Dallas Opera Expands Titus Series

The Dallas Opera has announced a partnership with the Music Academy of the West located in Santa Barbara, California, that will allow patrons from across North Texas to experience the artistry of the winners of the annual Marilyn Horne Song Competition as an added dimension of the popular Robert E. and Jean Ann Titus Art Song Recital Series. The Music Academy of the West is one the nation's premier summer training programs for gifted young classical musicians.

The landmark gift of the Titus Family that created this program, dedicated to the advancement of art song in American cultural life, will continue to enable The Dallas Opera to present recitals featuring established, world-class performers (such as renowned British tenor Ian Bostridge) representing this rarified field. Beginning in 2015, the series will be expanded to include an annual recital to showcase the previous year's Marilyn Horne Competition winners.

The 2014 competition champions, soprano Michelle Bradley and pianist Michael Gaetner will perform on May 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in Horchow Auditorium at the Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood Street, Dallas, TX 75201.

Tickets will go on sale in early 2015 for this special one-time-only event and will be on a "first come, first served" basis. They may be purchased through the Dallas Opera Patron Services Office at 214.443.1000.

"Building on the remarkable generosity of the Titus Family," explains Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny, "this rewarding partnership allows us to expand the reach and influence of TDO's art song series, making Dallas one of a mere handful of American cities committed to spreading the excitement about this unique and tremendously important art form."

"It's gratifying to be able to make such an announcement, even as we prepare for the next Titus Art Song Recital in January, starring the remarkable American tenor Matthew Polenzani and his esteemed accompanist, Julius Drake, in their eagerly anticipated Texas debuts," added Mr. Cerny.

Scott Reed, President of the Music Academy of the West affirms the remarkable possibilities of such a partnership: "We are thrilled to join hands with Keith Cerny and The Dallas Opera in order to create new opportunities for the extraordinary young talents identified through the Marilyn Horne Song Competition."

The Music Academy of the West was founded in 1947 by a group of visionary Southern California arts patrons and musicians, including the legendary soprano Lotte Lehmann and the famed conductor Otto Klemperer.

One of the most popular events of the summer season at the Music Academy, the Marilyn Horne Song Competition (formerly known as the Marilyn Horne Foundation Vocal Competition) is a showcase for Academy singers and vocal pianists. Top awards are given to the Academy singer and vocal pianist who demonstrate excellence in the performance of song repertoire as well as a unique gift for audience communication.

Previous winners of the competition have included baritone John Brancy and pianist Mario Antonio Marra (2013); soprano Tracy Cox and pianist Maureen Zoltek (2012); soprano Karen Vuong and pianist Saule Tlenchiyeva (2011); soprano Megan Hart and pianist Sun Ha "Sunny" Yoon (2010); mezzo-soprano Ronnita Miller, tenor Jeffrey Hill, and pianist Lio Kuokman (2009); soprano Simone Osborne, baritone Edward Parks, and pianist In-Sun Suh (2008); soprano Nadine Sierra and pianist Karen Kyung-Eun Na (2007); Santa Barbara's own Evan Hughes (2006); soprano Elaine Alvarez, mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, and pianist Tamara Sanikidze (2005); mezzo-soprano Daniela Lehner and pianist Marie-Ève Scarfone (2004); mezzo-soprano Megan Latham and pianist Carol Wong (2003); mezzo-soprano Deborah Domanski and pianist Jerome Tan (2002); tenor Ramon Diggs and pianist Nino Sanikidze (2001); baritone Nicolai Janitzky, mezzo-soprano Liesel Fedkenheuer, and pianists Ji Young Lee and Spencer Myer (2000).

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