Gallery: 2023-24 Opera Production Winners

Division I

1^st Place

Oklahoma City University:
Iolanthe, by Sir Arthur Sullivan & W.S. Gilbert

David Herendeen, Director
Charles Koslowske, Music Director
Erys Joos, Lighting Designer

2^nd Place

San Francisco Conservatory of Music:
Meow & Forever, by Jodi Goble & Basil Considine

Jodi Goble, Composer/Artist-in-Residence
Rhoslyn Jones, Director
Kyle Naig, Conductor

3^rd Place

Baylor University:
Speed Dating Tonight!, by Michael Ching & Michael Ching

Jen Stephenson, Director
Jeffrey Peterson, Vocal Coach and Pianist
Riley Winterton, Assistant Director
Olivia Gorrell, Pianist

Honorable Mention

Shenandoah University:
Caged Birds, by Santa Ratnice, Julius Eastman, Missy Mazzoli, Meredith Monk & Ella Marchment, Maya Angelou, Matthew Zapruder

Ella Marchment, Director, designer and writer
Timothy Roblee, Conductor 1
Karen Keating, Conductor 2
Lindsay Browning, Choreographer

Division II

1^st Place

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music:
Le nozze di Figaro, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart & Lorenzo DaPonte

Amy S. Johnson, Director, Co-Producer
Kenneth Shaw, Co-Producer, Scenic Designer
Brett Scott, Conductor
Susan Moser, Choreographer, Intimacy Coach

2^nd Place (tie)

Chapman University:
Fright Night!, by Various & Marc Callahan/Various

Marc Callahan, Director
Clara Cheng, Music Director
Janet Kao, Music Director
Carina Holley, Costume Designer

2^nd Place (tie)

Western Washington University:
The Anonymous Lover (L'amant anonyme), by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges & Libretto based on a play by Stéphanie Félicité de Genesis, Adapted for opera by François-Georges Fouques Deshayes

Heather Dudenbostel, Director
Mark Davies, Music Director, Pianist, Diction Coach
Mark Kuntz, Scenic and Lighting Designer
Marie Wildfield, Costume Designer

Honorable Mention

Baldwin Wallace Conservatory:
Taking Up Serpents, by Kamala Sankaram & Jerre Dye

Heather Dennen, Choreography
Dean Buck, Conductor
Brittany Merenda, Projection Design
Steve Shack, Lighting Design

Division III

1^st Place

Samford University:
Dragon's Breath, by Evan Mack & Joshua McGuire

Kristin Kenning, Stage Director
Brian Viliunas, Conductor
David Glenn, Scenic Designer
Alex Felts, Lighting Designer

2^nd Place

Chapman University:
From the Towers of the Moon and Il Sogno di Scipione, by Robert Moran and W. A. Mozart & Michael John LaChiusa and Pietro Metastasio

Marc Callahan, Director
Danko Drusko, Conductor
Saori Mitome, Costume Designer
Tesshi Nakagawa, Set Designer

3^rd Place

UCO Opera:
Orfeo ed Euridice, by Christoph Willibald Gluck & Ranieri de' Calzabigi

Rob Glaubitz, Director
Douglas Newell, Conductor
Alexander Olivieri, Choreographer
Tina Kambour, Choreographer

Division IV

1^st Place

Oklahoma City University:
Pieta/Suor Angelica, by Pieta: Giacomo Puccini Suor Angelica:Jack Landau & Jack Landau and Andrea DelGiudice

Andrea DelGiudice, Director
Jan McDaniel, Music Director
Halcyon Piper, Lighting Design
Alyssa Couturier-Herndon, Costume Design

2^nd Place (tie)

Michigan State University Opera Theatre:
A Little Night Music, by Stephen Sondheim & Hugh Wheeler

Melanie Helton, Producer/Director
Katherine Kilburn, Conductor
Ranae Selmeyer, Scenic Designer
Brent Wrobel, Lighting Designer

2^nd Place (tie)

Portland State University:
The Merry Widow, by Franz Lehr & Leo Stein

Kelley Nasssief, Artistic Director
Dan Wallace Miller, Stage Director
Ken Selden, Conductor
Carey Wong, Set Designer

Division V

1^st Place

Temple University Opera:
Ariodante, by George Frideric Handel & NA

Ben Robinson, Stage Director
Jose Luis Dominguez, Conductor
Producer, Rose Freeman
Stage Manager, Sam Cashion

2^nd Place

University of Utah:
Amahl and the Night Visitors and Christmas Carol, by Gian Carlo Menotti/ Michael Leavitt & Gian Carlo Menotti/ Anthony Buck

Robert Breault, Director, Amahl and the Night Visitors
James Bobick, Director, Christmas Carol

3^rd Place

University of North Carolina Greensboro Opera Theatre:
Suor Angelica, by Giacomo Puccini & Giovacchino Forzano

David Holley, Stage Director
Jungho Kim, Conductor
James Bumgardner, Chorus Master

Division VI

1^st Place

Conservatory of Music/SUNY Purchase:
Hamlet, by Ambroise Thomas & Michel Carré and Jules Barbier

Jacque Trussel, Director
Hugh Murphy, Conductor

2^nd Place

Boston Conservatory at Berklee:
Voir Dire, by Matthew Peterson & Jason Zencka

David Gately, Director
Viswa Subbaraman, Conductor
Jean Anderson, Vocal Coach
Maja Tremiszewska, Vocal Coach

3^rd Place

University of Utah:
A.L.I.C.E, by Amy Scurria & Zane Corriher

Robert Breault, Director
Oswaldo Machado, Conductor
Melissa Bobick, Choreographer
Robin Farnsley-Becker, Costume Design

Honorable Mention

University of Oklahoma:
Orfeo ed Euridice, by Christoph Willibald Gluck & Ranieri de' Calzabigi

Nicole Kenley-Miller, Stage Director
Jonathan Shames, Conductor
Austin Hartel, Choreographer

Division VII

1^st Place

University of South Dakota Opera:
Notes on Viardot, by Michael Ching & Michael Ching

Tracelyn Gesteland, Stage and Music Director
Michael Ching, Composer and Conductor

2^nd Place

Boston Conservatory at Berklee:
L'Étoile, by Emmanuel Chabrier & Eugène Leterrier and Albert Vanloo

Nathan Troup, Director
Andrew Bisantz, Conductor
Jean Anderson, Vocal Coach
Maja Tremiszewska, Vocal Coach

3^rd Place (tie)

Butler Opera Center (The University of Texas at Austin):
La bohème, by Giacomo Puccini & Illica & Giacosa

Elio Bucky, director
Douglas Kinney Frost, conductor
Daniel Ruiz Bustos, scenic designer
Zachary Young, lighting designer

3^rd Place (tie)

Michigan State University Opera Theatre:
Don Giovanni, by Mozart & Lorenzo da Ponte

Melanie Helton, Producer/Stage Director/Costume Designer
Katherine Kilburn, Conductor
Rachelle Jonck, Recitative/Italian coach
Thalia Lara, Scenic Designer

Division VIII

1^st Place

University of Toronto Opera Division:
Il cappello di paglia di Firenze, by Nino Rota & Ernesta Rota rinaldi

Russell Braun, Conductor
Jennifer Tarver, Director
Michelle Tracey, Set Design
Jason Hand, Lighting Design

2^nd Place

DePaul University:
Dark Sisters, by Nico Muhly & Stephen Karam

Sir Emanuele Andrizzi, Conductor
Amy Hutchison, Director
Nicholas Hutchinson, Vocal Coach

3^rd Place

University of Michigan:
Elizabeth Cree, by Kevin Puts & Mark Campbell

Kirk Severtson, Conductor
Gregory Keller, Director
Audrey Tieman, Scenic Designer
Christianne Myers, Costume Designer

Gallery: 2022-23 Opera Production Winners

Division I

1^st Place (tie)

Baylor University:
Monsieur et Madame Denis, by Jacques Offenbach & Laurencin and Michel Delaporte

Jen Stephenson, Director
Kathleen Kelly, Vocal Coach
Riley Winterton, Assistant Stage Director

1^st Place (tie)

Shenandoah University:
Hydrogen Jukebox, by Philip Glass & Allen Ginsberg

Ella Marchment, Director
Lindsay Browning, Choreographer
Wei-Han Wu, Music Director
Oak Neel, Lighting Designer

1^st Place (tie)

SUNY Potsdam - Crane School of Music:
The Enchanted Pig, by Jonathan Dove & Alasdair Middleton

Michael Scarola, Director
Brock Tjosvold, Music Director, Conductor, and Vocal Coach
John Larrance, Scenic Designer, Lighting Designer, and Technical Director
Sarah Maurer-Groth, Costume Coordinator

Division II

1^st Place

University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music:
Dido and Aeneas/Gianni Schicchi Double Bill, by Henry Purcell & Nahum Tate and Giacomo Puccini & Giovacchino Forzano

Kenneth Shaw, Stage Director
Dr. Brett Scott, Musical Director/Conductor
Amy Johnson, Producer
Susan Moser, Movement/Choreography

2^nd Place (tie)

Chapman University:
Cinderella, by Jules Massenet

Marc Callahan, Director
Jotaro Nakano, Conductor
Janet Kao, Vocal Coach
Clara Cheng, Vocal Coach

2^nd Place (tie)

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point:
Dial M for Moore Menotti: Gallantry/The Telephone/The Old Maid and the Thief, by Moore & Sundgaard / Gian Carlo Menotti

Matthew Markham, Director and Producer
Kristin Ditlow, Music Director
Sarah Ross, Scenic Designer
Isaac Norman, Lighting Designer

Division III

1^st Place

Miami University:
Paul's Case, by Gregory Spears & Willa Cather

Benjamin Smolder, Director, Conductor
Tiffany Lusht, Production Manager
Christina Haan, Vocal Coach

2^nd Place (tie)

Queens College:
The Turn of the Screw, by Benjamin Britten & Myfanwy Piper

Alex Paul Sheerin, Director
Louis Burkot, Conductor
Rebecca Ming, Costume Designer
Graham Kindred, Lighting Designer

2^nd Place (tie)

University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music:
Into the Woods, by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine

James Haffner, Stage Director
Eric Dudley, Conductor & Music Director
Carl Pantle, Assistant Music Director
James Gonzales, Production Manager

Honorable Mention

Westminster Choir College at Rider University:
The Ghosts of Gatsby, by Evan Mack & Joshua McGuire

Susan Shiplett Ashbaker, Conductor/Producer
Ross Beschler, Stage Director
Buck Linton, Scenic Designer
Robin Shane, Costume Designer

Division IV

1^st Place

Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music:
We've Got Our Eye On You, by Nkeiru Okoye & David Cote

Nkeiru Okoye & David Cote, Composer and Lyrics & Libretto
Scott Skiba, Producer / Stage Director
Dean Buck, Conductor
Heather Dennen, Choreographer

2^nd Place

Moores Opera Center - University of Houston:
Sondheim on Sondheim, by Stephen Sondheim & Various

Nicole Kenley-Miller, Co-Stage Director
Lawrence Edelson, Co-Stage Director
Laura Bergquist, Conductor/Musical Director
Shaun Heath/Mary Webber, Costume Designers

3^rd Place

Portland State University:
Die Zauberflöte, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart & Emanuel Schikaneder

Kelley Nassief, Artistic Director
Linda Brovsky, Stage Director
Dr. Chuck Dillard, Music Director/Conductor
Peter West, Lighting Designer

Division V

1^st Place

Moores Opera Center - University of Houston:
Ainadamar, by Osvaldo Golijov & David Henry Hwang

Lawrence Edelson, Stage Director and Choreographer
Steve Osgood, Conductor
Jason Burton, Lighting Designer
Andrew Harper, Sound Designer

2^nd Place

North Park University:
Buried Alive, by Jeff Myers & Quincy Long

George Cederquist, Director
Jennifer McCabe, Vocal Coach and Pianist

3^rd Place

The University of Kansas:
The Turn of the Screw, by Benjamin Britten & Myfanwy Piper

Stella Markou, Director, Costume/Set Designer, Music Director
Boris Vayner, Conductor
Nicole McKinney, Lighting Designer
Tatiana Tessman, Pianist, Music Direction

Division VI

1^st Place

University of Michigan:
The Cunning Little Vixen, by Leoš Janácek & Rudolf Tesnohlídek

Kirk Severtson, Conductor
Tara Faircloth, Stage Director
Cameron Anderson, Scenic Designer
Sarah M. Oliver, Costume Designer

2^nd Place (tie)

Temple University Opera Theater:
Dark Sisters, by Nico Muhly & Stephen Karam

Brandon McShaffrey, Stage Director
Danielle Jagelski, Conductor
Christopher Turbessi, Principal Coach

2^nd Place (tie)

University of Missouri - Kansas City:
Proving Up, by Missy Mazzoli & Royce Vavrek

Linda Ade Brand, Stage Director
Joshua Horsch, Conductor
Zeb Johnson, Lighting and Projections Designer
Natalia Rivera and Daniel Fung, Vocal Coaches

Division VII

1^st Place

University of North Texas:
A Streetcar Named Desire, by André Previn & Philip Littell

Stephanie Rhodes Russell, Conductor
Taylor Rachel Carnes, Stage Director
Donna Marquet, Scenic Design
Michael Robinson, Costume Design

2^nd Place

Manhattan School of Music:
La liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola d'Alcina, by Francesca Caccini & Ferdinando Saracinelli

Jorge Parodi, Conductor
James Blaszko, Stage Director
Rodrigo Hernandez Martinez, Scenic Coordinator
Christopher Metzger, Costume Designer

3^rd Place

Arizona State University:
Daughter of the Regiment, by Gaetano Donizetti & Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges

Brian DeMaris, Conductor
Dale Dreyfoos, Director

Division VIII

1^st Place

Manhattan School of Music:
The Cunning Little Vixen, by Leoš Janácek

Kirk Severtson, Conductor
Dennis Whitehead Darling, Stage Director
Felicity Stiverson, Choreographer
Jen Gillette, Costume Designer

2^nd Place

University of Toronto Opera:
A Comedic Trilogy (Hin und zurück, Monsieur Choufleuri restera chez lui le, Gallantry)

Michael Patrick Albano, Director
Sandra Horst, Conductor

Gallery: 2021-22 Opera Production Winners

Division I

Winner

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:
Ordo Virtutum, by Hildegard von Bingen and Allen Anderson & Hildegard von Bingen

Marc Callahan, Director and Designer
Tama Hochbaum, Projection Artist
Allen Anderson, Composer
Kelli Smith-Biwer, Technical Manager

Division II

First Place

University of Alabama:
Thérèse Raquin, by Tobias Picker & Gene Scheer

Paul Houghtaling, Director and Producer
Jamie Reeves, Conductor and Music Director/Coach
Brittany Merenda, Projections Designer
Jacob Olson, Lighting Designer

Second Place

Western Washington University:
Slow Dusk & Suor Angelica, by Carlisle Floyd, and Giacomo Puccini & Giovacchino Forzano

Heather Dudenbostel, Director
Mark Davies, Music Director/Pianist

Third Place

Greenwood School of Music at Oklahoma State University:
Rinaldo, by George Frideric Handel & Aaron Hill and Giacomo Rossi

Steve Sanders, Stage Director and Scenic Designer
April Golliver-Mohiuddin, General Director
Megan Barth Argo, Music Director/Opera Coach
Thomas Dickey, Conductor 

Division III

Winner

University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music:
The Threepenny Opera, by Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht

James Haffner, Director
Eric Dudley, Conductor & Music Director
Carl Pantle, Vocal Coach & Asst. Music Director
James Gonzales, Production Manager

Division IV

First Place

Miami University:
Hydrogen Jukebox, by Philip Glass & Allen Ginsberg

Benjamin Smolder, Director, Conductor
Tiffany Lusht, Camera Director
Christina Haan, Vocal Coach
Thomas Hase, Lighting Designer

Second Place

Michigan State University Opera Theatre:
Albert Herring, by Benjamin Britten & Eric Crozier

Melanie Helton, Producer/Director
Katherine Kilburn, Conductor
Kirk Domer, Set Designer

Third Place

Lawrence University Conservatory of Music:
Suor Angelica & Curlew River, by Giacomo Puccini & Giovacchino Forzano, and, Benjamin Britten & William Plomer

Copeland Woodruff, Director
Kristin Roach, Conductor & Music Director

Honorable Mention

San Jose State University:
La Curandera & Trial by Jury, by Robert Xavier Rodriguez & Mary Medrick, and W.S. Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan

Sandra Raquel Bengochea, Stage Director
Simona Snitkovskaya, Music Director
Fred Cohen, Conductor

Division V

Winner

University of Wisconsin-Madison:
Two Remain (Out of Darkness), by Jake Heggie & Gene Scheer

David Ronis, Director
Oriol Sans, Conductor
Greg Silver, Scenic and Lighting Design
Thomas Kasdorf, Vocal Coach

Division VI

First Place

Moores Opera Center, University of Houston:
The Bartered Bride, by Bedrich Smetana & Karel Sabina

Nicole Kenley-Miller, Director
Raymond Harvey, Conductor
Macy Lyne, Costume Designer
Lauren Pastorek, Choreographer

Second Place

University of Florida - School of Music / Opera Theatre:
The Golem of Prague, by Paul Richards & Sidney Homan

Anthony Offerle, Director / Producer
Paul Richards, Composer, Recording Engineer, Audio Editor
James Oliverio, Executive Producer
Darius Brown, Director of Cinematography

Division VII

First Place

University of Wisconsin-Madison:
Sweeney Todd, by Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) & Hugh Wheeler (book)

David Ronis, Director
Oriol Sans, Conductor
Hyewon Park, Costume Designer
Thomas Kasdorf, Vocal Coach

Second Place

Eklund Opera at University of Colorado Boulder:
La Traviata, by Giuseppe Verdi & Francesco Maria Piave

Leigh Holman, Stage Director
Nicholas Carthy, Conductor
Peter Dean Beck, Scenic and Lighting Designer
Ann Piano, Costume Designer

Division VIII

First Place

University of Maryland:
Later the Same Evening, by John Musto & Mark Campbell

Craig Kier, Conductor
David Lefkowich, Director

Second Place (tie)

Turner-Fischer Center for Opera at LSU/Louisiana State University:
Orphée, by Philip Glass & Philip Glass, adaptation based on the film by Jean Cocteau

Dugg McDonough, Artistic Director/Stage Director
Michael Borowitz, Music Director/Conductor

Manhattan School of Music:
Le nozze di Figaro, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart & Lorenzo Da Ponte

George Manahan, Conductor
Lawrence Edelson, Director
Frank J. Olivera, Scenic Designer
Coby Chasman-Beck, Lighting Designer

Gallery: 2020-21 Opera Production Winners

Special Awards for Innovation During the Time of COVID

 In light of the lengths we all went to to make opera happen, the committee would like to give special recognition for innovation in adapting to this “new normal”. This year we are presenting special awards for innovation, one each for Undergraduate and Graduate level productions:

Undergraduate Level

Selections from "The Little Prince, A Magical Opera”
Walnut Hill School for the Arts
Teresa Winner Blume, Direction and Adaptation
Elaine Smith-Purcell, Music Director, Vocal Coach
Lynn Kao, Sound Mastering and MIDI Orchestra
Maggie Marotta, Lead Animator and Editor

Graduate Level

Masquerade 2021 - Five Short Operas
Frost Opera Theater, University of Miami
Alan Johnson, Music Director and Conductor
Jeffrey Buchman, Stage Director
Camilla Haith, Costume Designer
Jeff Semerling, Mask Artist

DIVISION I

First Place – TIE

Moores School of Music - University of Houston

A Hand of Bridge by Samuel Barber, libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti

Trouble in Tahiti by Leonard Bernstein

Nicole Kenley-Miller, Director/Designer/Video Editor Katherine Ciscon, Musical Director/Pianist

Western Michigan University

On Call: COVID-19 by David Shenton, libretto by Christine Steyer

Carl J. Ratner, Director

David Shenton, Music Director, Pianist, Violinist, Sound Engineer Christine Steyer, Production Coordinator, Visual Designer

Mark Wade, Video Engineer

Second Place

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

ATLAS by Meredith Monk, Libretto by Meredith Monk and Nijah Poteat

Marc Callahan, Director and Dramaturge Yumi Kita, Music Director and Pianist Nijah Poteat, Texts and Narrator

Third Place

Viterbo University

Trouble in Tahiti by Leonard Bernstein

Brent Wilson, Director and Producer

David Richardson, Music Director and Vocal Coach

DIVISION II

First Place

Luther College

Dido & Aeneas by Henry Purcell, Libretto by Nahum Tate

Nicholas Shaneyfelt, Music Director Carla Thelen Hanson, Co-Stage Director Andrew Whitfield, Co-Stage Director Mick Layden, Livestream Videographer

Second Place

Walnut Hill School for the Arts

Selections from "The Little Prince, A Magical Opera" by Rachel Portman, Libretto by  Nicholas Wright

Teresa Winner Blume, Direction and Adaptation Elaine Smith-Purcell, Music Director, Vocal Coach Lynn Kao, Sound Mastering and MIDI Orchestra Maggie Marotta, Lead Animator and Editor

DIVISION III

Winner

Opera McGill (McGill University)

The Turn of the Screw by Benjamin Britten, Libretto by Myfanwy Piper

Patrick Hansen, Stage Director Stephen Hargreaves, Conductor Ginette Grenier, Costume Designer George Massenburg, Video Direction

DIVISION IV

Winner

Purchase Opera/Conservatory of Music SUNY

Dialogues of the Carmelites by Francis Poulenc

Jacque Trussel, Director Hugh Murphy, Conductor

Daniel Kitzman, Director of Photography Margaret Vignola, Assistant

DIVISION V

Winner

California State University Northridge

L'enfant et les sortilèges by Maurice Ravel, Libretto by Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette

Mercedes Juan Musotto, Music Director and Executive Producer Hugo Vera, Director

Alex Vincent, Director of Photography, Visual effects and Editor

DIVISION VI

Winner

University of Wisconsin-Madison

What's Past is Prologue: The Unfinished American Conversation a pastiche with music by Steven Mark Kohn, Ned Rorem, Tom Cipullo, and Jennifer Higdon, on texts by Langston Hughes, Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, and Walt Whitman

David Ronis, Director

Thomas Kasdorf, Music Director Dave Alcorn, Videographer

DIVISION VII

Winner

California State University Northridge

Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini, Libretto by Giovacchino Forzano

Mercedes Juan Musotto, Music Director and Executive Producer Maurice Godin, Director

Mark Farquhar, Art Department Faculty Supervisor and Executive Producer

Michael Bonitatis, Art Department Faculty Supervisor

DIVISION VIII

Winner

Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University Opera and Ballet Theater

The Turn of the Screw by Benjamin Britten, Libretto by Myfanwy Piper

Michael Shell, Director Mark Smith, Scenic Designer

Ken Phillips, Lighting Designer

Dana Tzvetkov, Costume Designer/ Co-ordinator

Gallery: 2019-20 Opera Production Winners

Undergraduate Divisions

Graduate Divisions

Gallery: 2018-19 Opera Production Winners

Undergraduate Levels

Graduate Levels

Division I     

1^st place (tie) – The Pirates of Penzance, University of Missouri - St. Louis, Stella Markou, Director & Music Director

1^st place (tie) – Hansel and Gretel, Western Connecticut State University, Margaret Astrup, Fernando Jimenez, Josh Bob Rose, Matthew Dettmer

2^nd place – Strawberry Fields, Central Washington University, Tor Blaisdell, Director, Mia Spencer, Music Director and Pianist,   Nikolas Caoile, Conductor and Pianist

3^rd place – Little Red Riding Hood, Central Washington University, Gayla Blaisdell, Director, Adrienne Shields, Music Director

Division II    

1^st place – The Tender Land, The Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, Director: Alison Moritz, Music Director: Kirk Severtson

2^nd place – The Mikado, Friends University, Matthew Schloneger, Music Director; Rolaine Hetherington, Stage Director; Kurt Priebe, Technical Director; Debbie Roberts, Costume

3^rd place – The Telephone, Trouble in Tahiti, Tale for a Deaf Ear, Opera d'arte, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, Amy S. Johnson, Director and Co-Producer, Gabriella Sam, Assistant Director, Kenneth Shaw Co-Producer, Brett Scott, Musical Director, Daniel Mallampalli, Assistant Conductor

Division III  

1^st Place – Die Zauberflöte, Northern Arizona University, Eric Gibson; Daniel O'Bryant; Michele Collins

2^nd Place – Serse, Texas A&M University Commerce, Jennifer Glidden, Director, Randall Hooper, Conductor, Laura Maxwell, Pianist

3^rd Place – Julius Caesar, The University of Montana Opera Theater and UM Symphony Orchestra, Anne Basinski, Director; David Cody, Music Director; Luis Millán, Conductor; Heather Adams, Choreographer

Division IV  

1^st Place – Le comte Ory, Lawrence University, Copeland Woodruff, Stage Director; Andrew Mast, Conductor; Andrew Crooks, Vocal Coach & Music Director

2^nd Place – Il Matrimonio Segreto, Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory, Scott Skiba, Producer, Noa Naamat, Stage Director, Tiffany Chang, Conductor, Jeff Herman, Scenic Design, Steve Shack, Lighting Design

3^rd Place – The Turn of the Screw, Texas State University, Dr. Joshua Miller, stage director, Kristin Roach, conductor/coach, Stephanie Busing, projection designer, Scott Vandenberg, lighting designer

Division V   

1^st Place – La Voix humaine, University of Missouri, Kansas City- Conservatory of Music and Dance, Fenlon Lamb (Director), Jefferson Ridenour (Scenic Designer), Hector Quintero (Lighting Designer), Kris Kirkwood (Projections Designer)

2^nd Place – Letters to Quebec from Providence in the Rain, University of Alabama, Paul Houghtaling, Director; Caleb Harris, Conductor and Music Director, Scott Santoro, pianist

3^rd Place –  A Midsummer Night's Dream, Texas Christian University, David Gately, Director, Stephen Carey, Conductor

Division VI  

1st Place – The Falling and the Rising, Texas Christian University, David Gately, Director, Tyson Deaton, Conductor, Staff Sergeant Ben Hilgert, Executive Producer, Darren K. Woods, Executive Producer

2nd Place – The Turn of the Screw, University of Wisconsin-Madison, David Ronis, Director; Kyle Knox, Conductor, Daniel Fung, Musical Preparation

3^rd Place – The Mikado, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, Justin John Moniz, Stage Director, Val Underwood, Artistic Director, Jennifer Tung, Music Director

Division VII  

1st Place – Dog Days, The Turner-Fischer Center for Opera at LSU/Louisiana State University, Dugg McDonough, Stage Director; Michael Borowitz, Music Director

2nd Place – The Vaudevillian, Oklahoma City University, David Herendeen, Jan McDaniel, Zach Polasek, Alex Phelan

3^rd Place – H.M.S. Pinafore, Arizona State University, Brian DeMaris, artistic director and conductor; Dale Dreyfoos, stage director

Division VIII  

1st Place (tie) – The School for Scandal, Moores Opera Center, University of Houston, Buck Ross, stage director; Raymond Harvey, music director

1st Place (tie) – Cendrillon, University of Miami, Frost School of Music, Directed by Jeffrey Marc Buchman, Music Director/Conductor Alan Johnson, Set Design by Stephan Moravski, Costume Design by Nuria Carrasco Dominguez, Lighting Design by Stevie O’Brian Agnew, Hair and Make-up Design by Emily Malin

2nd Place – The Cunning Little Vixen, The Turner-Fischer Center for Opera at LSU/Louisiana State University, Dugg McDonough, Stage Director, Michael Borowitz, Music Director, Jennifer White, Choreographer

3^rd Place – Impressions de Pelléas, University of North Carolina School of the Arts AJ Fletcher Opera Institute, Stage Director, Nicholas Muni; Conductor, Christopher Allen

Gallery: 2016-17 Opera Production Winners

Division I     

1^st place – La Voix Humaine, Oberlin Chamber Opera, Tayte Mitchell, Stage Director, Juliana Zara, Soprano, Phillip Matsuura, Pianist, Alan Montgomery, Opera Coach

2^nd place – Freedom and Fire: A Civil War Story, University of Alabama, Paul Houghtaling, Producer and Director, Amir Zaheri, composer and conductor, Robin Behn, Librettist

3^rd place – Straight from the Hip, Lawrence University, Copeland Woodruff, director, Matt Turner, director, Margaret Paek, director

Honorable Mention – The Clever Artifice of Harriet and Margaret, Missouri State University, Ann Marie Wilcox-Daehn, Producer/Music Director, Jennifer Lale, Stage Director, Amy Muchnick, Conductor

Division II    

1^st place – Orpheus in the Underworld, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Catherine Compton, Director, Allan Armstrong, Music Director and Conductor, Daniel Hunter-Holly, Assistant Director

2^nd place – The Medium, West Texas A&M University, Suzanne Ramo, director, Mark Batley, conductor, Justin Duncan, technical director

3^rd place – Gianni Schicchi, Taylor University, Conor Angell, Artistic and stage director, Patricia Robertson, Conductor, Ryan Maloney, Scenic designer

Division III  

1^st Place – Dark Sisters, Oklahoma City University, David Herendeen, Matthew Mailman, Jaime Dimas, Travis Baldwin

2^nd Place – Albert Herring, CCM Opera D’arte, Kenneth Shaw, Director, Co-Producer, Amy S. Johnson Co- Producer, Jesse Leong, Conductor, Andrea Wells, Assistant Director

3^rd Place – Dido and Aeneas, University of the Pacific, James Haffner, Producing Stage Director, Burr Cochran Phillips, Musical Coach, Nicolas Waldvogel, Conductor

Division IV  

1^st Place – Dialogue of the Carmelites, Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory, Scott Skiba, Director of Opera Studies and Production Director, Jason Aquila, Opera Program Music Director, Octavio Mas Arocas, Director of Orchestral Studies and Production Conductor, Marc Weagraff, Voice Department Chair

2^nd Place – The Inspector Ross, University of Houston, Buck Ross, stage director and producer, and projection designer, Raymond Harvey, music director and conductor, Thom Guthrie, set and lighting designer, Richard Walsh, costume designer

3^rd Place – Hydrogen Jukebox, Lawrence University, Copeland Woodruff, director, Andy Mast, conductor, Bonnie Koestner, music director

Division V   

1^st Place – L’incoronazione di Poppea, Purchase College/SUNY, Jacque Trussel, director, Hugh Murphy, conductor, Margaret Vignola, assistant director

2^nd Place – Florencia en el Amazonas, Fletcher Opera Institute, Nicholas Muni, Christopher Allen, LaMeira

3^rd Place –  Roméo et Juliette, University of Houston, Buck Ross, stage director and producer, and projection designer, Raymond Harvey, music director and conductor, Thom Guthrie, set and lighting designer, Richard Walsh, costume designer

Honorable Mention – Die Fledermaus, University of Colorado-Boulder, Leigh Holman, Director, Nicholas Carthy, Conductor, Peter Dean Beck, Scenic and Lighting Design, Tom Robbins, Costume Design

Division VI  

1st Place – The Demon, Commonwealth Lyric Theatre, Alexander Prokhorov, Artistic Director; Irina Prokhorov (f/k/a) Irina Rubinshtein, Producer; Lidiya Yankovskaya, Conductor; Anastasia Grigoreva, Costume and Set Designer

2nd Place – The Golden Cockerell, New Opera NYC, Igor Konyukhov, Director/ Set Design, J David Jackson, Conductor, Olga Maslova, Costume Design, Greg Mitchell, Lighting Design

Gallery: 2015-16 Opera Production Winners

Division I      Judges: Mary Kay McGarvey, Lisa Dawson, Dawn Neely

1^st place – Jackie O, Oklahoma City University, David Herendeen, Director, Chuck Koslowske, Conductor

2^nd place – Trial by Jury/The Beautiful Bridegroom, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Linda Lister, Director, Faustino Solis/Linda Lister, Conductors

3^rd place (tie) – Expressions of Acceptance, Lawrence University, Copeland Woodruff, Director

3^rd place (tie) – Postcard from Morocco, San Jose State University, Layna Chianakas, Director, Fred Cohen, Conductor

Division II     Judges: Christine Seitz, Marc Schapman, Melanie Helton

1^st place – Cosi fan tutte, Western Washington University, Amber Suddeth Bone, Director, Jay Rozendaal, Conductor

2^nd place (tie) – The Blue Forest, Oregon State University, Marc Callahan, Director, Lauren Servias, Conductor

2nd place (tie) –The Tender Land, Messiah College, Damian Savarino, Director, Timothy Dixon, Conductor

3^rd place – The Gondoliers, University of Montana, Anne Basinski, Director, David Cody, Conductor

Division III   Judges: Marc Embree, Amy Johnson, Samuel Mungo

1^st Place – Transformations, University of Wisconsin-Madison, David Ronis, Director, Kyle Knox, Conductor

2^nd Place – Don Pasquale, Oklahoma City University, David Herendeen, Director, Jan McDaniel, Conductor

3^rd Place – L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, University of Mississippi, Julia Aubrey, Director, Selim Giray, Conductor

Division IV   Judges: Copeland Woodruff, Steven Tharp, Susan Fleming

1^st Place – A Room with a View, Michigan State University, Melanie Helton, Director, Marcello Cormio, Conductor

2^nd Place – Le nozze di Figaro, University of Wisconsin-Madison, David Ronis, Director, James Smith, Conductor

3^rd Place – Evita, Oklahoma City University, David Herendeen, Director, Jan McDaniel, conductor

Division V    Judges: Marc Verzatt, Jane Bunnell, Christopher Meerdinck

1^st Place – La Tragédie de Carmen, Fletcher Opera Institute (University of North Carolina School of the Arts), Director Nicholas Muni, Conductor Neal Goren

2^nd Place – Anna Karenina (composer David Carlson and librettist Colin Graham), Moores Opera Center (University of Houston), Buck Ross, Director, Raymond Harvey, Conductor

3^rd Place –  Lady Bird, Texas State University, Samuel Mungo, Director, Carolyn Watson, Conductor

Division VI   Judges: Julia Aubrey, Daniel Beckwith, Jacque Trussel, Melanie Helton

1st Place – The Beggar’s Opera, Lawrence University, Copeland Woodruff, Director, Hal France, Conductor

2nd Place – La Cenerentola, Bob Jones University, Jeffrey Stegall, Director, Michael Moore, Conductor

3rd Place (tie) – Higglety-Pigglety Pop/The Magic Flute, Bard College, Nicholas Muni, Director, James Bagwell, Conductor

3rd Place (tie) – The Crucible, State University of New York at Purchase, Jacque Trussel, Director, Hugh Murphy, Conductor

Gallery: 2014-15 Opera Production Winners

OPC Committee: Anne Basinski, Dawn Harris, Mary Kay McGarvey, Richard Poppino, Christine Seitz, Jacque Trussel, Kenneth Wood (chair)

Division I      Judges: Marc Callahan, Karen Esquivel, Christine Meadows

1^st place – The Gondoliers by Gilbert and Sullivan

                        Produced by Melanie Day at Virginia Commonwealth University

                        Directed by Kenneth Wood

                        Conducted by Daniel Myssyk

2^nd place – The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar

                        Produced by Chris Buess at UNC-Charlotte

                        Directed by Robin Witt

                        Conducted by Brian Arreola

3^rd place (tie) – Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti

                        Produced by Albert Harrison at Taylor University

                        Directed by Conor Angell

                        Conducted by Patricia Robertson

3^rd place (tie) – The Little Prince by Rachel Portman

                        Produced by UC-Santa Cruz

                        Directed by Brian Staufenbiel

                        Conducted by Nicole Paiement

Division II     Judges: Susan Gonzalez, Mary Kay McGarvey, Steven Vasta

1^st place – Twelfth Night by Joel Feigin

                        Produced by Ben Brecher at UC-Santa Barbara

                        Directed by David Grabarkewitz

                        Conducted by Brent Wilson

2^nd place – The Tender Land by Aaron Copland

                        Produced by Lawrence University

                        Directed by Copeland Woodruff

                        Musical Direction by Bonnie Koestner

                        Conducted by Katherine Kilburn

3^rd place – Speed Dating Tonight by Michael Ching

                        Produced by Texas State University

                        Directed by Sam Mungo

                        Conducted by Kristin Roach

Division III   Judges: Anne Basinski, David Cody, Lukas Graf

1^st Place – Triple Bill featuring winners of the Domenic J. Pellicciotti Opera

Composition Prize including A Letter to East 11^th Street by Martin Hennessy and Mark Campbell, Act I of The Fox and the Pomegranate by Matt Frey and Daniel Kushner, and Act II of In A Mirror, Darkly by Christopher Weiss and S. O'Duinn Magee

                        Produced by the Crane School of Music at SUNY-Potsdam

                        Directed by Carleen Graham

                        Conducted by Kirk Severtson

2^nd Place – Strawberry Fields by Michael Torke

                        Produced by Oberlin Conservatory

                        Directed by Sally Stunkel

                        Musical Direction by Daniel Michalak

                        Conducted by John Paul Jennings

3^rd Place – Albert Herring by Benjamin Britten

                        Produced by University of Wisconsin-Madison

                        Directed by David Ronis

                        Conducted by Kyle Knox

Division IV   Judges: Jane Munson Berg, Marc Schapman, Christine Seitz

1^st Place – Lakmé by Leo Delibes

                        Produced by Pamela Gilmore at Rutgers University

                        Directed by E. Loren Meeker

                        Conducted by Kynan Johns

2^nd Place – Galileo Galilei by Phillip Glass

                        Produced by UNC-Greensboro

                        Directed by David Holley

                        Conducted by Kevin Geraldi

3^rd Place (tie) – Mass by Leonard Bernstein

                        Produced by Edward Smaldone at Queens College-CUNY

                        Directed by Lorca Peress

                        Conducted by Maurice Peress

3^rd Place (tie) – The Rape of Lucretia by Benjamin Britten

                        Produced by Edward Smaldone at Queens College-CUNY

                        Directed by Rod Gomez

                        Musical Direction by Elizabeth Hastings

                        Conducted by James John

Division V    Judges: Derek Greten-Harrison, Jacque Trussel, Colin Whiteman

1^st Place – Rappaccini’s Daughter by Daniel Catán

                        Produced by Moores Opera Center, University of Houston

                        Directed by Buck Ross

                        Musical Direction by Raymond Harvey

                        Conducted by Arne Almroth

2^nd Place – Frau Margot by Thomas Pasatieri

                        Produced by Moores Opera Center, University of Houston

                        Directed by Buck Ross

                        Conducted by Raymond Harvey

3^rd Place – Così fan tutte by WA Mozart

                        Produced by Michigan State University

                        Directed by Melanie Helton

                        Conducted by Marcello Cormio

Division VI   Judges: Stephen Fiol, Dawn Harris, Ricardo Herrera

Winner – The Queen of Spades by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

                        Produced by Julius Bright Ross for Lowell House Opera

                        Directed by Roxanna Myhrum

                        Conducted by Lidiya Yankovskaya

Category I:

• 1st Place - Suor Angelica, Southern Illinois University, Timothy Fink, dir.
• 2nd Place - L'Incoronazione di Poppea, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, Nick Muni, dir.

Category II:

• 1st Place - Susannah, The University of Texas at Austin, Alan Hicks, dir.
• 2nd Place - La Vida Breve, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, David Holley, dir.

Category III:

• 1st Place - The Tempest, SUNY-Purchase, Jacque Trussel, Dir, Hugh Murphy, cond.
• 2nd Place - The Turn of the Screw, Boston Conservatory, Kirsten Cairns, dir.

Category IV:

• 1st Place - Dead Man Walking, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Bill Shomos, dir.
• 2nd Place - La Boheme, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati

Category V:

• Winner - Rappacini's Daughter, CCM, Karen Coe Miller, dir.

Class I:

First Place: Tales of Hoffmann from Temple University
Director: Copeland Woodruff
Conductor: John Douglas

Second Place: Così Fan Tutte from Portland State University
Director: Christine Meadows
Conductor: Ken Selden

Class II:

First place: L'Elisir d'Amore from College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati
Director: Sandra Bernhard
Conductor: Mark Gibson

Second place: The Rape of Lucretia from The Boston Conservatory
Director: Kirsten Z. Cairns
Conductor: Karl Paulnack

Class III:

First place: L'Incoronazione di Poppea from SUNY Purchase
Director: Jacque Trussel
Conductor: Hugh Murphy

Second place: Orphée et Eurydice from Florida State University
Director: Stephanie Derrick
Conductor: Douglas Fisher

Class IV:

First place: L'enfant et les sortilèges from College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati
Directors: Kenneth Shaw and Blythe Walker
Conductor: Nathan Windt

Second place: Postcard from Morocco from University of South Carolina
Director: Ellen Douglas Schlaefer
Conductor: Neil Casey

Class V:

First place: Une éducation Manquée by Chabrier and Le Pauvre Matelot by Milhaud from College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati
Director: Nicholas Muni
Conductors: Blake Richardson and Christopher Hill