Tag: University of cincinnati

UC Hillel’s singing competition to honor Lauren Shmalo Berg

janellegelfandLeave a comment

The University of Cincinnati Hillel’s “Campus Superstars,” a collegiate singing competition, 7 p.m. Sunday, April 3, will feature local students competing for a $5,000 cash prize.

A panel of celebrity judges — Kim Mann, Deondra Means, Pamela Myers and Kathy Wade — will narrow 11 finalists down to three. Then you — the audience — will vote for the winner. This year’s competition, held at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson Kaplan Theater, will showcase our region’s superb musical talent. All contestants are full-time, local undergraduate students who have passed multiple auditions for the chance to compete.

They’ll be singing in every genre, including opera, musical theater, jazz, country and spirituals.

This year’s event will honor Lauren Shmalo Berg, an original member of the show’s staff. In October 2021, Lauren suffered a devastating spinal cord injury as the result of a fall. Before the accident, she was a talented singer, dancer, actress, Pilates/Zumbini instructor, preschool teacher, and competitive figure skater who was featured on the classic MTV show “Made.”

After multiple surgeries and 3-1/2 months at the Shepherd Institute in Atlanta, Lauren is now home with her husband and two small children. She is impressing her doctors and therapists and making remarkable progress.

Of course, Lauren’s journey to recovery comes with an exorbitant price tag, much of which is NOT covered by medical insurance. As a result, Cincinnati Hillel will be giving Lauren 50% of all new gifts and gift increases for this year’s event. All contributions made to Help Hope Live (Helphopelive.org) are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law and are used specifically for Lauren’s uninsured medical and injury related expenses.

About the show

The team of professionals to support the contestants includes Susan Winters- assistant director, Pat Kelly-Musical Director, orchestrator, conductor; Steve Hoskins–Woodwinds; Michael Scharfe- Bass; and John Taylor-drums. Also, Andrew Wright, of CCM, is the lighting designer; and Clear Sound Design will be doing the sound.

The competition’s past competitors have gone on to get advanced degrees at some of the nations most prestigious universities including Julliard, Eastman School of Music, Rice, Yale School of Drama and Indiana. Others have starred in or appeared in Broadway and touring productions including Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, The Prom, Miss Saigon, The Book of Morman and Wicked.

Tickets to the show: Cincinnatihillel.org/campussuperstar-tickets

 

Film to tell story of ‘Blind Injustice’ exoneree profiled in book, opera

janellegelfandLeave a comment
Mark Godsey joined six people who won release from prison by the Ohio Innocence Project for crimes they did not commit: Rickey Jackson, Laurese Glover, Derrick Wheatt, Eugene Johnson, Nancy Smith, and Clarence Elkins. They were profiled in his book, “Blind Injustice” and the subsequent opera premiered by Cincinnati Opera at Music Hall in 2019. Jackson is now to be the subject of a film/documentary. Photo by Space Cabin Studios/provided by Cincinnati Opera

You may have read Mark Godsey’s book, “Blind Injustice,” or seen Cincinnati Opera’s production of the opera, based on the book — if you were lucky enough to get a ticket in the sold-out run. Now one of the Ohio Innocence Project’s exonerees, Rickey Jackson, who at the time of his release was the longest-serving person in U.S. history to be exonerated, is the subject of a film being produced by Cleveland-based Zodiac Features.

Portions of the film were shot at UC College of Law in the mock courtroom, the law library and inside the OIP offices.

“I have a fantasy of Rickey Jackson in a tuxedo with his family on a red carpet in France,” said producer Matt Waldeck, in my article today in the Cincinnati Business Courier.

A recording of the opera written by Scott Davenport Richards and David Cote and premiered by Cincinnati Opera is set for release in February. Watch for more news about that soon.

Cincinnati Opera panel to discuss diversity in the arts

janellegelfand1 Comment
Participants in a previous Cincinnati Opera performance of “Opera Goes to Church”

This is a no-miss:

Cincinnati Opera Center Stage presents an honest and informal discussion about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts, to be streamed live on social media next Thursday (Jan. 21) at 7 p.m.

The conversation will be moderated by Cincinnati Opera Artistic Advisor (and superstar opera bass) Morris Robinson. It will feature a panel of expert educators, performers, and professionals discussing opportunities to break down barriers through this important work. The program concludes with a question-and-answer session.

The panel:

  • Morris Robinson, bass and Cincinnati Opera Artistic Advisor, moderator

  • Flávia Bastos, PhD, Cincinnati Opera board member and distinguished research professor of art education, University of Cincinnati School of Art

  • Tiffany Cooper, director of community engagement and diversity, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

  • Jennifer A. Ingram, founder and CEO of Calibrated Lens and former vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion at United Way of Greater Cincinnati

This event will be streamed live—registration is not required. Watch on Facebook or YouTube on Thursday, January 21, at 7:00 p.m.

Sandra Rivers steps in for André Watts at Phoenix festival

janellegelfandLeave a comment
André Watts

Pianist and CCM professor Sandra Rivers is stepping in for André Watts to perform two extra programs for the Phoenix Chamber Music Society this week. Piano legend Watts is unable to perform for the Winter Festival due to ongoing cancer treatments, according to the festival’s website.

Rivers, who has collaborated with stars such as Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, and Kathleen Battle, was already slated to perform Brahms sonatas with the wonderful violist/violinist Nokuthula Ngwenyama last Sunday. But after arriving, she was invited to add a heaping plate of repertoire at the last minute for performances on Monday and Wednesday, as well.

“It’s very exciting,” Rivers said by phone on Sunday. “I’ve been in nonstop rehearsals since I arrived.”

Last night she played the four Brahms Op. 119 piano pieces (Klavierstücke), as well as the lovely Brahms Sonata Op. 120, No. 1 for piano and clarinet with David Shifrin, who also directs the festival.

And tomorrow night, she will join four other artists to anchor Mozart’s Quintet for Piano and Winds, K. 452. This one will be in the Music Pavilion at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West. It’s sold out. Rivers only concern: What to wear so as not to clash with the very red room!

Meanwhile, we send good vibes and our best wishes to Mr. Watts for a quick recovery! I hear that he hopes to be back on the concert stage by this summer.

 

Big crowds for concerts by Ono Brothers, Ariel Quartet, pianist Roman Rabinovich

janellegelfandLeave a comment
UC President Santa Ono with his brother, pianist virtuoso Momoro Ono
UC President Santa Ono with his brother, piano virtuoso Momoro Ono

I have enjoyed some excellent concerts this month in smaller venues outside of Music Hall, and each was unique and impressive. On Nov. 1, I was in a large audience at the Xavier Piano Series in Gallagher Theater for the series debut of pianist Momoro Ono. And incidentally, part of the program included his brother, cellist and University of Cincinnati President Santa Ono. It was definitely a family affair — the Ono brothers’ parents were also in attendance.Read More »

Reviews in the news

janellegelfandLeave a comment

In case you missed them, here are links to the two shows I reviewed this weekend:

On Thursday, the opera “Hansel and Gretel” at CCM: There’s a moment in the fairy-tale opera “Hansel and Gretel,” when the two hungry and terrified children, lost in the woods, kneel and sing the “Children’s Prayer” against softly falling snow. It’s always heart-stopping, as the sleepy children sing about 14 angels who will guard them through the night. What happens next, in the production mounted Thursday by the opera department of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, is unexpected and magical.

On Friday, a world premiere at the CSO in Music Hall: The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has premiered many important pieces since its founding in 1895. On Friday, the orchestra added an engaging new work to the list with the world premiere of a new Double Concerto by the celebrated composer and conductor André Previn. It was performed by violinist Jaime Laredo and cellist Sharon Robinson. Sophisticated and well-crafted, Previn’s new work is a terrific addition to the double concerto repertoire.