Met Live in HD Season

The Metropolitan Opera has announced its Live in HD productions for the 2019-2020 season. Local patrons can attend at Dayton South 16 (195 Mall Woods Drive) or at Hollywood Stadium 20 @ Fairfield Commons with IMAX (2651 Fairfield Commons Drive). The season opens with Turnandot on October 12 at 12:55 p.m. Click here to reach the MET website with the full schedule.

Opera Notes Summer 2019

Val Beerbower of Downtown Dayton Partnership is editor and taking charge of this informative publication. The latest edition of our award-winning Opera Notes was mailed to members and friends. Click here to see the Summer 2019 edition.

A Tearful Goodbye

Betty and Scotty Holton

It is with great sadness that the Guild says goodbye to another long time member, Earl B. (Scotty) Holton. Scotty passed away after a brief illness on September 13. He was the husband and rock-solid supporter of former Guild president Betty Holton. Scotty attended so many Guild events over the years including Opera Ball, the Garden Party, Gourmet on the Go and many more. We will miss his smile and support.

A visitation is planned for Friday, September 20, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Westbrock Funeral Home at 5980 Bigger Road in Kettering. The funeral Mass will be held Saturday, September 21, at 11 a.m. at Church of the Incarnation located at 55 Williamsburg Lane in Centerville.

Hallmark of Enduring Service

On August 3, the Guild had to say goodbye to long-time member Evie Lewis as she passed away peacefully. Evie left such a profound stamp on the Guild’s Childrens Traveling Opera program where she took opera to many schools in the region with her best friend Carole Simpson who passed away several years ago. She was a perfect match for this in-school program because she taught second and third grade at Cleveland School for 32 years.

Evie also acted as coordinator for the Guild’s Remembrance Fund for many years. This Fund accepts gifts “In Honor of” or “In Remembrance of” members and friends of the Guild. The Funds received are used for the awards given at our annual Vocal Competitions. The family of Evie has now donated $2,000 to the Guild in her honor. The Guild is extremely grateful to all of her contributions–monetary and dedicated service.

A memorial is planned for Evie at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Road, on Saturday, August 31. The family will receive friends beginning at noon. A service will be held at 2 p.m.

Annual Meeting 2019

54th ANNUAL MEETING OF
THE OPERA GUILD OF DAYTON

The Annual Meeting and Brunch was held on Wednesday, June 12, at Dayton Country Club. After a social hour and gathering time, a wonderful brunch of salad, quiche, asparagus and a fudge nut ball were served. President Nancy Farkas called the official meeting to order at noon. The slate of officers and Board for the upcoming year was presented by Penny Wolff and was approved unanimously by the attendees.

The Guild’s Friend of the Year, Yolanda Newsome of Sinclair Community College, was announced. She has worked with the BRAVO! committee for years to plan the Guild’s annual Champagne Brunch and Fashion Show.

The Guild awarded two recipients for the BRAVO! Award. Judy Hudson and Linda Rountree announced that Children’s Traveling Opera volunteers Cindy Hoffsis and Pat Ferguson would be honored for their years of dedication to this outstanding educational program.

The meeting continued with Tom Bankston summarizing the outstanding year of Dayton Opera productions and expressed appreciation for all of the continuing Guild support. Dolores Anderson gave the Treasurer’s Report and noted that for the years 2000-2019, the Guild has contributed $2,189,397 to Dayton Opera. Dolores continued her presentation with a PowerPoint of the year in review. It was a year of extraordinary accomplishments.

Jacqueline Elaine Lockwood

It is with great sadness that the Guild says goodbye to former Guild President and long time member Jackie Lockwood. Jackie passed away on March 4. A private reception for family and friends will be held at the Dayton Art Institute on Sunday, March 24, from noon to 3 p.m. to celebrate her life. We will miss her and her abounding support for opera and other causes. Her husband Bill passes away in 2017.

Please click here if you would like to read her obituary.

Joan Bowers

The Guild grieves over the death of another member as of Monday, March 11. Joan Bowers was Guild President from 1968-1970. After she retired, Joan moved to Florida and has continued her Guild membership from afar up to the present time. Joan became active in her new community of Vero Beach as well and loved volunteering in the Vero Beach Museum of Art and other organizations. The Guild sends sincere condolences to her family and many friends.

More Condolences

The Guild mourns the loss of another member–Brenda Phillips. Brenda passed away unexpectedly while traveling on May 6. She will be remembered for her active involvement in many of the the Guild’s committees and contributions while on the Board of Directors. Condolences are extended to her family and many friends.

New Opportunity for Funds

Opera Guild has recently been approved for participation in Kroger Community Rewards. The instructions for signing up now are available by clicking here. It only takes a minute of your time if you are already a Kroger Plus Member and helps the Guild earn dollars for its many programs.

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 Boutique

The Guild Boutique is more exciting than ever this season with the addition of some wonderful new items and the return of our popular one-size popcorn tops, shawls, evening bags and fun fashion jewelry. Visit us in the Schuster Center lobby along Second Street beginning with opening night, one hour before opera performances and during intermissions.

We offer an assortment of opera glasses with the more poplar styles from last year, plus a few new ones. We also carry CDs and DVDs of the season’s operas that have been recommended by Dayton Opera’s Tom Bankston, as well as other opera CDs endorsed by the late Charles Wendelken-Wilson.