Podcasts about opera carolina

After 25 years, Maestro Jim Meena is moving on from Opera Carolina. He led his last production, La Boheme, with the company as their artistic director and principal conductor. Meena sits down with WDAV's Frank Dominguez to talk about his time as one of the Queen City's longest and most influential artistic leaders. They chat about everything from memorable performances of operas like Margaret Garner to the challenges of the 2008 financial crisis and Covid pandemic.

After 25 years, Maestro Jim Meena is moving on from Opera Carolina. He led his last production, La Boheme , with the company as their artistic director and principal conductor. Meena sits down with WDAV’s Frank Dominguez to talk about his time as one of the Queen City’s longest and most influential artistic leaders. They chat about everything from memorable performances of operas like Margaret Garner to the challenges of the 2008 financial crisis and Covid pandemic.

The 1920s Carolina Theatre in Charlotte reopens in March 2025 after a decade of planning, fundraising and construction. The $80 million project was led by the Foundation for the Carolinas. On this week Piedmont Arts podcast, we tour the renovated building and hear about upcoming events. Also, news about turmoil at the Eastern Music Festival and Opera Carolina. Pictured: Exterior of the Carolina Theater; credit David Boraks. Pictured: Lobby of the Carolina Theater; credit David Boraks. Pictured: Douglas Young (left) and Sean Seifert; credit David Boraks. Pictured: Stage of the Carolina Theater; credit David Boraks.

The 1920s Carolina Theatre in Charlotte reopens in March 2025 after a decade of planning, fundraising and construction. The $80 million project was led by the Foundation for the Carolinas. On this week Piedmont Arts podcast, we tour the renovated building and hear about upcoming events. Also, news about turmoil at the Eastern Music Festival and Opera Carolina. Pictured: Exterior of the Carolina Theater; credit David Boraks. Pictured: Lobby of the Carolina Theater; credit David Boraks. Pictured: Douglas Young (left) and Sean Seifert; credit David Boraks. Pictured: Stage of the Carolina Theater; credit David Boraks.

Hosts Rachel Stewart and David Boraks preview the 2024 - 2025 opera season at companies around the region. Opera Carolina's James Meena talks about his company's season of classic operas, plus a special benefit concert with famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Opera Carolina Piedmont Opera North Carolina Opera Greensboro Opera

On this Piedmont Arts podcast, we talk with Shante Williams, the new general director of Opera Carolina. Williams is a business owner and venture capitalist who has been on the Opera Carolina board for three years. She talks about the upcoming season, her passion for new operas, and about the group's future.

Clt Council votes on stadium deal; Knights honor local child; Opera Carolina has a new leader.

One of the most extraordinary figures in American classical music is someone you may never have heard of. Mary Cardwell Dawson, born in 1894 in Madison, NC, was a musician, teacher, and founding director of the National Negro Opera Company, the longest-running, all-Black opera company which helped launch the careers of many singers. Now her story is being told in a 'play with music', The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson , which is being produced by Opera Carolina and stars internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves. In this episode, she tells us about Dawson’s determination and accomplishments. Learn more about Opera Carolina's production of The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson Pictured: Denyce Graves; by Devon Cass/IMG Artists.

A Fresh Story, season 3, episode 4 We chatted with marketing expert and mom Megan Miller about the experience of her young son being diagnosed with cancer, and their journey together, as well as her background in entertainment, opera, and experiential marketing. We talked about how life and parenting is all about creating experiences for people, and what that means when life gets tough. It's a beautiful episode about joy, hope, and the ways we can support each other during hard times in life. Recently listed as Disruptor Magazine's Top 30 Female Entrepreneurs to look out for in 2022, Megan Miller is the owner of Megan Miller Marketing, LLC, and co-host of the popular podcast XM Divas. Megan is recognized in the non-profit and for-profit worlds for her creativity, drive, and leadership; she brings enthusiasm for new challenges and creating integration strategies, particularly those that expand a company's reach.  Prior to joining Opera Carolina, she was Product Owner of all .com businesses for Harris Teeter Corporate HQ. Her most recent project for Opera Carolina was founding Opera Recycles, an environmental sustainability program that turns old print collateral into Couture Fashions. Launched in 2015, it debuted in New York City at New York Fashion Week in October 2016. She returned in 2017, producing her own fashion week show with 13 new Opera Recycles Fashions. This program will continue to inspire those around the world with its first international appearance next March during Paris Fashion Week. Megan began her experience in fashion marketing, runway production, & pageant coordination with MISS USA & MISS TEEN USA STATE PAGEANTS in early 2011. In addition to her role with Opera Carolina, Megan is sought after as a consultant and guest speaker for Opera America. She serves as a member of the Opera America Strategic Committee and is a member of the Board of Advisors for the UNC-Charlotte Enactus business team, providing insight and mentorship for students. She has also served as a volunteer for the American Heart Association, and The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for which she currently leads communications committee for Brewer's Ball and was a CLASS of 2018 STANDOUT Honoree. In addition to her professional credentials in the field of marketing, Megan Miller is still currently a performing artist, singing with Opera Carolina as a member of the resident company. You can find Megan on her website, Instagram and Twitter.

Opera Carolina is going international this summer through a new partnership with International Lyric Academy. More than 100 opera singers and musicians from across the globe have arrived in the Queen City for three weeks of immersive mentorship, followed by two weeks in Vicenza, Italy. Part of the experience is a summer festival of free and ticketed performances. We talk with Opera Carolina's director of education & community programs, Ashley Lam, and one of the singers participating in the academy, Luvo, who is from South Africa. Learn more about the International Lyric Academy Festival

In this podcast, we discuss issues surrounding race and the experiences of people of color in the opera world.  Our two guests are Marsha Thompson and The Reverend Kenneth A. Pettigrew Ms. Thompson began her musical studies as a violinist. During her time as a violinist, she played in regional symphony orchestras in Louisiana and Texas including, Galveston Symphony, The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra, Southeast Louisiana Symphony and Texas Music Festival Symphony Orchestra. Ms.Thompson decided to sing full-time after receiving a full scholarship to the prestigious Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, CA to study with Marilyn Horne. Since then, she has sung the roles of Tosca, AIDA, Abigaille, Sieglinde, Violetta, and several other leading ladies. The New York Times describes her voice in the role of Violetta as “a warm agile soprano with a secure technique,” Opera News stated of her “Pace, pace, mio Dio” that “[she sang] with a cascade of refined yet plush Italianate sound; …an expertly introspective performance.” Ms. Thompson has performed with Teatro Municipal de São Paulo, Union Avenue Opera, New York City Opera, New York Grand Opera, Opera Carolina, and Mississippi Opera, to name a few. SOURCE: marshathompson.com Reverend Kenneth A. Pettigrew - Executive Director, Winston Lake Family YMCA and REACH Center Preacher, liturgist, and community organizer, Kenneth is a native of Winston-Salem and an emerging voice in progressive Christianity. He has served as pastor of Shouse Temple CME Church in Winston-Salem and currently oversees operations and worship services at St. John CME Church under the leadership of Dr. Regina L. Reese-Young. Kenneth is also the Executive Director at the Winston Lake YMCA, having previously served with the Winston-Salem Urban League, the United Way of Forsyth County with Faith-Based Community Engagement and the Place Matters Initiative. His work is dedicated to building relationships with faith communities, bridging the gap between sacred and secular for intentional partnerships for the building of strong communities. He holds both the Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the Master of Divinity from the Wake Forest University School of Divinity. At the 2016 Connectional Youth and Young Adult Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, Minister Pettigrew was elected as Chaplain of the Connectional Young Adult Ministry of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. He is the founder and principal consultant of Sanctuary Consulting, LLC—a firm dedicated to equipping faith communities and nonprofits with the tools for transformative and impactful community engagement. The Triad Podcast Network is presented by The Ginther Group Real Estate, Ashley McKenzie-Sharpe with Highlands Residential Mortgage and Three Magnolias Financial Advisors See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the next Charlotte Talks, we meet Victor Ryan Robinson, the actor portraying Sportin' Life in Opera Carolina's latest production of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess". Robinson is the first actor ever to make their Metropolitan Opera, Broadway, and Kennedy Center debuts in the same year. We find out more about him and this latest production.

In this special #PREPPED episode, Naka is joined by Broadway star (and Long Island native) Derrick Davis to discuss the path to becoming an actor and studying theater arts in college. Derrick started his journey studying voice at LIU Post, and his career since has spanned iconic roles on stage from Phantom of the Opera to the Lion King. Derrick shares his advice and tips for the self-taping auditioning process and how to find the type of program that will help students thrive.  Meanwhile, Naka grounds the episode with a reminder about how earning good standardized test scores can have additional benefits, such as placing out of freshman-year classes and helping with critical college essays. Derrick's #PREPPED Pro Tip is certain to resonate not only with theater arts students but also with all students striving to accomplish their goals.About Our Guest:Derrick Davis is a dynamic and passionate performer of stage and screen.  In his exciting theater career, he has held the roles of The Phantom in the 25th Anniversary Tour of The Phantom of the Opera and Mufasa on the Gazelle Tour of Disney's The Lion King. He has also gone on as Scar and Mufasa in The Lion King and Billy Bigelow in Carousel on Broadway. Regionally Davis starred in Dallas Theater Center's production of Dreamgirls as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Opera Carolina's production of I Dream, and King Triton in The Little Mermaid at Theater Under the Stars.Show Notes:@dreamclimbertherealderrickdavis.comttprep.compreppedpodcast.com for a free Zoom preview of our TestTaker courseTheater Arts Scholarshipswww.greatvaluecolleges.net/scholarships/theater-studentshttps://ccm.uc.edu/

I'm hitting a high note this week with guest, Megan Miller, Marketing Director for @operacarolina. Join us for a lively discussion of what's new in the world of opera, what's coming this season, and why you should become a fan. Intermission is over and Opera Carolina is back! Comments? Questions? Email me: hello@realcharlotteliving.com Let's get social! solo.to/realcharlotteliving Stay up-to-date on new episodes and subscribe today!

In 2018, Opera Carolina stepped out of its comfort zone to present the powerful rhythm & blues opera I Dream , a fictional chronicle of the final days of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King’s life. Now I Dream returns for performances at the Belk Theatre in Charlotte. We revisit an interview before the premier with James Meena, general director and principal conductor of Opera Carolina. He talks about his aspirations for this new work. You’ll also hear from composer Douglas Tappin about how his musical hybrid is ideal for telling the story of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King.

On this episode of Hello CMS, we're exploring Youth Arts Month with Dr. Chilcutt and art partners from The Gantt, The Mint Museum and Opera Carolina.  The Harvey Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture will provide a virtual tour of 20th-century African-American art that includes several works from the Harlem Renaissance. The Mint Museum will provide a virtual tour of its collection with a focus on the work of Kehinde Wiley and other diverse artists. The Mint will build on the use of visual thinking strategies to facilitate understanding of the artwork and promote critical thinking skills. Opera Carolina will provide a virtual performance of I Dream. The show focuses on the last 36 hours of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life through a series of dreams, premonitions, and reminiscences that lead up to the April 4, 1968, assassination at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Arts department has collaborated with several Charlotte arts organizations to provide E3 Virtual Field Trips experiences for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The program has the potential to reach over 100,000 students. From March through mid-May, the Children’s Theater of Charlotte, Charlotte Ballet, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Charlotte Symphony, Mint Museum, Harvey Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture and Opera Carolina will provide unique performing and visual arts experiences for CMS students. We're speaking with Dr. Michael Chilcutt about this incredible opportunity for our students! 

Megan & Johnathan hosted Opera Carolina's pre-show dialogue with the with composer Douglas Tappin and the incredible cast of "I Dream." We are excited for you to listen to this incredible dialogue with the entire cast on the production of I Dream and the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. #opera #operacarolina #idream #ocidream

Opera Carolina teams up with D9 Brewing to bring holiday cheer with an event called Tinsel Town. The festivities happen throughout the day at D9 Brewing Company in Cornelius, NC, and will feature Opera Carolina Carolers with singers from the Opera Carolina Kids Academy. Hear Megan Miller talk about this event as well as how Opera Carolina and individual singers have been adjusting to pandemic restrictions this year. Learn more about Tinsel Town Pictured: Megan Miller/photo courtesy of Megan Miller.

Kelsey has had a passion for the arts and theatre since childhood. After graduating high school, she was accepted into the prestigious University of North Carolina School of the Arts in the Design and Production: Wig and Makeup Design Program where she graduated in 2008. Kelsey's professional career began before graduation when she got hired as the Wig and Makeup Designer for operas such as The Devil and Kate for Fletcher Opera Company and Die Fledermaus for Opera Carolina. With the experience of large production shows in late of 2008, Kelsey was offered a position as a Wig Technician for Cirque du Soleil’s show KÀ at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. After 9 months, in her role as a wig technician she transferred to the show's Makeup Technician/Supervisor. Which includes supervising and ensuring over 135 various makeup designs are flawless to appear on stage 10 shows a week. Airbrushing tattoo's and makeup changes for transitions, creating makeup charts for new artists, teaching each performer how to apply their own makeup efficiently and correctly, many in which English is not their first language. With over 8 years at KÀ, she has had many opportunities to work in all specialized fields; Television, Film, Print, Special Events, and National Marketing Events, stretching from L.A. to NYC. Kelsey has assisted in two Cirque du Soleil creations, Viva! Elvis (Wig Technician) and Michael Jackson “One” (Makeup Technician). Hair Stylist and Makeup Assistant for Cirque du Soleil in Partnership with Google Chrome: Movi.Kanti.Revo. Assistant Wig and Makeup Designer for Gladius "formally known as a Valitar" 7 years as Co-Director of Hair and Makeup, Circus Couture in partnership with Children’s Specialty Center of Nevada. Even though her spare time is limited, Kelsey enjoys working with her husband to build Halloween decorations and props for their annual Husch Haus Halloween party.

George Washington III is a voice actor with over 17 years of experience after spending 20+ years in the IT industry.  His diverse body of work ranges from radio spots for the Carolina Panthers to national television commercials. He says his proudest moment was becoming one of the voices of the National Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington DC. Music has also been a big part of his life from childhood and he's used his gift in the opera and classical music worlds, most notably with the use of his beautiful bass-baritone as a regular performer with Opera Carolina, the professional opera company of Charlotte, NC and the oldest continuously operating company in the Southeast.  George joins me, however, to share a different narrative as Covid has personally touched his family with the loss of his own father, George Washington, Jr. after losing his mother just one month prior to cancer. Listen in as he shares his audio journal of this time and what brings him hope in moving forward.

Allergies can be difficult to deal with as a singer-- or in our normal lives for that matter. XMDivas is here to help! We sat down with Dr. Klotz and got the skinny on treatment options with singers in mind. This episode is in partnership with Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates, P.A. (CEENTA) and Opera Carolina. For more info about CEENTA Visit https://www.ceenta.com For more info about Opera Carolina Visit https://operacarolina.org/  

With Opera Carolina deep into the production of Marriage of Figaro, Xela is the lone Diva on the mic in this episode. Joinging her, however, is Robert Mack, a member of the critically-acclaimed Three Mo' Tenors and a leading member of the American Spiritual Ensemble. Mack has performed with Opera Carolina several times, including a production of Porgy and Bess. (1:46) Robert Mack introduces himself and talks about his history with Opera Carolina (4:01) Xela asks Robert about what his dream role would be (6:47) Robert talks about his family and how he got into singing (14:03) Xela and Robert talk about their experience with the Martina Arroyo Foundation (18:21) Robert talks about the challenges of race in opera (23:19) Robert and Xela talk about Opera Noir and its significance in promoting diversity in opera XM Divas is hosted by Xela Pinkerton and Megan Miller, and recorded in Charlotte, NC. Our producers are Andy Goh and Stephanie Vitale. Remember to rate, subscribe, favorite and review us on your podcast platform of choice, it helps up get discovered by other listeners! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@xmdivas), and bookmark our website, xmdivas.com.

Our friends Brad Panovich, Michael Felder, Katie Peralta, Opera Carolina and Supportive Guy joined us for live recording at Petra's to celebrate Meck Dec Day. Listen in as we discuss the significance of the day, complain about dog owners, learn about forecasting weather and reveal really really bad Philly accents.

The Queen City’s venerable opera company is departing from its familiar repertory to present something timely and powerful – a rhythm & blues opera called I Dream . James Meena, general director and principal conductor of Opera Carolina, talk about his aspirations for this new work, and composer Douglas Tappin speaks about how his musical hybrid is ideal for telling the story of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Learn more about Opera Carolina's performance of I Dream James Meena Douglas Tappin  

Dr. Keith Cradle sits down with Megan Miller, Director of Marketing for Opera Carolina. The cultural scene in Charlotte is rapidly changing and mediums such as the opera are embracing that call. Hear all about how Megan is repositioning the opera for more diverse audiences, her run-ins with Burt Reynolds and more. Dr. Cradle also brings on special guest drinker for a quick conversation over their favorite cocktails. Crafted With Cradle is a curated conversation with Charlotte’s finest, and hosted by Dr. Keith Cradle. Our producers are Jameka Whitten, Chuck Holiday and Andy Goh. Our theme music is “I Wanna Have You” by Jason Jet. Remember to subscribe, favorite and review us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, Soundcloud and anywhere you find podcasts. Follow us on social media, on Facebook and Instagram (@craftedwithcradle) and Twitter (@craftedwithcra1).Crafted With Cradle is sponsored by JSW Media.

Singers from Opera Carolina's production of Verdi’s Rigoletto talk with WDAV about their upcoming performances at the Belk Theater in the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.  Magali Simard-Galdés, who performs the role of Gilda, and tenor Raffaele Abbate, who plays the Duke, speak about their characters, their favorite moments in the opera, and their impressions of the Queen City.  There's also bonus audio of the singers in rehearsal at Toledo Opera, which partnered on this production, performing two famous arias from the work: La dona e mobile and Tutte le feste al tempio .  Visit Opera Carolina to learn more Magali Simard-Galdés Raffaele Abbate  

In this episode we are focusing on Megan Miller, Marketing Director of Opera Carolina, speaks of taking the stage again, as well what it is like being in front of as well as behind the Opera. She talks about how she initiated new ways to involve a whole new younger demographic with opera as well as how she continues to think outside of the box. She has taken her passion and created a side hustle. Listen to find out how she created a career she loves.

In this episode of NCLT, Matthew sits down with Opera Carolina conductor James Meena and talks about the contemporary world of opera, his own musical past and how it all relates back to his adopted city of Charlotte, NC.

Opera Carolina begins 2017 with Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata. Two of the performers, baritone Reginald Smith, Jr. and soprano Elizabeth Caballero, join host Joe Brant in the WDAV John Clark Performance Studio to talk about the show. Reginald Smith, Jr. Elizabeth Caballero

This week on the Charlotte podcast we are joined by Megan and Zoe from Opera Carolina. They ran down the many, many reasons we should get into Opera and we discussed the finer points of turning the Fast and Furious franchise into an opera We also leaned about one of Mecklenburg County's great women and the first board certified female doctor in the state of North Carolina, Dr Annie Alexander, and were supported this week by the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. 4:30 - Opera Carolina 34:20 - History segment (Annie Alexander)

Opera Carolina begins its 2013 – 2014 season with Verdi’s Aida . Two of the performers, baritone Mark Rucker and soprano Othalie Graham, joined us in the WDAV John Clark Performance Studio. Midday host Matt Rogers talked with them about the show, and they sang highlights from Aida .