New Rochelle Opera has invited Brian Holman to become their principal conductor. He will lead the company in their June 2018 production of La bohème (June 21-24, Ursuline Theater, New Rochelle). This follows Gregory Ortega’s storied 21-year tenure as music director, which brought New Rochelle Opera to the front-rank of small NYC professional opera companies. Brian’s association with New Rochelle Opera dates back to 2006 when he served as assistant conductor for six seasons. He conducted performances of Hansel and Gretel in 2007 at New Rochelle Public Schools. Brian also performed in fundraising galas, summer concerts, and a recital with Aprile Millo and Francisco Casanova the company presented at Iona College in 2012.
Established in 1985, New Rochelle Opera has been presenting live opera to Westchester County audiences for 33 years, producing concerts, school programs, workshops, and fully staged productions with orchestra, serving to make opera accessible to a diverse audience. With its close proximity to New York City, the company features professional singers, from opera’s rising talent to artists from Vienna State Opera, La Scala, and Metropolitan Opera. Legendary singers from the past and present have been honored at the company’s annual fundraising gala, including Robert Merrill, Jerome Hines, Roberta Peters, Marilyn Horne, Licia Albanese, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Martina Arroyo, Aprile Millo, Sherrill Milnes, Marcello Giordani, Matthew Polenzani, Rosalind Elias, and Anna Moffo. http://nropera.org/