Kameron Lopreore, B.M., M.M. '16 (pictured at left) and Spencer Reichman, M.M. '17 (pictured at right)
have been selected to the Chautauqua 2017 Opera Young Artist Program. While attending Loyola, Kameron studied with voice professor Tyler Smith. Spencer is currently studying with voice professor Luretta Bybee.
Chautauqua Opera in western New York State was founded in 1929, making it the oldest continuously operating summer company in America. The company is based on the grounds of the famous Chautauqua Institution, established in 1874 as a center for education, religion, recreation, and the arts. The Young Artist Program, established in 1968, is now under the supervision of Steven Osgood, General & Artistic Director, and Loyola faculty member Carol Rausch, who serves as the Music Administrator/Chorus Master. Recognized as one of the best training programs for young singers in the U.S., it has seen over 1500 artists benefit from the professional experience, including: Brian Davis, Ruth Falcon, Joshua Hopkins, Peter Kazaras, Daniela Mack, David Portillo, Jane Shaulis, Marietta Simpson, Renee Tatum and Todd Thomas. Chautauqua alumni have sung in opera houses all over the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Glyndebourne Opera, English National Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opera National de Bordeaux, Hong Kong Arts Center, Opera Australia and Oper Frankfurt.
A total of 25 young artists were chosen for the 2017 Young Artist Program from the over 500 singers who auditioned in New York in November and December. In addition to musical coachings and classes in movement, combat, diction, makeup and acting, singers have opportunities to audition for and participate in master classes given by distinguished artists, agents and voice teachers. Kameron and Spencer will join the Studio Artists program, and will sing and cover supporting and comprimario roles in the season's three main stage offerings: Monteverdi's Orfeo (orchestrated by Respighi) in the historical 4000-seat Amphitheatre; Donizetti's Don Pasquale in the 1300-seat Norton Hall, and Hydrogen Juke Box by Philip Glass and Allen Ginsberg. They will also participate in the chorus of Orfeo and Don Pasquale, and be part of the weekly recital series at the Athenaeum Hotel, a program of opera scenes in Norton Hall, and various education events in a variety of locations.