Guest artists of the 2010-2011 season
Glen Cortese, conductor
Glen Cortese is the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra's 2010-2011 music director. For a full biography, click here.
La Noche del Amor - A Night of Love - October 15
William Kanengiser, Guitar
Recognized as one of America’s most brilliant guitarists, William Kanengiser has developed a unique repertoire for his instrument, ranging from dazzling arrangements of Mozart, Handel, and Bartók to his innovative excursions into the music of Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. Praised by the Los Angeles Times for his "dizzying execution” and "exceeding vitality and warmth,” Mr. Kanengiser has performed in recital and as guest soloist with orchestras in virtually every major American city, ranging from New York City’s Carnegie Hall to San Francisco’s Herbst Theater, as well as throughout Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Mr. Kanengiser’s solo recordings are heard exclusively on the GSP label. His first recording, Ronda Alla Turka, won an "INDIE” award for Best Classical Recording. His second solo CD, Echoes from the Old World, features music of the folk traditions of Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The third, Caribbean Souvenirs, comprises music from the Caribbean and Mexico. His most recent recording is Classical Cool, a 2003 GSP release, includes jazz-inspired compositions and arrangements for classical guitar. A fifth CD, Groovetune, featuring Mr. Kanengiser’s interpretations of music from fingerstyle masters including Ralph Towner, Pat Metheny, Ozzie Kotani, Michael Hedges, and others, will be released in 2007.
As a founding member of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, William Kanengiser tours extensively throughout North America, Asia, and Europe, and has recorded for the GHA, Delos, and Sony Classical labels. LAGQ currently records exclusively for Telarc. Their 2001 Telarc release, LAGQ: Latin, was nominated for a Grammy, and their follow-up recording LAGQ’s Guitar Heroes won a Grammy for Best Classical Crossover Album of 2004. The latest release, Spin, features an original composition by Mr. Kanengiser for four guitars, "Turn to the Sea.” LAGQ recently released a live concert DVD for Mel Bay Publications, LAGQ LIVE!, and will record a CD of Brazilian music with jazz singer Luciana Souza in 2007.
Beyond his work with LAGQ, Mr. Kanengiser has performed chamber music at festivals and concerts with a wide range of noted artists and ensembles, including the Miami String Quartet, the Vermeer Quartet, flutist Marina Piccinini, pianist Mia Chung, violinist Maria Bachmann, and recorder artist Aldo Abreu.
Mr. Kanengiser won First Prize of the 1987 Concert Artists Guild Competition as well as major international competitions in Toronto (1981) and Paris (1983). The recipient of two Solo Recitalist Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, he was also chosen as one of Musical America’s Outstanding Young Artists. A member of the guitar faculty at the USC Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles since 1983, he has given master classes at conservatories and guitar festivals around the world.
Melissa Malde, Mezzo Soprano
Melissa Malde has performed with numerous organizations throughout the United States, including Opera Colorado, Kentucky Opera, Ohio Light Opera, the Bangor Symphony, the Cedar Rapids Symphony, Dorian Opera Theatre, the Cheyenne Symphony, the Colorado Music Festival and Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre. She has sung abroad with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, with the Prague Radio Symphony, and has also performed in Germany.
Dr. Malde holds degrees from Oberlin College and Conservatory, Northwestern University, the University of Cincinnati, and the Hochschule für Musik in Munich, where she studied under the auspices of a German Academic Exchange grant. While in Munich, she won first prize in the Kulturforum Competition. Other honors include winning Cincinnati Conservatory's Concerto Contest, first prize in Chicago's Sudler Oratorio Competition, a Farwell Award, and the Brice-Gooter Award in the Artist Award competition of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Dr. Malde has directed many opera and musical theatre productions, taught vocal literature and diction and currently specializes in vocal pedagogy. She has studied the Alexander Technique and is certified as an Andover Educator to teach Body Mapping. She is an active clinician and has held offices at the district and regional level of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Her book, What Every Singer Needs to Know About the Body is available through Plural Publishing.
Poinsettia Pops, December 3
George Gray, the Elvis Experience
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George Gray and the Elvis Experience has been entertaining crowds in Northern Colorado for years. Combining humor and charisma in his shows, just like the real Elvis, George gives tribute to the King. According to George, "There is only one Elvis...and I am not him, never will be! My love, admiration and respect for the man, his music and all he gave us, makes me proud to have been blessed with the opportunity to perform in this tribute, which is entirely devoted to the memory of the King - The Greatest Entertainer to Ever Live!!"
A Brass Christmas, December 16
Kenneth Singleton, Conductor
See his full bio here.
Talk with Bach, March 30
Noel Johnston as J.S. Bach
Noel Johnston, Jr. is making his third guest appearance with the Greeley Philharmonic. He was the wizard/emcee for the family concert in 2007, and portrayed Abraham Lincoln in January, 2010 for Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait.” His love of music, and has German heritage (paternal grandmother Irene), combined with sharing a March 21st birthday with Bach, makes this portrayal a special treat for him. Noel spent 37 years teaching English and theatre, the final 27 at Greeley Central High School, before retiring following the 2006-07 school year. He has performed a wide variety of roles with UNC Opera Theatre, UNC Theatre, Little Theatre of the Rockies, the Stampede Troupe, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and the Palm Beach (FL) Symphony. He has performed his one-man Lincoln show more than 30 times in Colorado, North Carolina, and California, and will premier a Daniel Boone biopic show this summer. Noel continues to garden, ride his road bicycle, and avidly follow the Colorado Rockies and Baltimore Orioles baseball teams.
Serenade to Music - April 28
Rebecca Schuessler, Soprano
Soprano Rebecca Schuessler began her musical studies in her home state of Missouri where she was an active participant at UMKC’s Conservatory of Music and Dance in the vocal, choral, and opera departments. As an undergraduate she performed in many operas, namely as Ann Putnam (The Crucible), Mimi (La bohème), Mademoiselle Silberklang (The Impresario), and Bianca (La Rondine). She also performed in Dido and Aeneas, Giulio Cesare, La traviata, Manon, and Into the Woods. While in Kansas City, she performed with other various local groups as Nedda (I Pagliacci), Mary (The Wise Women), and in L’elisir d’amore. She continued her studies at Florida State University on a Graduate Assistantship earning a Masters in Music. While there she performed as a soloist with multiple chamber ensembles and the role of Noëmie in Cendrillon. She was invited to participate in the Barga Insitute held in Barga, Italy with acclaimed teacher and baritone Jerrold Pope, during which time she performed at the Teatro dei Differenti in recitals and concerts of operatic literature as well as obscure works by Italian composers. After completing her schooling she had her professional debut as Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte) at West Bay Opera to great critical acclaim. Before joining the roster of Resident Artists at Opera San Jose she reprised the role of Fiordiligi with Opera Idaho.
Her professional credits include the roles of Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Manon (Manon), Clorinda (Cenerentola), Contessa Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro) and Micaëla (Carmen). Ms. Schuessler is a district winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a Second Place winner in the Young Artist division of the Orpheus Competition, as well as a finalist in the UMKC Concerto/Aria Competition.
Gregory Gerbrandt, Baritone
American baritone Gregory Gerbrandt is making a strong surge into the world of opera bringing a dynamic blend of vocal ability and stage prowess. He is creating a prominent name for himself, while garnering critical acclaim, being offered follow-up contracts from virtually every opera company with which he’s worked.
While being lauded for possessing "a commanding baritone” (Honolulu Star-Advertiser), Gerbrandt debuted in the role of Enrico with the Hawaii Opera Theatre in their celebrated 2011 production of Lucia di Lammermoor. This Summer, Gerbrandt will head to the capital of Turkey to sing and studio record a wonderful new opera, Judgment of Midas, with the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra. Other engagements this season for Gerbrandt include two separate productions of La bohème, one each with The Crested Butte Music Festival in Colorado, and the Jefferson Performing Arts Series in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is also a soloist with the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera Saratoga, and the Greeley Chorale.
Other recent roles have included Marcello in La bohème, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Silvio in Pagliacci, Belcore in L’elisir d’amore, Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Anthony in Sweeney Todd, Manfred in For a Look or a Touch (Heggie), and Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance with Boston Lyric Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Sarasota Opera, Augusta Opera, West Hollywood Productions, Asheville Lyric Opera, Natchez Festival of Music, Ash Lawn Opera, Opera Fort Collins, and the Colorado, and Mansfield Symphonies.