Painted Sky Opera Presents Amahl and the Night Visitors
Amahl and the Night Visitors
BY GIAN-CARLO MENOTTI
7 PM DECEMBER 14, 2018
5 PM DECEMBER 15, 2018
SANCTUARY OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
This classic Christmas opera is a perfect holiday outing for the whole family! Amahl is a young boy living with his mother near Bethlehem. Amahl’s mother worries about their future because she has been forced to sell their sheep and they have no source of income. One evening, three royal visitors come by their house bearing gifts for a child of wonders. But, when they ask to spend the night, Amahl’s mother is faced with the question of whether those gifts are better given to the Christ child or taken to keep Amahl and his mother from becoming beggers. With tuneful melodies and a wonderful message that goes to the heart of the true meaning of Christmas, you don’t want you or your children to miss Amahl and the Night Visitors.
Artistic Staff:
Stage Director - Molly Johnson
Music Director - Jan McDaniel
Assistant Music Director - Joe Fitzgerald
Technical Director - Scott Hynes
Stage Manager - Lauren Colston
Costume Director - Brian Butler
Amahl - Austin Rindler
Mother - Catherine McDaniel
Kaspar - Mark Johnson
Melchoir - Jordan Andrews
Balthazar - Kevin Eckard
Page - Austin Martin
Chorus - Haleigh Adams, Kara Judy, MK Mackey, Emily Johnson, Riley Cleaver, Ken Copeland, Tucker Felix, Dylan Bond, Lily Voth, Rita Shah, Mark Parkhurst
Parents - Julie Rindler, Roy Rindler, Geoff Bond, Jenn Bond, Nishita Shah
Austin Rindler began solo singing performances when he was just 6 years old. His first solo was “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” Since then, Austin has performed in You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown playing Schroeder, in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory playing Mike Teavee, and in The Christmas Spectacular as a lead male vocalist. He has performed a number of vocal solos and a wide range of music from alternative rock, pop music, and classical opera. Austin loves singing, composing songs and playing the piano and guitar. He is the oldest of four siblings and loves being a big brother. He is also an avid Thunder fan and artist. One of his pieces of artwork was chosen to be displayed in a collection at the Fine Arts Institute. He is thrilled to be making his debut with the Painted Sky Opera Company as Amahl.
Catherine McDaniel, mezzo-soprano, has performed major operatic roles in Europe and the United States. Her professional debut occurred during the Festival Lyrique de Belle-Île-en-Mer, France, where she appeared as Niklaus in Les contes d’Hoffmannand Mercedes in Carmen. Dr. McDaniel also performed the role of Clarina in Rossini’s La cambiale di matrimonioin the Teatro Accademico in Castelfranco Veneto, Italy. Among her roles are Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Giulietta in Les contes d’Hoffmann, the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Lola in Cavalleria rusticana, and the title role in Carmen. Local operatic appearances include the inaugural performances of the Southern Plains Opera Ensemble (Così fan tutteand Pride and Passion: An Operatic Evening—both for past seasons of the Rose State Live concert series) and repeat engagements with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s Discovery Concert Series. As mezzo soloist in Verdi’s Requiem, she has sung with Maestro Murry Sidlin in his A Defiant Requiem, in addition to performances with Canterbury Choral Society, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and the Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra. Further, McDaniel has appeared in performances of Handel’s Messiahwith numerous orchestras in Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri. Other oratorio credits include Honegger’s Le roi David, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and the Oratorio de Noëlby Saint-Saëns. In May of 2009, she sang the Bach B Minor Masswith Canterbury Choral Society and the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and she performed as mezzo-soprano soloist in Bradley Ellingboe’s Requiemin the spring of 2017 – the fifth time she had sung this work. Prior to joining the voice faculty of the Bass School of Music (where she teaches studio voice and lyric diction), Dr. McDaniel spent over a decade as a member of the voice faculty at Oklahoma Christian University. Her current and former students maintain active performing careers on Broadway and national tours, and in companies such as Portland Opera, Sarasota Opera, the Seagle Music Colony, Bay View Music Festival, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, and Music Theatre of Wichita. They include finalists in auditions for the Metropolitan Opera and the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and a number have pursued advanced voice degrees at the New England Conservatory, the University of Missouri at Kansas City, the University of North Texas, and the Moores School of Music—University of Houston. She holds the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in voice, both from Stephen F. Austin State University, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in vocal performance from the University of Oklahoma, where her dissertation was an analysis of Tales Not Told, a song cycle composed for her by Edward Knight. She was a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in both the Midwest and Texas Regions and a winner of the Advanced Division of the Texoma Regional Auditions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Dr. McDaniel is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Mu Phi Epsilon, Phi Kappa Phi, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Mark Johnson is singer and actor and teaches voice at the University of Central Oklahoma, having previously taught for the University of Texas system. He studied voice with Inez Silberg (OCU), NYC Opera tenor Robert Grayson and internationally-known voice pedagogue, Dr. Stephen F. Austin, both at LSU. Concert and Recital - National: St. Mary the Virgin (NYC), Washington National Cathedral and The White House (DC). Regional: TACTUS, Texas Vocal Arts Ensemble. Local: UCO FACS Recitals (numerous), Chancel Choir Director, First Christian Church, Midwest City. TV/Web - National: Oral Roberts Television. Regional: Orange Leaf, LifeChurch, Cherokee Red River Casino. Local: Allegiance Credit Union, Joe Cooper Ford, Fowler Dodge. Web Series: Earth to Jessie (Psychiatrist). Musical Theater - Regional: FLIPSIDE: The Patti Page Story (tour), Pollard Theater (Hairspray-Wilbur), Broadway Tonight (Guys and Dolls-Arvide Abernathy). Local: Poteet Theater (Ragtime). Stage - Regional: City Repertory Theater (Grapes of Wrath-Weedpatch Camp Director), Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park (numerous). Local: Jewel Box Theater (Dial M for Murder), Carpenter Square Theater (Good People). Opera - Regional: Tulsa Opera (numerous as Apprentice Artist), Four Corners Opera (Face On The Barroom Floor), Baton Rouge Opera (Merry Widow), Asheville Lyric Opera (Amahl and founding Board member), Opera East Texas (Cosi, Tosca). www.markandmollyjohnson.com
Jordan Andrews, baritone, was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He is completing his second master’s degree at Oklahoma City University in Opera Performance. He received his MM in Vocal Coaching from the same institution in 2017 and his BA in Music from Northwest Missouri State University in 2015. He studies voice with Dr. Catherine McDaniel and coaches with Jan McDaniel. He currently works as a private vocal coach and staff accompanist at OKCU and is involved with the OKCU Jazz Ensemble, The City Cabaret – OKC, Opera on Tap – OKC, and music directs “Ahhx Chords”, the male acapella group at OKCU. Recent credits include: Jake (Side Show); Beauty and the Beast (Beast); Handel’s Messiah (Bass Soloist); Carceriere/Chorus (Tosca); Shrek: the Musical (Donkey); It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Music Director/Pianist); The Little Mermaid (Music Director) www.jordanmandrews.com
Kevin Eckard, Bass-Baritone, is currently a Professor of voice and Head of the vocal Arts Division at the University of Central Oklahoma. Dr. Eckard is a native of South Carolina. He received his DMA from the University of South Carolina and his Masters of Music from Indiana University. Dr. Eckard has performed frequently throughout the United States, as well as in Italy, Austria and Great Britain. He has performed as a soloist with The Messiah Festival in Lindsborg Kansas, the International choir festival in Chester, England, the Indianapolis Opera, Tulsa Opera, Denver Opera, Wichita Opera, Colorado Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, Pueblo Symphony, Boulder Philharmonic, the Carmel and Anderson Symphonies in Indiana, Augusta Opera, Opera Carolina, Canterbury Choral Society, and Lyric Theater of Oklahoma City. Dr. Eckard has been the featured soloist in productions of Mozart’s Requiem, Brahms Requiem, Faure’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. He has also performed Bach’s Mass in b minor, Magnificat, Cantata 140, Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott and Cantata 79. Among his many operatic credits, he has performed the roles of Boris Godunov in Boris Godunov, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Budd in Albert Herring, Blitch in Susannah, Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola, Monterone in Rigoletto, Masetto in Don Giovanni, Secret Policeman in The Consul, Don Alfonso in Cosi Fan Tutte, Escamillo in Carmen and Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore. Kevin has also performed in the musicals, Jekyll and Hyde, as the Bishop of Basingstoke, and Jesus Christ Superstar, as Caiaphas. Dr. Eckard is a Regional Finalist and a two-time winner of the Metropolitan Opera’s South Carolina District competition, and has won the Margerite Elfe Erckmann award for vocal performance. Kevin performed the role of the Sacristan last year in Painted Sky Opera’s production of Tosca and is excited to be back for this year’s productions of Rigoletto and Amahl and the Night Visitors.
Austin Martin is excited to make his third appearance with Painted Sky Opera! He was previously seen in the choruses of Rigoletto and Tosca. Austin has also performed with the OK Opera and Music Theater Company at Oklahoma City University as the title role in Le Nozze di Figaro, Richard Harrison in Thomas Pasatieri's The Vaudevillian, and King in Nico Muhly's Dark Sisters, as well as several opera choruses. He also played the role of Figaro with the Bay View Music Festival in northern Michigan this past summer, and has also performed with the Taos Opera Institute and the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival. His thanks go out to his parents for being his biggest fans, his friends who continuously support him, and to the directors of Painted Sky Opera for giving him the opportunity to help bring opera to central Oklahoma.
Haleigh Adams is a Mexican-American soprano opera singer. Born in Aschaffenburg, Germany, Haleigh began studying music from an early age, participating in auditioned choirs from the age of 6 and taking private piano lessons for 10 years. Haleigh received her Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance from Cameron University in May 2018. While at Cameron, Haleigh performed many opera scenes, singing the roles of Papagena “Die Zauberflöte”, Frasquita “Carmen”, Clorinda “La Cenerentola”, Yum-Yum “The Mikado”, Lakme “Lakme”, Susanna and the Countess “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Haleigh is a McMahon Scholar and has performed with the Oklahoma Choral Directors Association All-Collegiate Honor Chorus, the Southwestern Oklahoma Choral Directors Association All College Choir, Lawton Philharmonic chorus, and Lawton ProMusica.
Kara Judy was born is Oklahoma but grew up in Northern Indiana. Music has always played a major role in her life and she began singing and learning to play the piano at a young age. During her high school years she found her love of Musical Theatre in the chorus of Fiddler on the Roof and Oklahoma. She later went on to play Marion in The Music Man and Lady Thiang in The King & I. Kara attended Huntington University and studied voice while obtaining her Bachelors of Arts with a concentration in Church Music. In her time there, she was involved in multiple ensembles including a women’s chorus, handbells, and a traveling worship team. She also competed and won the opportunity to perform in numerous concertos. In the years after college, she returned to her high school alma-mater as the Music Director of Babes in Arms, Anything Goes, Little Women, and Beauty and the Beast. Kara moved back to Oklahoma a few years ago and is enjoying all the opportunities that the city provides to continue to develop and share her music abilities.
MK Mackey is a sophomore Musical Theatre major and Spanish minor at the University of Central Oklahoma. MK studies under Dr. Rob Glaubitz. She is so thrilled to be in her first opera! Some of her favorite roles include Ghost of Lucy Barker / Prima Ballerina (Sweeney Todd), Lucy (You're a Good Man Charlie Brown), and Abigail Williams (The Crucible). She would like to thank Dr. Glaubitz and Dr. Molly Johnson for giving MK this opportunity and her boyfriend, Jacob, for his endless love and support.
Emily Johnson is thrilled to be a part of Amahl and the Night Visitors. She is very thankful for the opportunity to grow as a young artist and learn from both her peers and directors. She would like to thank her mom and dad for inspiring her passion for music as well as Painted Sky Opera for allowing her to fulfill those passions.
Riley Cleaver is a native Oklahoman. His Mother, a charter member of the Oklahoma Canterbury Choral Society, played a significant musical role in his life by encouraging him to embrace and participate in the arts as he grew into adulthood. He was an active member of First Baptist Church adult choir before graduating from high school. While attending Northwest Classen High School he was a member of the award-winning Cry-Slur show choir. Riley is a graduate of OSU and has been a minister of music for several Baptist congregations through the years. He has performed with the Oklahoma Canterbury Choral Society, Jewel Box Theater, Norman Sooner Theatre, and Southern Nazarene University School of Arts and is currently performing with the Oklahoma Senior Follies and Painted Sky Opera. Riley serves on the board of Friends of Northwest Classen, and Painted Sky Opera. Riley’s profession with eXp Realty Company keeps him busy. He and his best friend and wife, Anna, have a passion for great music. If not enjoying the arts you can find them attending one of their 10 grandchildren’s sporting or musical events. In their down time they love to be outside gardening, swimming or playing with their two whippets. Riley and Anna are active members of Crossing Community Church and Choir.
Kenneth Copeland is happy to be singing again, after a 30 year hiatus, and pleased to be a voice student of Professor Barbara DeMaio, Asst. Professor of Voice, UCO. Dr. Copeland is a retired physician and OU Professor Emeritus, formerly Chief of Pediatric Endocrinology and Director of the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center at OU Children’s Hospital. He especially wishes to thank Dr. Robert Glaubitz for this opportunity to be a part of Amahl and the Night Visitors, having sung in a production of it some 35 years ago in San Antonio, Texas! Dr. Copeland, along with his wife Lucia, are proud parents of two daughters and three lovely granddaughters.
Tucker Feix is a financial analyst in the Operational Profitability group at MidFirst Bank. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2018 with a B.S. in Mathematics with full honors. While at OSU, he studied with Martha Williford Avrett and sang in the Concert Chorale. Currently, Tucker sings and attends Crossings Community Church.
Dylan Bond is an eighth grade student at Central Middle School in Edmond. She is 14 years old. Dylan is involved in Musical Productions, Drama, and various choir groups at her school, and has past experience in COCDA. She has so much love and excitement for music and drama. She is currently enrolled and attending Rosenbalm Academy of Music. She was born in Oklahoma City and currently resides in Edmond.
Lily Voth is a freshman at Harding Fine Arts Academy. Amahl and the Night Visitors is her first opera. She played Fan in Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma’s A Christmas Carol as well as a munchkin and a poppy in their production of The Wizard of Oz. Lily was selected to attend Kristin Chenoweth’s Broadway Bootcamp last summer. She studies regularly at Lyric Theatre’s Thelma Gaylord Academy, where she has been in eight academy productions; her favorite role so far was playing Gertrude from Seussical.
Ria Shah is currently an eighth-grader at Casady School. She has been taking voice and piano lessons with Mrs. Danielle Herrington for the last three years. Prior to that, she had training under Amber Zuniga. She started learning piano and voice since age 6. Ria sang a solo opera for her school talent show in 6th grade and 7th grade. She is also learning Indian Classical Dance for seven years and is now a senior in dance. She won the Little Miss Asia pageant when she was eight in 2014 showcasing her talent in dance and she has performed in numerous cultural dance events in lead roles.
Mark Parkhurst is a retired school psychologist from Edmond. He is a charter member and current president of the Edmond Community Chorale. Mark has sung in several choirs over the years throughout the US, Mexico, Canada, and Italy. He is most proud of singing in Carnegie Hall under the direction of John Rutter twice. He is excited in singing in the chorus of Amahl and the Night Visitors. Mark was a student of the late Dr. Jess Webster and currently a student of Dr. Barbara DeMaio.
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