Past Handel Week Festival Performers
In Memoriam: Veronica McHale (1975-2009)
Veronica M McHale, 33, new to Handel Week, died suddenly August 26, 2009 of complications from sinus surgery. She sang as alto soloist in The Messiah in Handel Week 2009. She had a promising career and had sung with Union Avenue Opera, received the cover role of Dame Quickly in Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Falstaff, and was featured in the Classical Singer January 2008 issue.
Just before appearing with Handel Week, she had returned from performing Dame Quickly in a New York Opera Society production of Falstaff at the Municipal Theatre of Castres, in France. Other recent appearances were with the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra, The Bel Canto Chorus, the Chamber singers of Algoma in Sault St. Marie, Ontario, and premiered the song cycle (Songs of Love and Transience) at the Chicago Cultural Center. All who performed with her, had her as a teacher, or knew her musically deeply mourn her passing.
Marguerite Lynn Williams
Harpist Marguerite Lynn Williams of Chicago has performed throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestra member in such venues as Carnegie Hall, Shostakovich Hall (St. Petersburg, Russia), and Symphony Cenber. She has won two first prizes at the Anne Adams National Competition sponsored by the American Harp Society; the National Endowment of the Arts Artist Recognition Talent Search, the National Federation of Music Clubs, the American Opera Society and Sigma Alpha Iota. Ms. Williams has been featured with the International Chamber Artists, New World Symphony and Roosevelt University Chamber Orchestra. Recent performances include collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, Renee Fleming, Maxim Vengerov, Kanye West, and as royal entertainment for H. I. H. Princess Thi-Nga of Vietnam. Locally, she has appeared with the Chicago Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, and the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, as well as with the Toronto and San Diego Symphonies.
Ms. Williams was principal harpist for the 2008-2009 season with the CSO, and is principal harpist of the Colorado Music Festival in Boulder. Previously, she was principal harpist of the New World Symphony, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, New Philharmonic Orchestra in Glen Ellyn and DuPage Opera Orchestra. She is a founding member of the International Chamber Artists, Project Copernicus and Fifth House ensembles. She attended Eastman School of Music in Rochester, where she received both a Bachelor's of Music and a Performer's Certificate. She then attended Roosevelt University to study with CSO principal harpist Sarah Bullen, where she earned a M.A. in Orchestral Studies. She has a private studio in Chicago.
Winifred Haun & Dancers
Winifred Haun & Dancers was founded in 1991 by award-winning dancer and choreographer Winifred Haun of Oak Park. Frequently featured as Critic's Choice in the Chicago Reader, the Chicago Tribune, TimeOut Chicago and WBEZ Radio, the Company has performed at many prestigious Midwest venues including Dance Center of Columbia College, Athenaeum Theatre, Link’s Hall, Ruth Page Theatre, and in many nontraditional performing spaces.Winifred Haun & Dancers is currently in residence at Voice of the City, a Logan Square multi-arts organization. The Company co-produces "Circle in the Square: NewWorks in Dance Theatre," which is presented annually in Logan Square and Oak Park. Winifred Haun is a former member of the Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre. She currently teaches modern dance at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Legere Dance Center. She and her husband, physicist Stephen Parke, live in Oak Park and they have three daughters, ages 12, 7 and 4. For more information about Winifred Haun & Dancers, visit www.winifredhaun.org.
Gerald Frantzen
Gerald Frantzen of Oak Park, tenor, currently sings with the Lyric
Opera of Chicago chorus where he made his solo debut in 2008 as the
peasant in Eugene Onegin. His opera roles include Giove
(Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in patria), Damon (Acis &
Galatea), 2nd Nazarene/Narraboth/ 4th Jew
(Salome) with Glimmerglass Opera, Ernesto (Don
Pasquale) with Natchez Opera, Prunier (La Rondine)
with Sarasota Opera, Der Kellner (Arabella) with Santa Fe
Opera and Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni) with Ridge Light
Opera. His operetta credits include Karel (The Girl in the
Train–American premiere), Lorenz (Springtime– American
premiere) Pimpfl (Peter and Paul in the Land of
Nod–American premiere), Sparkeion (Thespis–world
premiere), Jonel/Jozsi (Gypsy Love), Leonard (Yeomen of
the Guard), Prince Sandor (Duchess of Chicago),
Frederic (Pirates of Penzance), Karl Franz (Student
Prince), Camille/St. Brioche (The Merry Widow), and
Marco (The Gondoliers). He was heard on NPR in his role in Il Ritorno D’Ulisse in patria with Glimmerglass Opera as
well as WFMT in his role of Peasant in Eugene Onegin.
His international musical theater credits include
Jekyll/Hyde (Jekyll & Hyde) in Bremen, Germany, Piangi
(The Phantom of the Opera – Hal Prince, director) in
Hamburg, Germany, and The Russian (Chess) in Bergen,
Norway. Regional credits include Dorsey & the Young Confederate
Soldier (Parade-which won 8 Jeff Citations), Sir Harry
(Once Upon a Mattress), Tony (West Side Story),
Baron (Grand Hotel) and Charlie (Brigadoon). He
can also be heard with “The Three Waiters,” which won the award for
Best Corporate Event of the Year in 2002, 2005 and 2006. Film
credits include Return of the Night Porter as an editor which
won the Gran Prixe at the Karlovy Film Festival in Europe.
Recordings include John Frantzen Compositions and Another
Autumn, which he recorded with his wife, Alison Kelly. Mr.
Frantzen is artistic director of Chicago Folks Operetta, now in its
third season.
Thomas Wikman
Thomas Wikman (HW 2005 - 2009) Is one of the most acclaimed artists in Chicago's music scene. Mr. Wikman is Founder and Conductor Laureate of Music of the Baroque, and as its Music Director for 30 years, conducted its every concert. He is currently the director of the professional choir at Chicago's Church of the Ascension. More detail on his current activities as a keyboard artist can be found on his website www.ThomasWikman.org.
Amelia Fonti
Mezzo Soprano Amelia Fonti (HW 2002-2004, 2006) of Chicago, returned to the Handel Week festival as a soloist in Dixit Dominus.
Coming to us from Australia, she received her training in voice and opera at the Queensland Conservatory of Music in Brisbane. She is vocal coach in residence with the Chicago Children’s Choir and assists in trainng the Lyric Opera’s Children’s Chorus.
Michelle Wrighte
Mezzo Soprano Michelle Wrighte (HW 2004, 2006) of Oak Park returned to the Handel Week Festival singing in Ezio. Her operatic talent has been honed through the Lyric Opera’s Center for Americas Artists and she has performed at Ravinia and Grant Park, moving outward to the Milwaukee Symphony; Glimmerglass Opera, Cooperstown, NY; Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy; Utah Opera; Indianapolis Opera; and Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Last year she was featured in the Ned Rorem West Coast song cycle Evidence of Things Not Seen and San Franciscos Other Minds Festival. She has held lead roles at the San Francisco Opera, Tulsa Opera, Tampa Opera, and Pamiro Opera in Italy. She won critical praise for her portrayal of Emilia opposite Ben Heppner and Renee Fleming in Sir Peter Halls new production of Otello, which opened the 2001-02 Lyric season. In the past two seasons at Lyric, she performed in Carmen, Rigoletto, The Great Gatsby, Jenufa, and Macbeth. She comes from Des Moines, holds degrees from Drake University, University of Illinois and a certificate of opera studies from Temple University, Philadelphia.
Amy Pickering
Amy Pickering (HW 2002, 2006) of Chicago, mezzo-soprano, has a blended career of opera, musical theater and concert work. She has held leads at Grant Park, Light Opera Works, Pamiro Opera, Chicago Opera Theater's student matinee performances, L'Opera Piccola, Muddy River Opera, Sheboygan Symphony, Toledo Symphony, and Central City Opera and Colorado Symphony. She has performed supporting roles with the Chicago Symphony and Ravinia Festival orchestras. She holds an M.A. in music from Northwestern University and a B.A. from DePaul University. She is a member of the voice faculty at UIC, Chicago, and Judson College.
Julia Bentley
Julia Bentley (HW 2002, 2006) of River Forest, mezzo-soprano, has appeared in leading roles with opera companies throughout America and has been featured as soloist with orchestras led by such notables as Robert Shaw and Pierre Boulez. In 2001, she appeared to critical acclaim as soloist at Carnegie Hall with Mr. Boulez. This season has included performances of Messiah with the Milwaukee Symphony, and title role in Britten's The Rape of Lucretia with Chicago Opera Theater. She performs in Chicago with Mostly Music, CUBE, Contemporary Chamber Players, Orion Ensemble, Pinotage, Ensemble Noamnesia, Chicago Chamber Musicians, and the MusicNOW series at Symphony Center with Conductor Cliff Colnot. She has been a regular with the Chicago Chamber Musicians' Music at the Millennium Series. She began with apprenticeships at Santa Fe Opera and Chicago Lyric Opera.
Todd Wedge
Todd Wedge (HW 2006), Tenor, joined Handel Week as a soloist in Dixit Dominus. He has recently graduated from the Northwestern University School of Music after having received his undergraduate training from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. His versatile repertoire stretches from Bach to Britten and his passion for the early repertoire has made him a featured artist throughout the United States and Europe. Mr. Wedge is a student of Sunny Joy Langton and has worked with such renowned pedagogues as Lorraine Manz, Richard Miller and Renata Scotto. Operatically, Mr. Wedge was last seen with Chicago Light Opera and has performed leading roles from: Gianni Schicchi, Alcina, The Bartered Bride, Don Giovanni, The Merry Widow, Idomeneo, West Side Story, The Rape of Lucretia and The Rake’s Progress. Mr. Wedge is currently a studio instructor of singing and class instructor of vocal pedagogy at the University of Notre Dame.
Andrea Holliday
Often heard in the larger concert works of Handel, Mozart, Haydn and Vivaldi, Andrea Holliday (HW 2006) has a particular devotion to the music of Bach. Her performing gamut, however, spans classical new music, show music and a large Romantic repertoire. She has been guest artist with the Michigan Bach Collegium in several Bach cantatas, most recently the Wedding Cantata #202. She has been a frequent soloist on the Bach Cantata Series at Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest, where she returns this season in the celebrated Cantata 31, "Der Himmel lacht." Among many appearances with the Downers Grove Choral Society will be the April '06 performance of Bach's Mass in B minor. In Chicago's Auditorium Theatre, she was soprano soloist in Mendelssohn works for a post-September-11 benefit organized by the Joffrey Ballet. In 2004 she was principal soprano soloist in Mozart's Great C minor Mass with the Rockford Bach Chamber Choir. Her performance of the Mozart Requiem with the Muskegon (Michigan) Chamber Choir & Orchestra was noted in the local press. A busy recitalist, Ms. Holliday has presented dozens of art-song programs at various venues. She continues her recitals during the 05-06 season, accompanied by her husband, conductor and keyboardist Thomas Wikman. She has a web page at www.mthp.org/teachers/Andrea.html
Eric Ashcraft
Eric Ashcraft (HW 2006) joined Handel Week to sing in Ezio. He has received critical praise for his resonant and flexible tenor as well as his expressiveness on stage Mr. Ashcraft's most notable portrayals have been Don Jose with Pine Mountain Opera, Rodolfo with the Erie and Nevada Opera Theaters and Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Cleveland Opera. He has performed with the New York City Opera and Greater Buffalo Opera and appeared as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Dublin Grand Opera and Opera Northern Ireland. He made his debut as Antonio in Wagner's Das Liebesverbot with the Wexford Festival Opera. Musical sensitivity and excellent diction are the hallmarks of Mr. Ashcraft's solo orchestral performances. He has appeared in Beethoven's Ninth, the Stabat Maters of Rossini and Dvorák, and several works by Handel, including Messiah, Judas Maccabaeus and Samson. Mr. Ashcraft was a New York District winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and received his Master of Music and an Artist's Diploma in Opera from the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. He serves on the faculty of Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois.
Edward Zelnis
Edward Zelnis (HW 2004 - 2005) returned to the Handel Week Festival singing in Judas Maccabaeus. He is chorus director of Chicago's Music of the Baroque and will appear as soloist with the group in March in an all Monteverdi program. He prepared the MOB chorus for Bachs Mass in B minor and has conducted its Holiday Brass and Choral concerts for two years. He has performed with the Chicago Symphony; Chicago Opera Theatre; conducted 10 shows for Evanstons Light Opera Works; numerous productions at The Goodman and Steppenwolf Theaters; and at The Kennedy Center in collaboration with Tony Award winning director, Frank Galati. He is music director of Park Ridge Chorale, Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in Beverly and Congregation Kol Ami in Water Tower Place, Chicago.
Jeri-Lou Zike
Jeri-Lou Zike (HW 2005) joined Handel Week to play for "The Intimate Handel" Concert. One of Chicago's busiest musicians, Ms. Zike is Assistant Concertmaster of both the Lake Forest Symphony and Symphony of the Shores, a member of Symphony II, The City Musick, Basically Bach, and the Chicago Baroque Ensemble (she studied with the renowned Baroque violinist Monica Huggett at the Vancouver Early Music Festival). She is the concertmaster for the University of Chicago Baroque Concerts and Bach Week in Evanston, and teaches at the Music Center of the North Shore.
Thomas Dymit
Thomas Dymit (HW 2005) joined Handel Week in 2005 to sing the lead in Judas Maccabaeus.
A member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Dymit was a soloist with the CSO & chorus on their Grammy Award-winning recordings of Arnold Schoenberg's Moses und Aron (with Sir Georg Solti) and works by Barber conducted by Andrew Schenk. The tenor first appeared with the Chicago Symphony in 1983.
Ruth M. Lidecka
Contralto Ruth M. Lidecka (HW 2001, 2003-2004) has appeared in numerous productions in the Chicago area, most recently as Cieska in the Chicago Opera Theater’s production of Gianni Schicchi and Buoso's Ghost. She is a veteran performer of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas, having appeared in all 13 of them. She has also appeared at Chicago Opera Theater, Light Opera Works and in a production of the Breasts of Tiresias by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. Choral experience includes the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chorus, the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and the Fleur de Lys Chorale.
Jay Morrissey
Tenor Jay Morrissey (HW 2002 - 2004) of Chicago returned to Handel Week as Ahasuerus, King of Persia.
He debuted in the 2002 production of Israel in Egypt. He holds a B.A. from Notre Dame, South Bend, and M.A. degree in music from Roosevelt. He has performed with Chicago Opera Theatre in Cosi fan tutte and Handel’s Semele and with the Florentine Opera in Milwaukee.
Diane Ragains
Diane Ragains (HW 2001 - 2002) of Chicago, lyric soprano, is known for her dramatic coloratura quality, wide vocal range and extraordinary musicianship Her debut was with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Seija Ozawa in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. What followed have been many guest appearances with major American orchestras in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Omaha, the Brooklyn Philharmonic and Houston Symphony Chamber Orchestra, then with Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. Locally she is a regular at the Vermeer, Contemporary Chamber Players and at Grant Park. She is currently on the faculty at Northern Illinois University and holds degrees from Indiana University and Chicago Conservatory.
David Solem
David Solem (HW 2000 - 2002) of Chicago is one of this area's finest harpsichordists. He is music director of SS Faith, Hope and Charity Church in Winnetka. Melody Turner (HW 2001) is organist-music director at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior in Chicago and is an associate of the American Guild of Organists. She holds a degree from Indiana University in organ performance and a master's degree in sacred music from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, plus additional work at the University of Illinois. Active in the church music scene for more than 30 years, she teaches Suzuki Violin and piano in Oak Park and plays violin in the Oak Park/River Forest Symphony.
Lisa Flores
Lisa Flores (HW 2001) of Evanston, soprano, is emerging locally as a featured soloist and has appeared in young artists' programs at Opera Theater of St. Louis, Glimmerglass Opera, and Chicago Opera Theater. Her operatic roles include Armina, Adele, Elvira (L'Italiana in Algeri), Frasquita, Gretel, Musetta, Norina, Queen of the Night, Susanna and Zerlina. She has been a soloist in such works as Schubert's Mass in G Major, Handel's Dexit Dominus, Beethoven's Mass in C Major and Mendelssohn's Elijah. She holds a master of music degree and artist's diploma from Northwestern University. Donald S. Wright (HW 2001) of Park Ridge, organist, is director of music at St. Richard of Chichester Church in the Edgebrook neighborhood of Chicago. He holds degrees in organ, piano, and church music from the American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, and is a frequent area recitalist and was featured at the national convention of the Organ Historical Society in 1984. His other passion is owning a 1930 Cadillac V-16.