On May 19th, an interactive opera concert will be presented in the William Kelley High School auditorium. The featured artists will be Heather Hjelle, soprano; Janese Pentico, soprano; Thomas McNichols, tenor; and Hong Liang Andre Ng, pianist. Prior to the concert, the artists will have a three-day residency with William Kelley students.
The concert is titled “The Every Person’s Guide to Opera” and is sponsored by the Northern Lake County Arts Board. As an interactive concert, artists will share information about the scenes performed and key elements to watch for. The audience is encouraged to ask questions about the pieces being performed, as well as inquiring about the role of opera in Western classical tradition and the “human drama at the core of opera.” The Every Person’s Guide to Opera is intended to be both entertaining and educational.
Heather Hjelle is the Executive Director of the Every Person’s Guide to Opera. She has sung with the American Wagner Project and has performed internationally with Operafestival di Roma. Currently, Hjelle teaches vocal lessons at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato.
Janese Pentico is a former William Kelley student. She has taught music education and performed with
the Midwest Institute of Opera, the Operafestival di Roma, the New York Lyric Opera Theatre, and more. The Every Person’s Guide to Opera will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 19th. Tickets are $15 for adults and available at the door. Students and children are encouraged to attend free of charge. The performance will conclude a 23 year his-tory of the Northern Lake County Arts Board “bringing arts enrichment to William Kelley School and northern Lake County communities.”
