‘Sing off’ for Opera Connecticut announced

WEST HARTFORD » Opera Connecticut has revealed the names of the 10 Finalists to “sing off” for the title of “American Opera Idol 2017” on Thursday, July 20 at 7 p.m. in the Pond House Café in West Hartford’s Elizabeth Park. Advance purchase of audience tickets is strongly recommended: go to www.operaconnecticut.org or call Showclix at 888-718-4253. Tickets are $35 per seat; or $55 per seat with a box supper.

The 10 Finalists are Stefan Barner (tenor) of Oskaloosa, Iowa and Boston, Mass.; Kelly Curtin (soprano) of Wilmington, Del. and Alexandria, Va.; Andrés Moreno García (tenor) of Monterrey, Mexico and Berlin, Germany; Benedetta Orsi (mezzo soprano) of Bologna, Italy and Manhattan, NY; Kaarin Phelps (mezzo soprano) of Ashburnham, Mass. and Houston, Texas; Yulan Piao (soprano) of China and Manhattan, NY; Timothy Renner (baritone) of Woodbridge, Va. and Philadelphia, Pa.; Joseph Ryan (baritone) of Cincinnati, Ohio and Sarasota, Fla.; Rachele Schmiege (soprano) of Kalamazoo, Mich. and Boston, Mass.; and Brent Reilly Turner (tenor) of Singapore and Oviedo, Fla.

“Opera Connecticut created this unique live showcase for opera singers eight years ago, with a panel of expert judges, and the audience ultimately voting for the top winner — just like the popular ‘Idol’ TV show,” said Opera Connecticut’s Artistic Director Doris Lang Kosloff. “This competitive event celebrates the beauty of operatic excellence, while introducing a wider audience to this wonderful art form.”

Entries were submitted by more than 60 opera singers from around the world. The finalists will perform in a Preliminary Round that will be judged by a panel of opera professionals that include: International tenor Robert Brubaker and soprano Lynne Strow Piccolo. The judges will select four (4) Super Finalists who again will perform, and audience members will vote by text to choose the “American Opera Idol 2017.”

The top winner will be awarded $1,500, with other cash prizes presented to the other Super Finalists.

Looking ahead: On Friday, Oct. 27 and Sunday, Oct. 29 Opera Connecticut will present “Rigoletto” by Giuseppe Verdi. The production will star baritone Nelson Martinez, a Metropolitan Opera Artist and tenor Ta’u Pupu’a, a former National Football League (NFL) lineman. The Connecticut performances will be at the company’s home theater, the Hoffman Auditorium in the Carol Autorino Center for the Arts at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford.

“Rigoletto” tickets are available now on www.operaconnecticut.org.

Opera Connecticut produces full-length staged operas performed by singers from around the world. Founded in 1991, the company initially presented productions only in traditional concert format. In 2012, it adopted a fully staged format with props, costumes, lighting and stage direction.

Since then, Opera Connecticut has produced a full-length opera every year, along with the “American Opera Idol” contest, children’s operas, special concerts and gala events. Performances feature members of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. A volunteer Board of Directors manages the 501(c)3 organization.

For more information about Opera Connecticut’s “American Opera Idol 2017” or this October’s “Rigoletto”, go to www.operaconnecticut.org or call Artistic Director Doris Lang Kosloff at 860-306-5100.

Mental health forum planned in Hartford

HARTFORD » The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Connecticut and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® (AKA) have continued their partnership to work toward the expansion of mental health education and awareness in local communities and on college and university campuses throughout the nation.

The NAMI Connecticut and Epsilon Omicron Omega Chapter of AKA will sponsor a Mental Health Forum on Wednesday, July 26, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. at the Northend Senior Center, 80 Coventry Street, Hartford. The focus of this forum is a dialogue about mental health needs within communities of color facilitated by Ayana Jordan, M.D./Ph.D, Assistant Professor - Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry.

The forum will also include an interactive wellness presentation provided by Shawntell Layaw, a certified yoga instructor. Information booths with resource materials addressing community education, support groups, advocacy, networks of care and other related areas will be available during the forum.

The forum is free of charge and is open to the public. Light refreshments will be served and registration is requested by or before July 24 at https:// mental-health-matters.eventbrite.com.