The new music man

COEUR d'ALENE - Opera Coeur d'Alene's new artistic and general director, Aaron St. Clair Nicholson, and his wife Brooke will be introduced to members and donors at the company's annual meeting 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Conference Room of The Spokesman-Review Building, 608 Northwest Boulevard.

Nicholson is an internationally acclaimed baritone and frequent singer at New York's Metropolitan Opera House where he debuted under the baton of world famous Placido Domingo. He was recently on the cover of Opera America after co-starring in a world premiere of Lillian Alling which was commissioned by the Vancouver Opera.

"Everyone at Opera Coeur d'Alene is excited," he said.

They are "envisioning ourselves more and more as a festival opera, with the highest standards of excellence, in order to make Coeur d'Alene an international destination for opera and performing arts,"

"We are planning top quality productions with internationally recognized artists who will enhance and complement the beauty and image of Coeur d'Alene," he said.

Nicholson founded and for 11 years ran Summer Youth Musical Theater in New York, showing he can work with teens, young artists or seasoned professionals and lead an organization.

He was stage director for Opera Coeur d'Alene's production of Faust last year, and for this year's unique production of Carmen, in which he also sang the role of Escamillo, the bullfighter.

He has been the artistic consultant of Opera Coeur d'Alene for two years.

Nicholson is "honored and excited" to work in this new role.

Opera Coeur d'Alene has served the community for 11 years, and in the last two years, as other performance groups are shrinking and closing doors he has seen this organization "push the artistic envelope, driving us toward our exciting new goal of turning Opera Coeur d'Alene into a summer opera festival destination."

Nicholson's wife Brooke also comes on board with the company as assistant director and e-marketing manager.

She has been a professional ballerina for 12 years.

The two share a love for Coeur d'Alene.

"Brooke and I love the beauty and intimacy of this community. We are in love with the essence of the people here, the vibrant arts culture and boutique appeal of the downtown core," he said. "It has everything anyone could want."