Opera, symphony pair up for romance

Romance, romance. The Toledo Opera presents Don Giovanni with principal conductor Stephan Sanderling of the Toledo Symphony Friday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Valentine Theatre. Based on the legends of the great romantic Don Juan, it is a perfect story for Valentine's week. For tickets call 419-255-SING.

The symphony and opera work closely together. For example, last weekend's symphony Classics concerts were conducted by James Meena, Toledo Opera principal artistic advisor.

A preview of Don Giovanni was presented during the Toledo Opera Guild luncheon recently at the Grand Plaza Hotel. Denise Ritter-Bernardini of the University of Toledo School of Music gave a presentation on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and how he represented women in operas. She used the three female roles from Don Giovanni, and sang arias from each role.

PHOTO GALLERY: Opera, Symphony pair up

Others enjoyed meeting Don Giovanni stage director Bryan Deedrick and cast members during Opera Ain't No Drag by the Toledo Opera and the Pride of Toledo Foundation Feb. 2 at the Collingwood Arts Center in the Historic Old West End.

Prior to the event, a party was held in the Old West End home of Ed Hoffman for Toledo Opera trustees and guild members, Collingwood Arts Center board members, and community leaders. Among the 90 guests were Suzanne Rorick, executive director of Toledo Opera, with her husband, JB,Mary Sawers, executive director of Collingwood Arts Center, Wayne North and David Bingham, Rick Cornett, Mike and JoAnn Phipps, Bob and Barbara Bettinger, Andrew Larson, Ann Sanford, Kenyetta White, Tim Schulien, Steve Maenle, Lovi and Dick Aldinger, Michael and Sharon Sordyl, Marti Zarkower, Billy Mann, Jack and Cindy Niggemyer, Brian and Marcy McMahon, and Tim Hanson.

The Holiday With Heart committee presented two $2,000 checks, one to Lexi Staples, executive director of Pride of Toledo Foundation, and the other to the LGBT student organization at the University of Toledo. The expected net of $1,300 from the event will benefit the Toledo Opera Association and the Pride of Toledo Foundation.

Area physicians, medical students, and medical faculty at the University of Toledo College of Medicine relaxed and had a good time while raising money for local causes. They attended the Medicine Ball Feb. 9 at the Pinnacle. Hosted by the UT College of Medicine Chapter of the American Medical Student Association, Students for Medical Missions, and the Community Care Clinic, the event raised more than $5,000 for the Students for Medical Missions Dorothy Price Scholarship and the Perrysburg Heights Free Medical Clinic.

More than 400 attendees dined and danced the night away.

Event chairman Melissa Truitt was assisted by Melissa Straub, president of American Medical Student Association, Caitlin Lewis, president of Students for Medical Missions, and Jasmin Darling, director of risk assessment for the Community Care Clinic.

A luncheon in celebration of Kappa Alpha Theta Founder's Day was held recently at Toledo Country Club. "I realized there were quite a few Thetas in the area ....They used to be quite active in Toledo in their heyday, but it's been about five years since they've done anything," said Katherine Joslin, circle coordinator with Melissa Straub of the sorority's Toledo Alumnae Circle. Kappa Alpha Theta was established in 1870 and there is not a local chapter. The two women started the Alumnae Circle in 2013 to try to get a group back together again.