July 8-18, 2021 - Val Underwood Artistic Director - Hawaii Performing Arts Festival
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July 8-18, 2021 Val Underwood Artistic Director
From the
Executive Director
Dear Friends: to offer a world-class training and
performance program, to improve
Throughout
education, and to elevate the spirit of
history, global
all who participate.
pandemics have
shaped society, We are delighted to begin our season
culture, and with Stars of Tomorrow, featuring
institutions. As many successful young alumni of our
we find ourselves Young Singer Program—including
exiting the Becca Barrett, Stacee Firestone, and
COVID-19 crisis, one pandemic and many others. Under the direction
subsequent recovery that comes to of both Beth Dunnington and Val
mind is the bubonic plague—or Black Underwood, this performance will
Death—which devastated Europe and celebrate the art of storytelling in its
Asia in the 14th century. There was a most simple and elegant state. The
silver lining, however, as it’s believed season also includes performances
that the socio-economic impacts of by many of our very own, long-
the Plague on European society— time Festival favorites, and two of
particularly in Italy—helped create Broadway’s finest, including HPAF
the conditions necessary for what is Alumna and 1st Place Winner of
arguably the greatest post-pandemic the 2020 HPAF Musical Theatre
recovery of all time—the Renaissance. Competition, Nyla Watson (Wicked,
The Color Purple).
Though our 2021 Summer Festival
is not what was initially envisioned, As we enter the recovery phase and
we are thrilled to return to in-person many of us eagerly await a return to
programming for the first time in 24 “normal,” let’s remember one thing: we
months. For the first time ever, all in- are not normal—we are extraordinary.
person performances will be broadcast This is our time, our recovery—this is
live via Kahilu.TV. The Journey Back our Renaissance.
celebrates HPAF’s gradual and long-
awaited return. Though each of With aloha,
our challenges are not yet distant
memories, we at HPAF are committed
to upholding our mission: to promote
the appreciation and advancement of Justin John Moniz,
classical music and musical theatre, Executive Director
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 3
About Hawai‘i
Performing
Arts Festival
N
ow preparing for its 17th During the fall, winter, and
season on the Big Island, spring months, HPAF offers
Hawai‘i Performing Arts special performances to help
Festival brings some of the most support scholarships for aspiring
talented young musicians from young artists to attend the
Hawaii, the U.S., Canada, Australia, festival each summer. The
Asia, Africa, the Middle East, recent 2021 High Season Series
South America, and Europe to included The Music of the Night
the Big Island each summer for with Bronson Norris Murphy,
intensive study and performance IDEAs: A Musical Celebration and
training, affording young artists Roundtable Discussion, and
the opportunity perform with Home for the Holidays.
professional musicians under
the guidance of some of the
world’s most established
teachers and mentors. The Mission
results are astonishing. Statement
During the 2019 Summer Festival, HPAF is a non-profit
more than 20 concerts and staged organization whose
performances were presented, mission is to promote
giving HPAF participants invaluable the appreciation and
experience and the privilege of advancement of classical
appearing on stage with with top music and musical theater,
musical artists in their field. All to offer a world-class music
performances were produced at training and performance
various venues around the Big program in the inspirational
Island. The 2020 Virtual Summer setting of Hawaii, and to
Festival featured 14 free concerts, improve the education and
masterclasses, and special events, elevate the spirit of all who
featuring a world-class roster participate, especially the
of artists, attended by over local community.
3,000 viewers, both locally and
internationally.
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 4
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67
Support The Arts
H
awai‘i Performing Arts Festival has recently revamped its
giving programs so that donors can not only feel part of a
dedicated family of supporters but can come closer to the
world-class music they help to create!
We invite you to join our loyal ohana
of HPAF supporters today.
Give the gift of music and Find Your Aloha
with us this season in paradise.
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 6
Mahalo
HPAF would not be possible without the
continued support, loyalty, and enthusiasm
of so many contributors and partners.
This season, we are especially grateful for
the overwhelming support of the following:
GOLD SEASON SPONSOR ($20,000-$49,999)
Margareta & Staffan Encrantz
SILVER SEASON SPONSOR ($10,000-$19,999)
Carol & Clive Davies
Deviants from the Norm
BRONZE SEASON SPONSOR ($5,000-$9,999)
The Lematta Foundation
Laura Benz
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 7
Mahalo
HPAF MEMBER ($1,500-$4,999)
Lynne Schneider & Dick Fusch
HPAF SUPPORTER ($100-$1,499)
Marilyn & Carl Bernhardt
Carol Brown
Natalia Bychkova
Michael Cromwell
Paul & Charlene Dahlquist
Duncan Dempster
Robert Donigan
Betty Eavis & Jim Monk
Genevieve Firestone
Steve Kaplan
Karla Miller
Sheldon Meier
Justin John Moniz
William Stull
Michael Thompson
Joanne & David Turner
Val Underwood
*Gifts received by 6/15 in support of our 2021 Summer Festival have been
acknowledged above. All others will be acknowledged via our website.
PRODUCING PARTNER HOUSING DONORS
Kahilu Theatre Foundation Andy Czajkowski
Paul & Charlene Dahlquist
MEDIA PARTNERS Duncan Dempster
Hawaii Public Radio The Kent-Meschke Ohana
A very special mahalo to
Big Island Music Magazine Ramona Naone for keeping our
donated accommodations clean!
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 8
INSTRUMENTALISTS
Daniel Davidson, Bass
Daniel Davidson is a double bass player from Plano, Texas
studying Music Education at the University of North Texas. He
is studying under the direction of Gudrun Raschen, as well as
receiving masterclasses and instruction from Jeff Bradetich and
Lynn Seaton. Absolutely thrilled to be playing here, he would
like to thank Dr. Raschen for giving him this opportunity and his
parents for making it happen.
Jeffry Eckels, Electric Bass
Bassist, composer, teacher and recording artist Jeffry Eckels has
been playing since the age of 12. Since that time, he has performed
professionally in a multitude of styles with well-know artists from
around the globe. He’s been involved in recordings that feature
rock to jazz and everything in between. He was the bassist on the
Oscar winning “El Otra Lado del Rio” from the movie Motorcycle
Diaries. He has taught privately, on the college level and presented
masterclasses to all ages. For 16 years he played live jazz on Public Radio Internationals’
most popular show, “Whad Ya Know, with Michael Feldman.” As a longtime member of
the International Society of Bassists, Jeffry has been honored with the invitation to offer
workshops at their prestigious convention. As well as studying privately with a host of
internationally recognized artists, he is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, Boston;
University of Wisconsin, Madison and currently ABD from the University of North Texas,
Denton. Jeffry performs as the pops bassist for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and is
a sought-after free lance musician on both electric and acoustic bass. Jeffry states that,
“my love of teaching is an extension of my passion for performance!”
24
The HPAF Legacy
F
or the past 17 years, Hawai‘i Performing
Arts Festival has continued to provide
world-class training and performance
opportunities to aspiring young artists, both
from Hawai‘i Island and worldwide.
Following their time at HPAF, our esteemed
alumni have gone on to grace some of the
world’s greatest stages, most notably The
Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera,
English National Opera, Royal Opera House,
Florida Grand Opera, Los Angeles Opera,
and have appeared in film and television, on
Broadway, National Tours, and regionally.
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 10Alumni
in Action
HPAF is proud to share some of the recent achievements of
our many wonderful alumni. Please join us in celebrating these
remarkable artists — many of whom got their start at HPAF.
Derrell Acon (Professional
Fellow Alumnus) has been
appointed Associate Artistic
Director & Chief Impact Officer of
Long Beach Opera. During his time
at HPAF, Derrell sang the role of
Leporello in Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 11Alumni
in Action
Matthew Greenberg (Stage
Directing Fellow Alumnus) was
recently appointed Visiting Assistant
Professor of Musical Theatre at West
Virginia University. He will teach four
courses and direct the program’s
mainstage musical this fall. During
his time at HPAF, Matt served as
Assistant Director of Stephen
Sondheim’s Company.
Cecilia Violetta Lopez
(Developing Singer) recently
reprised the role of Violetta in
Verdi’s La traviata with the Pacific
Symphony. During her time at
HPAF, Cecilia sang the title role in
Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di
Poppea.
Makeda Hampton (Developing
Singer) recently earned the Doctor
of Musical Arts degree from the
University of Kentucky. During her
time at HPAF, Makeda performed in
opera scenes and various concerts
across the Big Island.
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 12Alumni
in Action
Jesse Mashburn (Developing
Singer Alumna) joins the apprentice
program at Merola Opera this
summer. During her time at HPAF,
Jesse sang the role of Bradamante
in Handel’s Alcina.
Ethan Burck (Developing Singer
Alumnus) joins the apprentice
program at Santa Fe Opera this
summer. During his two seasons at
HPAF, Ethan sang the roles of Don
José in The Tragedy of Carmen and
Nanki-Poo in The Mikado.
Emily Treigle Sheets
(Developing Singer Alumna)
was recently named a Grand
Prize Winner in the Metropolitan
Opera National Council
Auditions. During her time at
HPAF, Emily sang the role of
Bradamante in Handel’s Alcina.
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 13Alumni
in Action
Stacee Firestone (Young
Singer Alumna) recently completed
her first year of study at the San
Francisco Conservatory of Music.
During her time at HPAF, Stacee
appeared in countless concerts
and productions including Mozart’s
Le nozze di Figaro and the HPAF
Young Singer Showcase.
Robert Cardwell (Professional
Fellow Alumnus) recently earned
the Doctor of Musical Arts degree
from the University of North Texas
and began an appointment as
Assistant Professor of Voice at
Northwestern State University.
During his time at HPAF, Robert
sang the role of Frederich Bhaer in
Mark Adamo’s Little Women.
Logan Tanner (Professional
Fellow Alumnus) recently won
first place in The New Opera Stars
Vocal Competition (Germany),
The 2021 Ise-Shima International
Singing Competition (Japan), and
The 6th Annual Vano Visioli Opera
Competition. During his time at
HPAF, Logan sang the role of
Ruggerio in Handel’s Alcina.
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 14STARS OF
TOMORROW
A special co-presentation with
THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 | 7PM | KAHILU THEATRE
Beth Dunnington Val Underwood
STAGE DIRECTOR MUSIC DIRECTOR
THE COMPANY:
Becca Barrett, Stacee Firestone, Eric Gee, Daniel Gregg,
Noelani Loughery-Kawaihoa, Benito Mercia,
Patanjali Raul, and Grace Todd
This evening’s performance is sponsored by Marilyn & Carl Bernhardt,
Robert Donigan, and Kahilu Theatre.
The 2021 Summer Festival is sponsored by: Margareta & Staffan Encrantz (Gold Season Sponsor),
Carol & Clive Davies (Silver Season Sponsor), Deviants from the Norm (Silver Season Sponsor),
The Lematta Foundation (Bronze Season Sponsor), and Laura Benz (Bronze Season Sponsor).
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 16STARS OF TOMORROW
The Program
The New World, from Songs for a Gaston, from Beauty and the Beast
New World (Jason Robert Brown) (Alan Menken)
Full Company Eric Gee and Patanjali Raul
Tonight at Eight, from She Loves Me The Glamorous Life, from A Little
(Jerry Bock) Night Music (Stephen Sondheim)
Becca Barrett
Daniel Gregg
Almost Like Being In Love
A Boy Like That / I Have A Love, (Frederick Loewe)
from West Side Story (Leonard Stacee Firestone and Daniel Gregg
Bernstein)
Becca Barrett and Grace Todd
Unworthy Of Your Love, from
Assassins (Stephen Sondheim)
The Light in the Piazza, from The Noelani Loughery-Kawaihoa and
Light in the Piazza (Adam Guettel) Benito Mercia
Stacee Firestone
What More Do I Need, from
I Wish I May, from The Witches of Saturday Night (Stephen Sondheim)
Eastwick (Dana Rowe) Grace Todd
Becca Barrett, Stacee Firestone,
Grace Todd Giants in the Sky, from Into the
Woods (Stephen Sondeim)
Benito Mercia
Luck Be A Lady, from Guys and
Dolls (Frank Loesser)
Eric Gee, Daniel Gregg, Benito Mercia, Mama Who Bore Me, from Spring
Patanjali Raul Awakening (Duncan Sheik)
Stacee Firestone with Becca Barrett,
Noelani Loughery-Kawaihoa,
Mira, from Carnival (Bob Merrill) Grace Todd
Noelani Loughery-Kawaihoa
Children Will Listen, from Into the
I Feel Pretty, from West Side Story Woods (Stephen Sondheim)
(Leonard Bernstein) Beth Dunnington and Full Company
Grace Todd, Becca Barrett,
Stacee Firestone, Songs of Purple Summer, from
Noelani Loughery-Kawaihoa Spring Awakening (Duncan Sheik)
Full Company
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 17SONGS
OF HOPE
THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2021 | 7PM | KAHILU THEATRE
Rachel Copeland Val Underwood
SOPRANO PIANO
This evening’s performance is sponsored by Lynne Schneider & Dick Fusch, Michael Thompson,
Betty Eavis & Jim Monk, and Kahilu Theatre..
The 2021 Summer Festival is sponsored by: Margareta & Staffan Encrantz (Gold Season Sponsor),
Carol & Clive Davies (Silver Season Sponsor), Deviants from the Norm (Silver Season Sponsor),
The Lematta Foundation (Bronze Season Sponsor), and Laura Benz (Bronze Season Sponsor).
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 18SONGS OF HOPE
The Program
The Year’s at the Spring - Amy Beach (1867-1944)
If I - Lori Laitman (1955)
A Horse With Wings - Ricky Ian Gordon (1956)
An die Musik - Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Morgen! - Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Piano solo (to be announced)
Ain’t it a Pretty Night (Susannah) - Carlysle Floyd (1926)
Nocturne - Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Chanson d’amour - Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)
L’heure exquise - Reynaldo Hahn (1874-1947)
Piano solo (to be announced)
I Wish It So - Marc Blitzstein (1905-1964)
You’ll Never Walk Alone (Carousel) - Richard Rodgers (1902-1979)
Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960)
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 19ALONG
THE WAY
FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021 | 7PM | KAHILU THEATRE
Justin John Moniz Phil Kadet
VOCALS PIANO
This evening’s performance is sponsored by Hawaii Public Radio, Steve Kaplan, and Kahilu Theatre.
The 2021 Summer Festival is made possible thanks to the generous support of:
Margareta & Staffan Encrantz (Gold Season Sponsor), Carol & Clive Davies (Silver Season Sponsor),
Deviants from the Norm (Silver Season Sponsor), The Lematta Foundation (Bronze Season Sponsor),
and Laura Benz (Bronze Season Sponsor).
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 20ALONG THE WAY
The Program
*She Cries, Songs for a New World (Jason Robert Brown)
I. A DREAM
*Go the Distance, from Hercules (Alan Menken)
*Blue Skies (Irving Berlin)
II. NEW LOVE
*Night and Day (Cole Porter)
Almost Like Being In Love (Frederick Loewe)
*Embraceable You (George Gershwin)
III. BEGINNING OF THE END
*I’d Rather Be Sailing, from A New Brain (William Finn)
Written In The Stars, from Aida (Elton John)
*Flight (Craig Carnelia)
IV. ISOLATION
*No One Is Alone, from Into the Woods (Stephen Sondheim)
*Not A Day Goes By, from Merrily We Roll Along (Stephen Sondheim)
I’d Give It All For You, from Songs for a New World (Jason Robert Brown)
V. SIMPLE JOYS
*Bring Him Home, from Les Misérables (C.M. Schoenberg)
Special Announcement
*My Favorite Things (Richard Rodgers)
*From the album, Along the Way.
FULL ALBUM
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 21RISE UP!
SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021 | 4PM | KAHILU THEATRE
Nyla Watson Ana Flavia Zuim
VOCALS PIANO
This evening’s performance is sponsored by Paul & Charlene Dahlquist,
Duncan Dempster, and Kahilu Theatre.
The 2021 Summer Festival is sponsored by: Margareta & Staffan Encrantz (Gold Season Sponsor),
Carol & Clive Davies (Silver Season Sponsor), Deviants from the Norm (Silver Season Sponsor), The
Lematta Foundation (Bronze Season Sponsor), and Laura Benz (Bronze Season Sponsor).
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 22RISE UP!
The Program
Precious Lord (Mahalia Jackson)
Anything Goes, from Anything Goes (Cole Porter)
Burn, from Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda)
By The Sea, from Sweeney Todd (Stephen Sondheim)
Don’t Rain on My Parade, from Funny Girl (Jule Styne)
Strange Fruit (Billie Holiday)
Everything’s Coming Up Roses, from Gypsy (Jule Styne)
June Is Bustin’ Out All Over, from Carousel (Richard Rodgers)
Being Alive, from Company (Stephen Sondheim)
Born to Boogie, from Billy Elliot (Elton John)
I’m Here, from The Color Purple (Marsha Norman)
Wizard and I, from Wicked (Stephen Schwartz)
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 2315
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22Administration
Justin John Moniz*, Executive Director
Featured Artist, Along the Way
Dr. Justin John Moniz is recognized as one of the
preeminent voice teachers of classical, commercial,
and musical theatre voice in the United States. He
currently serves as Associate Director of Vocal
Pedagogy and Music Assistant Professor of Vocal
Performance at New York University’s (NYU) Steinhardt School where he
leads the graduate vocal pedagogy program, teaches courses in pedagogical
theory and practice, applied voice, and directs the NYU Pop/Rock Ensemble.
Prior to joining the NYU faculty, Dr. Moniz served as Chair of Vocal Studies
at Millikin University and Visiting Instructor at the Oberlin Conservatory of
Music. Under his leadership as Executive Director of HPAF, the festival has
earned international acclaim and multiple awards for his productions of The
Mikado and Sweeney Todd. This season, HPAF is a four-time finalist in The
2021 American Prize Competitions in Opera Performance, Musical Theatre
Performance, Arts Education, and Arts Marketing (competition ongoing).
A three-time winner of The American Prize in Vocal Performance, Moniz’s
“superb high tenor” (South Florida Classical Review) and “commanding
stage presence” (TalkinBroadway.com) has been thrilling audiences in opera
houses, theaters, and concert halls across the nation, having sung over 90
roles to date with companies including Opera Grand Rapids, Utah Festival
Opera & Musical Theatre, Sarasota Opera, and Florida Grand Opera. A two-
time HPAF alumnus, Moniz holds the D.M. in Voice Performance from Florida
State University, a M.M. in Vocal Performance from the Frost School of Music
at the University of Miami, a B.M. in Vocal Performance from the Crane
School of Music, and a B.A. in Speech Communication and Rhetoric from
SUNY Potsdam. In addition, he earned the Executive Certificate in Nonprofit
Leadership from Duke University and the HBX Certificate in Sustainable
Business Strategy from Harvard Business School. Dr. Moniz has received
young alumni awards from all three of his alma maters, having most recently
been named one of Florida State University’s Notable Noles and University of
Miami’s 30 Under 30. In addition, he was awarded SUNY Potsdam’s Rising Star
Award. He is a proud member of the American Guild of Musical Artists, Actors’
Equity Association, National Association for Teachers of Singing, and the
National Opera Association. More information: www.justinjohnmoniz.com
* denotes HPAF Alumni
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 25Administration
Val Underwood, Artistic Director
Music Director/Featured Artist,
Stars of Tomorrow
Featured Artist, Songs of Hope
Val Underwood is Artistic Director and Co-Founder
of Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival. He is distinctive
for his equal skill as a pianist (the LA Times described
his playing as“exquisite”) and as a voice teacher. He has trained a number
of successful concert pianists, as well as singers who appear with numerous
companies world-wide.He has collaborated with principle players of the New
York and Los Angeles Philharmonics and with such artists as Mitchell Lurie,
Eudice Shapiro, Glenn Dicterow, Ofra Harnoy, Gary Gray, Jeannine Altmeyer,
Jennifer McGregor, Ricky Ian Gordon, Juliana Gondek, Yehuda and Kimaree
Gilad and Iggy Jang. His film and television performances include the award
winning documentary F. Chopin and the Masterpiece production of Willa
Cather’s The Song of the Lark. His teaching career has taken him regularly
to Los Angeles, New York and London and he guest lectures and conducts
Masterclasses at schools throughout the country. He studied piano with
Rita Hutcherson, Reginald Stewart, and at Manhattan School of Music with
Dora Zaslavsky. He worked for many years with Arminda Canteros (student
of Vincenzo Scaramuzza) and is considered one of the direct links to the
Scaramuzza school of piano. He trained in voice with Ernest St. John (Jack)
Metz and Martial Singher and accompanied in the studios of some of the
great singers/teachers of the century: Lotte Lehmann, George London, Rose
Bampton and Martial Singher. After directing programs in The Strawberry
Creek Festival and The Adriatic Chamber Music Festival, he co-founded
Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival in 2004 with his close friend Genette
Freeman. Since then, Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival has become a leading
summer study and performance program, has impacted the musical education
of hundreds of young musicians and annually brings esteemed professional
performers to audiences in the pristine setting of the Big Island of Hawaii. He
is honored that a number of his colleagues and former students have become
esteemed faculty members and staff of Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival.
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 26Administration
Scott Skiba, Assistant Artistic Director
Award-winning Stage Director Scott Skiba has led
more than 70 new productions, earning recognition
for his imaginative stage direction and dynamic
physical approach to storytelling that is “masterful…
ingenious…first-rate...vivid and emotionally charged.”
Scott serves as Executive Artistic Director of
Cleveland Opera Theater where his recent production of La Traviata was
named “the best professional opera production Cleveland has seen in years,”
and is the Production Director for Opera Western Reserve. Scott has made
multiple company debuts in recent years including Indianapolis Opera,
Pensacola Opera, Opera Tampa, Toledo Opera, Natchez Festival of Music,
Opera Grand Rapids, and Mobile Opera. A proponent of new opera, Scott
launched {NOW} Fest, Cleveland Opera Theater’s annual festival to create,
develop, and produce new opera, and he serves on the Chamber Opera
Composition Committee for the National Opera Association. A pioneer in
exploring contemporary approaches to producing opera, Scott’s work includes
directing and producing interdisciplinary collaborations in alternative and
site-specific venues to promote civic engagement and gateways to develop
new audiences. An advocate of arts education, Scott serves as Director of
Opera Studies for Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, Assistant Artistic Director
for Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival, and Movement / Acting Instructor
for Music Across The Pond. He is a frequent master class and workshop
teacher throughout the United States and in Europe. Previous appointments
include: Executive Director, Oberlin in Italy; Instructor of Voice and Opera
Theater, Interlochen Arts Academy; and Associate Instructor of Voice, Indiana
University Jacobs School of Music. Scott devised and directed the following
projects to continue collaboration amidst the impact of COVID-19: “Opera
ON DEMAND” for the Curtis Institute of Music, incorporating green screen,
video, and audio technology and remote collaboration; “A Taste of Traviata”
a cinematic on-site production adaptation of La Traviata for Opera Western
Reserve; and the “Operas in Place” project in collaboration with Baldwin
Wallace Conservatory, Cleveland Opera Theater, and On Site Opera in NYC
working with world-renowned composers and librettists set to premiere in a
virtual festival in August, 2021. Upcoming engagements include Don Giovanni
with Indianapolis Opera, and the World-premiere production of La Casa de
Bernarda Alba in Feb. 2022. More info: www.ScottSkiba.com
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 27Administration
Rachel E. Copeland, General Manager
Featured Artist, Songs of Hope
Rachel E. Copeland continues to receive acclaim as a
“revelation with her coloratura soprano leaping easily
to impossible heights!” She is a sought after artist
combining her crystalline voice with her compelling
and energetic stage presence. Ms. Copeland recently
debuted at Avery Fisher Hall as the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Coronation
Mass to rave reviews as well as performances with the Brussels Chamber
Orchestra in a concert of arias and duets. Other career highlights include
the Contessa in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro with Cleveland Opera Theater,
Frasquita in Bizet’s Carmen with San Diego Opera, Micaela in Peter Brook’s Le
tragédie de Carmen with Indianapolis Opera, and Woglinde in Wagner’s Das
Rheingold and first nymph in Dvorak’s Rusalka with North Carolina Opera. She
returned to Apollo’s Fire, the Cleveland Baroque Orchestra in 2013 to great
acclaim as the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, including a
national broadcast and her debut at Severance Hall, the prestigious home
to the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. Other considerable performances
include Ms. Copeland’s appearances as Zdenka in Strauss’s Arabella, Musetta
and Mimì in La bohème, Lauretta in Puccini’s beloved Gianni Schicchi, Lucia
in Donizett’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Juliette in Gounod’s Romèo et Juliette,
Adele in J. Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, and
Papagena in The Magic Flute. Internationally, Ms. Copeland has performed the
roles of Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir
d’amore. Dr. Copeland is frequently sought after as a master class technician
both nationally and abroad and has been on the faculty of the Cornish
American Song Institute in Falmouth, England since 2016. During the summers
of 2011 and 2012, Dr. Copeland was a faculty member of Musica nelle Marche
in Urbania, Italy. Administratively, Dr. Copeland serves as General Manager for
the Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival and has previously served in the positions
of Program Director and Operations Manager for Oberlin in Italy in Arezzo,
Italy. She also serves as Assistant Professor of Voice at Penn State School of
Music. Dr. Copeland holds the Doctor of Music degree in Vocal Performance
with a minor in Music History from Indiana University; the Master of Music
degree in Voice Performance from Baylor University; and the Bachelor of
Music Education degree in Choral Conducting from Baylor University.
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 28Administration
Shayna Leahy, Artistic Administrator
Shayna Leahy currently serves as the Artistic
Administrator for HPAF after spending two summers
as the Director of Production. She most recently was
the stage director for Wichita Grand Opera’s 2019
production of Carmen, having previously directed
productions of Madama Butterfly, Turandot, Otello, Il
Trovatore, and Aida for them. She made her directing debut with New York City
Opera in September 2018, with a production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia in Bryant
Park. Her productions are hailed as being “deeply felt, and deeply moving” with
emphasis on “fine acting as well as strong singing” (Wichita Eagle). Her work has
been featured on Kansas Public TV. She has also served as Assistant Director of
Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance Program in New York, was faculty for
the Opera Academy of the Midwest, and is currently the Director of Vocal Studies
at Highland Community College, where she has led a nationally-recognized opera
education initiative in collaboration with Wichita Grand Opera. Her productions
at HCC have been Region V finalists in KCACTF, and she received the Region V
KCACTF Outstanding Music Director award for her work on Rent. In addition,
she has coached and music directed multiple students who have received
national KCACTF awards for Distinguished Performance in a Musical.
Irma Singer, Director of Finance
Irma Singer is a native of California, originally hailing
from Culver City in Los Angeles County, where she
began her career as a bookkeeper working for an
independent jewelry manufacturer. In 1985, Irma
relocated to Santa Barbara, CA, where she continued
her bookkeeping occupation working for a developer
of AI programming languages. Irma progressed into providing personalized
bookkeeping for private individuals, as well as maintaining a full-time position
as Accounting Manager at a Four Diamond hotel in Santa Barbara, where she
has been employed for the last 27 years. Irma joined the Board of Directors
of Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival as a Treasurer. She continues to provide
support to HPAF as it begins its 17th season.
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 29Guest Artists
Beth Dunnington, Stage Director,
Stars of Tomorrow
Beth Dunnington (AEA/SAG/AFTRA) is a performer/
director from NYC. She and her family relocated to the
Big Island in 2007. Beth is a stage director and acting
teacher for HPAF and she served as the director of
the HPAF Preteen Singers program for six seasons.
She directed HPAF’s productions of The Last Five Years, Big Island Broadway,
and Company, and a number of the Young Artist and Cabaret concerts. Beth
played the role of Madame Armfeldt in HPAF’s A Little Night Music and The
Witch in HPAF’s Into The Woods. She’s the acting/musical theater teacher for
the Kahilu Theatre and the director of the Kahilu Youth Troupe. She directed
the Kahilu productions of Spelling Bee, Godspell, Grease, 13-The Musical,
Spring Awakening, West Side Story, and the “Broadway in Hawaii” concert
series. Beth starred in Que Sueñes Con Las Angelitas, which toured the
Hawaiian Islands and then went on to Jazz at Lincoln Center. A few favorite
roles include Papagena in Broadway director Tom O’Horgan’s The Magic Flute
at Connecticut Grand Opera and Susan B. Anthony in The Mother of us All in
Boston, directed by Anthony Tommasini. In August, Beth will play the role of
Miss Trunchbull in the Kahilu’s production of Matilda The Musical. Both of her
children, Marena and Sean, are alums of HPAF.
Phil Kadet, Featured Artist,
Along the Way
Phil Kadet is a multi-talented musician based in
New York City. He is an entertainer, composer,
arranger, music director, producer, conductor,
and accompanist, working in many diverse
genres of music, from jazz to opera. Since 2013,
he has been a collaborative pianist and guest artist with the Hawai‘i
Performing Arts Festival, and also locally with the Kahilu Theatre,
recently music directing 2019’s production of West Side Story. He is a
member of rock group Escaper, whose new album, Apotheosis, comes
out June 19. He is a staff accompanist at NYU Steinhardt.
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 30Guest Artists
Nyla Watson*, Featured Artist, Rise Up!
Giving all glory to God, Nyla Watson is so excited and
thankful to be making her HPAF debut! Watson is a
dedicated performer in the New York City community
and a recent graduate of New York University (NYU)
Steinhardt’s Music Theater Voice graduate program. She
is also a proud graduate of Baldwin Wallace University’s
Conservatory of Music (BW). Notable performances include Showboat: Live at
Lincoln Center with Norm Lewis, Vanessa Williams, and Fred Willard, Gigantic
the Musical with Leslie Kritzer, Bonnie Mulligan and Ryan Redmond (where she
actually played a character named Vanessa Williams), the touring companies
of Wicked and The Color Purple (revival), Mama Rose in Gypsy at NYU, Reno
Sweeney in Anything Goes at NYU, and the regional premiere of Murder Ballad
with BW. She attributes her success to her faith, her parents, her education and
her professional and personal influences. Special thanks to HPAF Executive
Director, Justin John Moniz, for this extraordinary opportunity. Acts 4:7-12
Ana Flavia Zuim, Featured Artist, Rise Up!
Ana Flavia is an award-winning musical director and
an accomplished conductor, pianist, singing health
specialist, and electric bassist. She currently serves as
Director of Vocal Performance and Music Assistant
Professor of Vocal Performance at New York University’s
Steinhardt School. A native of Brazil, she moved to
the USA in 2003 after completing her bachelor’s in music at State University of
Londrina (UEL). She now holds a master’s in piano performance (Lynn University,
2006), a doctorate - Ph.D. in Fine and Performing Arts (Florida Atlantic University,
2012) - and a Vocology certification (University of Utah, 2015). Among her credits
are the Broadway musical Hamilton (Rehearsal Pianist), the Broadway Across
America tours of Billy Elliot (Associate Conductor/Vocal Coach), Joseph and
the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Keys), Matilda (Keys), Kinky Boots (Keys),
The Wizard of Oz (Keys), Annie (Keys), and The Sound of Music (Keys). She has
also music directed Billy Elliot at The Ogunquit Playhouse (2014), for which she
received an IRNE Award for best musical direction in 2015, and at the Maltz Jupiter
Theater (2015), for which she was nominated for a Carbonell Award (2016).
* denotes HPAF Alumni
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 31Stars
Of Tomorrow
Cast
Becca Barrett*
Becca Barrett is a multidisciplinary theatre artist with
a passion for the human voice. Recent credits include
Mel (Ha’a Ha’a, Creative Lab Hawaii), Dawn (The King
of Maricopa County, Playwright’s Arena), and Evelyn
Nesbit (Ragtime, Village Light Opera Group). She is a
producer and co-host of the internet radio show Flop!
Hit Songs From Musical Misfires, as well as an adjunct professor of theatre
at Wagner College. Raised in Kamuela, Becca was a student of HPAF from
2010-2015 and is proud to be an original member of Kahilu’s Youth Troupe.
She has a BA in Theatre Performance from Wagner College and an MA in
Musical Theatre from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She will be
returning to the UK in the fall to earn her MFA in Voice Studies from the Royal
Central School of Speech and Drama. www.becca-barrett.com
Stacee Firestone*
Stacee Firestone has been studying opera hoping to
inspire everyone who listens. Her dedication to the
craft has resulted in the attendance of the Curtis and
Baldwin Wallace summer programs and numerous
seasons at Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival. She
was awarded 3rd place in the 2019 Vocal Artists
Management Young Vocalists Competition and has placed in the finals of
other national competitions. She has studied for 5 years with Val Underwood.
Other teachers have included Jennifer McGregor and Jeannine Altmeyer. She
currently attends San Francisco Conservatory of Music on scholarship where
she studies with Susanne Mentzer. She is happy to be back in Hawaii for the
summer performing live for Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival.
* denotes HPAF Alumni
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 33Stars
Of Tomorrow
Cast
Eric Gee*
Eric Gee has been doing musical theatre since he was
3 years old. He was born in Waimea and is currently
a freshman at Kealakehe High School. Some of his
past musical theatre experience is 13 The Musical,
West Side Story, South Pacific, Best of Broadway,
and Kahilu Gold concerts. He enjoys doing activities
such as Chinese Lion Dance, Gaming, and Student Government. He trains
personally with Beth Dunnington and Val Underwood. He would like to thank
his family for always supporting him and being his biggest fans.
Daniel Gregg*
Daniel is a founding member of the Kahilu Youth
troupe, and has performed many shows locally off and
on throughout the past twelve years. Recent pre-Covid
performances at the Kahilu you may remember are
Action from West Side Story and Moritz from Spring
Awakening. Throughout many of the performances,
Daniel has had the mentorship of Val Underwood and other members of HPAF.
He’s glad to be here performing for you today, especially in person!
* denotes HPAF Alumni
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 34Stars
Of Tomorrow
Cast
Noelani Loughery-Kawaihoa*
Noelani is an accomplished dancer, performer, singer
and student at Parker School, Hawaii. Her vocal training
includes the Hawai‘i Performing Arts Festival Young
Singers Program and vocal coach Val Underwood. Noelani
is a member of the Kahilu Youth Troupe at Kahilu Theatre,
worked as a Production Assistant in West Side Story and
studies acting with Beth Dunnington. Community theatre performances include the
Aloha Performing Arts Company at Aloha Theatre in the productions A KidSummer
Night’s Dream, Christmas on Broadway, The Miracle Worker and Once On This
Island. Her dance credits include Break the Floor Production’s Jump Tour, 24/7 Tour
and the Nuvo Dance Competition in Orlando, where she won a High Silver medal for
her solo. Her dance training includes the SLIDE tap intensives where she performed
at the Terrace Theatre Long Beach Convention Center and NYC’s Broadway Dance
Center. At home in Hawaii, she has danced with the Hawaii Dance Project, Dancing
Tree Studio, West Hawaii Dance Academy, Prince Dance Institute and was a student
of Hula for many years with H‘lau Kala’akeakauikawekiu. Noelani enjoys traveling,
cooking, painting, playing ukulele and sunsets at the beach.
Benito Mercia*
Benito Mercia is a 17 year old aspiring singer, actor,
and performer here to expand his knowledge in the
arts. He has been a part of the theatre and performing
community since he was 12 years old, and has always
loved what he performed and learned over the years!
This is his 4th year in a row doing HPAF, and he is happy
to be here even if things are not the same as they used ro be! He was born in
Hawai’i and lives in Kea’au. He recently graduated from Kea’au High School in
May of 2021, and is ecstatic to start his new journey as a young adult! He has
studied voice with Val Underwood and acting with Beth Dunnigton. He plans to
continue work on developing his talents at the college level.
* denotes HPAF Alumni
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 35Stars
Of Tomorrow
Cast
Pantanjali Raul*
Patanjali Raul is 16 years old and currently attends
Hawaii Preparatory Academy and will be a Senior in
the fall. Patanjali is part of the Kaihilu Theatre’s Youth
Troupe, led by Beth Dunnington, who also directed
him in West Side Story as a Shark. When he was a
Freshman, Patanjali had the role of the Jack of Spades
in Alice, A Wonderland Musical, an original. Since the age of 9, Patanjali
danced with Lava Roots Performing Arts for 5 years, and Prince Dance
Institute for 3 years. Recently, he was the teacher assistant for Mana Ho’pai,
the hip hop and breakdance teacher for PDI. With Lava Roots Performing Arts,
Patanjali had a lead role in a community show called Mystique Du Plastique at
the Kohala Hub.
Grace Todd*
Grace Todd, 17, lives on the Big Island of Hawaii. She
was in Kahilu Theater’s productions of Grease (2016),
13 (2017), Best of Broadway (2018), Spring Awakening
(2018), South Pacific (2018), and West Side Story
(2019). She was also in the Hawai‘i Performing Arts
Festival’s Preteen Singer Program from 2014 through
2016 and the Young Singer Program in both 2017 and 2018. She trains under
Val Underwood and Beth Dunnington. Grace is beyond grateful to have the
opportunity to work with such a supportive cast!
* denotes HPAF Alumni
2021 Summer Festival: the journey back | 3615
Mahalo Patrons!
It’s because of you that we take to the stage
and share our craft. Thank you for your
support and enjoy the performances!give to
the arts.
PERFORMING VISUAL literary
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insight through creative expression.
Mahalo to all who help maintain this vital
space and bring light to the world.
A gift to the arts is a gift to us all.STAY IN TUNE.
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