Every two years, music faculty at Fresno State take on the endeavor of producing a full-scale opera in the Fresno State Concert Hall. During the planning meetings, the faculty decided they would likely hire someone to play the role of Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly). That’s when assistant professor of voice Dr. Maria Briggs stepped in and offered to take on the challenge.
In January, Dean’s Council funds helped yet another Arts and Humanities student experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Thanks to the generosity of Dean’s Council donors, travel funding was be provided to master’s of music student and opera singer Alejandra Tejeda, who attended the prestigious National Opera Association’s annual convention Jan. 3-7, in New Orleans.
At the recent National Opera Association Conference in New Orleans (Jan. 3-7), voice Professors Dr. Maria Briggs and Dr. Anthony Radford, as well as master’s graduate Alejandra Tejeda, all presented on behalf of the Fresno State Department of Music.
Fresno audiences will have two opportunities to hear music by Department of Music composition Professor Dr. Kenneth Froelich this month. The Fresno Philharmonic, conducted by new music director Rei Hotoda, will perform “Spinning Yarns,” the second movement of Froelich’s Symphony No. 1, during their 3 p.m. concert on Sunday, Jan. 28, at the William Saroyan Theatre.
Fresno State Opera Theatre presents “Opera Finales,” featuring scenes from “Le Nozze di Figaro,” “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” and “Little Women” at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, and 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 5, in the Wahlberg Recital Hall.
An original children’s bilingual opera commissioned and presented last year by the Fresno State Opera Theatre — “Lucinda y las Flores de la Nochebuena” — has been picked by the San Francisco Opera for its school opera education extension program, to be performed in December.