President's Message
Dear Friends of PPOL,
We are approaching the end of our Opera League season, and many of you are looking forward to the summer recess and the warmer weather this time of year brings. Before we break for the summer, we have one more event on June 24th, 6-8 pm at the Millibo Theatre. This year our traditional Summer Songfest goes in a slightly different direction when we will present Chanteurs en Chapeaux or Singers in Hats. This will be an original cabaret production conceived, written and produced by PPOL members Eve Tilley and Solveig Olsen. More details are available later in this newsletter. Please purchase your tickets early as you do NOT want to miss this delightful program which is sponsored by our friends, The Tiemens Private Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors.
Our Winter Wonder Fest was held February 17 at Patty Jewett Clubhouse and honored Martile Rowland and her 25 years as Founder and Artistic Director of the Opera Theatre of the Rockies. Attendees were entertained with a program featuring the music of Jerome Kern starring Marcia Ragonetti and baritone Steven Taylor, accompanied by Travis Yamamoto. Guests enjoyed a scrumptious buffet prepared by
the chef at Patty Jewett, and we all shared a birthday cake in honor of Martile’s birthday. Photos follow later in this newsletter. This event was sponsored by The Tiemens Private Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, Dr. Susan Rae Jensen and Mr. Tom Trainer and Nicole de Naray.
March’s program at the Carriage House at Penrose House, Women Composers in Vocal Music, was a collaboration between Julie Silver Campbell from Opera on Tap and Solveig Olsen. They entertained guests with vocals and readings by women composers, authors and poets. Ms. Campbell was accompanied by Dr. Joseph Galema who also performed a solo piece by Amy Beach and a traditional Irish Melody. This program was sponsored by Dr. Gordon and Linda Silver, Elizabeth Bond and Karen and Michael McDivitt. Read on in this newsletter to see photographs of the program.
April’s program featured our Spring Career Advancement Award recipient, Jenna Clark, who was accompanied by her fiancé, Peder Sill. It was held at the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony rehearsal hall. Audience members agreed that we will be seeing more of Jenna. The Career Advancement Award was sponsored by Catherine Thompson and Nasit Ari and Libby Rittenberg. Photos follow later.
Our May Spring Soirée was held May 3 at The Pinery at the Hill and featured a preview of Opera Theatre of the Rockies’ Vocal Arts Festival. Attendees were treated to heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts while enjoying Martile’s description of the upcoming Vocal Arts Festival, which attracts students from all over the world. Participants and coaches are subjected to an intensive schedule of training, rehearsals and performances over the course of the 3-week festival which will culminate with a Broadway Finale on July 16. Guests were also entertained by sopranos Kacie Kenton and Madison Falkenstine who will attend the Vocal Arts Festival as students. They were accompanied by Dan Brink. It was a perfect evening with delicious food, delightful entertainment and outstanding views. See the photos that follow.
It's time to renew your PPOL membership for the 23-24 season! A membership form is included in this newsletter along with a calendar of events for the season. PPOL is an all-volunteer organization, and your membership dues help defray administrative costs. Please renew by August 1, 2023 to ensure you are listed in the Membership Directory. Programs and Special Events require sponsorship funding, and we invite you all to contribute as sponsors or to our scholarship fund which helps us to accomplish our mission “to encourage and support aspiring and professional opera and musical theater artists and to support Opera Theatre of the Rockies and other regional opera, classical and vocal arts organizations.”
Nicole de Naray President Pikes Peak Opera LeagueUpcoming Events
Upcoming Events | All About Summer Song Fest
It's coming! Save the date for "Chanteurs en Chapeaux" (Singers in Hats), this year's Pikes Peak Opera League Summer Songfest, to be presented June 24th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, at the Millibo Art Theatre, 1626 South Tejon.
Several years ago, Solveig Olsen and Eve Tilley were chatting at a cocktail party. Ms. Tilley was wearing a haute couture 1926 Parisian pink straw covered with silk flowers from her extensive hat collection. Ms. Olsen was inspired with the idea to use hats to build a program of operatic and popular songs that suit the hats, suit the singers to the hats and songs, and to build a story or common thread around the selections. Toss hats from the Victoria Boswell Collection into the mêlée – et voilà!
Our talented cast will include Claire Anderson, Elizabeth Bond, Judeth Shay Comstock, Max Ferguson, Victoria Hansen, Susan Rae Jensen, and Solveig Olsen. The evening will begin with hors d’oeuvres and wine (cash bar) on the lovely grounds of the Millibo Art Theatre. At seven o’clock the audience will enter the theatre to be astounded by extraordinary vocal entertainment with piano accompaniment.
Everyone in attendance is encouraged to wear a hat. You know you have one (or two) in a closet somewhere but can never find the “right” occasion to wear it. This is that occasion!
Also, we will be selling Opera "Swag" donated by Paula Clifton whose aunt, Betty Ann Basham, had an extensive collection of opera memorabilia including books, CDs, Libretti, etc. If any of you reading this newsletter would like to donate similar items for sale, we would greatly appreciate it. Please contact Nicole de Naray at ndenaray@gmail.com to make arrangements for pick-up or drop-off.
Chanteurs en Chapeaux is sponsored by a generous donation from Tiemens Private Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. Jim Jackson’s legendary New York Style Cheesecake is sponsored by Nicole de Naray. Proceeds will benefit Millibo’s “Opera for Children” program.
$65.00 by check; $70.00 on the website. For more information or to buy your tickets please go to pikespeakoperaleague.org.
Upcoming Events Calendar of Events
September 6, 4-6 PM
OPENING PROGRAM and Membership meeting, Broadmoor Community Church, 315 Lake Ave.
Appetizers will be served, and wine will be available for purchase. A short meeting will be followed by "The 12-Step Opera," an original comic presentation by Denver vocal artist, Imelda Franklin Bogue. Program Sponsors: Dr. Susan Rae Jensen and Mr. Tom Trainer.
October 4, 2-4 PM
CAREER ADVANCEMENT AWARD WINNER, (TBA)
The Main Atrium at MacKenzie Place, 1605 Elm Creek View, 80907.
Dessert bites and decaf coffee will be served.
November 8, 5-8 PM
FALL FEST "A Night at the Opera"
St. Paul's Catholic Church, 9 El Pomar Road, 80906.
Featuring baritone Jonathan Hays. There will be a charge. Proceeds will benefit our Scholarship and Career Advancement Award Funds. A bountiful buffet will be served, and wine will be available for purchase. Program Sponsors: The Tiemens Private Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, and Dr. Susan Rae Jensen and Mr. Tom Trainer.
December 6, 11-2
HOLIDAY LUNCHEON
Cheyenne Mountain Country Club, 9 Lake Avenue.
Featuring Martile's Merry Singers. There will be a charge for the luncheon; wine will be availble for purchase. Venue sponsors: Dr. Darryl and Terry Thatcher.
February 7, 1-3 PM, BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION
Colorado Springs Conservatory, 415 S. Sahwatch, 80903.
Featuring Conservatory scholarship recipients, with a special appearance by Soprano Christiana Danaé Moldonado. There will be a reception with dessert bites and decaf coffee served after the program.
March 6, 3-5 PM
YOUNG VOICE EXPERIENCE
Colorado Springs Youth Symphony, 3113 Primrose Dr. 80907
Featuring the program's participants and coaches with a special presentation by Cheyenne Mountain High School's A Capella ensemble "Crimson and Slate." Dessert bites and decaf coffee will be served.
April 3, 3-5 PM
CAREER ADVANCEMENT AWARD WINNER, (TBA)
First United Methodist Church, 420 S. Nevada 80903
Snacks and nonalcoholic beverages will be served.
May 1, 5-7
SPRING SOIRÉE AND MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Celebrating the 45th Anniversary of the Pikes Peak Opera League
The Pinery, 775 W. Bijou, 80904
Featuring stars from the Opera Theatre of the Rockies Vocal Arts Festival. There will be a charge for heavy hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. Program Sponsors: Dr. Susan Rae Jensen and Mr. Tom Trainer.
June 26, 3-5 PM, SPECIAL EVENT
Family Friendly Opera, featuring the OTR Production of Little Red. The Millibo Art Theatre, 1626 S. Tejon, 80905
Upcoming Events
Proceeds will benefit OTR's Opera Theatre Goes to School. There will be a charge. Ice cream will be featured as a refreshment. Program Sponsors: Dr. Susan Rae Jensen and Mr. Tom Trainer.
PPOL Scholarship in Action - Spotlight on Jack Chaddon
Thanks to a Pikes Peak Opera League (PPOL) Youth Inspiration Scholarship, a talented eighth-grade dancer, Jack Chaddon also found his voice. With the Scholarship, Jack began private voice lessons in January of 2022 with Jerry McCauley II.
Now a 15 year-old freshman at CIVA Charter High School in Colorado Springs, Jack has performed in several productions including:
> Academy of Community Theatre - Seussical (Mr. Mayor)
> Academy of Children's Theatre - Oklahoma! (Fred, Dream Ballet dancer)
> Village Arts - Newsies (Mush)
> Academy of Community Theatre - Tuck Everlasting (Circus Ringmaster, featured dancer)
> Academy of Community Theatre - Annie (Drake, Officer Ward, Bert Healy u/s)
Jack auditioned and was accepted into the CIVA Honors Performance Choir for his sophomore year and already performs with the CIVA honors dance team. This summer, he will be performing in Les Misérables with the Performing Arts Academy in Denver and Titanic with the Colorado Springs Conservatory.
"The PPOL scholarship helped me learn technique and repertoire that would have otherwise not been available to me,” says Jack Chaddon. “Scholarships like these are so important so that everyone has access and opportunity to find their potential and excel in the arts. Thank you!"
Eve Tilley, Tom Trainer, Nicole de Naray, and Cindy Crater
Judy Rogers, Joan Agee, and Carol Bernstein
Susan Loring and Trudy Fennewald
Sue Anselmi, Helene Knapp, Anna Maria Trupp-Hughes, and Annabel Widney
Elizabeth Bond and Solveig Olsen
Robyn Hamilton and Sally Linnenbrink
Dr. Susan Rae Jensen and Tom Trainer
Madison Falkenstine and Kacie Kenton
Madison Falkenstine, Martile Rowland, and Kacie Kenton
Audience enjoying performance.
Lynne Lange and Patricia Hall (front row) and Victoria Boswell and Judy and Charles Warren (back)
Sol Chavez, Sue Anselmi, Elizabeth Bond
Jenna Clark performing. Audience enjoying performance.
Catherine Creppon, Robyn Hamilton and Kim Gunderson.
Judy Rogers and Joan Agee with Barbara Haywood seated behind.
Peder Sill and Jenna Clark
Martile Rowland and Jenna Clark
Nicole de Naray, Peder Sill, and Jenna Clark
Dr. Gordon Silver, Julie Silver Campbell and Linda Silver
Joe Galema and Julie Silver Campbell
Julie Silver Campbell and Solveig Olsen pre-performance
Joe Galema and Julie Silver Campbell performance
Commentary by Solveig Olsen
Solveig Olsen and Julie Silver Campbell
Julie Silver Campbell performing
Audience
Audience
Nicole de Naray and Catherine Creppon.
Sol Chavez and Eve Tilley
Kim Gunderson with Tom Trainer and Dr. Susan Rae Jensen
Linda Dale and Victoria Boswell
Linda and Gordon Silver
Judy Rogers and Joan Agee
Evelyn Kwaak with her daughter Nancy
Sally Linnenbrink and Marilyn Miller
Doug and Dianne Herzberg
Eapen Leubner and Solveig Olsen
Allan and Gloria Wendt
Table with Connie Heidenreich, Victoria Hansen, Gordon and Linda Silver, Tammy Lenz
Table with Lisa Czelatko, Helene Knapp, Carol Bernstein, Kristen Nelson
Libby Rittenberg, Herman Tiemens, Nasit Ari
Honoring Martile on her 25th Year Anniversary as the Artistic Director of OTR
Martile's Cake Honoring her 25th Anniversary
Martile received two checks from PPOL to OTR in her honor
Marcia Ragonetti and Steven Taylor
Travis, Marcia, Martile and Steven
Travis Yamamoto (piano), Marcia Ragonetti (mezzo soprano) and Steven Taylor (baritone)
