E s t . 1 9 7 9 High Notes M a r c h , A p r i l , M a y 2 0 1 4 | 1 A PPOL Bi-monthly Publication Vol XIII, Issue 2 Mary Koepp- Editor Photos by Charles and Judy Warren

Pikes Peak Opera League

Spring is in the Air An Evening to Benefit the Pikes Peak Opera League

Hors d’oeuvres, Wine and Beer

A Special Auction of Jewelry

Soft Music Provided by

Cynthia Robinson, violin and Kathleen Boleyn, harp

Friday, April 25, 2014 from 5-8 pm $25 per person ($15 is tax-deductible)

Gold Hill Mesa Community Center

142 South Raven Mine Drive, Colorado Springs 80905 Reservations: Send your check payable to

Pikes Peak Opera League, C/o C. Crater, 470 Wembley Ct.

Colorado Springs, CO 80906 For more information, call Cindy at 579-0816.

Tickets are also available online at www.pikespeakoperaleague.org.

JEWELRY DONTIONS REQUESTED "DIAMONDS (and gold and silver) are a girl’s best friends". Please call me (233-0795) before April 19 to pick up any jewelry you wish to donate to Spring Is in

the Air. All of us have jewelry we are no longer interested in, or don’t wear because our tastes have changed.

The committee is welcoming donations of high-end jewelry for the live auction. (If you have an appraisal, please include it). We are

also accepting some costume pieces that will be priced individually for quick sale. You will

receive a donation letter from PPOL. Victoria, Chairman, Jewelry sales.

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President’s Corner by Gloria Wendt

March 17, 2014

Hello Opera Lovers,

What a night it was! The third annual benefit gala, Valentine’s

Day Extravaganza at the Mining Exchange: A Wyndham Grand

Hotel, was indeed an evening to remember. The food was fantastic and the

program of musical valentines, thanks to Martile Rowland and her

wonderful singers was fun, lively and lovely. Victoria Boswell and her

committee set the tone with their beautiful, sparkling-heart table

decorations. And many thanks to all the volunteers - to Mary Koepp and Nedra Engelson who

co-chaired the Silent Auction and to Susan Loring who co-chaired the event with me. A special

live auction of four roles in this year’s opera, Lakmé, was donated by Opera Theatre and raised a

good deal of money for us. George Preston, General Manager of KCME, generated lively

bidding with his very entertaining auctioneering. The event was the biggest fundraiser we’ve

had, with over $12,000 raised. My heartfelt thanks to all who supported PPOL (see list of

auction donors in this newsletter).

Fun times are not over yet. We’ll be having another event to benefit PPOL on April 25,

2014 at Gold Hill Mesa Community Center to celebrate a wonderful year. Watch for you

invitations, they’re coming soon.

We are so fortunate to have a dynamic Board of Directors. They are actively engaged in

the administration of the Opera League and not only committed to this year but beyond.

We will be attending a retreat at the Penrose House in late April to examine our organization and

activities in view of our mission. We hope to refine our goals and objectives for the next couple

of years. We will keep you updated on the results.

Next year we celebrate 35 years as an opera organization.

We want to keep it robust for another 35 years!

Songs for a Summer Night concert with Susan Rae Jensen and friends To launch the summer season of Opera Theatre, Susan Rae Jensen and friends will perform an

outdoor concert Wednesday, June 25, in the glen at Broadmoor Community Church (BCC) on

Lake Ave, following the BCC music department’s free-will-offering picnic/BBQ at 6 PM. Love

songs, musical theater and of course some opera will be included. No tickets needed.-but

donations to Opera Theatre of the Rockies music educational outreach programs gratefully

accepted. This event is one of the church summer Concerts in the Glen and will be announced for

the general public. It will be crowded. Please arrive with lawn chair or blanket and your own

picnic fare if BBQ isn’t your thing. In case of rain, the concert will be moved inside.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$$$$$$ Treasurer’s Report First Quarter 2014 $$$$$$,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, MAIN ACCOUNT uncommitted $1,798.00 RAFFLE ACCOUNT -- SCHOLARSHIP/CAREER GRANTS ONLY $ 2,078.94 FUND RAISER ACCOUNT $1,324.48 It would be exciting to see the Main Account’s bank balance until one removes the committed

funds to reveal an available sum of $1,798.00, which isn’t bad, considering our $8000 donation

to Opera Theatre of the Rockies following the February Valentine Gala. The Raffle Account,

available for career grants is totally funded by our monthly meeting raffles. The Fund Raiser

Account has $1,324.48 available and is temporarily holding the generous $51,000 legacy left to

PPOL by Celia Rasor. This amount will be used to create a legacy society to assist PPOL in its

support of our musical missions.

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Valentine’s Extravaganza and Silent Auction The Pikes Peak Opera League extends sincere appreciation to the businesses and individuals who graciously supported our Valentine Evening Extravaganza silent auction. Adventures Out West American Furniture Warehouse Chamber Orchestra of Springs Chris Jackson Cliff Edge Inn B and B, Westcliffe Club at Flying Horse Collette Devine Colorado Springs Philharmonic Dr Jerry's Resume Service Famous Restaurants Garment Gal Glenn's Jewelry Good Earth Garden Center Imagination Space

Jane Beeder Designs KCME Lu Benning

Margarita at Pine Creek Marigold Bakery Mary Margaret Brummeler Nan and Ted Rubley Nancy Daly Nedra Engelson Opera Theatre of the Rockies Robert Littrell Dr. Ryan Baros, Dentist Stables at the Broadmoor Texas Road House Theatreworks, UCCS The Mining Exchange Victoria Boswell Virginia Gwaltney Massage Water Works Car Wash Wines of Colorado

M a r c h , A p r i l , M a y 2 0 1 4 | 4

Please Consider and Respond As Program Chairman for the Pikes Peak Opera League, I am proud of the caliber of singers we have engaged this year to perform at our

monthly meetings. We've had everything from Secret Garden and Schumann excerpts to stories about Auditioning and Cooking told in

music. I am also proud that we support so many young singers through the Young Voice Competition and Opera Theatre of the Rockies' Young

Artists Outreach Ensemble. Additionally, the Young Artists Intensive Training Program, during the summer months, provides us with year

'round opportunities to do what we do best! The League's mission has always been to support the art of singing and singers at all stages of their careers. We do this by supporting Opera Theatre of the Rockies,

and at our monthly meetings when we provide a venue for both up-and-coming, and professional, singers to perform for a live

audience. Please make every effort to come and hear these artists. Keep the first Wednesday morning of each month open and plan to attend.

As you know, there is no extra cost to our members and guests for such wonderful musical programs but attendance at meetings has

been lower than in years past. My question is why? Is it too confusing to meet in a different location each month? Is the time of the meeting inconvenient? Are 10 meetings a year too many? Are there other issues we need to address?

I invite you to email or call me, or someone on the PPOL Board, to give feedback so we know how to move forward in our 35th Anniversary year. sloring55@gmail.com or 593-

8802. I look forward to hearing from you! Submitted by Susan Loring and Susanne Wheeler

Opera Notes by Susanne Wheeler

Greetings all. On behalf of Opera Theatre of the Rockies, its board of

directors, talented performers and dedicated patrons, I would like to

say a special thank you to the Pikes Peak Opera League, its board of

directors and entire membership for all the wonderful support of our company and our magnificent production of

Delibes’ Lakmé performed in February-March. I cannot tell you how exciting it was to see so many familiar faces,

volunteering for our school program, attending the pre-opera events and of course, in the audience at a main opera

performance. Again, thank you all so much for sharing this once-in-a-lifetime opera experience with us. Now we

look forward to an exciting 2014 Summer Season planned, starting with Dr. Susan Rae Jensen’s “Songs for a Summer

Night” concert on June 25, the Vocal Arts Festival July 1-27, the Opera League’s Festival Opening Gala Evening on July

8, the “Let’s Make a Scene” concert on July 13 and finally, three fabulous performances of “The King and I” on July

25, 26 and 27 at Armstrong Theater. We are excited to welcome back to Colorado Springs bass-baritone Ashraf

Sewailam who will sing the part of the King. Visit our web site at www.operatheatreoftherockies.org for more event

details. And for information about Early Bird tickets for “The King and I,” please call 646-3127. We hope to see you

at our wonderful musical events coming this summer!

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Celia Rasor--A Quiet Presence Leaving a Living Legacy to PPOL

Celia Rasor passed away on August 12, 2012 after a long life dedicated to encouraging and promoting the

community causes that touched her life. She was a quiet woman whose light touch contributed to the

advancement of education, human service, fine art, and history here in Colorado Springs. She and her

husband, Dr. Robert W. Rasor, were members of the Colorado College community where he enjoyed a

lengthy career as a professor of psychiatry. They were active in CC’s Fifty Year Club, Friends of the Library,

and were hosts in the Adopt-a-Student Program for out-of-state students.

In Celia’s last will and testament, she remembered favorite charities that reflected her values:

*Silver Key Senior Services; *Broadmoor Community Church; *Pioneers Museum.

*League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region; *Palmer Foundation; and

*Pikes Peak Opera League, Inc.

We, at the Pikes Peak Opera League, are honored and delighted that Celia saw fit to remember us and our

mission through her generous remembrance to us of over $51,000. Your board has committed to being

responsible stewards by establishing the Celia Rasor Endowment with her bequest. The earnings from her

endowment will be used to support our mission to:

Promote knowledge and appreciation of opera;

Encourage and support young and aspiring opera and musical theatre talent;

Support Opera Theatre of the Rockies and Opera Theater goes to School;

Provide information and educational opportunities to our members. This will allow us to hold the principal of her endowment in perpetuity so that it can provide benefits to

untold generations. We truly appreciate this final gesture of Celia Rasor. Her gift lives on to contribute to

opera opportunities, and student scholarships/career grants. Her worthy example deserves to be emulated

by those who wish to benefit others in this same way by dedicating a bequest to the Legacy Society of the

Pikes Peak Opera League.

Up-Coming Events

April 25 Spring is in the Air (see front page)

May 7 9:30 a.m., General Meeting Broadmoor Community Church program to be determined

May 20- June 2, Vienna and Prague Tour

June 4, 10:30 a.m., Luncheon with elections

June 25, “Songs for a Summer Night”

July 1-27, Vocal Arts Festival

Chamber Orchestra of the Springs

April 26-27, Season Finale: New Traditions

June 3, A Midsummer Nights Music IX, Hillside Gardens and Nursery

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NOMINATIONS for the BOARD

Victoria Boswell, Cindy Crater and Cynthia

Zapel are eager to hear from you if you have

aspirations for a Board position next year or

maybe you could suggest the name of another

member. The positions to be filled by election

during the June luncheon are president, vice

president, secretary and treasurer (for which

Nedra Engelson has been training this past

year). Appointments to Board positions as

committee chairs will be accomplished by the

new president who would certainly appreciate

your indication of interest and availability.

Membership Alert!!!

2014-2015 PIKES PEAK OPERA LEAGUE’S 35TH

ANNIVERSARY

Celebrate with PPOL by renewing Membership early Look for Renewal Invitation in May

Thank you for supporting PPOL programs and events

Deanna Lyons

Bad Weather Cancellation Policy Only a few brave early bird souls braved the February winter weather to attend the February meeting. Most of us received a telephonic notice of the cancellation. This incident led the board to discuss cancel policy. If classes for School District 11 or 12 are delayed or cancelled, the PPOL meeting will be cancelled. If there is an advance storm warning, an e-blast will go out to members advising them of cancellation. This policy will be printed in the front portion of the membership directory.

Opera League Volunteers Needed

Historian for the League 2014-2015

Co-Chairmen for Vocal Arts Festival

Opening Gala Evening, July 8, 2014

at Cornerstone Theater

Co-Chairmen 2015 Young Voice

Competition

Standing Committee Members -

Hospitality, Marketing,

Membership, Nominating,

Advertising Sales

A really cool, bright idea

M a r c h , A p r i l , M a y 2 0 1 4 | 7

Young Voice Competition— Dennis Jackson, General Chairman served proudly as Master of Ceremonies for the 2014 Young Voice final competition Friday, March 21 as six singers presented their choices of music prepared to display their vocal talents at Packard Hall before an appreciative audience. The evening included the competitive program with Dan Brink as accompanist; an overwhelming reception catered by individual members of PPOL; and then the announcement of awards. The winners are:

Anna Yager, Norton Bain 1st Prize of $500.00; Katrina Ivancik, 2nd Prize of $300.00

Alyssa Baumgardner 3rd Prize of $200.00 Mark Autry Encouragement Award off $100.00

Judges for the preliminary round were Dan Fosha, Susan Rae Jensen and Solveig Olsen. Trent Ellis, Jeanna Wearing and Deborah Teske juried the finals. Dennis instructed a master class, open to the public, for the six finalists to help them prepare. Donations of award money came from anonymous, Norton Bain and Susan Rae Jensen. This year we charged admission to augment funds from the gala raffle to cover event expenses such as judges’ stipends and publicity. Members of the event planning committee are: Avis Cook, Evelyn Kwaak, Susan Loring, Gloria Wendt, and Susanne Wheeler. Opportunities to volunteer drew many willing hands to assist with audition review, registrations, door keepers, ushers, backstage personnel, judges’ assistants, and publicity, and food, marvelous food, coordinated by Lu Benning. Anna Yager, soprano, lives in Woodland Park, attends Woodland Park HS is 18 and has 3 years vocal study. Her teacher is Katherine Klamm. Katarina Ivancik, soprano, lives in Payton, and is home schooled. She has studied voice for 4 year and is 15. Her teacher is Valerie Nieming. Alyssa Brungardner, soprano is 16, lives in Colorado Springs, and is also home schooled. She studied voce for 1 year with Sarah Ede. Mark Autry lives in Colorado Springs, is a tenor, aged 17, and attends St Mary’s High School. He studies with Judith Shay Comstock and has 10 years voice training. Ali Watkins, Finalist, soprano, is 17, lives in Colorado Springs, and has studied voice for one year \.She attends Manitou Springs, High School. Cassidy Thompson, Finalist, mezzo is 15 lives in and attends high school in Limon. She has studied voice for 8 years.

Mark, Alyssa Katarina Anna

M a r c h , A p r i l , M a y 2 0 1 4 | 8

March General Meeting

Victoria Hansen, mezzo-soprano and Susan Grace,

pianist presented a very entertaining original opera

displaying Julia Child singing her way through

cooking a chocolate cake.

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PPOL Luncheon Meeting

Cheyenne Mountain Resort

3225 Broadmoor Valley Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Wednesday: June 4, 2014 at 10:30

Entrées: Roasted Chicken Breast How many

Vegetarian Pasta How many

Cost: $35.00 ($5.00 Tax Deductible) per person

Please make checks to Pikes Peak Opera League, and indicate “luncheon” in memo line.

Send to: Lu Benning, 2634 Freedom Heights, Colorado Springs, Co 80904 Phone Number 667-0603

Reservations must be in by Friday, May 30, 2014

Name _____________________________________________ Number

Complimentary Valet Service Please take special note of the address of the resort.

M a r c h , A p r i l , M a y 2 0 1 4 | 9

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Our 2013-2014 newsletter supporters. As you shop, please remember their support of our

mission. Because of their dedicated, on-going support, we also ask that you remember

Village at Skyline if such a need arises in your life.