Embassy Events

U.S. Opera Singers Present Concerts with Youth Symphony Orchestra

Embassy Officer Debra Hevia, and Orchestra Director Roland Schlieder celebrate a great concert series

November 2007 - A grant from the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy brought three marvelous U.S. opera singers to Santa Cruz for a series of Opera Aria concerts with the Youth Symphony Orchestra.  Soprano Erin Heisel, Mezzo Lexa Ferrill, and Baritone Dr. Kyle Ferrill, joined by Bolivian Tenor Ricardo Estrada, gave master classes to singers from the city of Santa Cruz and the Chiquitania Mission villages.  In addition, Orchestra Director Roland Schlieder gave master classes to choir directors from Chiquitania in conducting.

The opera singers and the Youth Symphony Orchestra presented four concerts featuring some of the "greatest hits" of opera including pieces from Bizet's "Carmen," Rossini's "Barber of Seville," Puccini's "La Boheme," and Mozart's "The Magic Flute."

November 12: Outreach Concert to University Students
November 13: Fundraising Concert at Los Tajibos
November 14 and 15: Gala Concerts at Iglesia San Roque

The concerts met with great popular acclaim from the Santa Cruz public, which was thrilled to listen to such high quality of singing.  The U.S. musicians were extremely impressed by the talent and enthusiasm of the young Bolivian musicians with whom they worked, and felt honored to teach and perform in Santa Cruz.  (For more information on the Youth Symphony Orchestra, visit www.sinfonicajuvenil-scz.org)