MIZ Saigon

Concert: July 11th, 2010 - 8:00pm

Diva Party: July 10th, 2010

Sun Valley Opera in conjunction with Sun Valley Resort Entertainment is pleased to present MIZ Saigon a concert performed by 5 singers, a 25-piece orchestra and a finale sung by a community chorus. The MIZ Saigon concert will feature songs from two of the world's most loved stories Miss Saigon and Les Misérables under the direction of music director Brett Strader.

Dennis McNeil (Tenor) - Dennis McNeil known as the "Presidents' Tenor" is a winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and debuted with the New York City Opera in 1993. He is well known for his versatility as a performer. Mr. McNeil is equally happy on the Broadway stage, the Opera stage, in front of a symphony as a soloist, or singing Irish Folk Music. He has performed with many of the major opera companies in the U.S. including the Met, New York City Opera, San Francisco Opera, New Orleans Opera, and Los Angeles Opera. On the Musical Theater stage he has sung the role of Mr. Snow in Carousel more than 140 times in four productions. He had the honor of singing Nikos to Broadway legend, John Raitt's Zorba. He also sang in a national tour with lyricist, Sammy Cahn in the smash hit musical Words and Music! Mr. McNeil has also performed for five U.S. Presidents.

Ani Maldjian (Soprano) - Her performance of the Cleopatra aria "Se Pieta" from Julius Caesar and Donizetti's "O luce di Quest' Anima" earned her first place at Metropolitan Opera National Council Western Regional Audition at USC in October 2005. Ms. Maldjian has been described as a "remarkable soprano", with a voice that is "richly mature and full of lyric nuance", and her singing "elegant, commanding, brilliant, fresh and strong…definitely a name to watch as she rises through the ranks of young sopranos." She has performed over 25 major operatic roles and has great passion and enthusiasm for 20th and 21st century music. She originated the title role in the new opera Anne Frank.

Isaac Hurtado (Tenor) – San Francisco Classical Voice said "…like a Prince Charming incarnate, he cuts quite a figure on stage." His singing is based on solid, mellifluous legato that never falters, and his money-notes are worth every penny. In a word, he is the complete package, a singer to keep an eye on over the next ten years. His resume includes performing the title role in Bernstien's Candide, Romeo in Gounod's Romeo and Juliette, Ferrando in Cosi Fan Tutte and as Roger Doremus in Lee Hoiby's Summer and Smoke. Mr. Hurtado was heard nationally on National Public Radio’s World of Opera.

Shawna Masuda (Vocalist) – Born in Honolulu, Ms. Masuda has performed in over 20 island-wide musicals. Her most recent role was "Kim" in Miss Saigon which she reprised at the Four Seasons Theatre in Madison, WI. Critics have compared her voice to Lia Salonga from the Philippines who originated the role on Broadway. She has also performed the role of Eponine in Les Misérables. A singer/actress whose style ranges from Pop, R&B, Country, Broadway and Classical, she also dabbles in a little bit of dance. Her resume includes leads in many well know Broadway shows and concert performances. She was also the featured vocalist in the concerts theme song "Breathe" at the American Lung Association’s 1st Annual "Breathe Concert".

Jason Detwiler (Baritone) - Mr. Detwiler was a regular performer with the Opera San Jose, San Francisco Lyric Opera and West Bay Opera. He performed in Opera Idaho’s production of Faust last year. Opera News reported that “Detwiler sings with excellent diction, seamless legato, musical intelligence and unquestionable beauty of tone; notes are attacked straight on, hurled across the footlights with commanding power.” He is well known for his magnetic and energizing performances on the opera stage.

Brett Strader (Music Director) - His original choral and orchestral works have been heard by world-wide audiences via international television broadcast and in person by heads of state, Fortune 500 executives and world-class artists. For four years, Strader was Associate Director of Music at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, where he conducted the Hour of Power Orchestra for international television broadcasts. Prior to his position at the Crystal Cathedral, Strader was assistant conductor, composer, and accompanist for the William Lock Singers and Orchestra. Additionally, Strader has worked with many popular recording artists, including Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Twila Paris, Celine Dion, James Galway, Susan Egan, and Brian Stokes Mitchell. He orchestrated, conducted, and produced the original cast recording of the Ovation Award-nominated musical 24 Hours.

Past Performances