Opera scenes to be performed April 29

GETTYSBURG, Pa. - More than a dozen opera scenes will be performed by Sunderman Conservatory of Music students and professors April 29 at Gettysburg College.

The 7 p.m. performance will take place in Schmucker Hall's Paul Recital Hall located along North Washington Street and under the direction of Sunderman Conservatory of Music professor Kathleen Sasnett. The works of Puccini, Offenbach, Strauss, Bellini, Verdi, Weber, Mozart, Wagner, Menotti, Giordano, Massenet and Poulenc will be featured. For those who do not understand the language, translations will be available. The performance is free and open to the public.

Students include Charles Andrews, Kate Anthony, Anna Armagno, Elisabeth Boisvert, Rebecca Brandow, Bucklin, Chelsea Laura Cooper, Seth Cowan, Sharon Denney, Kirsten Egenes, Miriam Grinberg, Angela Hartman, Camilia Henderson, Annela Levitov, Matie MacKeller, Emily Mahoney, Stephen McNamee, Peter Mele Jr., Chris Merkle, Kate Mudrick, Jordan Murray, Caitlin O'Keefe, Thea Paolini, Elizabeth Patterson, Lyndsey Piecyk, Ben Sasnett, Megan Snyder, Maggie Spingola and Lisa Young.

Sasnett is an assistant professor of voice and opera at the Sunderman Conservatory of Music. She has performed in more than 15 leading roles, including Maria in "Sound of Music," Lili in "Carnival," Marian in "Music Man," Fiona in "Brigadoon" and Aldonza in "Man of La Mancha." Sasnett received a bachelor's degree in vocal performance at the University of Washington, a master's in vocal performance at Central Washington University and a doctorate in vocal performance at Ohio State University.

The Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College combines Gettysburg's superb music tradition and its strengths as one of the nation's leading liberal arts colleges. Established in 2005 through a $15.7 million gift from 1919 graduate Dr. F. William Sunderman Sr., the conservatory offers three degrees -- bachelor of music in performance, Bachelor of Arts in music, and Bachelor of Science in music education -- as well as a minor in music.

Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with approximately 2,600 students. It is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. The college was founded in 1832.

Issued: 4/17/08
By: Justin Brower, class of 2010