FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE AMERICAN OPERA PROJECT TO RELEASE
"FIRST GLIMPSE" VIDEO ALBUM

World Premiere songs created in AOP Fellowship Program "Composers & the Voice" to be released through end of November


October 21, 2020

Brooklyn, NY -The American Opera Project announces First Glimpse, a video album of 20 songs created during the first year of AOP’s 2019-21 cycle of Composers & the Voice, the groundbreaking fellowship program that has been the starting point for many of today’s most recognized contemporary operas and artists.

Originally intended as a live concert in May 2020, the First Glimpse videos will be released every Friday beginning October 23 and for the following six weeks. These videos will remain free and available to the public for one week following their release, after which they will be available to rent or purchase, individually or as a full set through AOP's Website at www.aopopera.org/first-glimpse-2020 and Vimeo page:

PER VIDEO
Rent (24 hr): $1 | Purchase (Unlimited viewing): $2

SERIES
(All 20 First Glimpse videos w bonus footage)
Rent (24 hr): $15 | Purchase (Unlimited viewing): $20

A watch party of all of the videos with the creators and artists in attendance will be held on Friday, December 4th at 7:30pm via AOP's Vimeo page https://vimeo.com/aopopera.

The composers Alaina Ferris, Matt Frey, Michael Lanci, Mary Prescott, Jessica Rudman and Tony Solitro, and librettists Amanda Hollander and Jonathan Douglass Turner, were chosen by AOP to spend a year creating new works in its bi-annual fellowship program Composers & the Voice (C&V).
 
First Glimpse will be performed by the Composers & the Voice Resident Ensemble of Singers: soprano Justine Aronson, soprano Jasmine Muhammad, mezzo-soprano Augusta Caso, tenor Timothy Stoddard, baritone Mario Diaz-Moresco, and bass-baritone Brandon Coleman. Each of the songs were composed specifically for the singers' voices, after months of study and experimentation during the C&V program. Supporting on piano will be C&V Music Directors Mila Henry and Kelly Horsted, as well as guest artists Lisa Edwards and Spencer Myer.
 
For more information, including full details on release schedule and how to watch First Glimpse, visit www.aopopera.org.
Cycle 10 of Composers and the Voice
Steven Osgood / C&V Artistic Director
Mila Henry / Head of Music
Matt Gray / Head of Drama
Cycle 10 Composers and Librettists
Alaina Ferris / Composer
Matt Frey / Composer
Michael Lanci / Composer
Mary Prescott / Composer
Jessica Rudman / Composer
Tony Solitro / Composer

Amanda Hollander / Librettist
Jonathan Douglass Turner / Librettist

Music Directors:
Mila Henry
Kelly Horsted
Lisa Edwards (Guest Artist)
Spencer Myer (Guest Artist)
Cycle 10 Singers
Justine Aronson / Soprano
Jasmine Muhammad / Soprano
Augusta Caso / Mezzo-Soprano
Timothy Stoddard / Tenor
Mario Diaz-Moresco / Baritone
Brandon Coleman / Bass-Baritone

Production (New York)
Video: Chris Comfort
Audio: Misja van den Burg
Production Assistant: Kelsey Strauch

Production (Los Angeles)
Video: TinNgai Chan
Audio: Dave Bennett
ABOUT COMPOSERS & THE VOICE
AOP's Composers & the Voice is a two-year, tuition-free fellowship for composers and librettists that provides experience writing for the voice and opera stage.

Created and led by Composers & the Voice Artistic Director Steven Osgood, the two-year fellowship includes a year of working with the company’s Resident Ensemble of Singers and professional instructors followed by a year of continued promotion and career development through AOP and its strategic partnerships. Since launching in 2002, C&V has fostered the development of over 70 composers & librettists.

For more information, visit: https://www.aopopera.org/composers-voice
ABOUT THE AMERICAN OPERA PROJECT
Founded in 1988, The American Opera Project (AOP) has been at the forefront of contemporary opera for over 30 years. Its works have received critical acclaim at opera companies and venues around the world, establishing a new musical canon that recognizes the operatic story in every life. 

Press for AOP:
"known for bringing cutting-edge vocal productions to the masses" — New York
"a perfect first exposure to opera." — Time Out NY
"Bravo to AOP for supporting such controversial and ultimately important work." — Opera Today
"The future of American opera is in good hands." — Opera News

Media Contact: Meagan Brus, Director of Marketing and Communications
email: mbrus@aopopera.org
Press material is available at: www.aopopera.org/press
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