Winner Of Twitter WNO Contest Donates Tickets & Prize To D.C. School Teacher

Washington National Opera (WNO) has announced that Stephen Llewellyn of Portland, Oregon has won tickets to Opera Ball as part of a Twitter contest called "#operaplot," which challenged entrants to summarize the plot of an opera in 140 characters or less. Mr. Llewellyn has chosen to donate his prize to long-time Washington, D.C. music teacher, Priscilla Barrow. WNO's Opera Ball is among the city's premier social events and the company's most significant annual fundraiser, with proceeds supporting WNO's artistic, educational and outreach programs; this year's Opera Ball takes place on June 5, 2009. See below for information about Opera Ball, Stephen Llewellyn and Priscilla Barrow. For more information about the #operaplot contest, click here: http://theomniscientmussel.com/2009/04/operaplot-rules-and-faq/

Mr. Llewellyn went to significant personal effort to locate a deserving public school music teacher and create a special evening. In addition to the Opera Ball package, which included premium tickets to the company's season-ending performance of Turandot, Mr. Llewellyn has arranged for an anonymous donor to cover all of Ms. Barrow's incidental expenses related to the special event. Also by arrangement of Mr. Llewellyn, the WNO Costume Studio will craft a gown for Ms. Barrow. To read a day-by-day account of Mr. Llewellyn's efforts to locate Ms. Barrow and inform her of her prizes, click here: http://www.portlandopera.org/blog/operaman/2009/05/20/operaman-gets-play-fairy-godfather#comments

Commenting on his motivation for donating his prize, Mr. Llewellyn said, "I see a lot of opera and thought it would be fun to give someone else the opportunity. I've seen the results of the Portland Opera's outstanding education programs, so I understand the value of music education. Having an inner-city music teacher enjoy the prize and be treated like a queen just seemed more and more 'right,' the more I thought about it. And while I am sure I would have had a great time at Opera Ball, I honestly believe I have had even more pleasure in getting this whole project together and seeing how excited and helpful other people have been."

A passionate opera fan, Stephen Llewellyn blogs for Portland Opera as Operaman. A native of the United Kingdom, he has also been a barrister in Hong Kong, a professional folk singer and classically-trained tenor. Mr. Llewellyn took first prize in the "#operaplot" contest with the winning tweet of the complete Ring cycle: There was a young lady called Fricka Who...who...*snore* "Wake up - it's over." It's good, I just wish it were quicka.

Priscilla Barrow is a 22-year-veteran music teacher in two elementary schools in Northeast Washington, D.C. Additionally, she is active in community outreach through music, volunteering her time with the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative and other performing arts organizations. Ms. Barrow has previously worked with Washington National Opera's DCPS Partnership Program, a year-long initiative that brings students into the opera house and provides music curriculum and in-class enrichment.

Among Washington's premier social events, WNO's annual Opera Ball will take place on June 5, 2009. As the Opera's most significant annual fundraiser, Opera Ball supports WNO General Director Plácido Domingo's artistic vision, as well as the company's award-winning community and education programs.

This year's Ball is hosted by the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Klaus Scharioth, and Dr. Ulrike Scharioth, and chaired by philanthropist Susan E. Lehrman. Celebrating the musical culture of Germany, the highly anticipated event begins with intimate dinners at approximately 30 embassies throughout the city, followed by dessert and dancing at the residence of the German Ambassador. Guests will include celebrities, Washington elite and supporters of Washington National Opera. This year's event also features Ute Lemper, the award-winning German cabaret singer.

WNO is recognized as one of the world's premier opera companies. Under the leadership of Plácido Domingo since 1996, WNO has moved confidently forward since the company's founding in 1956. Over five decades, WNO has achieved the stature of a world?class company and plays to standing?room?only audiences at The Kennedy Center Opera House. In 2004, the company changed its name to Washington National Opera to reflect its increasingly significant role in the national arts scene and fulfill its 2000 Congressional designation as the "national opera."

Through the Center for Education and Training, which houses the celebrated Domingo?Cafritz Young Artist Program, the award?winning Education and Community Programs, and the Plácido Domingo Intern and Apprentice Program, WNO is dedicated to broadening the public's awareness and understanding of opera.

WNO reaches a wide?ranging audience through its access initiatives including Generation O, a young patrons program for adults age 18 to 35, and the annual simulcast, which has reached more than 85,000 people with a free, live broadcast of a popular opera. Additionally, the company's productions may be heard locally, nationally, and internationally over NPR's World of Opera and XM Radio broadcasts.

 

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