A. Richards News

Palm Springs Opera Guild of the Desert, one of the longest-standing cultural institutions in the Coachella Valley, will host the 34th Annual Dorothy Nocita Memorial Palm Springs Vocal Competition on Sunday, December 3, 2017 from 3 6 PM. This annual free event will highlight eight emerging young opera singers as they compete for the opportunity to win more than $40,000 in prizes. The event will take place at the Helene Galen Performing Arts Center, located at 31001 Rattler Road in Rancho Mirage. The event allows young singers to earn cash scholarships, community recognition of their achievements and the opportunity to advance their careers.

The League of American Orchestras' Board of Directors has named Douglas M. Hagerman Chair. Hagerman, retired senior vice president and general counsel of Rockwell Automation and immediate past chair of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, succeeds Patricia A. Richards. 

A funny, sad, lyrical and highly original coming of age story from emerging playwright Kevin Armento features an unconventional narrator: the phone belonging to a troubled teen. Working Barn Productions presents the West Coast premiere of New York Times "Critic's Pick" Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally, directed by Peter Richards. The visiting production opens at the Odyssey Theatre on Sept. 16.

'We're in the Money!' and other standards will fill Inwood Hill Park as the inaugural FREE outdoor summer cinema series Film Works Alfresco continues Monday, July 17 with the classic dance spectacular film Gold Diggers of 1933.

On the evening of Monday, April 3rd, NYC's prominent philanthropists, as well as those involved in the arts, entertainment, and fashion came together at espace for Culture For One's Fifth Annual Benefit which raised $290,000 to provide the under-served youth in NYC's foster care system with access to the arts. WABC news anchor Sade Baderinwa served as the emcee for the evening, which also included three riveting performances from Josh Groban and the cast of The Great Comet of 1812. Scroll down for photos!

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera and the nation's leading champion for American opera, is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2017 National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards, selected from a record number of nominations. Now in their 10th year, these awards honor outstanding trustees of U.S. opera companies for their exemplary leadership, generosity and audience-building efforts on behalf of their respective organizations.

Blue Thyme Nights is the production of one-acts Am I Blue by Beth Henley and Thymus Vulgaris by Lanford Wilson.

Blue Thyme Nights is the production of one-acts Am I Blue by Beth Henley and Thymus Vulgaris by Lanford Wilson.

Gary Nesta Pine has been inspired by, and devoted to, music for as long as he can remember.  “I'm a messenger from Jah.  My dad was a postman; I feel like I am the postman of music.” The impact reggae has had on his life, and him on its sound, can't be understated. They're so intertwined that it's hard to imagine Jamaican roots reggae without the passion of Gary Nesta Pine.

Beverly Richards initially thought of writing for women but instead, she was led by God to write for children and for children at heart. 'Greater Than The Geese' (published by Xlibris) is a Christian children's book filled with lessons about dominion, faith and courage, taught through the adventure of Curtis and his dog Patches.

Lester Abberger, Pratichi Shah, and Nathaniel J. Sutton have been appointed to the Board of Directors of the League of American Orchestras. The League is a membership organization comprised of more than 2,000 orchestras and individuals from across North America.

As part of its 75th anniversary celebrations, the Utah Symphony will return to New York City on April 29 to perform at Carnegie Hall, marking its first performance in the esteemed concert venue in more than 40 years. Tickets are available starting at $25 directly for purchase through Carnegie Hall at www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2016/4/29/0800/PM/Utah-Symphony-Orchestra/

The recording, a hybrid SACD is out today, Friday, April 8, 2016, is the second in an ongoing series by Music Director Thierry Fischer and the Utah Symphony for Reference Recordings. It follows the release of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 1 'Titan,' recorded live by the Utah Symphony and Mr. Fischer, issued in September 2015. DAWN TO DUST will be available from iTunes, Amazon.com, and other music retailers.

As part of its 75th-anniversary celebrations, the Utah Symphony releases Dawn to Dust, a new recording featuring live performances of orchestral works commissioned from three leading American composers: Augusta Read Thomas, Nico Muhly, and Andrew Norman.

Music Director Thierry Fischer and Interim President and CEO Patricia A. Richards today announced the Utah Symphony's 2016-17 masterworks season programs and events for its 76th season.

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2016 National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards. Now in its ninth year, these awards honor outstanding trustees of U.S. opera companies for their exemplary leadership, generosity and audience-building efforts on behalf of their respective opera companies.

 Kjristine Lund, Anthony McGill, Alan Pierson, David M. Roth, Daniel Bernard Roumain, Matthew VanBesien, and Jonathan Weedman have been appointed to the Board of Directors of the League of American Orchestras. The League is a membership organization comprised of hundreds of orchestras from across North America.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (May 4, 2015) – Melia P. Tourangeau, President and CEO of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera (USUO), announced today that she has accepted the role of President and CEO of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Patricia A. Richards, who served as chair of the USUO board from 2005 to 2014, was named as interim CEO of USUO.

The League of American Orchestras has launched a new Orchestra Governance Center, offering a comprehensive range of support, strategies, and programs designed to strengthen governance practice in orchestras. Newly developed regional seminars for board chairs, orchestra CEOs, and development staff are a cornerstone of the Center's activities.