pikes peak opera league spring is in the · pdf file2014 at gold hill mesa community center to...
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E s t . 1 9 7 9 High Notes M a r c h , A p r i l , M a y 2 0 1 4 | 1 A PPOL Bi-monthly Publication Vol XIII, Issue 2 Mary Koepp- Editor Photos by Charles and Judy Warren
Pikes Peak Opera League
Spring is in the Air An Evening to Benefit the Pikes Peak Opera League
Hors d’oeuvres, Wine and Beer
A Special Auction of Jewelry
Soft Music Provided by
Cynthia Robinson, violin and Kathleen Boleyn, harp
Friday, April 25, 2014 from 5-8 pm $25 per person ($15 is tax-deductible)
Gold Hill Mesa Community Center
142 South Raven Mine Drive, Colorado Springs 80905 Reservations: Send your check payable to
Pikes Peak Opera League, C/o C. Crater, 470 Wembley Ct.
Colorado Springs, CO 80906 For more information, call Cindy at 579-0816.
Tickets are also available online at www.pikespeakoperaleague.org.
JEWELRY DONTIONS REQUESTED "DIAMONDS (and gold and silver) are a girl’s best friends". Please call me (233-0795) before April 19 to pick up any jewelry you wish to donate to Spring Is in
the Air. All of us have jewelry we are no longer interested in, or don’t wear because our tastes have changed.
The committee is welcoming donations of high-end jewelry for the live auction. (If you have an appraisal, please include it). We are
also accepting some costume pieces that will be priced individually for quick sale. You will
receive a donation letter from PPOL. Victoria, Chairman, Jewelry sales.
M a r c h , A p r i l , M a y 2 0 1 4 | 2
President’s Corner by Gloria Wendt
March 17, 2014
Hello Opera Lovers,
What a night it was! The third annual benefit gala, Valentine’s
Day Extravaganza at the Mining Exchange: A Wyndham Grand
Hotel, was indeed an evening to remember. The food was fantastic and the
program of musical valentines, thanks to Martile Rowland and her
wonderful singers was fun, lively and lovely. Victoria Boswell and her
committee set the tone with their beautiful, sparkling-heart table
decorations. And many thanks to all the volunteers - to Mary Koepp and Nedra Engelson who
co-chaired the Silent Auction and to Susan Loring who co-chaired the event with me. A special
live auction of four roles in this year’s opera, Lakmé, was donated by Opera Theatre and raised a
good deal of money for us. George Preston, General Manager of KCME, generated lively
bidding with his very entertaining auctioneering. The event was the biggest fundraiser we’ve
had, with over $12,000 raised. My heartfelt thanks to all who supported PPOL (see list of
auction donors in this newsletter).
Fun times are not over yet. We’ll be having another event to benefit PPOL on April 25,
2014 at Gold Hill Mesa Community Center to celebrate a wonderful year. Watch for you
invitations, they’re coming soon.
We are so fortunate to have a dynamic Board of Directors. They are actively engaged in
the administration of the Opera League and not only committed to this year but beyond.
We will be attending a retreat at the Penrose House in late April to examine our organization and
activities in view of our mission. We hope to refine our goals and objectives for the next couple
of years. We will keep you updated on the results.
Next year we celebrate 35 years as an opera organization.
We want to keep it robust for another 35 years!
Songs for a Summer Night concert with Susan Rae Jensen and friends To launch the summer season of Opera Theatre, Susan Rae Jensen and friends will perform an
outdoor concert Wednesday, June 25, in the glen at Broadmoor Community Church (BCC) on
Lake Ave, following the BCC music department’s free-will-offering picnic/BBQ at 6 PM. Love
songs, musical theater and of course some opera will be included. No tickets needed.-but
donations to Opera Theatre of the Rockies music educational outreach programs gratefully
accepted. This event is one of the church summer Concerts in the Glen and will be announced for
the general public. It will be crowded. Please arrive with lawn chair or blanket and your own
picnic fare if BBQ isn’t your thing. In case of rain, the concert will be moved inside.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$$$$$$ Treasurer’s Report First Quarter 2014 $$$$$$,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, MAIN ACCOUNT uncommitted $1,798.00 RAFFLE ACCOUNT -- SCHOLARSHIP/CAREER GRANTS ONLY $ 2,078.94 FUND RAISER ACCOUNT $1,324.48 It would be exciting to see the Main Account’s bank balance until one removes the committed
funds to reveal an available sum of $1,798.00, which isn’t bad, considering our $8000 donation
to Opera Theatre of the Rockies following the February Valentine Gala. The Raffle Account,
available for career grants is totally funded by our monthly meeting raffles. The Fund Raiser
Account has $1,324.48 available and is temporarily holding the generous $51,000 legacy left to
PPOL by Celia Rasor. This amount will be used to create a legacy society to assist PPOL in its
support of our musical missions.
M a r c h , A p r i l , M a y 2 0 1 4 | 3
Valentine’s Extravaganza and Silent Auction The Pikes Peak Opera League extends sincere appreciation to the businesses and individuals who graciously supported our Valentine Evening Extravaganza silent auction. Adventures Out West American Furniture Warehouse Chamber Orchestra of Springs Chris Jackson Cliff Edge Inn B and B, Westcliffe Club at Flying Horse Collette Devine Colorado Springs Philharmonic Dr Jerry's Resume Service Famous Restaurants Garment Gal Glenn's Jewelry Good Earth Garden Center Imagination Space
Jane Beeder Designs KCME Lu Benning
Margarita at Pine Creek Marigold Bakery Mary Margaret Brummeler Nan and Ted Rubley Nancy Daly Nedra Engelson Opera Theatre of the Rockies Robert Littrell Dr. Ryan Baros, Dentist Stables at the Broadmoor Texas Road House Theatreworks, UCCS The Mining Exchange Victoria Boswell Virginia Gwaltney Massage Water Works Car Wash Wines of Colorado
M a r c h , A p r i l , M a y 2 0 1 4 | 4
Please Consider and Respond As Program Chairman for the Pikes Peak Opera League, I am proud of the caliber of singers we have engaged this year to perform at our
monthly meetings. We've had everything from Secret Garden and Schumann excerpts to stories about Auditioning and Cooking told in
music. I am also proud that we support so many young singers through the Young Voice Competition and Opera Theatre of the Rockies' Young
Artists Outreach Ensemble. Additionally, the Young Artists Intensive Training Program, during the summer months, provides us with year
'round opportunities to do what we do best! The League's mission has always been to support the art of singing and singers at all stages of their careers. We do this by supporting Opera Theatre of the Rockies,
and at our monthly meetings when we provide a venue for both up-and-coming, and professional, singers to perform for a live
audience. Please make every effort to come and hear these artists. Keep the first Wednesday morning of each month open and plan to attend.
As you know, there is no extra cost to our members and guests for such wonderful musical programs but attendance at meetings has
been lower than in years past. My question is why? Is it too confusing to meet in a different location each month? Is the time of the meeting inconvenient? Are 10 meetings a year too many? Are there other issues we need to address?
I invite you to email or call me, or someone on the PPOL Board, to give feedback so we know how to move forward in our 35th Anniversary year. [email protected] or 593-
8802. I look forward to hearing from you! Submitted by Susan Loring and Susanne Wheeler
Opera Notes by Susanne Wheeler
Greetings all. On behalf of Opera Theatre of the Rockies, its board of
directors, talented performers and dedicated patrons, I would like to
say a special thank you to the Pikes Peak Opera League, its board of
directors and entire membership for all the wonderful support of our company and our magnificent production of
Delibes’ Lakmé performed in February-March. I cannot tell you how exciting it was to see so many familiar faces,
volunteering for our school program, attending the pre-opera events and of course, in the audience at a main opera
performance. Again, thank you all so much for sharing this once-in-a-lifetime opera experience with us. Now we
look forward to an exciting 2014 Summer Season planned, starting with Dr. Susan Rae Jensen’s “Songs for a Summer
Night” concert on June 25, the Vocal Arts Festival July 1-27, the Opera League’s Festival Opening Gala Evening on July
8, the “Let’s Make a Scene” concert on July 13 and finally, three fabulous performances of “The King and I” on July
25, 26 and 27 at Armstrong Theater. We are excited to welcome back to Colorado Springs bass-baritone Ashraf
Sewailam who will sing the part of the King. Visit our web site at www.operatheatreoftherockies.org for more event
details. And for information about Early Bird tickets for “The King and I,” please call 646-3127. We hope to see you
at our wonderful musical events coming this summer!
M a r c h , A p r i l , M a y 2 0 1 4 | 5
Celia Rasor--A Quiet Presence Leaving a Living Legacy to PPOL
Celia Rasor passed away on August 12, 2012 after a long life dedicated to encouraging and promoting the
community causes that touched her life. She was a quiet woman whose light touch contributed to the
advancement of education, human service, fine art, and history here in Colorado Springs. She and her
husband, Dr. Robert W. Rasor, were members of the Colorado College community where he enjoyed a
lengthy career as a professor of psychiatry. They were active in CC’s Fifty Year Club, Friends of the Library,
and were hosts in the Adopt-a-Student Program for out-of-state students.
In Celia’s last will and testament, she remembered favorite charities that reflected her values:
*Silver Key Senior Services; *Broadmoor Community Church; *Pioneers Museum.
*League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region; *Palmer Foundation; and
*Pikes Peak Opera League, Inc.
We, at the Pikes Peak Opera League, are honored and delighted that Celia saw fit to remember us and our
mission through her generous remembrance to us of over $51,000. Your board has committed to being
responsible stewards by establishing the Celia Rasor Endowment with her bequest. The earnings from her
endowment will be used to support our mission to:
Promote knowledge and appreciation of opera;
Encourage and support young and aspiring opera and musical theatre talent;
Support Opera Theatre of the Rockies and Opera Theater goes to School;
Provide information and educational opportunities to our members. This will allow us to hold the principal of her endowment in perpetuity so that it can provide benefits to
untold generations. We truly appreciate this final gesture of Celia Rasor. Her gift lives on to contribute to
opera opportunities, and student scholarships/career grants. Her worthy example deserves to be emulated
by those who wish to benefit others in this same way by dedicating a bequest to the Legacy Society of the
Pikes Peak Opera League.
Up-Coming Events
April 25 Spring is in the Air (see front page)
May 7 9:30 a.m., General Meeting Broadmoor Community Church program to be determined
May 20- June 2, Vienna and Prague Tour
June 4, 10:30 a.m., Luncheon with elections
June 25, “Songs for a Summer Night”
July 1-27, Vocal Arts Festival
Chamber Orchestra of the Springs
April 26-27, Season Finale: New Traditions
June 3, A Midsummer Nights Music IX, Hillside Gardens and Nursery
M a r c h , A p r i l , M a y 2 0 1 4 | 6
NOMINATIONS for the BOARD
Victoria Boswell, Cindy Crater and Cynthia
Zapel are eager to hear from you if you have
aspirations for a Board position next year or
maybe you could suggest the name of another
member. The positions to be filled by election
during the June luncheon are president, vice
president, secretary and treasurer (for which
Nedra Engelson has been training this past
year). Appointments to Board positions as
committee chairs will be accomplished by the
new president who would certainly appreciate
your indication of interest and availability.
Membership Alert!!!
2014-2015 PIKES PEAK OPERA LEAGUE’S 35TH
ANNIVERSARY
Celebrate with PPOL by renewing Membership early Look for Renewal Invitation in May
Thank you for supporting PPOL programs and events
Deanna Lyons
Bad Weather Cancellation Policy Only a few brave early bird souls braved the February winter weather to attend the February meeting. Most of us received a telephonic notice of the cancellation. This incident led the board to discuss cancel policy. If classes for School District 11 or 12 are delayed or cancelled, the PPOL meeting will be cancelled. If there is an advance storm warning, an e-blast will go out to members advising them of cancellation. This policy will be printed in the front portion of the membership directory.
Opera League Volunteers Needed
Historian for the League 2014-2015
Co-Chairmen for Vocal Arts Festival
Opening Gala Evening, July 8, 2014
at Cornerstone Theater
Co-Chairmen 2015 Young Voice
Competition
Standing Committee Members -
Hospitality, Marketing,
Membership, Nominating,
Advertising Sales
A really cool, bright idea
M a r c h , A p r i l , M a y 2 0 1 4 | 7
Young Voice Competition— Dennis Jackson, General Chairman served proudly as Master of Ceremonies for the 2014 Young Voice final competition Friday, March 21 as six singers presented their choices of music prepared to display their vocal talents at Packard Hall before an appreciative audience. The evening included the competitive program with Dan Brink as accompanist; an overwhelming reception catered by individual members of PPOL; and then the announcement of awards. The winners are:
Anna Yager, Norton Bain 1st Prize of $500.00; Katrina Ivancik, 2nd Prize of $300.00
Alyssa Baumgardner 3rd Prize of $200.00 Mark Autry Encouragement Award off $100.00
Judges for the preliminary round were Dan Fosha, Susan Rae Jensen and Solveig Olsen. Trent Ellis, Jeanna Wearing and Deborah Teske juried the finals. Dennis instructed a master class, open to the public, for the six finalists to help them prepare. Donations of award money came from anonymous, Norton Bain and Susan Rae Jensen. This year we charged admission to augment funds from the gala raffle to cover event expenses such as judges’ stipends and publicity. Members of the event planning committee are: Avis Cook, Evelyn Kwaak, Susan Loring, Gloria Wendt, and Susanne Wheeler. Opportunities to volunteer drew many willing hands to assist with audition review, registrations, door keepers, ushers, backstage personnel, judges’ assistants, and publicity, and food, marvelous food, coordinated by Lu Benning. Anna Yager, soprano, lives in Woodland Park, attends Woodland Park HS is 18 and has 3 years vocal study. Her teacher is Katherine Klamm. Katarina Ivancik, soprano, lives in Payton, and is home schooled. She has studied voice for 4 year and is 15. Her teacher is Valerie Nieming. Alyssa Brungardner, soprano is 16, lives in Colorado Springs, and is also home schooled. She studied voce for 1 year with Sarah Ede. Mark Autry lives in Colorado Springs, is a tenor, aged 17, and attends St Mary’s High School. He studies with Judith Shay Comstock and has 10 years voice training. Ali Watkins, Finalist, soprano, is 17, lives in Colorado Springs, and has studied voice for one year \.She attends Manitou Springs, High School. Cassidy Thompson, Finalist, mezzo is 15 lives in and attends high school in Limon. She has studied voice for 8 years.
Mark, Alyssa Katarina Anna
M a r c h , A p r i l , M a y 2 0 1 4 | 8
March General Meeting
Victoria Hansen, mezzo-soprano and Susan Grace,
pianist presented a very entertaining original opera
displaying Julia Child singing her way through
cooking a chocolate cake.
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PPOL Luncheon Meeting
Cheyenne Mountain Resort
3225 Broadmoor Valley Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Wednesday: June 4, 2014 at 10:30
Entrées: Roasted Chicken Breast How many
Vegetarian Pasta How many
Cost: $35.00 ($5.00 Tax Deductible) per person
Please make checks to Pikes Peak Opera League, and indicate “luncheon” in memo line.
Send to: Lu Benning, 2634 Freedom Heights, Colorado Springs, Co 80904 Phone Number 667-0603
Reservations must be in by Friday, May 30, 2014
Name _____________________________________________ Number
Complimentary Valet Service Please take special note of the address of the resort.