Tag Archives: Mae Z. Orvis Opera Studio

Festa Italiana

HOT at Festa Italiana on Oct. 7th

Join us on October 7th on Cooke Street for Hawaii’s first-ever Italian festival Festa Italiana! Our Orvis Opera Studio Singers will be performing Italian opera favorites. There will also be Italian food, wine, art, fashion, and cars. Come enjoy everything you love about Italy right here in the Aloha State!

Let your friends know you’re going on the Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/275527682854533/

Festa Italiana Hawaii is the Aloha State’s first ever Italian Street Festival bringing a myriad of authentic Italian and Italian-inspired experiences and flavors to Honolulu’s vibrant Kaka’ako district.

Access to the street festival portion of the Festa Italiana is FREE and open to the public.

FESTA ITALIANA NELLA STRADA – STREET FESTIVAL

Street Vendors offering a variety of authentic Italian and Italian-Inspired culinary delights for purchase. View food vendors.

Wine & Beer Garden offering a selection of Italian wines, beer and traditional spirits for purchase.

Entertainment featuring Hawaii Opera Theatre, Hawaii Youth Symphony, Mango Season, Pierre Grill and more, with event master of ceremonies Tantra Grillo. View entertainment.

PASSAPORT ITALIANO – VIP PASSPORT TO ITALY EXPERIENCE

Open from 6pm to 9pm

Tickets required.
(8) food tastings from top tier Italian chefs and restaurants.
(6) 2 oz wine pours
(1) specialty cocktail from Hawaiian Aroma Cafe
Eligible to purchase additional wine tastings “Biglietto del Vino” ($15 add-on at check-out or $20 at the door)

Grazie mille to our event sponsors and partners.

Sponsors: Velocity Honolulu, Island Olive Oil, National Italian American Federation, Our Kaka’ako, Mango Season, Joseph Magaldi

Partners: Flavors of Italy Hawaii, Street Grindz, Memoirs Catering, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Hawaii Youth Symphony, Pierre Grill.

Hawaii Opera Theatre presents “It’s a Grand Night for Singing”

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Honolulu, Hawaii Hawaii Opera Theatre (HOT) presents “It’s a Grand Night for Singing,” a Concert featuring Soprano Jill Gardner and Baritone Jake Gardner on August 20 & 21 at 700p in the HOT Rehearsal Hall.

Described by Opera News as having an “effortlessly produced, rich voice,” Soprano Jill Gardner returns to Hawaii, where she was last seen on stage with Hawaii Opera Theatre in the 2012-2013 Season Finale of Tosca, her signature role. Known in performances around the world, Baritone Jake Gardner is sought after for his singing and acting ability.  Mr. Gardner starred in HOT’s 2011 production of La Traviata.

The Gardners are here in Hawaii to work with members of the Mae Z. Orvis Opera Studio, a program offered through HOT’s Education & Outreach.  Select singers from the Orvis Opera Studio have been chosen to participate.  The singers receive coaching and will take part in the concerts featuring performances by the Gardners.

Founded in 1998 by HOT’s Artistic Director, Henry Akina, the Mae S. Orvis Opera Studio provides training and performance experiences, which include classes and seminars in movement, musical style, language, repertoire coaching and vocal master classes.  In the past year, HOT has brought to Hawaii Grammy Award-Winning Soprano Sylvia McNair, San Francisco Opera’s Mark Morash, and Conductor Tim Shaindlin for master classes and vocal & performance coaching.

Members of the studio have gone on to be cast in HOT performances and productions with companies around the world.  Of note, Quinn Kelsey, a Native Hawaiian Baritone and former Orvis Opera Studio participant has received rave reviews for his performance in the title role of the English National Opera’s new presentation of Verdi’s classic, Rigoletto.

“It’s a Gand Night for Singing” is a free event offered by HOT and will be held August 20 & 21, 2014, starting at 7pm in the Hawaii Opera Theatre Rehearsal Hall, located at 780 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI  96813.

Both on street and limited parking are available at Hawaii Opera Plaza (848 S. Beretania Street).  Seating is limited.  Please call 808-596-7372 to RSVP.

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Since 1961, Hawaii Opera Theatre (HOT), formerly a division of the Honolulu Symphony Society and incorporated in 1980, has served to enhance the quality of life in Hawaii by presenting opera performances of the highest standards, while maintaining fiscal responsibility.  Through four productions annually in the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall, HOT offers opera to almost 18,000 residents and visitors each season thereby increasing the public’s awareness and exposure to opera as a multi-media art form.   

HOT’s educational programs for youth serve as both catalyst and active participant in the artistic education of Hawaii’s youth.  Opera for Everyone provides a special performance of each opera for a large and enthusiastic audience of students.  Resident Ensemble takes operas specially adapted operas, into elementary and middle schools with special tours to all neighbor islands.  HOT’s Mini Residency program takes our education and production staff members into an elementary school to work with students and teachers to compose an opera production centered around curriculum components.   Adult education is offered with Opera Highlights, a non-credit course at the University of Hawaii; Opera Previews, at the Honolulu Academy of Arts; pre-performance Lanai Lectures on the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall lanai; and other presentations at stores or shopping centers.

Led by Artistic Director, Henry Akina, and Executive Director Simon Crookall, HOT partners with the Hawaii Symphony.  Auditions are held, generally in NY, to cast principal roles from mainland, European, Asian and local singers.  The Opera Chorus is a local volunteer organization.

Media Contact:  Jason M.A. Walter | 808-596-7372 ext. 211 | j_walter@hawaiiopera.org

Get HOT with the Orvis Opera Studio this December!

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HOT’s Education and Outreach Program is busy year-round and that includes this Holiday Season!  Erin Winker Fasone, Kaweo Kanoho, and Blythe Kelsey, Members of HOT Education’s Mae Z. Orvis Opera Studio will be performing this weekend on Lanai at the Great Hall in the Lodge at Koele.

The Singers will be accompanied on the piano by Mr. Eric Schank and this performance will start at 7:00pm. This event is made possible through a collaboration between HOT and the University of Hawaii Outreach College.

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The Mae Z. Orvis Opera Studio of Hawaii Opera Theatre was founded by HOT’s Artistic Director, Henry Akina, and was dedicated in 1998 to Mae Zenke, a gifted opera singer, who married businessman Arthur Orvis.  The Orvis’ were great supporters of the arts in Hawaii and their legacy of generosity lives on through the Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation, which provides the funding for this program.

The goal of this Opera Studio is to provide training and performance experiences that include classes and seminars in movement, musical style, language, repertoire coaching and master classes.

For those of you on Oahu, you also have the opportunity to attend very special Opera Event with Members of the Orvis Opera Studio this December. Great Singers, Great Songs, featuring Mark Morash, will be held on December 20 & 21, 2013, at 7:00pm in the HOT Rehearsal Hall, at 780 S. Beretania Street.  Mark Morash, the Director of Musical Studies with the San Francisco Opera Center, will be in Hawaii to work with a selection of singers from the Orvis Opera Studio.

This event is free with limited seating.  Please RSVP by calling 808-596-7372 before December 18, 2013, to reserve your space.  Both on street and limited parking are available at Hawaii Opera Plaza (848 S. Beretania Street).

 

 

Great Singers, Great Songs with Mark Morash

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:  Jason M.A. Walter | 808-596-7372 ext. 211 | j_walter@hawaiiopera.org

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Hawaii Opera Theatre presents Great Singers, Great Songs with Mark Morash

Honolulu, Hawaii Hawaii Opera Theatre (HOT) presents Great Singers, Great Songs, a Concert featuring Mark Morash, of the San Francisco Opera Center, on December 20 & 21 at 700p in the HOT Rehearsal Hall.

Mark Morash is a conductor and pianist originally from Dartmouth Nova Scotia, Canada. At the San Francisco Opera Center, Mr. Morash is the Director of Musical Studies and has overseen productions with the Merola Opera Program and Western Opera Theatre.  As a collaborative pianist, his performances have taken him throughout North America, Japan and Russia.

Mr. Morash will be in Hawaii to coach at the Mae Z. Orvis Opera Studio, offered through HOT’s Education Program.  Select Singers of the Orvis Opera Studio are chosen to participate.  The Singers will be coached and take part in a program led by Mr. Morash, a professional from one of the world’s most noted operatic training programs.  The two weeks of work culminates with two public concerts.

Founded in 1998 by HOT’s Artistic Director, Henry Akina, the Opera Studio provides training and performance experiences, which include classes and seminars in movement, musical style, language, repertoire coaching and vocal master classes.  Studio Members are Hawaii residents who are divided into several categories based on several criteria.  Members of the studio have gone on to be cast in HOT performances and productions with companies around the world.  Of note, Quinn Kelsey, a Native Hawaiian Baritone and former Orvis Opera Studio participant was recently announced as the title character in the English National Opera’s new presentation of Verdi’s classic, Rigoletto.

Great Singers, Great Songs is a free event offered by HOT and will be held December 20 & 21, 2013, starting at 7pm in the Hawaii Opera Theatre Rehearsal Hall, located at 780 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI  96813.

Both on street and limited parking are available at Hawaii Opera Plaza (848 S. Beretania Street).  Seating is limited.  Please call 808-596-7372 to RSVP.

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