This was the first time Handel’s Julius Caesar was performed at the Colony, and included double cast leads: John Meyer and David Catalano as Julius Caesar, Shelby Cox and Katarina Galagaza as Sesto and Francesca Mehrotra and Shelley Mihm as Cleopatra. Countertenor Guillaume Poudrie r gave great meaning to the role of Tolomeo.

The 24th Annual Seagle Music Colony Gala had the black and white theme of “The Great Gatsby.” The honorees were Vanessa Becerra , Seagle Music Colony alumna, and Tony Kostecki , Seagle Music Colony General Director—a vital part of the Colony for the past twenty-three years. Vanessa is performing opera and musical theater throughout the United States. Last summer she sang the lead role of Maria in West Side Story at Glimmerglass Opera. Heidi Kelly headed up the enthusiastic and dedicated gala committee. 

The Great Gatsby by John Harbison and was a venture of The American Center for New Works Development at Seagle Music Colony. David Anderson convincingly portrayed the lead, Jay Gatsby.

Mame by Jerry Herman was a rousing end of the mainstage summer season. It was so popular that another performance was added. The stellar stage director was Kyle Lang, who has many directing credits throughout the country as well as ballet dancing that includes performing in countries across Europe, South America and the Middle East. 

A Benefit Concert for the Guild Scholarship Fund featured pianists Milton Farbstein and Suzanne Fremon in works by Bizet, Debussy, Ravel & Saint-Saens. Suzanne Fremon is a dedicated volunteer at the Colony Guild, taking sign-ups for the many positions at Seagle Music Colony performances.

Vespers: Vespers concerts on two Sundays in August remained as beloved as ever for the audience who traveled from many places to hear the beautiful solo and choral singing, directed by Tony Kostecki .

On a fortunately sunny weekend in July, around 20 alumni representing over four decades enjoyed comparing notes. The Board of the Alumni Association organized their lively weekend, including a concert at the Schroon Lake Boathouse Theater. Several alumni performed solos and duets from opera, jazz, and musical theater to a sold-out crowd. Some alumni even sang and talked in a video shown during the concert. It is challenging to know whether the alumni or the current emerging artists and audience had more fun. Liz Cass, President of the SMC Alumni Association, alumni@seaglecolony.org , is already planning an alumni weekend next summer. It was great to see old friends, especially Clare Ascani and Robin Treger who had not been to the Colony for several years.

Approximately fifty people rode by bus from Schroon Lake to Blue Mountain Lake for a tour of “The Closet,” the room where Colony student Fulton Fryar stayed when he was a student at Seagle Music Colony. His whole family came to hear Fulton Fryar participate in a panel discussion where he received a standing ovation for his part in the discussion. He was the first African American student to study singing at the Colony, and was invited by John Seagle in 1957 and 1958. A native of North Carolina, he performed for Glens Falls Rotary and in an opera at the Colony. When Darren Keith Woods spoke to Fulton about his two summers at the Colony, Fulton proclaimed that they were the happiest two summers of his life. He said “I never thought anyone would remember me or The Closet,” and Darren commented, “The irony is that now you will be remembered forever.”

A workshop performance of The Ghosts of Gatsby by Evan Mack, composer and Joshua McGuire, librettist, was presented in late August. The two previously teamed up to create the opera Roscoe, which premiered at the Colony in 2016. Their new opera was well received in its workshop format. The work was sponsored by the America Center for New Works Development (ACNWD) at Seagle Music Colony. The musical revue Hey Big Spender , featuring music of Cy Coleman, toured much of the North country to critical acclaim. A new musical comedy entitled Pooch by Scott Eyerly took place in early September at the Oscar Seagle Memorial Theatre (ACNWD). Both alumni and current artists performed in the amusing show that you will have to see for yourselves to truly believe!

Last but not least was the touring opera The Falling and the Rising by Zach Redler and Jerre Dye, based on interviews of several wounded army veterans regarding their military experiences. The composer, Zach Redler , described his writing process to The Daily Gazette columnist Geraldine Freedman. “I wanted to tell the story of everywhere America, so the score is tonal, has bluegrass, some traditional romanticism like Verdi or Wagner, and even some Billy Joel, Sondheim and Poulenc.” The performers gave six performances at five theaters from Plattsburgh down to Cambridge NY. Much press and PBS live interviews took place. Active military and veterans received free tickets, thanks to Glens Falls National Bank.

Please send any alumni news to Chronicle editor, Dodie Seagle . It is great to hear from you. Clare Ascani wrote, “I have ALWAYS had such a warm and soft spot in my heart about the Seagle Colony and remembering Mr. Seagle! It was such a wonderful and formative 4 years for me.” Clare is currently singing professionally in clubs and jazz venues and encouraged Colony friends to come to the reunion. The July 2018 issue of Opera News noted: “The success of HGO West Side Story also relied on the theatrical range of the opera singers in the leading roles, soprano Andrea Carroll (a shy-but-sassy Maria).” Alumna Catherine Charlton wrote that she is proud of her voice student Shelby Cox , an emerging artist at the Colony this past summer, who studies at Juilliard “ and all that she had done.” Barbara Fryer wrote, “We really were more than pleased to see The Closet in its new home.” Eryn LeCroy made her debut as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Susan Long wrote from Colorado, “ I loved reading the Chronicle , and so many alums singing all over the place!” An article in the NY Times described Kevin Puts ’ opera S ilent Night, “ Tender moments shared by French Lt. Audebert” ( Michael Miller in a spellbinding performance.) Baritone Michael Miller and soprano Sylvia Stoner were featured singers this fall at Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady with the Schenectady Symphony. They excelled in a birthday concert tribute to Leonard Bernstein for his 100 ^th birthday. Miller sang a new piece by Evan Mack entitled, “If Only Lenny Were Here.”  Patricia McLaughlin , a graduate of Trinity University, studied with John Seagle at the Colony for three summers. She first performed as an actor and singer and then went into the world of costuming. McLaughlin is now in the superhero-filled world of the Marvel Universe and is the costume supervisor of ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Eileen Carnahan shared a June program from a Bernstein Celebration performed with Opera Saratoga. Colony alumni performers did themselves proud and included Garrett Obrycki, Quinn Bernegger , and Nicholas Yaquinto . Joseph Dalton commented in a recent article that mentioned Darren Keith Woods, as “one of the nation’s top impresarios of new opera.”

The following Colony alumni are scheduled to sing during the 2018-19 seasons. Other alumni have already been announced.

Virginia Opera: Catherine Goode

Crested Butte Music Festival: Edith Grossman

Opera Fayetteville: Heather Jones

Charlottesville Opera and Natchez Festival of Music:    Virginia Hesse

Glow Lyric Theatre (SC): Jessica Luffey

Opera Delaware: Garrett Obrycki

Opera North: Blake Jennings

Ohio Light Opera: Tim McGowan

Opera Ithaca: Virginia Hesse and Garrett Obryck i