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Labor Day Double Header
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Coloratura soprano Lindsey Blackhurst has performed roles in opera, musical theatre, straight theatre, and children’s theatre. In July of 2011 she will be seen as “Konigen der Nacht” in Rome, Italy under the conductor Sefano Vignati. In 2009-2010, she was seen at Regina Opera in Brooklyn performing “Frasquita” and covering “Norina” and “Zerlina.” Additionally, she sang sang “Kristy” in Christian McLeer’s children’s opera House (Remarkable Theatre Brigade). Other roles include Echo/Aridane auf Naxos, 2nd Lady/Die Zauberflöte (New York Opera Forum), Luisa/The Fantasticks, Lucy/You’re a…Charlie Brown, Lesley/The House of Yes.
Lindsey also performed in several concerts in Tel Aviv, Israel as a part of the International Vocal Arts Institute (Joan Dornemann), including a concert featuring the work of contemporary American Composers organized and directed by Lawrence Edelson. While in Israel, she studied and coached with Hemdi Kfir, Benton Hess, Bob Cowart, Jane Steele, and Rainer Armbrust.
Additional concerts include the inaugural concert of the Russian Opera of New York (William Hobbs) at Merkin Concert Hall; Fugitives Concert (Rainer Armbrust), Tel Aviv, Israel; and a recital with pianist Lloyd Arriola. Lindsey also performs oratorio and choral work with Holy Trinity Church in Rockville Center, Long Island (John Ervin, director) and the National Chorale (Martin Josman).
Lindsey primarily studies with Claudia Friedlander (voice), Lloyd Arriola, and Gloria Parker.
In addition to singing, Lindsey currently teaches middle school chorus and drama in Bronxville, NY, directs (stage and music) children’s musicals, and works with several private students. Ed.M/MA – Teachers College, Columbia University; BFA – University of Colorado, Boulder.
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Frank Sinatra Comes To Estes Park!
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Frank Sinatra Comes to Estes Park! January 28-29-30, and February 4-5 7:30 PM (1/28-29), 2 PM (1/30), 7:30 PM (2/4-5) Estes Park High School Auditorium The Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies and Supporters of the Performing Arts (SOPA) are collaborating to present an exciting production of My Way—A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra from January 28-30 and February 4-5, 2011. The show features Estes Park’s talented VocalEase artists (Scott Anderson, Valerie Dascoli, Melissa Westover, and Christopher Wood) in a collage of more than 55 of Sinatra’s greatest hits. VocalEase will be backed by jazz artists Ray Young at the keyboard, Ward Durret on percussion, and Michael Chagolla on bass.Following Sinatra’s death in 1998, My Way was created by Colorado artist David Grapes, of Windsor, in collaboration with David Olson. Valerie Dascoli and Christopher Wood saw the show at Grand Lake’s Repertory Theater several years ago, and both agreed how much fun it would be to bring it to Estes Park. Finding the time to mount this production has been a challenge for these busy artists, but when the opportunity afforded itself to do a benefit fundraiser for the new performing arts center in Estes Park, as well as team up with the Fine Arts Guild, VocalEase decided it was time to step up to the plate. Having made the largest gift to date of all the arts organizations in Estes Park, the Fine Arts Guild is a major player in SOPA’s capital campaign to build a performing arts center to rival those already in action in similar Colorado hot spots.My Way will be the first production in the Fine Arts Guild’s busy 2011 theatrical season, which includes The Diary of Anne Frank, The 25th Annual Putnam county Spelling Bee, Willy Wonka, You Can’t Take it With You and a Holiday Brass Concert. After the show’s royalties are paid, all of the proceeds will go towards the construction of a new home for the performing arts in Estes Park. To consider sponsoring the show, so that 100% of the proceeds can benefit the new theater project, please contact Christopher Wood at 970-481-6630.The show will be held in the Estes Park High School Auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights, January 28 and 29th at 7:30 PM, with a 2 PM matinee on Sunday, January 30th. The show concludes the following weekend on Friday and Saturday evenings, February 4th and 5th at 7:30 PM. Tickets will be available at MacDonald’s Bookstore beginning on January 14th. Ticket prices are $18 for adults and $10 for students. | |
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SOPA 2010 Summer Concert Season Recap
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Over $8,000 Raised for SOPA in Summer Benefit Series | $8,128 was the grand total raised during SOPA’s (Supporters of the Performing Arts) 2010 Summer Benefit Series. The series was two fold: 1) to re-instate an awareness of the project, and 2) to showcase quality entertainment to Estes Park’s summer visitors and residents alike.
The season kicked off in June featuring the Steinway Grand Piano that awaits its new home. High School students Kevin Ahfat and friends, all past or present students of local Mia Marletto, gave a dynamic concert in the Stanley Concert Hall which brought a nearly full house to its feet. The screaming trumpets of CHASED from Denver filled Performance Park the weekend after 4th of July to be followed by A canella barbershop/jazz quartet McPhly out of Denver. The season continued with local Oratorio concert presenting Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore followed by the Village Big/Jazz Band and vocalists presenting an evening of jazz greats. The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra (MJO) out of Denver came to fill Performance Park once again the first weekend in August with jazz greats, and the concert series was rounded out with Nashville greats Mark Selby and Tia Sillers on Saturday the 21st of August.There remains great interest from performance groups wishing to perform in alternative venues in the Estes Park vicinity, yet the lack of adequate space continues to be a problem. Supporters of the Performing Arts continues its drive for a theater and home for the local talent within the community, as well as providing a space for quality entertainment happenings such as the ones listed above. My Way-A tribute to Frank Sinatra is slated for the last weekend in January and first weekend in February and will feature VocalEase (Scott Anderson, Valerie Dascoli, Melissa Westover and Christopher Wood) with the Ray Young trio. To-date, SOPA stands at approximately $2,235,000.00 towards its $6,000,000.00 overall project goal. This includes the $1,000,000.00 commitment from the town of Estes Park. More information regarding the project can be found on our website at www.EstesParkTheater.com or by calling capital campaign chair Christopher Wood at 970-481-6630 | 
| | Brionne Wright and Kevin Ahfat
seated at Steinway Grand Piano
helped kick off the 2010 benefit Concert Series
at the Stanley Hotel
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| | McPhly sings close-knit harmonies in
barbershop and vocal jazz style
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| | Metrolpolitan Jazz Orchestra (MJO) filled performance park with classic jazz charts
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| | The Oratorio Society of Estes Park,
under the direction of Claudia Urwin,
performed Gilbert and Sullivan's concert version
of HMS Pinafore
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| | Mark Selby and Tia Sillers, Nashville song writers
of "I Hope You Dance" brought
a packed performance park to its feet August 21st
---Courtesy Photo Dick Orleans
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| | VocalEase--Scott Anderson, Valerie Dascoli, Ray Young,
Melissa Westover and Christopher Wood
will perform "My Way- A Musical Tribute
to Frank Sinatra" in January and February 2011
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