Opera Santa Barbara Announces Free Masterclasses And Concerts At Libraries

Opera Santa Barbara (OSB) will present a series of free masterclasses led by a succession of top industry professionals and featuring the company's resident Mosher Studio Artists and other outstanding young singers through May. OSB Artistic Director and Conductor Kostis Protopapas will lead the first masterclass on Saturday, February 11, followed by noted pianist and Music Academy of the West faculty member Warren Jones on Saturday, March 18; Opera UCLA Director Peter Kazaras on Saturday, April 6; and USC Thornton Opera Music Director Brent McMunn on Saturday, May 15. The masterclasses will be presented from 1:30 to 3 pm at the Alhecama Theatre, 914 Santa Barbara Street in Santa Barbara. All classes are open to the public; admission is free.

Most of the masterclasses will feature Opera Santa Barbara's current complement of Mosher Studio Artists: soprano Elizabeth Kelsay, mezzo-soprano Molly Clementz, tenor Elliott Deasy, and baritone Evan Bravos. Biographies appear below.

For more information, visit www.operasb.org or call 805-898-3890.

About Opera Santa Barbara

Founded in 1994 by Marilyn Gilbert and Nathan Rundlett, Opera Santa Barbara is committed to presenting productions and educational programs of the highest quality. Over more than two decades the company has staged more than 50 operas and devoted thousands of hours to community outreach. The organization remains dedicated to the core passions that animated its founding: celebrating and championing the breadth and beauty of opera, and contributing to the cultural enrichment of the Santa Barbara community. Additional information is available at www.operasb.org.

Praised by Opera News for her "warm, Italianate sound," soprano Elizabeth Kelsay studied at Westminster Choir College and Florida State University. She will appear with Opera Santa Barbara as the Rooster and Blue Jay in The Cunning Little Vixen, and Lisette in La Rondine. Previously a studio artist at Tulsa Opera, Ms. Kelsay performed with the Metropolitan Opera Chorus for three seasons. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in the title role of Suor Angelica with New York Lyric Opera.

Born in St. Charles, Illinois, mezzo-soprano Molly Clementz made her Opera Santa Barbara debut in 2014 as Page in Rigoletto, and last season participated in the company's productions of Don Giovanni, Suor Angelica, and Gianni Schicchi. Recently a finalist in the American Institute of Musical Studies' Meistersinger Competition in Graz, Austria, Ms. Clementz is a doctoral candidate at UC Santa Barbara.

Tenor Elliott Deasy earned a bachelor's degree in music at the University of Tulsa before attending the Land of Enchantment Opera Institute in New Mexico. He has studied with Peter Strummer, Steven Crawford, Julian Reed, Alan Glassman, and Frank Lopardo, and his credits include Jóvenes Cantantes in Costa Rica and the role of Basilio in Bronx Opera's production of The Marriage of Figaro. Mr. Deasy served as the resident tenor at Tulsa Opera last season.

A native of St. Charles, Illinois, baritone Evan Bravos has been described as a "young talent to watch" (Chicago Tribune). His recent notable performances include Count Almaviva (The Marriage of Figaro) with Central City Opera, Figaro (The Barber of Seville) with Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Martin (Candide) at the Aspen Music Festival. Mr. Bravos received the 2014 Apprentice Artist Award at Central City Opera and an Encouragement Award in the 2014 Metropolitan National Council Auditions.

Opera Santa Barbara will also present a series of free noontime concerts at Santa Barbara and Ventura County libraries through mid-May. Featuring the company's Mosher Studio Artists singing a variety of operatic repertoire and musical theatre selections, often with piano accompaniment, the intimate concerts will take place at Thousand Oaks Public Library (1401 E. Janss Road) on February 7, March 7, and May 9; Solvang Public Library (1745 Mission Drive) on February 8, March 8, and May 10; Ojai Public Library (111 East Ojai Avenue) on February 9, March 9, and May 11; Ventura Public Library (651 East Main Street) on February 10, March 10, and May 12; Santa Barbara Central Library (40 East Anapamu Street) on February 22, March 1, April 19 and 26, and May 3; and Santa Maria Public Library (421 S. McClelland Street) on March 6 and May 8; All performances will begin at noon; admission is free.

Currently serving as Mosher Studio Artists are soprano Elizabeth Kelsay, mezzo-soprano Molly Clementz, tenor Elliott Deasy, and baritone Evan Bravos. Biographies appear below.

To schedule a free Noontime Concert at a public library in Santa Barbara or Ventura counties, contact Opera Santa Barbara at 805-898-3890 or info@operasb.org.

About Opera Santa Barbara

Founded in 1994 by Marilyn Gilbert and Nathan Rundlett, Opera Santa Barbara is committed to presenting productions and educational programs of the highest quality. Over more than two decades the company has staged more than 50 operas and devoted thousands of hours to community outreach. The organization remains dedicated to the core passions that animated its founding: celebrating and championing the breadth and beauty of opera, and contributing to the cultural enrichment of the Santa Barbara community. Additional information is available at www.operasb.org.

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2016-17 Mosher Studio Artists

Praised by Opera News for her "warm, Italianate sound," soprano Elizabeth Kelsay studied at Westminster Choir College and Florida State University. She will appear with Opera Santa Barbara as the Rooster and Blue Jay in The Cunning Little Vixen, and Lisette in La Rondine. Previously a studio artist at Tulsa Opera, Ms. Kelsay performed with the Metropolitan Opera Chorus for three seasons. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in the title role of Suor Angelica with New York Lyric Opera.

Born in St. Charles, Illinois, mezzo-soprano Molly Clementz made her Opera Santa Barbara debut in 2014 as Page in Rigoletto, and last season participated in the company's productions of Don Giovanni, Suor Angelica, and Gianni Schicchi. Recently a finalist in the American Institute of Musical Studies' Meistersinger Competition in Graz, Austria, Ms. Clementz is a doctoral candidate at UC Santa Barbara.

Tenor Elliott Deasy earned a bachelor's degree in music at the University of Tulsa before attending the Land of Enchantment Opera Institute in New Mexico. He has studied with Peter Strummer, Steven Crawford, Julian Reed, Alan Glassman, and Frank Lopardo, and his credits include Jóvenes Cantantes in Costa Rica and the role of Basilio in Bronx Opera's production of The Marriage of Figaro. Mr. Deasy served as the resident tenor at Tulsa Opera last season.

A native of St. Charles, Illinois, baritone Evan Bravos has been described as a "young talent to watch" (Chicago Tribune). His recent notable performances include Count Almaviva (The Marriage of Figaro) with Central City Opera, Figaro (The Barber of Seville) with Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Martin (Candide) at the Aspen Music Festival. Mr. Bravos received the 2014 Apprentice Artist Award at Central City Opera and an Encouragement Award in the 2014 Metropolitan National Council Auditions.