Staff Report
Award-winning vocalists Geoffrey Hahn and Dorothy Gal, accompanied by pianist John Churchwell, will perform a recital of selections from opera, musical theater and the classical repertoire at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10, at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Church in Los Olivos.
Entitled “Summer Nights,” the non-religious, non-sectarian community arts program will feature the music of Richard Strauss, Gerald Finzi and Tom Cipullo and selections from operas and musical theater.
“Celebrate summer with an evening of gorgeous songs performed by thrilling artists in a beautiful venue ideally suited for music,’” said Linda Burrows, the director of the Santa Ynez Valley Classical Music Series.
Baritone Geoffrey Hahn is a Vocal Fellow at the internationally acclaimed Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, where he performed the role of Sam in Bernstein’s “Trouble in Tahiti.” This fall, he will join the Houston Grand Opera Studio and make his company debut as Schaunard in “La bohème,” a role he performed to great acclaim in his orchestra debut with the Rochester Philharmonic.
The Santa Barbara native has performed leading roles in “Cosi fan tutte” and “Carmen” at the Aspen Opera Theater and in “Tosca” at Wolf Trap as well as roles in “Carousel” and “The Light in the Piazza.”
Soprano Dorothy Gal recently won second place in the Houston Grand Opera’s Eleanor McCollum Competition, participated in Marilyn Horne’s “The Song Continues” workshop at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and was a Vocal Fellow at Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute.
She also will join the Houston Grand Opera as a studio artist this season and make her company debut as Zerlina in “Don Giovanni.”
She has performed featured roles in “Gianni Schicchi,” “Rusalka,” “Manon” and “Little Women.”
She is also an accomplished pianist and was a New Horizons Fellow at the Aspen Summer Music Festival.
John Churchwell is considered one of the leading collaborative pianists of his generation. Since 2011, he has been the Head of Music at the San Francisco Opera, and previously he was an assistant conductor for both the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and the San Francisco Opera.
He has collaborated with some of the world’s leading conductors, including James Levine, James Conlon and Fabio Luisi. He is a champion of American music and has prepared numerous world premieres, notably John Harbison’s “The Great Gatsby” and Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking.”
Since 2000, he has served on the distinguished faculty of the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara.
The suggested ticket donation for the “Summer Nights” recital is $15 for adults and $5 for students, which includes an opportunity to meet and greet the artists after their performance. Tickets will be available at the door; to reserve “Will Call” tickets in advance, to be paid for and picked up at the door, email info@SMITV.org.
Known for its vibrant acoustics, St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church is at 2901 Nojoqui Ave. in Los Olivos, one block west of the downtown flagpole.
