Friends of OSU Opera Membership -
Members receive the following benefits:
- notification of FOO events
- The Prompter, the official newsletter of Friends of OSU Opera
- preferred seating at FOO events
- invitations to member receptions
- acknowledgement in programs
- tax deduction
Click HERE to see who generously donated in 2009.
Please join today!
Your tax deductible contribution provides
membership for the next 12 months.
| Maestro | $1000 |
| Artistic Director | $500 |
| Composer | $250 |
| Librettist | $100 |
| Chorus Member | $50 |
| Stage Manager | $25 |
We Can’t Do It Without You!
In many people’s ideal world, the activities of a student opera workshop and theater would be funded entirely by the university. But, particularly in these difficult economic times, that is not the case. Along with support from OSU, we rely strongly on individual contributions to fund the operatic productions and master classes we present. We would greatly appreciate your help, your tax-deductible help. So, I would like to direct your attention to the donation form. Thank you for your consideration. Your donation will help us present moving, entertaining opera in Corvallis and bring important artists to work with our young singers.
If you feel so moved, please consider donating to the Friends of OSU Opera.
Please download and print the pdf version of this donation/membership form and mail it with your check or money order written to Friends of OSU Opera to:
Friends of OSU Opera
P.O. Box 2266
Corvallis, OR 97339-2226
Please be sure to print your name legibly . Thank You!
If you have questions, or if you would like information about supporting Opera Theater Corvallis through estate planning, please send us an email.
Thank you
Your Dollars Have Been Well Spent: A Look at Past Year
During the 2008-2009 season Friends of OSU Opera was active producing opera performances, collaborating with the OSU University Theatre, and bringing important artists to Corvallis for master classes. Our singers drew recognition for their talent and artistry not just locally, but in the region and beyond. I would like to list just some of the highlights:
- The Mikado
- FOO provided financial support for the production of The Mikado, a collaborative venture with the OSU University Theatre and OSU Music Department. The show opened in August 2008 and was revived in October. The stage director was Charlotte Headrick and the musical director Joey Prather. Sets were by George Caldwell and costumes by Barbara Mason.
- Law and Disorder
- In November 2008, FOO and the OSU Opera Workshop presented Law and Disorder, a scenes program consisting of Gilbert and Sullivan’s short operetta Trial by Jury and the first act finale of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte---under the musical direction of Sean Paul Mills and stage direction of Richard Poppino.
- Clayton Brainerd
- Also in November, FOO brought the internationally acclaimed bass-baritone and longtime Corvallis favorite Clayton Brainerd to town for a master class. For more about Clayton, go to www.claytonbrainerd.com
- Mary Dibbern
- In February 2009, we enjoyed a three-day residency by vocal coach/accompanist Mary Dibbern. A winner of the Grand Prix du Disque and the author of three books on French opera, Mary is on the staff of Minnesota Opera. For more, see www.mary-dibbern.com
- Opera Workshops
- In March, FOO and the OSU Opera Workshop presented Chaos and Coincidence, a program of scenes from Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Weill’s Street Scene, as well as the full third act of The Marriage of Figaro.
- NATS Winners
- In April, four singers active in Opera Workshop (Josh Randall, Mari Stoner, Daniel Madrid, and Laurel Mehaffey) won their divisions at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) District Auditions. Four others (Jeffrey Larkin, Nickoli Strommer, Andrew Hancock, and Laurel Mehaffey) received Honorable Mentions. This was the strongest overall by any college or university involved in the auditions.
- Scott Ingham
- In May, Scott Ingham made his professional opera debut, as Schaunard in La Boheme with Rogue Opera.
- Music Festival Performances
- In June, Scott Ingham, Mari Stoner, Jeffrey Larkin, and Nickoli Strommer took part in the Astoria Music Festival, singing in a program of opera scenes as well as in mainstage productions of Verdi’s La Traviata and Purcell’s The Fairie Queene.
In August, Scott and Jeffrey reprised their Traviata roles in a concert performance at Washington Park in Portland.
In July and August, Nickoli Strommer was a featured singer at the University of Miami program in Salzburg, Austria. - Abbe Groh, Miss Linn-Benton
- Abbe Groh, familiar to Corvallis audiences since the 2007 production of HMS Pinafore, was crowned Miss Linn-Benton 2009. At the Miss Oregon Pageant, she was one of four award winners, netting a sizeable scholarship. Her audition piece was “Chacun le sait” from Donizetti’s Daughter of the Regiment.
