3rd Sunday Concert Series at Christ Church

THE THIRD SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES

THE THIRD SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES NEWS RELEASE

Christ Episcopal Church
120 S. New Hampshire Street
Covington, Louisiana 70433

Media Contact: Margaret Mashburn
(985) 626-5714
mmashbur@bellsouth.net

TOO MANY SOPRANOS AT THIRD SUNDAY

The Third Sunday Concert Series will host the Southeastern Louisiana University Opera/Music Theatre Workshop in their presentation of “Too Many Sopranos, Act I” on Sunday, November 18 at 5 p.m.

Directed by Charles Effler, Director of the Opera/Music Theatre Workshop and pianist for this performance, the comic opera is set in Heaven where four operatic sopranos arrive to learn that there is not room for all of them in the Heavenly Chorus (too many tenors and basses have been condemned to Hell) and that they must audition for the one available soprano opening. The ladies throw massive diva fits, but in the end, they sing. St. Peter can’t decide which soprano to choose, so Gabriel reminds him of the “Redemption Clause:” if the sopranos go to Hell and perform a selfless act, they can bring back as many tenors and basses as needed. If they fail, however, they will have to spend the rest of Eternity in the netherworld. The divas agree, and St. Peter sprinkles them with the ashes of dead saints to protect them on their journey.

Effler joined the music faculty at Southeastern in 1999 as a staff accompanist and began conducting for the Opera/Music Theatre Workshop in the spring of 2000. In 2002, he was appointed its administrative and artistic director and produces an opera or Broadway musical each semester, as well as producing the popular series of summer musicals at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in downtown Hammond. Effler is responsible for the musical preparation of the cast and orchestra for each production and is conductor for the performances. As an accompanist, he accompanies faculty and student recitals, as well as the Concert Choir, Southeastern’s premiere vocal ensemble. In addition to his duties at Southeastern, Effler is active as a recital accompanist in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and on the Northshore. He is also the choral director at First Presbyterian Church in Hammond. Effler received B.M. (piano) and M.M. (theory) degrees from Southeastern. He is a member of the National Opera Association, MENC, LMEA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and serves as faculty sponsor for Delta Omicron Professional Music Fraternity.

The cast includes Brian Martinez, Jr. as Gabriel, Scott McDonough as St. Peter, Kay Schepker as Dame Doleful, Jessica Davis Bryan as Miss Titmouse, Sarah Kennemer as Madame Pompous, and Cassandra Arnold as Just Jeanette. Violin soloist is Laurentiu Norocel, and the Stage Director is Brandt Blocker.

All concerts in the Third Sunday series are free, open to the public, and followed by a reception where the audience can meet the performers.

The series is supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the St. Tammany Arts Commission.

Christ Church is located at 120 S. New Hampshire in Covington at the entrance to Bogue Falaya Park. For more information, contact the church office at (985) 892-3177.