2015

Concert of Arias

Houston Grand Opera

(NOT A SIMULCAST, BUT LOTS OF FUN.)

500 of the best emerging talent from around the world applied to compete for cash prizes and a chance at being a part of HGO’s world famous studio program. I have participated three times over the years by interviewing the eight finalists. These one-minute videos are played on a large screen immediately before each finalist takes the stage. I try to show the human/fun side of these young singers. We also produce a short video highlighting the studio program or one of the previous winners. This year I worked with Jerry Hattan (Director of Photography) and Bill Moore (Editor). The cool part for me is that this is one of the few events that I am actually able to attend and see the audience reaction to our work.

Bonus facts: Past prize-winners include international artists Ana Maria Martinez, Joyce DiDonato, Ryan McKinny, Jamie Barton and Stephanie Blythe. In 1988 a young singer named Renée Fleming came to HGO to audition for the studio. General Director David Gockley knows talent. He told her that she didn’t need the studio…she needed an agent. You know the rest of this happy story.