The Wayfarer

2009-2010 Season Opener:
The Wayfarer

One World Symphony
Sung Jin Hong, Artistic Director and Conductor
One World Symphony Vocal Artists
AfterShock, vocal rock band

Felix Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture (Fingal's Cave)
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Riders to the Sea (1937)
Gustav Mahler: "Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen,"
Rückert-Lieder
(from Le Maître de Musique)*
Björk: New World (2009 -- from Dancer in the Dark)**
Sung Jin Hong: From The Alchemist (world premiere
inspired by Paulo Coehlo's novel)

*Brooklyn premiere with countertenor
**world premiere arrangement for vocal rock band and symphony
by Emilia Tamburri

Net proceeds will benefit One World Symphony's Community Music Program -- a program which enables students and parents who would otherwise not be in a position to afford classical concerts to obtain tickets to attend live performances during the One World Symphony season, such as our upcoming Halloween program.

Sung Jin Hong is the artistic director, composer, and conductor of One World Symphony. Mr. Hong has guest conducted in Europe, such as Stadt Wien Konservatorium Orchester in Vienna, Austria, Lyrique-en-mer Festival in Brittany, France, and The Royal Northern Conservatory of Music in Manchester, UK. In the U.S, he has guest conducted the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, Tulsa Ballet Company, Manhattan School of Music Symphony, Mannes Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Youth Symphony, Bard College Orchestra, Illinois Wesleyan New Music Players, Western Illinois University Cello Choir, Bradley University Wind Ensemble, Great Music For A Great City at CUNY, Wayne State University Symphony, the Prospect Chamber Players, Twin Cities Ballet Company, and Take Dance Company. Mr. Hong has held positions as Music Director and Conductor of Peoria Sinfonietta and Principal Conductor of IES Singerverein in Vienna. He has also collaborated with musicians from the MET Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and Berlin Philharmonic as a conductor. Highlights for the upcoming season include leading One World Symphony's new season as its artistic director and conductor and guest engagements conducting The Tulsa Ballet, Tulsa Symphony, Fiery World Music Orchestra in Los Angeles, The Gandharvas, and his debut in Dallas conducting musicians from Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He has also conducted and recorded world premieres for the world's leading classical record label Naxos. Mr. Hong had the great honor of being personal chosen by the New York Philharmonic Laureate Conductor Kurt Masur to conduct in masterclasses and a concert in New York.

Natasha Uspensky (Mahler soloist) is thrilled to be returning to sing with One World Symphony after having made her debut in the title role of Ariadne auf Naxos in 2008. Most recently, Ms. Uspensky made her Carnegie Hall debut as The Maid in Tsar's Bride (as well as a cover performance as Domna Ivanovna Saburova) with Opera Orchestra of New York, and performed the role of La Ciesca (Gianni Schicci) with Rockland Opera. Other roles include Alice Ford (Falstaff) with Intermezzo Opera; Not & Magna Peccatrix (Schumann's Faust) with the Cleveland Orchestra; Maria Madalena di Pazzi (Salvatore Sciarrino's Infinito Nero) with The Gotham Contemporary Ensemble; The Bridesmaids (Der Freischutz); and Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro) with the Oberlin Opera Theater. Ms. Uspensky graduated from Oberlin College and Conservatory in 2005, where she studied Voice Performance and Modern Media & Culture. In addition to opera, she also works in musical theater, stage, and film.

Dina Gulnara Mitzanova (Maurya) has been praised for "elegant, power-packed mezzo" and "lustrous tone." Educated and trained in Moscow Conservatory, the Juilliard School and Academy of Vocal Arts, her artistry is a unique blend of European and American musical traditions. Most recently she performed roles of Laura/La Cieca (La Gioconda), Ulrica, Olga, Santuzza, Rosina, Carmen, and Dalila. As an oratorio soloist and a recitalist, Ms Mitzanova had performed in Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, and Bard International Music Festival. "An entertaining and charismatic artist," Ms Mitzanova is a frequent guest artist for special events in the National Arts Club and United Nations. Ms Mitzanova has won a New York Oratorio Solo Competition, Special Prize in Parkinson Competition, was a Finalist in Albanese-Puccinin Foundation. Ms. Mitzanova has performed with One World Symphony as Dalila in Samon et Dalila, Olga in Eugene Onegin, and Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana.

Last seen as the Fifth Maid in One World's performance of Elektra last January, soprano Sara Paar is happy to be back singing with OWS as Nora in Riders to the Sea. A versatile singing actress, Ms. Paar's work includes performance in opera, musical theatre, contemporary concert work, and vocal dance, the last for which she has received critical acclaim as a member of the Experience Vocal Dance Company. She has most recently been active singing Anne Trulove in an opera scenes concert by Opera Amanti and preparing a small pocket opera by Dag Gabrielsen, All Three Acts of a Sad Play Performed Entirely in Bed, to be performed in October. In July, Ms. Paar completed her certification in Somatic Voicework © The LoVetri Method.

Anne Marie Schubert (Nora) received her degree in vocal performance from the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at The Catholic University of America. Some of her opera roles include Tatyana (Eugene Onegin), the Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro), Atalanta (Xerxes) and the Dew Fairy (Hansel and Gretel). Ms. Schubert made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2006 with the Pacific Opera Company and returned there in 2007. She has appeared with OperaOggiNY as Mrs. Gobineau in The Medium, La Zelatrice and the Maestra delle Novizie in Suor Angelica, and as Jean Gaussin in Sapho. She also appeared in OperaOggiNY's winter gala as the soprano soloist in Handel's Messiah. This will be Ms. Schubert's second performance with One World Symphony following her performance of the Aufseherin (Elektra). She currently studies with Judith Coen.

Soprano Katharine Gunnink (Cathleen) has performed various leading roles including Countess Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Mimi in La Bohème, Venere in Cavalli's L'Egisto, Cathleen in Vaughan Williams's Riders to the Sea, the Mother in Hansel and Gretel and Mrs. Andressen in A Little Night Music. In October she will be performing in the world premier of a new work by Bill Lenihan titled Family Dynamics. A native of Sonoma County, California, she received her Masters in Opera Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Ms. Gunnink is now living in New York and studying with soprano Nova Thomas. She is making her debut with One World Symphony.

Tamra Paselk (Cathleen), a native of El Paso, Texas, recently relocated to New York after six years in San Francisco. She completed her Masters degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 2005 and has performed many roles of note including Ilia in Mozart's Idomeneo, Lucy Brown in Die Dreigroschenoper by Kurt Weill, Laeticia in Menotti's The Old Maid and the Thief, Papagena in Mozart's Die Zauberflote, Noemie in Cendrillon by Massanet, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro by Mozart and Inez in Offenbach's Les Bavards. She has been a soloist with the SF Ballet and the SF Opera Guild and has also sung with numerous Bay Area concert choirs and chamber orchestras. Ms. Paselk is known for ability to engage and entertain her audiences through the versatile and organic presentation character. She is making her debut with One World Symphony.

Nicholas Tamagna (Mahler), a countertenor based in New York City, is making his debut with One World Symphony. Mr. Tamagna recently performed the role of Ulrica in Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera with Brooklyn Repertory Opera and in Concert with Edgar and Friends. Earlier this year, he made his debut performance of Orpheus in Orfeo ed Euridice with Brooklyn Repertory Opera. He was described by Harry Saltzman, conductor and critic, as "a high and thrilling countertenor." He also has premiered a new opera, Game of Poker, by composer Richard Burke, DMA at the Danny Kaye Playhouse in New York City. He will next perform Giulio Cesare in Giulio Cesare in Egitto with Bel Cantanti Opera in DC in October 2009, and later reprise his role as Orpheus with Opera Memphis in January 2010. He has also sung in recent performances with Center City Opera (PA), Amor Artis, 46 Barrow Street Recital Series, Bridges Vocal Ensemble and the highly acclaimed Oratory Church Choir of St. Boniface in Brooklyn, New York.

A native New Yorker from Harlem, Gene Howard (Bartley) attended The Manhattan School of Music, The Hartt School of Music and Die Frankfurt Hochschule fur Musik, in Germany. He has performed with the Bronx Opera, Harlem Opera Theatre and the Utah Festival Opera. He has sung with The Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra, The Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra and The Mormon Taberncle Choir Orchestra. He has been heard on WNYC FM Radio in New York City, WFMT FM Radio in Chicago and has performed on the "Good Morning Montreal" television show in Canada. Amoung Mr. Howard's roles are Amantio from Gianni Schicchi, Bob from The Old Maid and The Thief, Fleville from Andrea Chenier, The Imperial Commissioner from Madama Butterfly, Lawyer Fraizer from Porgy and Bess, The Postman from The Scarf and Zaretsky from Eugene Onegin. His repertoire includes works by Rachmaninoff, Sibelius, Schubert, Strauss, Ives and Bonds. Recent One World Symphony performances include Orestes' Guardian in Elektra, Zaretsky in Eugene Onegin, and Nicholas in Vanessa.

Adrienne Metzinger (Woman, Mezzo soprano solo) returns as a vocal soloist with One World Symphony after having sung the roles of Baroness in Vanessa, Dryade in Ariadne auf Naxos in June of 2008, Cornelia in Giulio Cesare in June 2007, selections from Les nuits d'été in August of 2007, and most recently as Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana. She is is a founding member, Graphic Designer, and Managing Director of One World Symphony. Ms. Metzinger had the honor of singing our National Anthem to begin New York City's televised 2003 Veteran's Day Parade as well as at a ceremony honoring Senator Hillary Clinton held by the United Spinal Association. In June of 2003, she made her Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall debut singing the music of Kurt Weill. Some of her opera credits include Emilia (Otello), Mercedes (Carmen), Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), Flora and Annina (La Traviata), Peep-Bo (The Mikado), Countess Ceprano (Rigoletto), Kate (Madama Butterfly), The Sandman/Dew Fairy (Hansel and Gretel), and Kate (Ballad of Baby Doe) as well as Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro). She has also made numerous appearances with One World Symphony as a featured soloist in Britten's Ceremony of Carols, Bach's Magnificat, Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel as well many chamber and opera concerts singing selections by Barber, Verdi, Offenbach, and Weill to name a few. Ms. Metzinger has also performed world premiere works by Kyle Gann (orchestrated by Sung Jin Hong), Joan Dawidziak and Stan Grill.

Allison WaggenerAllison Waggener (Woman, Mezzo-soprano solo) mezzo soprano, has performed in opera, dance, theater, and musicals, and has also worked on the offstage creative team as director, choreographer, and writer. She attended Yale College, where she graduated Cum Laude with majors in American Studies and Theater Studies, and spent a semester abroad at the Moscow Art Theater School studying acting, movement, acrobatics, and voice. She has performed three recitals in the Boston area, several scenes concerts, and concerts with Longwood Opera and New England Light Opera. Recent performances include Opera Providence's Treemonisha, Cherubino with LeNozzeNY, and Dorabella (cover) in Cosi Fan Tutte for Osh Opera. From 2005-2006 she lived for a year in the woods of northern Wisconsin through the Wilderness Guide Program of Teaching Drum Outdoor School Ms. Waggener recently sang the role of the the 3rd Maid in Elektra with One World Symphony.


Friday, September 11, 2009
St. Ann and the Holy Trinity
Brooklyn Heights

Sunday, September 13, 2009
Ansche Chesed Synagogue
Manhattan

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