FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE AMERICAN OPERA PROJECT presents FIRST GLIMPSE
World Premiere songs created in AOP Fellowship Program "Composers & the Voice"
to be presented on May 21 and 22, 2022 at 7:30pm


May 10, 2022

Brooklyn, NY -The American Opera Project announces First Glimpse : Songs from the Great Room, a live concert of World Premiere songs written by the current composers and librettists of Composers & the Voice, the groundbreaking vocal-writing fellowship program that has been the starting point for some of today’s most recognized contemporary opera creators. The World Premiere songs will be performed at 7:30pm on May 21 and 22, 2022 in The Great Room of the A.R.T./NY South Oxford Space in Fort Greene (138 South Oxford Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217).
 
The works featured were created by composers Gabrielle Herbst, J.E. Hernández, Raquel Acevedo Klein, Paul Pinto, Tidtaya Sinutoke, Ania Vu, and librettists Jeesun Choi, Isabella Dawis, and Troy Defour, all of whom were chosen by AOP to spend a year creating new works in its bi-annual fellowship program Composers & the Voice (C&V).
 
First Glimpse will be performed by members of the Composers & the Voice Resident Ensemble of Singers: soprano Jasmine Muhammad, mezzo-soprano Max Potter, tenor Aaren Rivard, baritone Mario Diaz-Moresco, and bass Kofi Hayford. Each of the songs were composed specifically for the singers' voices, after months of study and experimentation during the C&V program. Supporting on piano will be C&V Music Directors Mila Henry, Kelly Horsted, and Ron Robinson.
 
Tickets are $30 and are available at www.aopopera.org.
Cycle 11 of Composers & the Voice
Steven Osgood / C&V Artistic Director
Mila Henry / Head of Music
Matt Gray / Head of Drama
Cycle 11 Composers and Librettists

Gabrielle Herbst / Composer
J.E. Hernández / Composer
Paul Pinto / Composer
Tidtaya Sinutoke / Composer
Ania Vu / Composer
Jeesun Choi / Librettist
Isabella Dawis / Librettist
Troy Defour / Librettist


Music Directors:
Cycle 11 Singers

Justine Aronson / Light Coloratura Soprano
Jasmine Muhammad / Lyric Soprano
Max Potter / Mezzo-Soprano
Aaren Rivard / Tenor
Mario Diaz-Moresco / Baritone
Kofi Hayford / Bass

Instructors:

Elena Araoz, Acting
Terry Greiss, Improv Studies
Mark Campbell, Libretto Writing
Richard Wesley, Libretto Writing

Guest Instructors:
Michael Korie, Libretto Writing
Jessie Montgomery, Composition
Paul Moravec, Composition
Matthew Aucoin, Composition
Bill Holab, Notation
Norman Ryan, Publishing
ABOUT COMPOSERS & THE VOICE
AOP's Composers & the Voice is a two-year, tuition-free fellowship for composers and librettists that provides experience writing for the voice and opera stage. Created and led by Composers & the Voice Artistic Director Steven Osgood, the two-year fellowship includes a year of working with the company’s Resident Ensemble of Singers and professional instructors followed by a year of continued promotion and career development through AOP and its strategic partnerships. Since launching in 2002, C&V has fostered the development of over 79 composers & librettists.

Composers & the Voice is made possible in part by a generous multi-year award from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and a Grants for Arts Projects award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, visit: https://www.aopopera.org/composers-voice
ABOUT THE AMERICAN OPERA PROJECT
Founded in 1988, The American Opera Project (AOP) has been at the forefront of contemporary opera for over 30 years. Its works have received critical acclaim at opera companies and venues around the world, establishing a new musical canon that recognizes the operatic story in every life. 

Press for AOP:
"known for bringing cutting-edge vocal productions to the masses" — New York Magazine
"a perfect first exposure to opera." — Time Out NY
"Bravo to AOP for supporting such controversial and ultimately important work." — Opera Today
"The future of American opera is in good hands." — Opera News

Media Contact: Meagan Brus, Director of Marketing and Communications
email: mbrus@aopopera.org
Press material is available at: www.aopopera.org/press
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