A MOST MUSICAL AFTERNOON Benefits The Carrollwood Cultural Center & ACS 8/16

The Carrollwood Cultural Center and the Members of OperaTampa invite you to A MOST MUSICAL AFTERNOON to benefit the Carrollwood Cultural Center and The American Cancer Society.

Enjoy an afternoon of OperaTampa talent, performing classics from the Opera, Musical Theatre and Contemporary Repertoire!

Featuring OperaTampa talent: Sopranos: Erica Henry Allen, Beth Dalton, Elizabeth Graham, Melody Ossi and Linda Switzer.
Mezzo-sopranos: Lin Grant, Melissa Misener and Victoria Stout.
Tenors: Alejandro Donawa, Michael Pruitt and Humberto Zambrano.

Bass: Stephen Wright.
Accompanist: Teresa Rose.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 at 3 pm At the Carrollwood Cultural Center
4537 Lowell Road Tampa, FL 33618 (813)269-1310
$10 for members, $15 for non-members

Now entering its 14th season, OperaTampa is the resident opera company of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. OperaTampa produces and presents the highest caliber of grand opera complete with the spectacle and grandeur that makes opera "the queen of the performing arts".

It is the OperaTampa's first performance at the Carrollwood Cultural Center.

Erica Henry Allen (Mezzo-Soprano) is an emerging vocalist who has had a love for singing since an early age. She has been fortunate enough to perform with numerous groups, including the University of Florida University Singers, The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay and the Opera Tampa Chorus. Her upcoming project is Opera Tampa's production of the stage spectacular "Faust" at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. In her spare time, she loves baking, checking out local music and spending time with her new husband.

Beth Dalton (Soprano) was most recently seen as "A Novice" in Opera Tampa's production of "Suor Angelica" at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. She has performed with Opera Tampa for the past two seasons in "Romeo & Juliet", "Il Trovatore", "La Boheme" and "Tosca". Beth attended Loyola New Orleans and New York University for her Undergraduate and Master's degree in voice performance respectively. At NYU, she was awarded Outstanding Talent of the Year for 1998. In New York, she worked extensively in musical and Opera Theater, most notably at the Frederick Loewe Theater in "Carousel" (Carrie) and "Jerry's Girls" (Soloist), and with "Opera Mobile", headed by renowned soprano Arlene Saunders and musical director Michel Singer.

Alejandro Donawa (Tenor) was last seen in the comic role of Bartholo's servant in Opera Tampa's production of "The Barber of Seville". Prior to Barber, Alejandro was seen on tour in the Spanish Lyric Theatre's productions of the musicals "Showboat" and "Damn Yankees". Alejandro also works as a model and actor. He was seen as a Central American soldier in last season's episodes of "Prison Break" on FOX, various Bright House TV commercials, and most recently, in the Ybor City Museum's new history exhibition & film, which had its grand opening in January of 2009.

Lin Grant (Mezzo-Soprano) was last seen in Opera Tampa's recent production of "Suor Angelica". Lin is the alto section leader for Opera Tampa where she has performed since 1999, in a variety of productions from "Carmen" to 2006's "Romeo and Juliet" where she played the mother of Juliet. Lin has taught voice locally and currently serves the community performing marriages and divorces via her local company "Dirt Cheap Divorces". See more at www.dirtcheapdivorces.com.

Elizabeth Graham (Soprano) has performed with Opera Tampa for many years in productions such as "Turandot", "Madama Butterfly", "La Boheme", "Carmen", "Il Trovatore", "Sacco and Vanzetti", "Romeo and Juliet", and others and with the Spanish Lyric Theatre in Broadway musical and operetta productions. Elizabeth is thrilled to be able to perform with such a wonderful and talented group of singers and friends. Elizabeth is Department Head for Humanities at King High School in Tampa. She coaches locally with Marc Taslit and Linda Switzer.

Melissa Misener (Mezzo-Soprano) is a Tampa native and has been singing professionally in the area for over 15 years. She currently runs her own studio and enjoys singing in the Opera Tampa Chorus. She has held the position of Mezzo-Soprano Soloist for the Mendelssohn Oratorio choir since 1999 and has been the alto soloist/ section leader for St. Andrews Episcopal Church for the last two years. Most recently Melissa played the role of Vicki in MAD Theatre's production of "The Full Monty". While studying voice performance at UCF she enjoyed such roles as Pamina in "Die Zauberflöte" and Rosalinde in "Die Fledermaus" under the direction of Orlando Opera director Robert Swedberg. Melissa is an alumni of the VOICE experience program headed by renowned baritone Sherrill Milnes.

Melody Ossi (Soprano) is a native of Harrisburg, Illinois and attended undergraduate and graduate school in St. Louis, Missouri. She has sung with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, the Opera Company of Boston, New Century Opera and Opera Tampa. Roles she has performed include Pamina in "The Magic Flute", Wellgunde in "Das Rheingold", Adele in "Die Fledermaus", Dew Fairy/ Sandman in "Hansel and Gretel" and Norina in"Don Pasquale". She has been soloist with the St. Louis Chamber Chorus, Bach Society of St. Louis and the New Jersey Pops Orchestra. She was a New England Finalist in the 1989 Metropolitan Opera Competition and was recipient of a Tanglewood Fellowship. She now resides in New Tampa with her two teenage sons.

Michael Pruitt (Tenor) is a concert soloist and operatic performer who works locally with such companies as Opera Tampa, the St. Petersburg Opera and Spanish Lyric Theatre, to name a few. He has sung with Opera Tampa for the past six years in such shows as" Madama Butterfly", "Carmen", "Maestro Coppola's Sacco y Vanzetti", "La Boheme", "Romeo & Juliet" and in this past winter's production of "The Barber of Seville". Most recently, he starred as the philandering but redeemable Gaylord Ravenal in the Spanish Lyric Theatre's tour of Showboat.

Teresa Rose (Accompanist) frequently performs as a piano soloist and chamber musician. She received her Masters in Piano Performance at the University of South Florida. She has taught piano and accompanied at USF, Florida Southern College, Florida International University, Southeastern University and the University of Miami. She has performed in numerous concerts with members of the Florida Orchestra, was a soloist with the Florida Orchestra in 1994 and with the Imperial Orchestra in 2006. Mrs. Rose currently serves as staff accompanist at USF where she coaches voice majors. She also performs with various choirs including the Gulf Coast Girl Choir, the USF Chamber Singers and the Zielinski Singers.

Victoria Stout (Mezzo-Soprano) attended the University of Miami School of Music (Jazz Department) as an instrumentalist. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Florida. Victoria enjoys singing with a variety of Tampa Bay area ensembles including the choruses of Opera Tampa and The St. Petersburg Opera. She is a member of Concordia Vocal Ensemble, a 12-voice group dedicated to early music and Con Amore, a 12 voice ensemble specializing in classic women's repertoire. She also sings with Key Chorale of Sarasota. She currently works as a choir member of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in St. Petersburg and at St. Petersburg College.

Linda Switzer (Soprano) was a prize winner in the Florida District Metropolitan Opera auditions and a prize winner in the Atlanta Regional Metropolitan Opera auditions. She holds a Master of Music in voice performance from Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Longwood College in Farmville, VA. Linda is an active performer in regional opera, zarzuela and musical theater. She has performed roles with Opera Tampa, Sarasota Opera, Orlando Opera, Florida Lyric Opera, The Florida Orchestra, Treasure Coast Opera, Pensacola Opera, and Spanish Lyric Theatre. Linda and her husband, Marc Switzer, own the Florida Arts School and she is an adjunct professor at St. Petersburg College.

Stephen Wright (Bass) was last seen in the comic role of Guccio in Opera Tampa's production of Puccini's one-act "Gianni Schicci". An avid performer, Stephen has been seen in numerous Opera Tampa productions and will next appear in the upcoming, Spring presentation of "Faust" at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Stephen works as a pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Zephyrhills.

Humberto Zambrano (Tenor) is a Venezuelan-born singer who has performed locally with the Ybor City Italian Club and Club Cubano in "Reviva Ybor", "Así Cantaba Cuba" and "Opera y Pasta". He has been seen on stage in Opera Tampa's "Tosca", "The Barber of Seville", "The Merry Widow" with Saint Petersburg Opera, and notably, as the romantic lead in "Los Gavilanes" with the Spanish Lyric Theatre of Tampa. Humberto has performed internationally with such notable orchestras and directors as: Roberto Marín, Ricardo Gómez Mijares, Víctor Dan Romascanu, Leonél Méndez, Jorge Carrillo Braschi, Gregory Carreño, Freddy Padrón and Rodolfo Saglimbeni, and has had the honor to share the stage with renowned artists such as: José Romay, Hector Cabrera, Serenata Guayanesa and Huascar Barradas.

The mission of the Friends of the Carrollwood Cultural Center is to offer cultural programs, services and events that encourage individual exploration and promotes a sense of community.The Center participates with several Florida interest groups to promote the arts and its influences throughout the community. These groups offer intergenerational programs as well as initiatives that address particular individual needs and encompass graphic and performing arts, continuing education, and community outreach programs.

The Friends of the Carrollwood Cultural Center, a 501(c)3 organization. For more information visit the Center website at www.carrollwoodcenter.org.

 

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