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The Indianapolis Opera Ensemble - Student Concert Spring Series

March 26 & 27, 2012

Jack in the Beanstalk

Set to music from Gounod's Faust, this fast-paced story has lots of laughs as Jack encounters the rapping old lady who buys his cow, an enchanted fairy princess, the giant's lonely wife, and the unforgettable selfish giant. Learning what's really important in life (family and friends) and how important it is to share with others is the key focus of this charming story. After an exciting chase with the giant, Jack and his new friends parachute to safety, followed by the giant who finally comes to his senses when he hits his head and wakes up as a kind hearted country-western singer. Jack and the giant learn that love is more important than fame or gold and that friends and family (and cows) are the real treasures of life. Artists interact with children in a question/answer session after the show.

The Artists

Soprano Angela Gribble from Mercer Island, Washington, is a graduate of the programs at the University of Southern California and the Manhattan School of Music. Ms. Gribble is studied at the University of Missouri - Kansas City’s noted artist certificate program. There she is the recipient of the John Kander Scholarship, the Dale Travel Fund Grant, and the Women’s Council Graduate Assistance Fund. While at UMKC, she performed as Constance in Dialogue des Carmelites and as Zerlina in Don Giovanni. Prior to her time in Kansas City, she could be found portraying the Königin der Nacht in Die Zauberflöte. Ms. Gribble has demonstrated her wide-ranging appeal, having won the audience choice award in New York Lyric Opera Theater’s vocal competition in 2010. Additionally, Angela is no stranger to new music, having created the role of Young Clara in Clara Schumann, which made its debut in New York City’s Symphony Space. This past summer she was seen singing the role of Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Atlantic Opera in New York City. She also sang the role of Adina in L’Elisir D’Amore and covered the role of Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel with the Janiec Opera Company at the Brevard Music Festival. Other roles include Nella in Gianni Schicchi, Despina in Così fan tutte, Adele in Die Fledermaus, and Dorinda in Orlando. She is currently the resident soprano for the Indianapolis Opera Ensemble.

Mezzo-soprano Davia Bandy, a native of Southern California, is a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. This summer, Bandy made her professional debut as a young artist with Cincinnati Opera, performing the roles of Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte and Giovanna in Rigoletto. Recent roles include Meg Page in Falstaff (Cincinnati College-Conservatory), Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro (Aspen Music Festival) and Dorabella in Cosí fan tutte (Pepperdine University). As a concert soloist, Bandy has performed numerous works including: Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Theresienmesse, Mozart’s Vespers Solemnes and Durufle’s Requiem. Bandy is pleased to be a part of the Indianapolis Opera Ensemble as a young artist in the spring 2012 season.

Tenor Jon Jurgens, from Columbus, Ohio, graduated from Ohio State University with a master’s degree in vocal performance. There, he was most recently seen as Mr. Upfold in the university’s production of Britten’s Albert Herring. During his time at OSU, he had the pleasure of performing the title role in the American stage premiere of Handel’s Faramondo, and Don Basilio in Le nozze di Figaro. Mr. Jurgens has also worked with Opera Columbus, performing in outreach programs as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and Rodolfo in La Boheme. He was a winner of The Ohio State University 2009 concerto competition. Mr. Jurgens earned his Bachelor of Music from Otterbein University, where he performed the roles of Rinnucio in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Don Basilio in Le nozze di Figaro. He will be engaged this summer as an apprentice artist with The Des Moines Metro Opera and will cover the role of Ruggero. He is currently the resident tenor young artist with Indianapolis Opera.

Baritone Elliot Harrison Brown hails from Loisville, KY. He holds a BM and MM, both in Voice Performance from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. At CCM, Elliot appeared in productions of Die Zauberflöte as Papageno, The Rape of Lucretia as Junius, Gianni Schicchi as Marco, Les mamelles de Tirésias as Presto, L'Enfant et les sortileges as L"Horloge comtoise, and Miss Lonelyhearts as Harold. Elliot sang with Cincinnati Opera in 2007 and 2009 as a Corbett Foundation Young Artist, in productions of Faust, Aida, Carmen, and Don Carlo. In 2008, Elliot was a young artist with Chautauqua Opera, where he appeared in productions of Cosi fan tutte, Cunning Little Vixen, La traviata, and Street Scene. In 2006, while at CCM, he conceived, directed, and starred in an original musical revue of the work of Stephen Sondheim, entitled Singers on Sondheim: Stages. He is excited to join Indianapolis Opera for the 2012 season as their resident baritone young artist.

Casey Robards is a collaborative pianist and vocal coach known for her versatility, imagination, and sensitive musicality. She has given recitals with singers and instrumentalists throughout the United States; in Paris, France; and most recently in Sao Paulo, Brasil. A lover of chamber music, Ms. Robards concertizes regularly in a piano duo with her husband, Anthony Patterson and is a founding member of the KO trio with flutist, Donna Shin and cellist, Ji Yon Shim. Equally at home in many genres, her musical experience ranges from African American sacred music (traditional and contemporary gospel, art song, and spirituals) to opera, musical theatre, jazz, new music, and popular styles. Casey has recorded an album of African American spirituals with soprano, Ollie Watts Davis ("Here's One"), and appears on recordings with Nancy Clauter, oboe; Jacek Musyk, horn; and the Eden String Quartet.
Ms. Robards joined the faculty of the Bay View Music Festival in 2008 as a pianist, vocal coach, and music director. She has been on the faculty of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University (Collaborative Piano/Voice), Central Michigan University (Piano) and numerous festivals including Young Musicians Inc. (Evanston, WY); the Weathersfield Music Festival, (Castleton, VT); the Plymouth Music Festival, (Plymouth, MA); and the StudiO Vocal Arts Institute, (Monticello, IL) She has been a pianist/coach for Indiana Opera Theatre, Illinois Opera Theatre (Urbana, Illinois), and Y.O.P.E. tours (Youth Opera Performance Education).
As a Tanglewood Fellow in 2004 and 2005, Casey was rehearsal pianist for projects conducted by James Levine, Robert Spano, and Kurt Masur. Ms. Robards' awards include the Henri Kohn Memorial Award from the Tanglewood Music Center (2004), the Nancy J. Kennedy Wustman Memorial Accompanying Award (2004), the Fern and John Armstrong Award (1996), and the National Society of Arts and Letters Regional Winner (2002). Ms. Robards completed the B.M. (Piano Performance) and M.M. (Piano Pedagogy) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is currently completing a D.M.A. in Vocal Coaching and Accompanying.

Student classroom reservations coordinated through MAISD, Arts and Special Projects

For more information about this concert series, contact JulieStuberg@gmail.com.

Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts