Mary Ann Dutton has been director of the Arizona Masterworks Chorale since 1979. She is Professor of Music Emeritus at Glendale Community College. Currently she is affiliated with Rio Salado College and Faith Presbyterian Church in Sun City. Her credentials include study in conducting with Robert Shaw and Margaret Hillis. She received degrees from Arizona State University and did graduate study at Northwestern University. She has directed international tours and conducted the BBC Concert and Flagstaff Festival Orchestras.

Ms. Dutton has served on the boards of the Arizona Opera Company, the National Opera Association, the West Valley Symphony, and the Flagstaff Festival of the Arts. She is currently on the Board of Directors of the Greater Arizona Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters.

John Massaro began his training in California working as an accompanist and coach for the Los Angeles Opera Repertory Company. After working with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf at the Britten-Pears School in Aldeburgh, the Frankfurt Opera and at her home in Zurich, he became a coach for the Metropolitan Opera Young Artist Development program. During his years in New York he had the fortune of assisting Leonard Bernstein with his last opera A Quiet Place. He was also the conducting assistant for Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic in a production of Madama Butterfly in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem.

For seven years he was Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor for the Arizona Opera Company, where he conducted a critically acclaimed Mikado. He made his debut with the Phoenix Symphony in 2002 conducting a 9/11 memorial concert, which included his own arrangement of the National Anthem. He has also been the Musical Director for several local theaters including Phoenix Theater and the Black Theatre Troupe. He has been the recipient of an AriZoni as Music Director for Blues in the Night with BTT. He most recently directed the music for Ain't Misbehavin' and Five Guys Named Moe for BTT.

This season Mr. Massaro will conduct the Sierra Vista Symphony Orchestra in a program of operatic favorites, music direct Amen Corner for the BTT, music direct the opening show - Anything Goes - at the new Arizona Broadway Theater, conduct HMS Pinafore in Quincy, IL, conduct the Symphony of the West Valley in a program featuring Bobby Vinton, and conduct the Mesa Symphony in an all French program.

In the summer of 2005 Mr. Massaro made his Carnegie Hall debut conducting the Mozart Requiem. As a result, he has recently been invited to conduct several works by Mozart in Europe in 2006 as part of the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth. This tour will include Krakow, Prague, Brno, Budapest and Vienna.

As a recitalist, Mr. Massaro has accompanied several artists including his wife, Gail Dubinbaum, throughout the United States and Canada for Community Concerts. He is also an award-winning composer and arranger, and producer of choral CDs.

Sample Reviews

"There's a huge contribution from conductor John Massaro's orchestra. It's extraordinary to hear this charming and melodic Sullivan score played so well and by such a large musical ensemble that make the rich orchestrations ravishing. Massaro's tempos are artful throughout and his musicians are sharp and precise." - Chris Curcio review of Mikado

"The ensemble singing, coached by John Massaro, is shatteringly good, especially near the top of Act 2, when Poulenc's plangent setting of the Ave Maria is sung with lucidity and strength." - Arizona Republic review of Dialogues of the Carmelites

"The chorus, trained by John Massaro, fulfilled its role as a vital character on its own, bringing amazing subtlety to the final moments of the first act." - Arizona Republic review of Turandot

"Even more remarkable for this chorus was its fresh sense of musical unity and boldness, for which new chorus master John Massaro must surely receive credit." - Arizona Republic review of Lucia

"John Massaro's chorus was every bit as good as any opera chorus on any stage today, not only in their singing but also in their acting." - Bette Jones review of Rigoletto

"Best Musical Accompaniment: John Massaro and ensemble, "Five Guys Named Moe," Black Theatre Troupe." - East Valley Tribune Spotlight Awards

The Arizona Masterworks Chorale was formed in 1979 and has shared the love of excellent choral music for twenty-six years. Under the direction of Mary Ann Dutton, it is recognized for quality of performance and breadth of presentation.
Ms. Dutton schedules, rehearses, and conducts the Chorale through approximately ten performances each season. The repertoire of the Chorale includes masses, oratorios, and contemporary works, as well as light literature.

From its inception, the Chorale has worked to foster, promote, and increase public knowledge and appreciation of the great choral works, both classical and contemporary through public performances of choral singing primarily, but not exclusively, within the state of Arizona.

The Chorale has delighted audiences throughout Arizona and the United States, as well as Mexico, Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, England, Finland and Spain. At the invitation of founder and musical director, Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops, the Chorale has performed in Carnegie Hall, New York City, on three occasions. One performance was the celebration commemorating the 100th anniversary of CarnegieHall. More recently, the Chorale was proud to represent the state of Arizona at the Dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., in May 2004.

The 2006 European tour of the Arizona Masterworks Chorale will include concerts in Krakow, Prague, Brno and Vienna, where the ‘Grand Finale’ will take place in the world renowned Karlskirche. During their tour, the Arizona Masterworks Chorale will be joined by singers from the Arizona Opera Choristers, the Korean Ensemble and Phoenix Symphony Chorus.

Kent Trostel
Accompanist

Kent Trostel has accompanied the Masterworks Chorale since September 2000. He attended the Idlewild School of the Arts, followed by acceptance to the Peabody Conservatory of Music, at Johns Hopkins University, where he received the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance. Kent is the pianist and accompanist at Bellevue Heights American Baptist Church in Sun City.

The South Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Ceské Budejovice Jihoceská komorní filharmonie Ceské Budejovice (JKF)

The South Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Ceské Budejovice currently has 36 members. It is the only professional philharmonic orchestra in the district of South Bohemia. Jaroslav Vodnanský, the conductor who established this orchestra, served as head conductor until the late 1980s.
The following period, under the leadership of Ondrej Kukal as head conductor and Bretislav Novotný - the first violinist of the "Kvarteto mesta Prahy" - as conductor, is considered a significant period illustrated by the JKF's growth in quality and professionalism.
The orchestra's core repertoire consists of interpretations of classical music. However, the dramaturgy of the concert seasons is varied and ranges from baroque to contemporary music. The concert schedules of the philharmonic orchestra sometimes also include great symphonic and instrumental compositions.
Such well-known conductors as Václav Smetácek, Milan Munclinger, Josef Vlach, Vladimír Válek, Viktor Barsov and Walter Hügler have worked with the JKF orchestra, as have a number of significant soloists such as Josef Suk, Ivan Moravec, Václav Hudecek, Eugen Indjic, Alexander Rudin, Eugen Fodor, Shizuka Ishikawa, Alexandr Vectomov, Pavel Šporcl and others.
Besides domestic concerts, the South Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Ceské Budejovice also performs on foreign stages (Munich, Vienna, Salzburg, Zurich, Bern).

Furthermore, it participates in international music festivals, such as Pražské jaro (The Prague Spring), Janáckuv máj, Bratislavské hudební slavnosti (Bratislava music festival) and festivals in Flaine and Bonaquil in France.
Foreign critics especially appreciate the lively and colorful sound of the orchestra, its sensitivity and its craftmanship.
The JKF often cooperates with Czech television and radio stations to make and perform on recordings.
The current head conductor of "Jihoceská komorní filharmonie Ceské Budejovice" is Stanislav Vavrínek.

This young soprano received wonderful training and experience in Arizona Opera's “Opera Outreach Program”,and also had the opportunity of working with the Utah Festival Opera Company in Logan, Utah, while she received her B.A. in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy at Utah State University.

Lisanne has had several opportunities to do concert work in Romania and Austria where she was involved in a graduate study program, as well as performing concerts and fund raising events throughout her home state of Arizona, where her audiences are thrilled by this exceptional performer.

Mezzo-soprano Gail Dubinbaum has performed both opera and concert works internationally. She has sung leading roles with some of the world's most prestigious opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna Staatsoper, Israel Opera, and L'Opera de Montreal, and nationally she has appeared with Opera Pacific, Detroit Opera, Portland Opera and Arizona Opera.
On the concert stage, Ms. Dubinbaum has sung with the Orchestras of Los Angeles, Israel, New York, Boston, Cleveland, San Francisco, and with such renowned conductors as Zubin Mehta, James Levine, Michael Tilson Thomas, Gerard Schwarz, Carlo Maria Giulini and Leonard Bernstein. Known for her portrayals of Rossini and Mozart heroines, Ms Dubinbaum has also distinguished herself in recital, having worked closely with the legendary soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Beginning her studies with her mother, Ruth Dubinbaum, she continued her private studies with the great German mezzo Mme. Herta Glaz. Ms. Dubinbaum currently teaches private voice in Phoenix, where she resides with her husband, composer, conductor and accompanist John Massaro, and their seventeen year old son, Victor.

Dan has performed with Arizona Opera as Beppe in I Pagliacci, Tinca in Il Tabarro, Brighella in Ariadne auf Naxos, Carlson in Carlisle Floyd's Of Mice and Men, Nick in La Fanciulla Del West, Remendado in Carmen, Goro in Madama Butterfly, the High Priest in Salome and Pirelli in Sweeney Todd. Dan made his Austin Lyric Opera debut in 2002, performing the role of Nick in La Fanciulla del West. In 2004 he appeared as Pirelli with the Cleveland Opera, and as both Basilio and Curzio in Opera Pacific’s Le Nozze di Figaro. His Phoenix Symphony appearances include Kurt Weill's Seven Deadly Sins and Handel's Messiah. He makes his “acting” debut as Dr. Burnett in this production of The World Aflame.

His Music Director credits include:
At The Fort Wayne (IN) Civic Theatre: Evita, The Fantasticks, Hans Christian Anderson, Gerry’s Girls, Big River, and Oklahoma.
The Fulton Opera House (PA): Evita, The Taffettas, A Man For All Seasons and Rags.
Phoenix Theatre: Gypsy, A Child's Christmas in Wales, The Taffetas (Phoenix Critics' Circle Award, Best Music Director), Mother Hicks (original score), The Fantasticks, Peter Pan, Stones (AriZONI award, Best Music Director) and Lucky Star.
Phoenix Black Theatre Troupe: He received a Maxi Award for best musical direction for their 1998 production of Avenue X.
Desert Foothills Theater: Sweet and Hot, Simply Sammy, Guys and Dolls and The All Night Strut.
Mesa Community College: Working, The Mikado, The Merry Widow, She Loves Me, Lil Abner and Into the Woods.

Dan has composed the incidental music for this production of Allen Tongret’s The World Aflame, for the premiere of PVCC’s new Performing Arts Center. In December, 2005 he will serve as music director and pianist for PVCC’s production of The Fantasticks.

In January 2006 Dan will direct the contemporary Opera, Benjamin, by John Carbon, based on the life of Benjamin Franklin, at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, following which he will serve as pianist and Music director for Desert Foothills Theater’s March 2006 production of Forever Plaid. In May, 2006, Dan looks forward to a European concert tour as tenor soloist in a program honoring Mozart’s 250th Anniversary, with concerts in Krakow, Vienna, Prague and Brno.

Aubrey Allicock’s Operatic roles include: Figaro in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Ping in Puccini’s Turandot, the Old Doctor in Barber’s Vanessa, Mikado in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, King Balthazar in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, and has also been a featured soloist in Handel’s Messiah. Mr. Allicock has also been the three time winner of Arizona’s National Association of Teachers of Singing competition.

Regina Coeli and Laudate Dominum Soloists

Kristin Jensen Soprano

holds an MM in Opera Performance from Arizona State University and a BM from Florida State University. Kristin's opera credits include appearances at ASU's Lyric Opera Theater in the roles of Adina (Elixir of Love), Nora (Riders to the Sea), and Atalanta (Xerxes). Kristin has also appeared with Ensemble Versailles as Vespetta in Telleman's Pimpinone. Kristin's concert appearances include Charpentier's solo cantata, Death of Didon, with Ensemble Versailles at the Kerr Cultural Center, and the Second Fairy in Mendelssohn's A Midsummernight's Dream with the ASU Symphony Orchestra. Kristin has given recitals in Florida, Arizona, and Barga, Italy. She currently teaches voice in Phoenix.

Katie Moore Mezzo-soprano

Mezzo-soprano Katie Moore is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance degree from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. She has appeared with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, singing the alto solos in both their 2001 and 2002 Messiah performances. Her operatic roles include the Sorceress, in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas; Katisha, in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, and Erika in Barber’s Vanessa.

Baruch Koritan Bass

has had an extensive career as a performer in many venues of music.
Opera performances include, "L'enfant et les Sortileges," Phoenix, "Don Pasquale," Philadelphia. He has sung, "Carmina Burana," and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Zagreb Philharmonic as well as Bach's "St. John's Passion" and Mozart's "Thomas, Koenig in "Aegypten" with the Phoenix Chamber Orchestra.

His musical theater credits include "Camelot", "Paint Your Wagon", "Sweeney Todd", "Jesus Christ Superstar", and "Most Happy Fella". Mr. Koritan has been featured in Hawaii, at Bally's, Las Vegas, and on Princess Cruises, touring the Caribbean, Central America, Canada and Alaska. He studied at the University of Madrid, Spain and at Temple University, Philadelphia, with Eleanor Steber and Todd Duncan, and in Phoenix with Ruth Dubinbaum. He studied drama with Boris Marshalov at New Hope Academy of the Arts, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

He has served as judge for the Phoenix Music Theatre Guild Scholarship Programs and Arizona Music Teachers' Association State Finals. He has been voice clinician for the Greek Orthodox Choir Regional Conference in Tucson and for the Scottsdale School District.
Baruch Koritan is Cantor at Temple Beth Shalom of the Northwest Valley, Sun City, Arizona, since 1992. He has been invited to perform his new songs and liturgical settings at workshops and conventions of the American Conference of Cantors and Guild of Temple Musicians (ACC/GTM) in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. He was commissioned to write a Shabbat Service for Temple Beth Israel, Scottsdale, Arizona, which premiered in 1999.

Baruch also is a voice teacher, both privately, as a member of the National Association of Teachers of singing, and with his wife, Ruth F. Dubinbaum-Koritan, at Scottsdale Community College, where she is a professor of voice and opera. She accompanies her husband on the piano in many concerts and services. Also, Baruch and Ruth perform as a piano duo in concert.

Dr. Jonathan Ng Lyric tenor

He was awarded the Doctoral Student Grants-in-Aid of Research from the University Graduate School of Indiana University for his doctoral dissertation - "The Study of Ralph Vaughan Williams's Sancta Civitas (The Holy City)". Through this grant, Dr. Ng traveled and did research in England-British Library, London and Bodleian Library, Oxford as a visiting scholar. He is the student of Mrs. Gail Massaro and is currently the Director of Music at Catalina United Methodist Church in Tucson Arizona and a private voice instructor.