Music Conservatory of Coeur d'Alene announces 'Messiah' soloists
The Music Conservatory of Coeur d'Alene announced Nov. 7 the soloists who will perform during its most popular concert of the year, Handel’s "Messiah," at the Schuler Performing Arts Center on the North Idaho College campus the weekend before Thanksgiving.
The evening concert performance will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 23 and the afternoon concert performance with an optional singalong will be at 3 p.m. Nov. 24.
Conducted by Music Conservatory Artistic Director Kent Kimball, the program will feature soloists Chloe Sundet, soprano; Ann Benson, alto; Scott Miller, tenor; and Steve Mortier, bass.
Sundet has performed with companies such as Pacific Opera Project, Opera Neo, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, American Contemporary Ballet, Wenatchee Valley Symphony and Leavenworth Summer Theatre.
As a concert soloist, Sundet has sung as soprano soloist in Mozart’s "Great Mass in C," Handel’s "Messiah," Stravinsky’s "Pulcinella Ballet" and Saint-Saëns’ "Oratorio de Noël." Sundet has also worked at the Disneyland Resort as a character performer in the role of Snow White. She holds a Master of Music in vocal arts and opera from the University of Southern California, where she studied under Lynn Helding. Sundet, of Spokane, teaches voice at Holy Names Music Center and will be joining the voice faculty at NIC this winter.
Miller is a versatile singing actor across multiple genres. Recent engagements include the world premiere of “Prairie Songs: Remembering Antonia” by Brent Edstrom, which was performed nationally and in France in a version for piano, violin and voice and subsequently premiered with the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, Lincoln, Neb., with Edward Polochick conducting. Miller's operatic performances include the world premiere of American composer Carlysle Floyd’s "Cold Sassy Tree" and the world premiere of American composer Libby Larsen’s "Eric Hermannson’s Soul."
In 2023, Miller, of Spokane, was awarded an International Scholar Award for a five-month sabbatical residency at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. Scholarly presentations by Miller include a recital of the song cycle "Garland" for the 50th National Convention Program of the College Music Society in Salt Lake City, the premiere of "Songs for Soulmates" by Christopher Stanichar for the International Double Reed Society Conference and a 90-minute workshop presentation for the Hawaii International Conference on Education. Miller holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is the director of voice studies and professor of music at Whitworth University. Miller served two terms on the National Board of the National Association of Teachers of Singing as the intermountain region governor from 2011 to 2015.
Benson is active as a classical soloist and as a musical theater artist throughout the Inland Northwest. Opera roles include Marcellina in "The Marriage of Figaro," Hansel in "Hansel and Gretel" and Count Orlofsky in "Die Fledermaus" with Inland Northwest Opera. As a mezzo-soprano soloist, Benson appeared in Beethoven’s "Ninth Symphony" and "Gloria" by Vivaldi with the Spokane Symphony, Mozart’s "Requiem" with the Palouse Choral Society and the “Lord Nelson Mass" by Haydn with the Walla Walla University Symphony. Recent musical theater roles include the fairy godmother in a school tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s "Cinderella" for Spokane Civic Interactive, Marmee in "Little Women," Mother Superior in "Nunsense" (both with Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre) and Alison in "Fun Home" at Lake City Playhouse.
Benson, of Spokane, highlights music written by women composers in her collaboration with pianist Mary J. Trotter, “He Said/She Said.” She also runs a voice studio.
Mortier is noted for his warmth of singing combined with bold dramatic interpretations and solid musicianship. Mortier has displayed versatile talents in a wide variety of genres. He recently sang the role of Pulitzer in Spokane Valley Summer Theatre’s production of "Newsies." He previously portrayed the role of Pa in Spokane Valley Summer Theatre’s regional premier and fully staged production of "Little House on the Prairie the Musical." Mortier made his solo debut at Carnegie Hall as bass soloist with the New England Symphonic Ensemble under the baton of John Rutter, in Haydn's "The Creation" and bass soloist at Lincoln Center in New York City at Avery Fischer Hall with the National Chorale in "Messiah" and was bass soloist in Haydn’s "Mass In Time of War" with the Oregon East Symphony.
Mortier has performed the role of the Traveler in Spoleto Festival USA’s production of "Curlew River;" with Pittsburgh Opera he was seen in "L'Elisir d’Amore" as Dr. Dulcamara; and with Lake Charles Symphony in its production of "Oklahoma!" he performed the role of Curley and returned to Lake Charles Symphony to lead the cast as the king in "The King and I." He has sung the role of Don Quixote in "The Man of La Mancha" with Spokane Opera and performed the title role of Gianni in Pucinni’s one-act opera "Gianni Schicchi" with North Bay Opera and again with the University of Idaho.
Mortier was a soloist for Spokane Opera’s 25th Anniversary Gala performance at the Fox, as well as bass soloist in Handel’s "Messiah" with the Coeur d’Alene Symphony. He has a private voice studio in North Spokane.
Tickets for "Messiah" are: orchestra $30; lower balcony $25; and upper balcony $20. Info: cdaconservatory.org/events.
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