soloist for a production of the Pulitzer Prize winning composition The Little Match Girl Passion at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City.

And finally, I will be singing in a world premiere of a new Libby Moyer comic opera in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for Capitol Opera at the Whitacre Center in June.

Next week, I will have information about the celebrities participating in this year's KCVI Celebrity Auction! I'm so excited to tell you all about it, but I'll hold you in suspense until then.