Dayton Opera welcomes Artists-in-Residence

It’s always exciting to welcome young people to our Miami Valley arts community.

At the moment, we’re talking about the four young vocalists who will be Artists-in-Residence for the Dayton Opera: soprano Chelsea Friedlander, mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Frey, tenor Brian Skoog, and bass-baritone Vincent Grana. The four will perform in the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual presentation of Handel’s “Messiah” and begin their official residencies in early February.

The Dayton Opera Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program was established in 1987 as a professional training program for young singers, providing a bridge between the university/conservatory education experience and a professional opera company. This season marks the program’s 30th year.

The talented young people will also introduce opera to students throughout our area. Luke Dennis, WYSO’s Development Director, is writer and director of “Dueling Divas: A Singing Showdown.” He says these young performers aren’t just great singers, they’re great actors as well and bring a sense of experimentation and playfulness to their performances. His program is presented in cooperation with Muse Machine.

In addition, the young performers present “Cooking up Opera,” also directed by Dennis, but geared more towards younger school-aged children. In addition to 40 educational programs, the newcomers will appear in Dayton Opera and Dayton Philharmonic concerts. We’ll keep you updated about their whereabouts.

Help choose library art for new Southeast branch

Patrons of the Dayton Metro Library’s Belmont and East Branches can cast their votes December on the artwork that will serve as inspiration for new pieces at the Southeast Branch Library. This Library will be a completely new facility, a consolidation of the Belmont and East branches, and will be located near Belmont High School.

From Dec. 12 to Jan. 9, voters will choose two pieces from among five options in the Dayton Art Institute collection. The options are a Georgia O’Keefe painting called “Purple Leaves”; a contemporary glass and mixed-media piece by Therman Statom; a wooden slit gong from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; an abstract work by Milton Avery; and a contemporary still life by Janet Fish. Images of all five options, descriptions and their rationale for inclusion can be found on the Library’s website, DaytonMetroLibrary.org.

You can also cast a vote in person at the East Branch Library, 2008 Wyoming St., the Belmont Branch Library, 1041 Watervliet Ave., or online at DaytonMetroLibrary.org. Once the pieces have been chosen by the public, artist proposals will be requested.

Thanks to an anonymous gift, ReImagining Works places original art installations in each new or newly remodeled Dayton Metro Library. Artwork has already been installed at the Electra C. Doren, Miami Township, Northwest, New Lebanon, Brookville, Kettering-Moraine and Vandalia Branch Libraries.

Photographer will talk at DAI

An artist talk with acclaimed photographer Richard Mosse will be held at The Dayton Art Institute at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16.

Mosse’s work, as well as the work of Edward Burtynsky, is featured in museum’s special exhibition — “Ravaged Sublime: Landscape Photography in the 21st Century” — on view through Jan. 8. Tickets are $5 for museum members and $10 for non-members.

In other DAI news, the Berry Wing of European Art, which has been closed for renovation work, will reopen on Wednesday, Jan. 4.

Free Bach’s Lunch will feature Carillon Brass

Two informal free concerts featuring the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra’s Carillon Brass are slated for 10 a.m. and noon on Friday, Dec. 16 at the Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St., third floor. All five members of the Carillon Brass are members of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.

The program will feature traditional holiday favorites as well as other music for brass instruments. Members of the Carillon Brass are Charles Pagnard, DPO Principal Trumpet; Alan Siebert, DPO Second Trumpet; Aaron Brant, DPO Principal French Horn; Chad Arnow, DPO Bass Trombone; and Tim Northcut, DPO Principal Tuba.

Complimentary coffee from Boston Stoker will be available beginning at 9 a.m. when the doors open and David Boston of Boston’s Bistro & Pub will once again have his traditional turkey and cheddar croissant “Bach’s lunches” available for purchase.

This lovely holiday tradition is sponsored by the Richard A. and Mary T. Whitney Fund. Best to come early, as there is typically a crowd for the event.

Skype with author at West Carrolton library

Meredith Russo, the author of “If I Was Your Girl,” will join the Dayton Metro Library’s “Proud Reads Book Club” via Skype at 4-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. The special event will take place at the West Carrollton Branch Library, 300 E. Central Ave. The event is free and open to the public.

Russo’s novel tells the story of Amanda Hardy, a transsexual teen trying to make friends and fit in at high school. Her book was partially inspired by her own experience as a trans woman.

Proud Reads meets each month, inviting teens in grades 9-12 to read and talk about LGBTQ books. The author welcomes questions and conversation during her Skype visit. Two autographed copies of the book will be given away at the event.

For more information, call the Library at (937) 463-BOOK or visit DaytonMetroLibrary.org.

Dayton Literary Peace Prize fundraiser announced

At the recent Dayton Literary Peace Prize weekend, co-founder Sharon Rab announced a new initiative which will help provide peace prize books to libraries and schools around the world.

The “Fly With the Doves Book Circle” will provide a Peace Prize-winning book for every $25 you donate. “Our first recipient of a complete set of books from the inception of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize will be the National Library at Sarajevo’s City Hall in Bosnia,” Rab explains. “This library, where more than two million books were destroyed when it was fire-bombed during the Bosnian War, was restored to its original glory in 2014.”

With your membership, you will also be listed as one of the “Book Circle Doves” on the DLPP website. In addition, your membership can be made in honor or in memory of someone else and is fully tax-deductible. “We hope you will join in helping this program soar,” Rab says. For more information: Daytonliterarypeaceprize.org.

McCullough wins Combs Gate award

David McCullough, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author, has received the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) 14th Annual Combs Gates Award for his 2015 best-seller, “The Wright Brothers.” The book has been chosen as the Big Read for this year.

McCullough was presented the $20,000 cash prize at a special session during the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) 69th Annual Meeting & Convention in Orlando, Fla. Presenting McCullough his award were former NAHF Enshrinees Clay Lacy and Sean D. Tucker, accompanied by Amanda Wright-Lane, the great grand-niece of Orville and Wilbur Wright, and NAHF Chairman of the Board, William R. Harris. NAHF Enshrinement and Outreach Director Ron Kaplan led the presentation, which included the official, public announcement of its Enshrinee Class of 2017.

“The Wright Brothers” has been optioned as the source material for an upcoming mini-series about the brothers. Its author, McCullough, has twice received the Pulitzer Prize, for “Truman” and “John Adams,” and twice received the National Book Award, for “The Path Between the Seas” and “Mornings on Horseback.”

As part of a generous $1.3 million gift to help fund the creation of a NAHF research center, the late Harry Combs stipulated that the Combs Award be established to encourage and support relevant aviation history research and preservation efforts.

The award pays homage to Combs’ own research efforts behind his acclaimed 1979 book, “Kill Devil Hill: Discovering the Secrets of the Wright Brothers.” Combs was inspired to write the book after close friend and fellow NAHF enshrinee, the late Neil Armstrong, presented him a bound collection of the Wright Brothers’ personal papers.

DCCA presents “A Christmas Carol”

Darke County Center for the Arts will present Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at Henry St. Clair Memorial Hall in Greenville at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17. The popular classic tale of redemption and joy will be performed by the National Touring Company of the North County Center for the Arts.

The production stars Scott H. Severance as miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. Severance is also the director. Tickets are $25 for adults and half-price for students, and can be purchased by contacting DCCA at (937) 547-0908 or dcca@centerforarts.net, and at DCCA’s office located within Greenville Public Library as well as online at www.CenterForArts.net. If any remain by showtime, tickets will also be available at the door prior to the performance.


Arts writer Meredith Moss shares news about the people and events making arts news in our region. If you have information you’d like to see included, contact Meredith: MMoss@coxohio.com

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