a juried competition with audience participation seeking the best emerging vocal talent in the
classical music genre
ROCHESTER’S
CLASSICAL
IDOL
a performance for the benefit of the Rochester Oratorio Society This season on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at the
Hochstein Performance Hall
Our top ten finalists from left to right: Jessica Medoff, Jonathan Beyer, Toby Newman, Amber Smoke, Rachel Felstein, Claire Shackleton, Jesse Malgieri, Emily Helenbrook, Annie Gill, Kerri Lynn Slominski
Baritone Claims Rochester’s Classical Idol Title
ROCHESTER—In a competition devoted to oratorio and opera, one expects to hear the traditional arias of Verdi, Puccini, Mozart, Handel and Mendelssohn. But at the Rochester Oratorio Society’s fourth annual Classical Idol Singing Competition held March 27, baritone Jonathan Beyer chose an aria from a new opera and captured the top prize. Beyer, already a critically acclaimed soloist on the international stage, captivated the audience and judges alike with a performance of News has a kind of mystery from John Adams contemporary opera Nixon in China.
"It is such an honor to receive first place and the Audience Favorite award at the Classical Idol competition,” said Beyer. “It was such a marvelous group of singers and was a really wonderful experience."
Jonathan competed against nine other finalists for the top prize of $2000, and earned an additional prize after he was selected as the Audience Favorite.
"This event deserves the national profile it has gained in the past four years. Everyone who attended heard one of the great stars of tomorrow, and now Jonathan Beyer has a permanent Rochester connection thanks to Classical Idol,” said ROS Music Director Eric Townell. “We're all thrilled with the results and we're excited already for next year's competition. It's a "must see" event for Rochester.”
As the reigning Classical Idol, Beyer will return to Rochester next season and perform as a soloist with the Rochester Oratorio Society.
The Classical Idol Competition has developed steadily since it’s inception in 2007, and now attracts vocalists from across the nation and Canada. Rounding out the top place finishers, Toby Newman of New York, N.Y. earned the second place award and Claire Shackleton of Dallas, Texas won third place. They sang selections from Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte respectively.
WXXI’s Brenda Tremblay served as mistress of ceremonies, and Carol Ritter Wright was the auctioneer during the live auction held that evening. Pianist and vocal coach Jamie Johns of Milwaukee was the accompanist.
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Founded in 1945, the Rochester Oratorio is our community’s premier large chorus, bringing classical and contemporary masterworks to local audiences. Over 150 Rochesterians comprise the chorus as directed by Maestro Townell.
First Place Winner and Audience Favorite: Jonathan Beyer, Baritone
Second Place Winner: Toby Newman, Mezzo Soprano
Third Place Winner: Claire Shackleton, Mezzo Soprano
With Thanks to Our 2010 Corporate Sponsors: