For Immediate Release
Media contact:
Jane Turnis
(719) 389-6138
JTurnis@ColoradoCollege.edu
Vocal Arts Symposium celebrates 10 years
of great performance and superior training
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – July 19, 2008 – Opera Theatre of the Rockies and the Colorado College Summer Festival of the Arts will again combine resources to present Southern Colorado’s largest annual celebration of the operatic and musical theater arts – the 2008 Vocal Arts Symposium, from July 20-Aug. 10. Seven public performances featuring the 50 symposium participants will be offered to the public between July 25 and Aug. 10. Venues include Colorado College’s Packard Hall, 5 W. Cache La Poudre St., and its new Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center, 825 N. Cascade Ave.
“We feel that the experience our participants receive at the symposium is like nothing else they could possibly choose,” said Martile Rowland, founder and artistic director of Opera Theatre of the Rockies. Rowland has directed the three-week session since its inception in 1999. “We have assembled a remarkable faculty to coach and teach every aspect of what the performing artists will need, including acting, singing, musical interpretation, style, dance and even stage makeup. Add the memorization and performance demands we design for each of our participants, and we can assure that all attendees take dramatic steps forward toward realizing a professional career.”
Faculty for this season includes Rowland; Steven LaCosse (principal stage director/associate program director); Zetta Alderman (choreographer/dance instructor/director); James Allbritten (principal conductor/voice teacher/stage director/tenor); Daniel Brink (vocal coach/piano); Gloria Parker (voice teacher/scenes director/mezzo-soprano); Craig Kier (vocal coach/piano); Damien Francoeur-Krzyzek (vocal coach/piano); Thomas Lindblade (stage director/theater arts teacher); Sarah Opstad (wig and makeup designer/teacher); LeAnn Overton (principal vocal coach/piano); Christopher Roselli (voice teacher/scenes director/ bass-baritone); Jan Avromov (costume director); and Lila Mori (voice teacher/music theater and jazz coach/jazz concert coordinator).
“It’s really the Colorado College Summer Session and the Summer Festival of the Arts that make the Symposium possible,” said Rowland. “Packard Hall is an ideal setting and we all can’t wait to add the Cornerstone Arts Center to the resources we have always generously had at our disposal. This should be our most exciting Vocal Arts Symposium yet!”
As one of the seven public performances featuring symposium participants, Jazz Sundae Sunday on Sun., July 27 at 3 p.m. in the Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center’s south theater acts this season as a 10th Anniversary Celebration Receptionwhile featuring two local musical legends: pianist Ken Miller and vocalist Lila Mori. “We’re delighted to lend our music to such a tremendous musical and artistic happening,” said Miller, who is director of entertainment at The Broadmoor Hotel. “It’s a true labor of love and Lila and I can’t wait to perform in the new Cornerstone center.”
Tickets to all performances of the 2008 Vocal Arts Symposium are available at all TicketsWest outlets; on-line at ticketswest.com ; by calling 719-520-SHOW or 866-464-2626. If purchased at Pikes Peak Center Box Office at 190 S. Cascade Ave. or at the Worner Campus Center, 902 N. Cascade Ave. on the Colorado College campus, there are no additional fees. Admission prices are $15 for general admission, $10 with a CC ID, and $5 for students for each event.
The complete performance schedule:
DEATH BY ARIA
Fri., July 25, 7 p.m.
Packard Hall
JAZZ SUNDAE SUNDAY
10th Anniversary Celebration Reception (with cool treats)
Sun., July 27, 3 p.m.
Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center’s south theater
LET'S MAKE A SCENE
Fri., Aug. 1, 7 p.m.
Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center’s south theater
The Elixir of Love – Donizetti
Nine – Maury Yeston
La Boheme, Act I – Puccini
The Merry Widow, Act II scenes – Lehar
SCENE-O-RAMA
Sun., Aug. 3, 3 p.m.
Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center’s south theater
Orfee et Eurydice, Act I scenes – Gluck
Abduction from the Seraglio, Act I scenes – Mozart
Madama Butterfly, Act III – Puccini
Lucia di Lammermoor, Mad Scene – Donizetti
City of Angels – Gilbert/Coleman/Zippel
SCENIC VIEW
Wed., Aug. 6, 7 p.m.
Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center’s south theater
La Rondine, Act I scenes – Puccini
La Gioconda, Act II scenes – Ponchielli
The Marriage of Figaro, Act IV finale – Mozart
Norma, Act I scenes – Bellini
West Side Story, Act I scenes – Bernstein
THE SCENE STEALERS
Fri., Aug.8,7 p.m.
Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center’s south theater
Dialogue of the Carmelites, Act III – Poulenc
Aida, Duetto Aida/Amneris, Tomb Scene – Verdi
Gianni Schicchi – Puccini
Cabaret – Kander/Ebb
GRAND FINALE “SALUTE TO DISNEY”
Sun., Aug. 10, 3 p.m.
Packard Hall
Detailed information on the 2008 Vocal Arts Symposium is available at www.coloradocollege.edu/SummerPrograms/SummerFestivaloftheArts/VocalArtsSymposium. Additional information regarding the programs and performances of Opera Theatre of the Rockies is available at www.operatheatreoftherockies.org.
For help finding locations of these events see the campus map at www.ColoradoCollege.edu/welcome/campus_map
or call (719) 389-6607 for information, directions or disability accommodation.
About the Colorado College Summer Festival of the Arts
Colorado College’s Summer Festival of the Arts features four major festivals within it, as well as additional world-class film, theater, literary readings, comedy and art events throughout the summer. The Summer Music Festival, a teaching festival in which young musicians from around the world learn from professionals and perform with them, and professional musicians also offer concerts, ran June 9 to July 1. The Extraordinary Dance! Festival ran June 30 to July 18, with dance education opportunities and gala performances open to the public. The New Music Symposium, featuring contemporary composers and their music, ran June 6 to July 13. The Vocal Arts Symposium runs July 20-Aug. 8, with opera, jazz and musical theater performances. See http://artsfestival.coloradocollege.edu for details on all parts of the Summer Festival of the Arts. For details on the entire summer’s offerings, see www.ColoradoCollege.edu/News_Events.
About Colorado College
Colorado College is a nationally prominent, four-year liberal arts college that was founded in Colorado Springs in 1874. The college operates on the innovative Block Plan, in which its 1,975 undergraduate students study one course at a time in intensive 3½-week blocks. The college also offers a master of arts in teaching degree. For more information, visit www.ColoradoCollege.edu <http://www.ColoradoCollege.edu>.
NOTE TO EDITORS: High-resolution images of Vocal Arts Symposium may be downloaded here: http://www.coloradocollege.edu/news%5Fevents/Photos