Derrick Sanders
Master Class
June 9 at 8 pm
Pendulum Space, Chicago
Derrick Sanders is the organizer of the August Wilson Monologue Competition and a member of the faculty in the theatre department at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is an award-winning director and filmmaker that has recently directed the The Island and African Company present Richard III at American Players Theatre. He also Washington, D.C. and West Coast premires of Will Power’s Fetch/Clay Make/Man at Round House Theatre and Marin Theatre Company. He also directed August Wilson’s Fences at Marin Theatre; The Mountaintop at Virginia Stage Company; Clybourne Park and the world premiere of Beneatha’s Place in repertory for “The Raisin Cycle,” at Baltimore Center Stage. His other credits include August Wilson’s King Hedley II at Signature Theatre and for “August Wilson’s 20th Century” at the Kennedy Center, August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone at Baltimore Center Stage, August Wilson’s Fences and Radio Golf at Virginia Stage, August Wilson’s Jitney and Stick Fly at True Colors Theatre in Atlanta; Sanctified at Lincoln Theater; Gee’s Bend at Cinincinnati Playhouse; Topdog/Underdog at American Theatre Company in Chicago; the world premieres of Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money, Bud not Buddy and Jackie and Me at Chicago Children’s Theatre; and the world premiere of Five Fingers of Funk at Minneapolis Children’s Theatre. Sanders was the assistant director of August Wilson’s world premiere productions of Radio Golf and Gem of the Ocean. As the Founding artistic director of Congo Square Theatre he directed numerous productions and has received numerous awards and accolades for his work. He was named the Chicago Tribune’s Theatre Chicagoan of the Year in 2005. Mr. Sanders short film Perfect Day, which he wrote and directed has been screened in more than 20 film festivals around the world and has garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards. H received his BFA from Howard University and MFA from the University of Pittsburgh.
Emanuele Andrizzi
Master Class
June 3 at 2 pm
Pendulum Space, Chicago
Educated in the rich musical tradition of the Rome's Conservatory as a conductor, composer, and pianist, Mo Andrizzi has become a versatile musician with a vast experience in the symphonic and operatic repertoires and a passion for the many areas of the musical arts. As a conductor, he has worked with various symphonic and operatic companies. In the past several years, he has conducted at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Diego Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Orchestra della Città di Ravenna, and Chicago Philharmonic, among others. He has also collaborated with important music festivals, including the Millennium Park and the Ravinia Festivals. Many international artists, including Ferruccio Furlanetto, Frederica Von Stade, Frank Almond, James Pellerite, and Joyce Castle have performed as soloists with Mo Andrizzi in concertos, operas, recitals, and recordings.
An active teacher and performer, Mo Andrizzi has worked since 2013 as the Conductor and Head of the Orchestral Program at the prestigious Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Mo Andrizzi is very passionate about his work with young musicians and has often collaborated with international artist programs, including the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, La Musica Lirica, and the Chicago Opera Theater Young Artist Program. In addition, he has guest conducted in various university music programs, such as at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, his Alma Mater, where he has conducted several operas, including a recent production of Poulenc’s The Dialogues of the Carmelites, starring the celebrated American mezzo-soprano Joyce Castle. Mo Andrizzi has clinic-ed and worked with music programs both in the US and in Europe, and has conducted the Illinois All-State Orchestra. Previous positions include Music Director and Conductor of the Cervantes Orchestra, Assistant/Cover Conductor at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Assistant Conductor at the Los Angeles and Dallas Operas.
Mo Andrizzi is a recipient of the Honorable Mention Award at the International Competition for Conductors of Contemporary Music “4X4 Prize” and a winner of the “P. Barrasso” International Competition for Chamber Music. He has recorded for Albany Records.
Born in Rome, Italy, Mo Andrizzi received a Diploma in piano performance from the A. Casella Conservatory, graduated in both conducting and composition at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory, and finally earned a DMA in Conducting Performance at Northwestern University. After leaving his native country, he lived and worked in both Portugal and Spain, before moving to Chicago, IL where he currently resides with his wife and kids.
An active teacher and performer, Mo Andrizzi has worked since 2013 as the Conductor and Head of the Orchestral Program at the prestigious Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Mo Andrizzi is very passionate about his work with young musicians and has often collaborated with international artist programs, including the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, La Musica Lirica, and the Chicago Opera Theater Young Artist Program. In addition, he has guest conducted in various university music programs, such as at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, his Alma Mater, where he has conducted several operas, including a recent production of Poulenc’s The Dialogues of the Carmelites, starring the celebrated American mezzo-soprano Joyce Castle. Mo Andrizzi has clinic-ed and worked with music programs both in the US and in Europe, and has conducted the Illinois All-State Orchestra. Previous positions include Music Director and Conductor of the Cervantes Orchestra, Assistant/Cover Conductor at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Assistant Conductor at the Los Angeles and Dallas Operas.
Mo Andrizzi is a recipient of the Honorable Mention Award at the International Competition for Conductors of Contemporary Music “4X4 Prize” and a winner of the “P. Barrasso” International Competition for Chamber Music. He has recorded for Albany Records.
Born in Rome, Italy, Mo Andrizzi received a Diploma in piano performance from the A. Casella Conservatory, graduated in both conducting and composition at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory, and finally earned a DMA in Conducting Performance at Northwestern University. After leaving his native country, he lived and worked in both Portugal and Spain, before moving to Chicago, IL where he currently resides with his wife and kids.
Anthony Barrese
Master Class
May 27 at 2 pm
Pendulum Space, Chicago
Anthony Barrese has earned accolades as both a composer and a conductor. He is the recipient of the 2007 Georg Solti Foundation U.S. award for young conductors. His original works have won numerous awards, and he is regularly engaged by opera companies in North America and Italy. Currently Mr. Barrese works as a freelance composer and conductor. He has led several productions with Sarasota Opera (Lakmé, Le nozze di Figaro, Hansel and Gretel), and with Opera Southwest (Le nozze di Figaro, Die Fledermaus, La cenerentola) where he is Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. He was the Assistant Conductor of the Dallas Opera in 2006-2007 and returned there as Guest Conductor for a production of Tosca in 2008, and in 2015 for La Wally. In 2008 Mr. Barrese conducted a new production of Turandot in Ascoli Piceno’s historic Teatro Ventidio Basso, with a cast that included Nicola Martinucci as Calaf. He also made his French debut conducting Turandot at the Opéra de Massy.
In recent seasons Mr. Barrese made debuts with Florid Grand Opera (Les pêcheurs de perles) Opera Theatre of St. Louis (The Kiss), Opera North (L’elisir d’amore), and Boston Lyric Opera (Don Giovanni). Mr. Barrese is the recipient of numerous composition awards including a N.E.C. Contemporary Ensemble Composition Competition Award for his Madrigale a 3 voci femminili, and two B.M.I. Student Composers Awards. As a musicologist, Mr. Barrese rediscovered, prepared, and edited the critical edition of Franco Faccio’s opera Amleto, in conjunction with Casa Ricordi.
He made his operatic conducting debut in Milan with La bohème and recorded Roberto Andreoni’s quattro luci sul lago with ”I Solisti della Scala” (a chamber group made up of the first chair musicians of the La Scala Philharmonic) for broadcast on Italian National Radio (RAI 3).
As Artistic Director of Opera southwest he has performed Rossini’s Otello with the American staged premiere of the finale lieto, and in 2014 he lead the new World Premiere of Amleto, not heard anywhere since 1871. The 2015-16 season will include a “Return of Rossini” festival at OSW, as well as a production of Norma at Florida Grand Opera.
Upcoming engagements include L’italiana in Algeri at Sarasota Opera (2017), and Amleto with Opera Delaware (2017)
In recent seasons Mr. Barrese made debuts with Florid Grand Opera (Les pêcheurs de perles) Opera Theatre of St. Louis (The Kiss), Opera North (L’elisir d’amore), and Boston Lyric Opera (Don Giovanni). Mr. Barrese is the recipient of numerous composition awards including a N.E.C. Contemporary Ensemble Composition Competition Award for his Madrigale a 3 voci femminili, and two B.M.I. Student Composers Awards. As a musicologist, Mr. Barrese rediscovered, prepared, and edited the critical edition of Franco Faccio’s opera Amleto, in conjunction with Casa Ricordi.
He made his operatic conducting debut in Milan with La bohème and recorded Roberto Andreoni’s quattro luci sul lago with ”I Solisti della Scala” (a chamber group made up of the first chair musicians of the La Scala Philharmonic) for broadcast on Italian National Radio (RAI 3).
As Artistic Director of Opera southwest he has performed Rossini’s Otello with the American staged premiere of the finale lieto, and in 2014 he lead the new World Premiere of Amleto, not heard anywhere since 1871. The 2015-16 season will include a “Return of Rossini” festival at OSW, as well as a production of Norma at Florida Grand Opera.
Upcoming engagements include L’italiana in Algeri at Sarasota Opera (2017), and Amleto with Opera Delaware (2017)
Alexandra LoBianco
Master Class
May 24 at 10 am
Pendulum Space, Chicago
American soprano Alexandra LoBianco has been praised by Opera News for possessing a “wonderful voice that should be heard in major houses.” In May of 2016, Ms. LoBianco made her European stage debut as Leonore in Fidelio with Wiener Staatsoper. Of her performance, Austria’s Kurier wrote, “For the first time, Alexandra LoBianco was heard by the Viennese public. She is a passionate Leonore with a secure technique.”
Summer 2017 marks a return to a favorite role as Turandot in Des Moines Metro Opera and a debut with Opera Steamboat where she will sing Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana. The fall brings Ms. LoBianco home to Chicago for her debut in Die Walküre with The Lyric Opera Chicago. The 17/18 season continues with her Strauss Debut as Ariadne auf Naxos with Austin Lyric Opera and her retrun to Seattle Opera for Verdi’s masterpiece Aida.
In the summer of 2016 Ms. LoBianco joined the roster of Santa Fe Opera for its production of La fanciulla del West. Her engagements in the 2016-17 include a return to Wiener Staatoper as Helmwige in Die Walküre on tour in Japan, and her debut with Dallas Opera as Miss Jessel in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw.. and brings her back to the works of Verdi with her home state Debut at Florida Grand Opera in Un Ballo in Maschera.
In 2015-16 Ms. LoBianco sang the title role in Aida with Opera Colorado, the title role in Tosca with Minnesota Opera, and joined the roster of the Metropolitan Opera for its production of Il trovatore. In the summer of 2015 Ms. LoBianco sang Minnie in La fanciulla del West with Des Moines Metro Opera, and the title role in Tosca with PORTopera in Maine.
Her engagements in the 2014-15 season include Donna Anna in Don Giovanni for her Seattle Opera debut, Leonore in Fidelio in a return to Madison Opera, Minnie in La fanciulla del West for debuts with Des Moines Metro Opera, the title role in Tosca with Opera Grand Rapids, a recital at Columbia College (SC), and joining the roster of Lyric Opera of Chicago for its production of Tosca.
Previous highlights include her Opera Santa Barbara debut as Magda Sorel in Menotti’s The Consul, a Verdi concert in Zürich, Amelia in Un ballo in maschera with Madison Opera, soloist in Rachmaninoff’s The Bells with Madison Symphony, and soloist for Madison Opera’s summer concert series Opera in the Park. With Union Avenue Opera she has performed the title role in Turandot, Brünnhilde in Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung, as well as Leonora in Il travatore.
An advocate of music education, Ms. LoBianco is a respected vocal instructor who has mentored numerous students, and is the recipient of many prestigious vocal competition awards.
Summer 2017 marks a return to a favorite role as Turandot in Des Moines Metro Opera and a debut with Opera Steamboat where she will sing Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana. The fall brings Ms. LoBianco home to Chicago for her debut in Die Walküre with The Lyric Opera Chicago. The 17/18 season continues with her Strauss Debut as Ariadne auf Naxos with Austin Lyric Opera and her retrun to Seattle Opera for Verdi’s masterpiece Aida.
In the summer of 2016 Ms. LoBianco joined the roster of Santa Fe Opera for its production of La fanciulla del West. Her engagements in the 2016-17 include a return to Wiener Staatoper as Helmwige in Die Walküre on tour in Japan, and her debut with Dallas Opera as Miss Jessel in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw.. and brings her back to the works of Verdi with her home state Debut at Florida Grand Opera in Un Ballo in Maschera.
In 2015-16 Ms. LoBianco sang the title role in Aida with Opera Colorado, the title role in Tosca with Minnesota Opera, and joined the roster of the Metropolitan Opera for its production of Il trovatore. In the summer of 2015 Ms. LoBianco sang Minnie in La fanciulla del West with Des Moines Metro Opera, and the title role in Tosca with PORTopera in Maine.
Her engagements in the 2014-15 season include Donna Anna in Don Giovanni for her Seattle Opera debut, Leonore in Fidelio in a return to Madison Opera, Minnie in La fanciulla del West for debuts with Des Moines Metro Opera, the title role in Tosca with Opera Grand Rapids, a recital at Columbia College (SC), and joining the roster of Lyric Opera of Chicago for its production of Tosca.
Previous highlights include her Opera Santa Barbara debut as Magda Sorel in Menotti’s The Consul, a Verdi concert in Zürich, Amelia in Un ballo in maschera with Madison Opera, soloist in Rachmaninoff’s The Bells with Madison Symphony, and soloist for Madison Opera’s summer concert series Opera in the Park. With Union Avenue Opera she has performed the title role in Turandot, Brünnhilde in Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung, as well as Leonora in Il travatore.
An advocate of music education, Ms. LoBianco is a respected vocal instructor who has mentored numerous students, and is the recipient of many prestigious vocal competition awards.