Shreveport Opera

Just finished our first performance of "Ugly Duckling" at Mooringsport Elementary School! Only 149 to go!

Opera on the Farm? Our SOX artists are busy rehearsing "The Ugly Ducking" to take into schools in Caddo, Bossier and DeSoto Parishes. If you want them to come to your school, or if you would like to sponsor them at a school, please call the Opera Office, at 318-227-9503. This show is quack-tastic!

Folks, thanks for the assistance! We found a Lighting Designer.

Come meet our incredible new Shreveport Opera Xpress (SOX) resident artists for 2024-2025. Seated dinner, open bar, and beautiful music - all at the beautiful East Ridge Country Club. Individual tickets and Tables for 8 are available. Call 318-227-9503, or visit our website, www.shreveportopera.org for more information or to purchase tickets. Tickets are going fast! Get yours today! Don't miss this wonderful evening.

Shreveport opera is in need of a Lighting Designer for our production of Tosca. Arrival in Shreveport - October 22-Nov 2. Depart on Nov 3. Interested…Email Steve at [email protected]

Our 8 year Gold Medal Pianist.....

Pianist Ah Young Kim maintains a diverse range of musical experiences. As a collaborative pianist, she played for studios at Indiana University where she received her master’s degree. Of particular note was her work in the studio of the late, great cellist János Starker. As a teaching assistant, she played for the University of North Texas Opera Program from 2012 to 2017. She also played for Ash Lawn Opera (Charlottesville, VA), Fort Worth Opera, Musiktheater Bavaria (Germany), Opera North (Lebanon, NH). In addition, she has played for singers at masterclasses led by Alan L. Smith, Brian Jauhianen, Donna Rasik, Dwayne Croft, Massimo Somenzi, Nico Castel, and Twyla Robinson. She began her musical training in South Korea and received her Master of Music degree from Indiana University and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from University of North Texas. Her teachers include Pamela Mia Paul, Stephen Dubberly, and Elvia Puccinelli at UNT and Shigeo Neriki at Indiana University.

And here's our Tenor......

Conner McWhirter, Tenor, is starting his 2024-2025 season as a resident Artist with Shreveport Opera. He was most recently an apprentice artist with Sarasota Opera, where he covered Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor. He received a performance diploma from Indiana University, where he performed both Tybalt, and Romeo, in Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette, and the Torero in Ainadamar. Additional roles include the Prince in Russalka, the Duke in Rigoletto, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, and Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi. He received his MM from SMU and BM from Eastman. He is thrilled to be performing Remendado in Carmen (covering Don Jose) as well as and Spoletta in Tosca during his residency with Shreveport Opera.

Announcing our Soprano.....

Gwenyth Sell is thrilled to be joining Shreveport Opera as the soprano Resident Artist for the 2024-2025 season. She recently graduated with her Performer Diploma and Master of Music from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where she studied under the tutelage of Jane Dutton and was awarded two Performer’s Certificates. During her time at Jacobs, Gwenyth performed the roles of Arminda (La Finta Giardiniera), Lauretta and Nella (Gianni Schicchi), Le Prince (Cendrillon by Pauline Viardot), and Georgette (La Rondine). Most recently, Gwenyth was a Young Artist at Cedar Rapids Opera where she performed the role of the Sandman (Too Many Sopranos) and in the chorus of Tosca. Other recent roles include Nannetta (Falstaff) and Laetita (The Old Maid and the Thief).

Our winning Bass-Baritone...

Justin Ramm-Damron, Bass-Baritone, is excited to be joining Shreveport Opera for their 2024-2025 season as a resident artist. Justin has performed roles with several reputable opera
companies such as Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Sarasota Opera, Central City Opera, Bronx Opera, Opera Magnifico, New Jersey Lyric Opera, Shakespeare Opera Theatre, and St Petersburg Opera. Most recently, he expanded his repertoire covering the roles of Hagen in
Wagner’s Götterdämmerung and Fafner in Wagner’s Das Rheingold with TUNDI Productions in Vermont

Let's meet our Team.....

Cambria Metzinger is a mezzo-soprano originally from Santa Barbara, California. Hailed for her charming stage presence and wide stylistic range, Cambria is a versatile performer who draws from an extensive background in a variety of musical genres including jazz, musical theater, and opera. A recent graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with a Master of Music in Vocal Performance under the tutelage of Cathy Cook, Ms. Metzinger was featured in numerous roles at SFCM, including “Véronique” in Bizet’s Le Docteur Miracle, “Teodata” in Handel’s Flavio, “Le tasse chinoise/La libellule” in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges, “Taller Daughter” in Mazzoli’s Proving Up and “Amastre” in Serse by Handel.

Cambria is delighted to join Shreveport Opera as a Resident Artist for the 24/25 season, where she will perform the role of “Mercedes” in Bizet’s Carmen.

Here is Shreveport Opera's Gold Medal Team!

It won't be long now......
Are you ready for some
SOX?

It’s give for good day!!! Please consider a gift to Shreveport Opera ! If our SOX Artists have performed at your school, residence, Rotary club, Assisted living community or any other location, please honor their presence in our community this past year with a gift today. 😀

Support Shreveport Opera on Give for Good Founded July 5, 1949, Shreveport Opera is one of the oldest and longest continually serving opera companies in the country and Shreveport's longest continually-serving arts organization. Annually, Shreveport Opera produces mainstage operas and musical productions; a...

Dress 2 Cosi!!

Meet the Cast & Creative Team!

Dr. Ah Young Kim - rehearsal pianist, chorusmaster and SOX Music Director

Pianist AH YOUNG KIM, a native of South Korea, maintains a diverse range of musical experiences. As a collaborative pianist, she played for studios, including that of cellist János Starker, at Indiana University, where she received a master’s degree. Kim has also played for singers at masterclasses led by Alan L. Smith, Donna Racik, Dwayne Croft, Twyla Robinson, and the late Nico Castel. As an operatic pianist and coach, her previous credits include Aspen Music Festival Opera Coach Fellow (CO), Charlottesville Opera (Ash Lawn Opera, VA), Fort Worth Opera (TX), Musiktheater Bavaria (Germany), Opera North (Lebanon, NH), and UNT Opera (Denton, TX). Ms. Kim began her musical training in South Korea and received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas. Her teachers include Pamela Mia Paul, Shigeo Neriki, Stephen Dubberly, and Elvia Puccinelli. She made a presentation at the MTNA National Conference (Baltimore, MD) and Louisiana Tech University (Ruston, LA). She also participated in the Mozarteum Summer Academy (Salzburg, Austria) and the International Keyboard Institute & Festival (IKIF, New York, NY).

Tickets for April 20 are still available: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/shreovepera/1844/event/1326095

Meet the Cast & Creative Team!

Bass-baritone Eric McConnell is Don Alfonso in our April 20 production of Cosi fan tutte!

ERIC J. MCCONNELL makes his role and company debut as Don Alfonso in Shreveport Opera’s Così fan tutte. Previous performances include Leporello in Don Giovanni (Sarasota Opera); the D’Ysquith Family in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Opera Saratoga); Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro and Blitch in Susannah (Opera Fort Collins); Sam in Trouble in Tahiti, Donner in Das Rheingold, Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro, and Colline in La bohème (Virginia Opera); Carl-Magnus in A Little Night Music and Father in Ragtime (Union Avenue Opera); and Escamillo in Carmen (Bel Cantanti Opera) Upcoming contracts include Gaston in Beauty and the Beast with Opera San Luis Obispo; Orin Scrivello, DDS in Little Shop of Horrors and Betto in Gianni Schicchi/Buoso’s Ghost with Utah Festival Opera; and the Wolf in Into the Woods with Union Avenue Opera. McConnell holds degrees from Northwestern University and the University of Miami.

Tickets are available! https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/shreovepera/1844/event/1326095

Meet the Cast & Creative Team!

Soprano Kelly Curtin is Despina in Cosi fan tutte.

Soprano, KELLY CURTIN, has been lauded for her “crystal-clear soprano” and the “lovely fullness” of her voice by Opera News and New York Classical Review, and her performance of Marie in La fille du régiment with St. Petersburg Opera in Florida was named "Best Opera Performance of the Decade" by Creative Loafing Tampa. She won "Best Leading Actress in a Musical" and "Best Supporting actress in a musical" from Theatre Tampa Bay for her portrayals of Marie as well as Zerlina in Don Giovanni with St. Petersburg Opera, respectively. Other roles have included Die Königin der Nacht (Die Zauberflöte), Olympia (Les Contes d'Hoffmann), Mimì (La Bohème), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Fiordiligi and Despina (Così fan tutte), Micaëla (Carmen), Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance), Josephine (HMS Pinafore), Yum-Yum (The Mikado), Eurydice (Orphée aux Enfers), Adele (Die Fledermaus), Le Feu and Le Rossignol (L'enfant et les sortilèges), and Valencienne (The Merry Widow).

Get tickets to hear Kelly on April 20: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/shreovepera/1844/event/1326095

Meet the Cast & Creative Team

Baritone Logan Dell'Acqua is Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte

Hailing from Traverse City, baritone LOGAN DELL’ACQUA recently performed as an apprentice artist in Des Moines Metro Opera’s 2023 season where he covered “Leandro” (The Love for Three Oranges). Previously, he was a Mary Ragland Emerging Artist with Nashville Opera where he made his role debut as “Marullo” (Rigoletto). Other credits include “Marcel” in a new adaptation of Beauty and the Beast (Opera Iowa/DMMO) and “Bob” in The Old Maid and the Thief (Seagle Music Colony). He received his MM from the University of Michigan under the direction of Stephan Lusmann & George Shirley. While pursuing his degree, Logan performed the roles of “Dr. Falke” (Die Fledermaus) (canceled due to Covid), “Marcello” (La bohème), “Bob” (Highway One) and “der Lautsprecher” (Der Kaiser von Atlantis). While living in southeast Michigan, Logan has been a featured soloist in many concert engagements including Handel’s Messiah, Finzi’s Requiem da Camera and Mendelssohn’s Elijah.

Tickets available for our April 20 production: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/shreovepera/1844/event/1326095

Meet the Cast and Creative Team!

Tenor Nathan Schafer is Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte!

Revered by critics for his “strong clear tenor voice”, NATHAN SCHAFER “sings with clarity and warmth.” (KDHX). This season Mr. Schafer will sing Rodolfo in La bohème and Ferrando in Così fan tutte with Shreveport Opera. Mr. Schafer will also be a soloist for the 75th Anniversary Concert with the Shreveport Symphony. Last season, Mr. Schafer made his company debut as Alfredo in Verdi’s La traviata and made his professional debut at Winter Opera of St. Louis as Ruggero in Puccini’s La rondine. Broadway World News said “His voice is perfect for the role” Mr. Schafer has performed with prominent opera houses such as The Dallas Opera, Central City Opera, Tulsa Opera, and Fort Worth Opera. Mr. Schafer’s other performance history includes the roles of Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), Luigi (Il tabarro), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Alfred (Die Fledermaus), Pirelli (Sweeney Todd), Ho**er (Emmeline), and Beppe (Pagliacci).

Get your tickets today! https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/shreovepera/1844/event/1326095

Meet the Cast and Creative Team for Cosi fan tutte!

Mezzo-soprano Mariam Mouawad is Dorabella in our upcoming production!

Born and raised in the city of Zahlé, Lebanon, mezzo-soprano MARIAM MOUAWAD moved to the United States at the age of 13. A recent graduate of the University of Houston with the Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy, Ms. Mouawad was featured in numerous roles with the Moores Opera Center, including Federico Lorca in Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar, Charlotte in A Little Night Music, Tolomeo in Giulio Cesare, and Adélaïde in La Belle et La Bête. A participant of Opera NEO (Ariodante cover), she received her Bachelor of Music from San Diego State University where she was featured in diverse repertoire of Massenet’s Cendrillon, Jonathan Dove’s Flight, and Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. Ms. Mouawad is currently a resident artist at Shreveport Opera. She will be a Lehrer Vocal Institute Fellow this summer at Music Academy of the West where she will cover the role of Carmen and perform the title role of Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges.

Still need tickets? https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/shreovepera/1844/event/1326095

Meet the Cast and Creative team for Cosi fan tutte!

Soprano Gabrielle Gilliam is our Fiordiligi.

Praised for her “beautifully resonant vocal quality” (Texas Classical), soprano GABRIELLE GILLIAM returns to Shreveport Opera this year to sing the role of Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, after having won 3rd prize in the Mary Jacobs Smith Competition and performed the role Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème. Earlier this season she joined The Dallas Opera as Sandrine/Mercedes(cover) in the world premiere production of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Joby Talbot. She also joined Painted Sky Opera as Mimì in La Bohème. In past seasons, Ms. Gilliam has worked extensively with Dallas Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Florentine Opera, Opera North, Shreveport Opera, Painted Sky Opera, and American Baroque Opera Company. Some of Gabrielle’s roles include Violetta (La Traviata), Mimì (La Bohème), Micaëla (Carmen), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Contessa Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), and Antonia (Les contes d’Hoffmann).

Get your tickets now! https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/shreovepera/1844/event/1326095

Meet the Cast and Creative Team for Cosi fan tutte!

Joe Illick is the conductor for our April 20 production!

JOE ILLICK served as the Artistic Director of Fort Worth Opera from 2017 to 2022, having served for fifteen seasons as Music Director and Principal Conductor. He has also served as Artistic Director of the Lake George Opera Festival, as Interim Artistic Director of Greater Miami Opera (now Florida Grand Opera), Music Director of the Pittsburgh Opera Theater, Artistic Director of Shreveport Opera and Principal Guest Conductor of the Teatro Lirico d'Europa. He has also conducted for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Opera Carolina, San Francisco Opera (Merola), Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Augusta Opera, Opera Omaha, Skylight Opera Theater, Eugene Opera, Nevada Opera Theater, Minnesota Opera National Tour, Pittsburgh Opera Theater, Stadttheater Aachen, Vienna Chamber Opera and the Covent Garden Ensemble.

His operas include Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World, Stone Soup, Bernadette’s Cozy Book Nook, Ricky, Feel the Tango, UnShakeable, and Stand Up.

Tickets ($35, $70 and $95): https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/shreovepera/1844/event/1326095