FREE Courtroom Concert: Christine Amon, mezzo-soprano; Kenneth J. Pereira, baritone; Alex Woods, piano

Christine Amon is a versatile mezzo-soprano excelling in opera, musical theater, and art song. Her stage roles include Dorabella in Così fan tutte, the title role in Cendrillon, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, Erika in Vanessa, Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, and Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel, among many others. She has appeared with Nashville Opera, Opera Carolina, Toledo Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, Union Avenue Opera, Opera Louisiane, and Opera Memphis. Ms. Amon also created the role of Mich in Mich and the Moon in the premiere of The Ghosts of Crosstown at Opera Memphis. In 2018 she was a finalist in the international Lotte Lenya Competition hosted by the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music. Concert performances include Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Bach’s Magnificat, Will Todd’s Mass in Blue, Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony, and Handel’s Messiah.

Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Amon earned her BM at Grand Valley State University where she was named a Distinguished Alumna in 2015, and her MM from Bowling Green State University. She earned a doctorate at the University of Michigan and currently teaches classical and musical theatre voice at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. This season, Amon will perform Gustav Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra.

Kenneth J. Pereira, baritone, enjoys an active career on the operatic, concert, and recital stages. His operatic roles include Puccini’s Marcello in La Bohème, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, the title role in Gianni Schicchi, and Mozart’s Il Conte Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro and Guglielmo in Così fan tutte among others. Internationally, he has appeared as the baritone soloist in numerous opera gala performances in both Italy and Mexico in works by Verdi, Puccini, and Donizetti. Recently, he has performed with the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra in works by Beethoven and Mahler. Dr. Pereira also has been a soloist with the Eau Claire Chamber in works by Bach, Handel, and Mozart. Prior to his arrival in the Chippewa Valley, Dr. Pereira appeared regularly as a soloist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Raymond Leppard in works by Beethoven and Haydn. He is also a featured soloist on the orchestra’s 2008 recording of classical and traditional Christmas music.

Born and raised in northern California, Dr. Pereira graduated Magna cum Laude from California State University, Stanislaus. He holds a Doctor of Music in Voice Performance and Literature from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where he also completed a Master of Music Degree in Voice. Dr. Pereira is a Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, where he teaches applied voice, diction opera and musical theatre workshop, and directs main stage opera and musical theatre productions.

Alexander Woods is a pianist and music teacher living in the Twin Cities, MN. A versatile and collaborative musician, his passions include art song, instrumental & chamber works, choral music, contemporary piano repertoire, and a variety of jazz and popular styles. Woods is a lecturer of music at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and holds positions at Central Presbyterian Church (St. Paul) and Voices of Hope Prison Music Initiative. He has also been involved with institutions and ensembles including St. Olaf College, Gustavus Adolphus College, Source Song Festival, International Cello Institute, St. Croix Valley Opera, Borromeo Music Festival, Charles Gorczynski Tango Quartet, Border CrosSing, Minneapolis Choir Collective, Mississippi Valley Orchestra, and the NATS, Schubert Club, and Thursday Musical competitions.

Recent and upcoming concerts include the Schubert Club’s Courtroom Concert series, Mozart’s D-minor piano concerto with Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra, Kjell Habbestad’s dramatic song cycle The Temptations of Veslemøy, MN Bach Society’s Outside the Box series, Minnesota Tango Music Festival, Northfield Jazz Festival, and Minneapolis Song Slam with composer Abbie Betinis and mezzo Christine Amon. Woods holds a master’s degree in Collaborative Piano & Coaching from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in Music and Religious Studies from Pomona College.