President’s Message:
Seattle Opera’s season is now underway after two outstanding new productions. We all enjoyed August’s Porgy and Bess, which featured two winners of our Singers’ Development Awards, Ibidunni Ojikutu and Cheryse McLeod Williams. Most excitingly, Ibi, who was cast in her signature role, “Strawberry Woman,” also covered “Serena,” which was sung by another SOG favorite, Mary Elizabeth Williams. Unfortunately, Mary Elizabeth became ill and Ibi got to perform that major role several times, including live on KING FM—as they say, “A Star Was Born!” Cheryse performed the role of “Annie,” also to acclaim. The next production, Britten’s creepy Turn of the Screw, presented just before Halloween, featured another of SOG’s favorite singers, Marci Stonikas, who performed at a SOG fundraiser to benefit young singers. Other SOG awardees are pursuing successful careers. Among them, Ryan Bede and Ksenia Popova recently sang in local productions and Brett Sprague is performing in Germany. We all enjoyed Anthony Kalil’s Rodolfo in Boheme with Vashon Island Opera. We are so proud of the role SOG has played for many years in enabling young opera singers to pursue their training and early careers— bravissimi, all!
—Gayle Charlesworth