Associate Professor of Voice
Director of Opera Theatre Director
The Druid City Opera Workshop
University of Alabama School of Music
Dear NOA Colleagues,
Greetings! I can tell from social media buzz that our members are enjoying a busy summer, directing and teaching at Young Artists programs around the globe and bringing their expertise and energy to opera education everywhere. That makes me very proud of our organization.
Speaking of social media, don't forget to like our Facebook page, along with the new Regional Facebook pages, to get all the latest information on our regional events and the rich array of NOA offerings. Also, be sure to send a photo to Instagram using #nationaloperaassociation, and follow our new Twitter feed @NatOperaAssoc to stay connected.
Our Salt Lake City conference schedule is now posted and registration is open. #NOASLC. Make plans to join us as it promises to be a fantastic conference with important sessions on diversity and celebrations of women composers and conductors, along with our unique competitions and special brand of networking possibilities. We are especially excited to announce that Maestro Stephen Lord will join us to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and soprano Harolyn Blackwell will join us to accept the "Lift Every Voice" Award. Both of these artists will teach and chat with young singers and assist us with judging of our live competitions.
Enjoy the rest of your summer. Post a photo of your work on Instagram. See you in Salt Lake, if not at one of the three regional events this fall. Please feel free to be in touch if you have any questions or comments. I would love to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Paul phoughtaling@ua.edu
From the Vice-President for Conferences
Lisa Dawson
Professor of Voice, Indiana Wesleyan University
The 64th Annual NOA Conference to be held in Salt Lake City (January 2-5, 2019) is shaping up to be a FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE! I want to give a huge shout out to Carol Ann Modesitt, who has been working diligently to prepare the way for us! Thank you, Carol!
We are proud to announce our special guests, Harolyn Blackwell, Stephen Lord and Michael Ballam. Additionally, there are many exciting and informative sessions with tracks on Educating for the Future, Engaging Culture and Embracing the New. Attendees can follow a track or mix and match!
The Little America Hotel is lovely and recently renovated—the space is very conducive to our schedule and allows attendees to move easily from one activity to the next while enjoying space to connect with one another. For the Regional Networking Lunch, we will step across the street to the Grand America for a delicious lunch in the spacious restaurant which has been reserved especially for us!
View the entire conference schedule by clicking HERE!!
On Friday evening of the conference, we will travel by shuttle to Salt Lake City’s Gothic Romanesque Cathedral of the Madeleine (https://utcotm.org) to witness over 300 artists present a new work, Naamah’s Ark. In addition, we have many sessions planned that will be of special interest to students—and of course, our important vocal and scenes competitions.
Travel is so easy in Salt Lake City, too—there is a train that costs less than $5.00 which will take you from the airport to a drop off within steps of the conference hotel. Once inside the city, the train/trolly is free and will take you to most spots in this incredible and interesting city! So, make plans to start the new year together in Salt Lake City—and bring a friend! CLICK HERE to register!!
I’ll see you there!
Lisa Lisa.Dawson@indwes.edu
See you in Salt Lake!!
From the Vice-President for Regions
Dawn Neely
Assistant Professor of Voice and Director of Opera Workshop
West Georgia University
It has been a very busy summer working with our Regional Governors and the NOA board on a variety of projects. Our Facebook Exchange page for NOA members is up and running! If you are looking for subtitles, set pieces, orchestra parts, etc., this is the place to ask your colleagues to help out! Our Great Lakes Regional Governor, Tammie Huntington, has headed up this project, and we hope that the NOA membership will be able to use and enjoy this social media tool.
We have three one-day conference regional events this fall! The Great Lakes Region, led by Regional Governor Tammie Huntington, will have its event on September 15th. George Shirley will give a special masterclass and composer, Phillip Seward will give the keynote address. The West Central Region, led by Regional Governor Jen Stephenson, will have its event on September 29th. Copeland Woodruff will be the special guest clinician and speaker. The Eastern Region, led by Regional Governor Gordon Ostrowski, will have its event on October 6th. This one-day conference will take place at Opera America's National Opera Center! Simply click on the dates for each one above to access the information!
In addition to these three events, there are many more local activities and workshops planned in other regions. These events have so many positive outcomes: networking, recruiting for NOA, opportunities for young faculty to present work and research, student opportunities for learning and performing. The list could go on so do not hesitate to begin planning or contact your Regional Governor with ideas. In addition, I have enjoyed with chance to work with all our our Governors on their ideas and suggestions for the advancement of our organization. I hope that Regional Governors and other members of NOA will continue the conversations and plans for activities for Regional NOA to advance our work on the National level.
In case you need anything from your Regional Governor, we have included the list below. You can find their email addresses (as well as those for all Officers and Board Members) by CLICKING HERE.
Chair, Finance Committee and 2018 Annual Campaign
Cal-Western regional Governor Music Department
Southern Utah University
From the Finance Committee:
It’s hard to believe that we are over half way through 2018. Fall semester is just around the corner and with a new school year beginning in a few weeks, it is time for me to remind you once again that our 2018 Annual Campaign is still going. I feel as though I am on PBS asking for contributions.
One of the great things that comes from my being a member of NOA is the opportunity to become familiar with new chamber operas. A few years ago during the presentations of the finalists for the Chamber Opera Competition, I saw scenes from Philip Seward’s Chamber Opera How to Date a Coloratura without Falling Flat. I had this opera on the back burner of my mind for a few years, and this past school year, I had two singers that would work doing that opera. They had a great time learning it and performing it. I couldn’t have done this opera without NOA. As a matter of fact, I have been introduced to several operas that I have done in my university over the years that I wouldn’t have known about without being a member of NOA.
I am grateful for this organization and all that it has to offer. For that reason I try to donate money to this organization outside of my membership fee. I am so grateful for all of the wonderful colleagues I have met and for the presentations that are given each year. I love that I am able to stay current in the operatic field and to take new information back to my university. If you feel that this organization has been beneficial to you, I hope you will find the ability to donate whatever you can to keep our organization thriving.
I look forward to seeing you in Salt Lake City in January 2019. May the rest of your summer be restful as you look forward to cooler weather and the beautiful fall colors.
The Young People’s Opera committee is pleased to announce a new initiative to bring attention to new work’s being created for young people and to revitalize the Opera for Youth production directory at Opera America.
Starting with its founding in 1977, by Emily Hamood, the Opera for Youth organization solicited and reviewed over 500 operas. Kal Brackin, the last President of OFY before it ceased operations, arranged for Opera America to house the directory of fact sheets so that individuals and companies would be able to make use of this invaluable resource when looking for works to produce for young people.
In January 2016, I met with the NOA board of directors and made the following proposal. In addition, I met with Opera America President Marc Scorca and he wholeheartedly supported my proposal.
The Young People’s Opera Committee will solicit new works for young people for review. Interested composers will follow the guidelines set by the Opera for Youth directory and Opera America for this peer review process. If a new work is selected for review, the review would be published in NOA Notes and a fact sheet submitted to the Opera for Youth online directory. Composers must be a member of Opera America to participate and follow these guidelines:
A work to be performed for or by young people, with a theme or issue appropriate for that audience.
Certain materials must be available in order to prove that the work is performance-ready: A completed score using standard notation software (Finale, Cakewalk, etc.) or legible handwriting, libretto/lyrics and a synopsis.
A significant portion of the work should be newly composed. Arrangements of old music combined with new lyrics will not be accepted.
The work will be or will have been produced. Proof of performance (a program, production poster, etc.) is required.
Interested composers may submit their materials or ask for additional information at the following address: gostrowski@msmnyc.edu.
Gordon Ostrowski, Committee Chair
Sneak Peek: 2019 Collegiate Opera Scenes Competition
Deadline: October 15, 2018
From the NOA Strategic Plan Committee and Board:
NOA's NEW Vision Statement:
NOA members are the Foundation Builders for the future of opera.
From the Vice-President for Conferences
From the Vice-President for Regions
