Brevard

In the summer of 2002, I began my association with the Janiec Opera Company at the Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina. I was first employed as a Guest Director and staged 8 operas and musicals over the next 4 years. After a two year hiatus I was asked to take over and run Janiec Opera Company, as well as the opera training program.

The Janiec Opera Company enrolls 35–40 college-aged and pre-professional singers who aspire to careers in the opera world. Brevard offers stage experience in addition to daily rehearsals, coaching, and classes. Topics in classes include acting, diction, the audition process, and the business of opera. Visiting opera professionals present Master Classes, and there is a daily movement class.

The opera productions are fully produced: newly designed sets, costumes and lighting. All are performed with full orchestra. In addition there are opera scenes programs performed in alternate spaces with piano. Some students are also given additional opportunities to do concert pieces with full orchestra.

As my career progressed, I found that, more and more, I wanted to pass what I knew on to a future generation. I now see it as one of the goals of my career to train the future generation of opera professionals. At the Janiec Opera Company, we strive to train not only singers, but coaches, directors, designers and production staff.

What follows is a representation of a number of the productions that I have directed, and many that I have produced, at Brevard.