My Weirdest Gig
by Kathleen Brauer Some of the most peculiar gigs I've played were with a string quartet. One was at Eagle Tavern in Greenfield Village,...
top of page
Search
amyhessmusic
- Mar 8
- 1 min
Opera in the Movies
by Neil Kimel One way to learn about the composers of your favorite operas is to watch films about their lives. While there have been...
49 views0 comments
amyhessmusic
- Feb 29
- 3 min
Welcome Heesoo Kim, Principal Clarinet
by Melissa Trier Kirk Heesoo won the Principal Clarinet position with us last summer and started playing here in the fall. He graciously...
69 views0 comments
amyhessmusic
- Dec 15, 2023
- 5 min
MAESTRA SPERANZA SCAPPUCCI: DRIVING DONIZETTI
By Rebecca Oliverio A few members of our newsletter team sat down with Speranza Scappucci, conductor of La fille du régiment. She gives...
45 views0 comments
amyhessmusic
- Nov 23, 2023
- 3 min
Jean Berkenstock: February 6, 1934 - October 3, 2023
On October 3, 2023, the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra lost a cherished colleague, former Principal Flute, Jean Berkenstock. Jean served...
112 views0 comments
amyhessmusic
- Oct 12, 2023
- 2 min
Summer Postcards
By Melissa Trier Kirk The summer found some of our orchestra members scattered around the globe performing and teaching while others...
38 views0 comments
amyhessmusic
- Oct 5, 2023
- 2 min
Five Powerful Uses of Wagner's Music In Films
By Neil Kimel Within his complex operas, Wagner assigns characters and certain thematic elements musical "leitmotifs". These themes alert...
73 views0 comments
amyhessmusic
- Sep 28, 2023
- 3 min
Introducing Emily Nebel, Assistant Concertmaster
by Rebecca Oliverio One of our more recently appointed members of the orchestra is Assistant Concertmaster Emily Nebel. This role is...
63 views0 comments
amyhessmusic
- Sep 28, 2023
- 1 min
Introducing Paul Leuders, Principal Oboe
by Neil Kimel After our beloved Judith Kulb retired at the end of last season, Paul Lueders was asked to play the important position of...
137 views0 comments
amyhessmusic
- Sep 28, 2023
- 3 min
Frank Babbitt: April 25, 1959 - February 10, 2023
by Melissa Trier Kirk This February, the Lyric Opera Orchestra lost a cherished colleague, violist Frank Babbitt, who passed away after a...
82 views0 comments
chicagolyricoperao
- Dec 18, 2022
- 2 min
Playing for the Ukrainian Children
Susan Warner, Acting Principal Clarinet, and Ian Hallas, Principal Bass, demonstrating their instruments for the group Neil Kimel, horn...
47 views0 comments
chicagolyricoperao
- Dec 16, 2022
- 2 min
Full Circle
Olivia as Gretel, StaatsoperHamburg, Germany 2022 Soprano Olivia Boen, daughter of Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra violinist Laura Miller...
45 views0 comments
Lewis Kirk, Assistant Principal Bassoon and Contrabassoon
- Dec 14, 2022
- 1 min
Weirdest Gig I've Played
When I was in music school in New York City, some friends and I played most weekends on the streets of Manhattan for spare change (and...
55 views0 comments
chicagolyricoperao
- Dec 12, 2022
- 1 min
Aria Ready for Dessert?
If you are looking for the perfect gift for that special someone who loves music and baking, look no further! Created by mezzo-soprano...
30 views0 comments
Melissa Trier Kirk, Viola
- Oct 19, 2022
- 3 min
A Fiddler on the Roof and an Accordionist in the Pit
An accordion in the Lyric Opera Orchestra is a rare occurrence. We’ve been fortunate to have consummate accordionist Ronnie Kuller with...
191 views0 comments
Sam Shuhan, Assistant Principal Bass
- Oct 17, 2022
- 3 min
Santa Fe Opera Welcomes Ian Hallas
I recently had a chance to sit down with Lyric Opera Principal Bassist, Ian Hallas to discuss his recent success in winning the Principal...
140 views0 comments
Sam Shuhan, Assistant Principal Bass
- Oct 15, 2022
- 3 min
"The Strangest Gig I've Ever Played"
The strangest gig I ever played was for a music video while I was living in Los Angeles. Let me elaborate... Back in early February of...
56 views0 comments
chicagolyricoperao
- Jul 28, 2022
- 1 min
Opera Musicians Get out of the Pit and into the Wild
Principal Horn and teacher at Northwestern University Jonathan Boen, and former Principal Horn Gail Williams, attended the Northwestern...
63 views0 comments
Rebecca Oliverio, Acting Assistant Principal Trumpet
- Jul 26, 2022
- 2 min
A Teacher in Two Cities
For many professional orchestral musicians, teaching in their primary cities is a normal part of their career choice. However, fewer...
48 views0 comments
Melissa Trier Kirk, Viola
- Jul 24, 2022
- 2 min
A Link in a Musical Chain
For cellist Walter Preucil, teaching is an essential part of life. He has taught privately in his Schaumburg home since he joined the...
135 views0 comments
bottom of page