A GALA EVENING AT THE SANTA FE OPERA WILL's first annual Tribute to Fellow Members
by Patty Reed
Nada Dates, LeRoy Lehr, Veronica Reed and Pete CramerThursday, April 7th, WILL's Membership Committee sponsored the first Annual Fellow's event at Parotti Hall on WNMU's campus. Those who participated were treated to a Silver City Night at the Santa Fe Opera. Veronica Reed, retired Stage Director and translator of Operas brought us to the Santa Fe Opera with photographs of the opera building and grounds while humming samples of some of the more delicious arias and recounting a brief synopsis of the story of the Opera 'Faust', which will be sung at the Santa Fe Opera this summer. Nada Dates, LeRoy Lehr, Veronica ReedHer husband, LeRoy Lehr, a retired Metropolitan Opera basso profundo singer awed us with the baritone aria from La Boheme, "Vecchi Zimarra" (Old Overcoat), which is sung by the character Colline. La Boheme will also be presented this summer at Santa Fe. Mr. Lehr finished our evening with a stirring rendition of classic song, "The September Song." Accompanying Mr. Lehr on the piano was Nada Dates, pianist extraordinaire. WILL's Membership Committee presented a table of desserts to tease the palate of Fellows. Gourmet treats were provided by Diane's Bakery, Marriane Coppinger, Dixie Dexter and Bert Cramer. The chocolate no-flour torte, baked by Ms. Coppinger, was worthy of the delicacies presented in the Rainbow Room on top of Rockefeller Center in New York City. Vicki Johnson, a WILL Fellow, said following the evening, The first annual WILL Fellow program was just what I expected from WILL - something informative and interesting tied together with time to talk with friends and enjoy delicious desserts. This evening was almost as good as attending an event at the Santa Fe Opera. Veronica Reed presented the history of the Santa Fe Opera through her personal history with the organization. The evening was highlighted by two vocal presentations by Metropolitan Opera star, LeRoy Lehr. A wonderful way to spend an evening. Fred Fox, another WILL Fellow, was caught still riveted to his seat following Mr. Lehr's last vocal. I was five feet away. I have taken my son to the opera, but we were hundreds of yards from the performers. Where else but at WILL could we be surrounded by such rich sound, such vocal power? This was impressive! Will FellowsThis Gala Event was a tribute and 'thank you' to our Fellow WILL members. These members support WILL with an extra donation to their membership dues of over $25 per year. For this level of donation to WILL, Fellows will be honored with a yearly Special Event open only to those members. Brochures for this season's Santa Fe Opera are at the WILL Office.
Biographies
Veronica Reed, Stage Director Veronica Reed is a Stage director, Dramatic coach, translator, and writer of opera supertitles. She graduated from the University of New Mexico in Theater, and saw her first opera at the Santa Fe Opera in the early 1960s. That turned into a lifelong commitment. In addition to her work at the Santa Fe Opera, she has directed productions in New York City and for regional opera companies across the U.S., and in the 1970s was a founder and Artistic Director of a small touring company in Vermont and new Hampshire. In the 1980s, her translations of operas into English singing versions were published and performed by the Belwin Mills Music Company. In the 1990s she worked for the Metropolitan Opera Guild while her husband, LeRoy Lehr, sang at the Metropolitan Opera. Both have recently retired and live in Albuquerque.
LeRoy Lehr, Basso Profundo
In May 2010, LeRoy Lehr completed 19 years of regular appearances with the Metropolitan Opera, having sung over 325 performances in supporting and character roles in 26 operas there. He has also appeared at New York City Opera and in Opera companies, orchestras and Festivals throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany. Mr. Lehr has performed as soloist with many of the world's major orchestras, including Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Minnesota, the Gothenberg Symphony and the National Symphony. To know more about Mr. Lehr and his music, including a segment on a Garrison Keillor program, visit www.leroylehr.com . In the past year, in addition to teaching and giving master Classes, Mr. Lehr has also appeared with the Opera Companies of Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, and in recital in February at Vero Beach, Florida.
Nada Dates, Pianist
Mrs. Dates earned a BME degree at Wheaton College as a piano major in 1957. She taught Public School Vocal Music for 10 years in Akron, Omaha, Haverstraw and Montour Falls before meeting her husband, Charles. After studying Anthropology and Theology in preparation for Missionary service, the Dates spent the next 35 years in Indonesia. Three daughters were born there. They retired first to Omaha in 2005 and then moved to Silver City in 2008. In Silver City, Nada is involved in church music, is an assistant accompanist and singer in "Hi Lo Silvers" Ladies Chorus, and occasionally provides piano accompaniment for groups and soloists.

A GALA EVENING AT THE SANTA FE OPERA
WILL's first annual Tribute to Fellow Members

by Patty Reed

Nada Dates, LeRoy Lehr, Veronica Reed and Pete CramerThursday, April 7th, WILL's Membership Committee sponsored the first Annual Fellow's event at Parotti Hall on WNMU's campus. Those who participated were treated to a Silver City Night at the Santa Fe Opera.

Veronica Reed, retired Stage Director and translator of Operas brought us to the Santa Fe Opera with photographs of the opera building and grounds while humming samples of some of the more delicious arias and recounting a brief synopsis of the story of the Opera 'Faust', which will be sung at the Santa Fe Opera this summer.

Nada Dates, LeRoy Lehr, Veronica ReedHer husband, LeRoy Lehr, a retired Metropolitan Opera basso profundo singer awed us with the baritone aria from La Boheme, "Vecchi Zimarra" (Old Overcoat), which is sung by the character Colline. La Boheme will also be presented this summer at Santa Fe. Mr. Lehr finished our evening with a stirring rendition of classic song, "The September Song." Accompanying Mr. Lehr on the piano was Nada Dates, pianist extraordinaire.

WILL's Membership Committee presented a table of desserts to tease the palate of Fellows. Gourmet treats were provided by Diane's Bakery, Marriane Coppinger, Dixie Dexter and Bert Cramer. The chocolate no-flour torte, baked by Ms. Coppinger, was worthy of the delicacies presented in the Rainbow Room on top of Rockefeller Center in New York City.

Vicki Johnson, a WILL Fellow, said following the evening,

The first annual WILL Fellow program was just what I expected from WILL - something informative and interesting tied together with time to talk with friends and enjoy delicious desserts. This evening was almost as good as attending an event at the Santa Fe Opera. Veronica Reed presented the history of the Santa Fe Opera through her personal history with the organization. The evening was highlighted by two vocal presentations by Metropolitan Opera star, LeRoy Lehr. A wonderful way to spend an evening.

Fred Fox, another WILL Fellow, was caught still riveted to his seat following Mr. Lehr's last vocal.

I was five feet away. I have taken my son to the opera, but we were hundreds of yards from the performers. Where else but at WILL could we be surrounded by such rich sound, such vocal power? This was impressive!

Will FellowsThis Gala Event was a tribute and 'thank you' to our Fellow WILL members. These members support WILL with an extra donation to their membership dues of over $25 per year.

For this level of donation to WILL, Fellows will be honored with a yearly Special Event open only to those members.

Brochures for this season's Santa Fe Opera are at the WILL Office.

Biographies

Veronica Reed, Stage Director

Veronica Reed is a Stage director, Dramatic coach, translator, and writer of opera supertitles. She graduated from the University of New Mexico in Theater, and saw her first opera at the Santa Fe Opera in the early 1960s. That turned into a lifelong commitment. In addition to her work at the Santa Fe Opera, she has directed productions in New York City and for regional opera companies across the U.S., and in the 1970s was a founder and Artistic Director of a small touring company in Vermont and new Hampshire. In the 1980s, her translations of operas into English singing versions were published and performed by the Belwin Mills Music Company. In the 1990s she worked for the Metropolitan Opera Guild while her husband, LeRoy Lehr, sang at the Metropolitan Opera. Both have recently retired and live in Albuquerque.

LeRoy Lehr, Basso Profundo

In May 2010, LeRoy Lehr completed 19 years of regular appearances with the Metropolitan Opera, having sung over 325 performances in supporting and character roles in 26 operas there. He has also appeared at New York City Opera and in Opera companies, orchestras and Festivals throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany. Mr. Lehr has performed as soloist with many of the world's major orchestras, including Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Minnesota, the Gothenberg Symphony and the National Symphony. To know more about Mr. Lehr and his music, including a segment on a Garrison Keillor program, visit www.leroylehr.com . In the past year, in addition to teaching and giving master Classes, Mr. Lehr has also appeared with the Opera Companies of Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, and in recital in February at Vero Beach, Florida.

Nada Dates, Pianist

Mrs. Dates earned a BME degree at Wheaton College as a piano major in 1957. She taught Public School Vocal Music for 10 years in Akron, Omaha, Haverstraw and Montour Falls before meeting her husband, Charles. After studying Anthropology and Theology in preparation for Missionary service, the Dates spent the next 35 years in Indonesia. Three daughters were born there. They retired first to Omaha in 2005 and then moved to Silver City in 2008. In Silver City, Nada is involved in church music, is an assistant accompanist and singer in "Hi Lo Silvers" Ladies Chorus, and occasionally provides piano accompaniment for groups and soloists.