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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,...
amyhessmusic
Mar 14, 20241 min read
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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...
amyhessmusic
Mar 7, 20241 min read
66 views
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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...
amyhessmusic
Feb 29, 20243 min read
171 views
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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...
amyhessmusic
Dec 15, 20235 min read
52 views
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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...
amyhessmusic
Nov 23, 20233 min read
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Summer Postcards
By Melissa Trier Kirk The summer found some of our orchestra members scattered around the globe performing and teaching while others...
amyhessmusic
Oct 12, 20232 min read
42 views
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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...
amyhessmusic
Oct 5, 20232 min read
133 views
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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...
amyhessmusic
Sep 28, 20233 min read
444 views
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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...
amyhessmusic
Sep 28, 20231 min read
221 views
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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...
amyhessmusic
Sep 28, 20233 min read
169 views
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Playing for the Ukrainian Children
Susan Warner, Acting Principal Clarinet, and Ian Hallas, Principal Bass, demonstrating their instruments for the group Neil Kimel, horn...
chicagolyricoperao
Dec 18, 20222 min read
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Full Circle
Olivia as Gretel, StaatsoperHamburg, Germany 2022 Soprano Olivia Boen, daughter of Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra violinist Laura Miller...
chicagolyricoperao
Dec 16, 20222 min read
48 views
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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...
Lewis Kirk, Assistant Principal Bassoon and Contrabassoon
Dec 14, 20221 min read
57 views
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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...
chicagolyricoperao
Dec 12, 20221 min read
31 views
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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...
Melissa Trier Kirk, Viola
Oct 19, 20223 min read
222 views
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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...
Sam Shuhan, Assistant Principal Bass
Oct 17, 20223 min read
146 views
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"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...
Sam Shuhan, Assistant Principal Bass
Oct 15, 20223 min read
56 views
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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...
chicagolyricoperao
Jul 28, 20221 min read
78 views
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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...
Rebecca Oliverio, Acting Assistant Principal Trumpet
Jul 26, 20222 min read
52 views
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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...
Melissa Trier Kirk, Viola
Jul 24, 20222 min read
171 views
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