Lyric Arts performers will sing in Italy

Above, 11 students who will be going to Italy this summer for Lyric Arts International, with accompanist James Welch, bottom left. quot;>Students are graduating seniors Amanda Chmela of Lindenhurst and Richard Montgomery of Pittsburgh, Pa.; joined by Ayla Fialko of Ithaca, Myriah Marsh of Rochester, Amy Shake of Clifton Park, Kristina Jackson of Buffalo, Jennifer De Stio of Huntington, Nicole Weigelt of Oswego, Ben Pfeil of Chenango Forks, Will Prapestis of Elmira, and Eduardo Ramos of Ponce, Puerto Rico.

A unique opportunity for students to experience Italy as musicians caps off a busy semester in the SUNY Fredonia School of Music. On Monday, May 19, 11 students and faculty will leave Western New York for a 10-day performance trip to Italy under the auspices of Lyric Arts International. 

Lyric Arts, founded by professors Julie Newell of the School of Music and Paul Mockovak of the Department of Theatre and Dance, offers students the opportunity to travel and perform in international venues. This is the second trip to Italy in two years for Lyric Arts, and for three years students traveled to and performed in Japan, visiting Shimoda as well as Aichi University, with which SUNY Fredonia has an international education agreement.

Student singers auditioned for the opportunity to participate in this year’s trip and include graduating seniors Amanda Chmela, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre recipient from Lindenhurst, and Richard Montgomery, a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Music recipient from Pittsburgh, Pa.; joined by Ayla Fialko of Ithaca, Myriah Marsh of Rochester, Amy Shake of Clifton Park, Kristina Jackson of Buffalo, Jennifer De Stio of Huntington, Nicole Weigelt of Oswego, Ben Pfeil of Chenango Forks, Will Prapestis of Elmira, and Eduardo Ramos of Ponce, Puerto Rico. School of Music faculty member James Welch serves as piano accompanist for the group.

The group was invited back to work for the second time with the professional string players of the Orchestra delle Marchese from the north central region of the country, collaborating with Italian conductor Marcello Cormio. While there, the students will perform works by Vivaldi including his “Gloria,” and selections from his rarely-performed opera, “Arsilda, Regina di Porto,” as well as selections from Mozart’s “Cosi Fan Tutte,” and the famous “Brindisi” from Verdi’s “La Traviata.”

Professor Newell noted that these string players regularly perform at the famed La Scala opera house in Milan. Performances will be held at three historic Italian locations; at two medieval castles, the first in Castelleone di Suasa and the second in Pergola, and then the group will travel to Ostra for a return appearance at an original 18th century theatre preserved by an active community group. Professor Newell describes it as “a stunning 200-seat horseshoe-style theater with original wooden stage riggings.”

Also included in the trip is a two-day excursion to Rome for museum visits, a master class in Italian operatic style, and an opportunity to see and hear a performance of Mahler’s Third Symphony.