Opera singer to guest at zoo s Stars concert

7/16/2008

Music Under the Stars will continue July 27 with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber in a program titled Different by Design. Soprano Carol Dusdieker will be special guest performer with the Toledo Concert Band, Sam Szor conducting. Gordon Ward will return as emcee for the free concert, held at 7:30 p.m. Sundays through August in the Toledo Zoo amphitheater.

Dusdieker, who is in a doctoral program in voice at Indiana University, has performed with the Cincinnati Opera, where she is a resident artist, and has sung with the Glimmerglass, Des Moines Metro, and Cleveland Lyric opera companies. She is on the faculty of Heidelberg College in Tiffin.

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A graduate trio from Bowling Green State University s College of Musical Arts took second place in the vocal category recently at the International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition in Boston. The PVC Trio comprises soprano Sara Emerson, clarinetist Spencer Prewitt, and pianist Laure Vermuelin. All are studying at or have graduated from the BGSU College of Musical Arts. The PVC (Piano Voice Clarinet) Trio was among 70 chamber ensembles from around the world. The group also won the BGSU graduate division chamber music competition in February.

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Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral, 2535 Collingwood Blvd., is accepting applications for paid section leader positions for the coming choir season. All voice parts are open and leaders will work with paid and volunteer singers. Candidates must have at least two years of professional vocal training, excellent music reading skills, and a basic understanding of the role of music in worship. Section leaders must attend all rehearsals and liturgies at which the choir sings, including Christmas Eve and all Holy Week services. Rehearsals are at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays. The choir sings weekly at the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass. Interested singers should call Paul Monachino, director of liturgical music, 419-244-5182 to arrange an audition/interview.

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Dance fans who like to plan ahead can purchase tickets for one of many local and regional productions of The Nutcracker this one by the Moscow Ballet in the Sandusky State Theatre. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3 in the hall at 107 Columbus Ave., Sandusky. The touring company s show, titled Great Russian Nutcracker, will be presented in more than 70 cities in North America. Sandusky is the only northern Ohio venue. Local children will be able to audition later this year for a chance to appear in the production. Tickets, $20 to $36, are available by calling 877-626-1950 or at www.sanduskystate.com.

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Looking ahead, Bard College will present its 19th annual music festival Aug. 8-10 and 15-17 in the Fisher Center on the Annandale-on-Hudson campus in New York. This year s title is Prokofiev and his World, offering an in-depth look at the Russian composer through his works and lectures and panels. Bard president Leon Botstein and a diverse cast of performers solo and ensemble and scholars will explore the composer s work and the context in which he lived and created. Information: 845-758-7900 or www.fishercenter.bard.edu.

Items for News of Music should be submitted two weeks before the event to svallongo@theblade.com.