Letter To Our Children

Commissioned by Resonance Works
Music by Justine F. Chen
Libretto by Jacqueline Goldfinger

Some heroes wear a cape and mask, some write legislation or carry a protest sign, some appear when needed and disappear when the work is done. Letter to Our Children recognizes those people whose names may never be mentioned in history books, but who make the world go round.

 
Letter 4.jpg

Episode 1: Answering the CAll

Heroes

Premiered October 1, 2021

 

Cast

Laurel Semerdjian, mezzo-soprano

Ensemble

Violin 1: Sandro Leal-Santiesteban
Violin 2: Maureen Conlon-Gutierrez
Viola: Si Yu
Cello 1: Ryan Ash
Cello 2: Will Teegarden
Harp: Nuiko Wadden

Creative Team

Music by Justine F. Chen
Libretto by Jacqueline Goldfinger
Director & Cinematographer: Christopher Ash
Assistant Director & Camera-Op: Mary Tuomanen
Recording Engineer: Kristian Tchetchko
Conductor & Producer: Maria Sensi Sellner

Justine F. Chen

She/Her

Native New York composer Justine F. Chen has been commissioned and presented by New York City Opera, New York City Ballet, The Juilliard School, WQXR, JACK Quartet, American Composers Orchestra, Chicago Opera Theater, Merola Opera Program, and NYFOS. Her music has been described by the NY Times as “propulsive, emotionally resonant” and “lyrical, atmospheric... striking… balances despair and humor.”

Recent works include a full-length opera commissioned by American Lyric Theater on the life of computer-scientist Alan Turing with librettist David Simpatico, Shallow Breath and Stealth, a choral work for Philly-based The Crossing, and SEVEN SISTERS, a chamber opera with librettist Stephanie Fleischmann. Recent Grants include Jerome Fund, Frances Goelet Charitable Lead Trust, and Opera America. She has also been featured on WBAI and WNYC.

Maria Sensi Sellner

She/Her

Conductor Maria Sensi Sellner’s artistry, versatility, and reputation for innovation are making her an increasingly coveted collaborator and an impresario for the 21st century. Praised as “mightily impressive”, she was the first three-time winner of the American Prize for Opera Conducting and is a proud alum of The Dallas Opera’s Hart Institute for Women Conductors.  Maria is the Artistic & General Director of Resonance Works, the multi-modal performing arts company she founded in her native Pittsburgh in 2013; co-founder and lead producer of the Decameron Opera Coalition; and a frequent cover conductor for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Her unique, artist-driven programming has been praised for its “innovative streak” (Post-Gazette) and for bringing a “welcome infusion of sophistication and diversity” (I Care If You Listen) to Pittsburgh’s cultural landscape. 

The 2021-22 season includes a return to the stage and a growing number of company debuts - including Portland Opera, Opera Steamboat, Fargo-Moorhead Opera, Raylynmor Opera, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City - conducting her favorite mix of Verdi, bel canto, and contemporary opera repertoire.

Si YuShe/Her Chinese violist Si Yu received her Bachelor of Music degree from China’s Central Conservatory and Master of Music degree from Carnegie Mellon University where she was admitted as a full scholarship student under the mentorship of Mr. David Harding. During her time at Carnegie Mellon, Si was a member of the Matisse String Quartet who won the Pittsburgh Concert Society major audition and was invited to perform for the royal family of Qatar in Doha. As a chamber musician, She has had the privilege to study with members of Alban Berg, Tokyo, Brentano and Juilliard String Quartet. Ms. Yu has performed as soloist, chamber musician and orchestral musician throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. She has made appearances at the Pacific Music Festival, Banff Centre, Beethoven Institute, Heifetz Institute and the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. 

Si Yu

She/Her

Chinese violist Si Yu received her Bachelor of Music degree from China’s Central Conservatory and Master of Music degree from Carnegie Mellon University where she was admitted as a full scholarship student under the mentorship of Mr. David Harding.

 

During her time at Carnegie Mellon, Si was a member of the Matisse String Quartet who won the Pittsburgh Concert Society major audition and was invited to perform for the royal family of Qatar in Doha. As a chamber musician, She has had the privilege to study with members of Alban Berg, Tokyo, Brentano and Juilliard String Quartet. 

Ms. Yu has performed as soloist, chamber musician and orchestral musician throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. She has made appearances at the Pacific Music Festival, Banff Centre, Beethoven Institute, Heifetz Institute and the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. 

Mary TuomanenMary Tuomanen’s collaboration with Christopher Ash includes projects with the Bearded Ladies Cabaret in Philadelphia and the Guggenheim’s Works and Process. Mary is a Barrymore Award winning playwright and recipient of the 2017 Haas Emerging Artist Award, as well as a company member of Applied Mechanics, a Philadelphia-based performance collective. Mary is a graduate of the Lecoq School of Movement Theater in Paris.

Mary Tuomanen

Mary Tuomanen’s collaboration with Christopher Ash includes projects with the Bearded Ladies Cabaret in Philadelphia and the Guggenheim’s Works and Process. Mary is a Barrymore Award winning playwright and recipient of the 2017 Haas Emerging Artist Award, as well as a company member of Applied Mechanics, a Philadelphia-based performance collective. Mary is a graduate of the Lecoq School of Movement Theater in Paris.

Will Teegarden

Will Teegarden

Laurel Semerdjian

She/Her

Laurel Semerdjian, an American mezzo-soprano of Armenian descent, was hailed as "a dramatic and musical tour de force" (Pittsburgh Tribune) for her portrayal of Asakir in Pittsburgh Opera's production of Mohammed Fairouz's Sumeida's Song.  

In January 2020, she returned to Pittsburgh Opera, debuting the role of Bradamante in Handel’s Alcina. In Spring of 2020, Ms. Semerdjian made a company debut with Florentine Opera, singing the title role in Le Tragédie de Carmen. She was slated to return to Resonance Works to debut the role of Maddalena in Rigoletto and Symphony Tacoma for their Mozart Requiem (COVID19- postponed to 2022). During the 20-21 season, Ms. Semerdjian was slated to make a role debut with Young Victorian Theater Company as Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance, (Covid19), a return to Opera Southwest as Genevieve in Pelléas et Mélisande  (COVID19- postponed to 2022) and join the Cape Symphony as the mezzo soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (COVID19- postponed to 2022). In the spring of 2021, Ms. Semerdjian returned to Sarasota Opera in the role of Marianna in their production of Il Signor Bruschino and this summer she made her Missouri Symphony debut in their Opera Gala. In December, she will return to Symphony Tacoma for the alto solo in Händel's Messiah.

Sandro Leal-Santiesteban

He/Him

Cuban-born violinist Sandro Leal-Santiesteban made his professional debut at age thirteen as a member of the Grand Theatre of Havana’s Orchestra, conducted by his mother Lourdes Santiesteban. An alumnus of the Sphinx Competition, Sandro has toured numerous U.S. cities with the Sphinx Virtuosi, including Carnegie Hall in New York City. He is a two-time winner of the Pittsburgh Concert Society: both as soloist, and as a member of the Beo String Quartet. During his time in Beo, Sandro participated in residencies, recording projects, and performances including the Dakota Chamber Music, Virginia Tech University, the Charleston Ballet in WV, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the Charlotte New Music Festival, and the Franz Schubert and Modern Music festival in Graz, Austria. Sandro has worked with such conductors and artists as Claudio Abbado, Kent Nagano, Josh Groban, Evanescence, and Bruce Springsteen. He currently holds the concertmaster position for the Resonance Works | Pittsburgh Chamber Orchestra and the associate concertmaster position in the Erie Philharmonic.

Maureen Conlon-Gutierrez

She/Her

A native of Mexico, Miss Conlon has performed to much acclaim across the globe as soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. She has participated on half a dozen recordings as a classical artist, cross genre violinist, light rock improv and tango violinist. Miss Conlon has appeared on television and radio in several countries and is prize winner of many national and international competitions in both the United States and in Mexico.

She began her studies at an early age in her home town of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato Mexico. Miss Conlon subsequently pursued further studies at Rice University, Penn State University and Carnegie Mellon University studying with Kenneth Goldsmith, James Lyon, and Andres Cardenes respectively.

Maureen is concertmaster of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, acting concertmaster for the Erie Philharmonic and member of the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra, Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra, and the Wheeling Symphony. She resides in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and daughter. When not playing the violin enjoys eating good food, watching movies, and traveling.

Kristian Tchetchko

He/Him

Jacqueline GOldfinger

She/They

Jacqueline Goldfinger (she/they) grew up in rural North Florida with a love of music and storytelling. Today, they are an award-winning playwright-librettist who seeks out unique collaborations, working across disciplines to create singular works of theater and opera. Their works have been produced at The Kennedy Center, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Gate Theatre, BBC 3 Radio, and others. Their awards include the Yale Prize, Opera America Discovery Award, Generations Award, and Smith Prize. They are published by Edition Peters, Concord Theatricals (formerly Samuel French), Routledge, and others. Learn more: www.jacquelinegoldfinger.com 

Christopher ASh

He/Him

Philadelphia-based Designer and Filmmaker, Christopher Ash’s work has been seen in 13 countries and been recognized for 15 awards. Equally at home designing projections, scenery, or lighting for theatre, opera, and dance as well as direction and cinematography for film. His opera designs have been seen at The Met, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Canadian Opera, and Houston Grand Opera, and broadway credits include, Sunday in the Park with George, Saint Joan, Network, The Prince of Broadway, the Crucible, and On The Town. Christopher holds an MFA in design from the Yale School of Drama.

Nuiko WaddenShe/HerNuiko Wadden is the principal harpist of Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet Orchestras as well as the Des Moines Metro Opera. She is also a member of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE).Ms. Wadden has been a prizewinner in numerous competitions, recognized by the Minnesota Orchestra (WAMSO), Ann Adams, ASTA, and American Harp Society. As a soloist she has appeared with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Skokie Valley Symphony, the Chicago Metropolitan Symphony, and the Northwest Symphony.She serves as a substitute harpist for the Minnesota, Houston, Milwaukee and Baltimore Symphonies.To date, Ms. Wadden has appeared on the New Amsterdam, Cedille, Bridge, New Focus, and North/South recording labels.

Nuiko Wadden

She/Her

Nuiko Wadden is the principal harpist of Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet Orchestras as well as the Des Moines Metro Opera. She is also a member of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE).

Ms. Wadden has been a prizewinner in numerous competitions, recognized by the Minnesota Orchestra (WAMSO), Ann Adams, ASTA, and American Harp Society. As a soloist she has appeared with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Skokie Valley Symphony, the Chicago Metropolitan Symphony, and the Northwest Symphony.

She serves as a substitute harpist for the Minnesota, Houston, Milwaukee and Baltimore Symphonies.

To date, Ms. Wadden has appeared on the New Amsterdam, Cedille, Bridge, New Focus, and North/South recording labels.

Ryan AshHe/HimRyan Ash, cellist, began his musical studies on the piano at the age of six. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, studying cello with Brandon Vamos (of the Grammy-winning Pacifica Quartet) and piano with Dr. Yu-Chi Tai, and his Master of Music degree at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University with Dr. Tanya Carey, former president of the SAA and with whom he continues long-term teacher training every summer. Ryan has also taken teacher training with Dr. Louis Bergonzi and Dr. Karen Hendricks (cello), Caroline Fraser (piano), and Melanie Ron (early childhood music). He has performed in masterclasses for Steven Doane, Richard Aaron, David Halen, Amit Peled, John Sharp, Wendy Warner, the Arianna, Biava, and Shanghai String Quartets, and has spent summers studying at the Meadowmount School, Innsbrook Institute, Madeline Island Music Camp, Britt Festival, and the Astona International Festival in Leysin, Switzerland.Before relocating to Pittsburgh, Ryan performed frequently as a member of the Sinfonia da Camera, the Champaign-Urbana, Eastern Illinois, and Decatur Symphony Orchestras, and the Lyria Piano Trio. His performance of Gian Carlo Menotti’s Trio for Two Cellos and Piano was also featured on Chicago’s classical radio station 98.7 WFMT. Ryan has since performed recitals of solo and chamber music on the Holy Trinity Concert Series in Robinson Township, Music on the Edge, Living Room Chamber Music Project, and appeared with Ripieno Pittsburgh as well as the Butler County, Westmoreland, Huntington, and Ohio Valley symphonies. He currently serves as cello faculty at the Center for Young Musicians and as cellist of the Beo String Quartet.

Ryan Ash

He/Him

Ryan Ash, cellist, began his musical studies on the piano at the age of six. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, studying cello with Brandon Vamos (of the Grammy-winning Pacifica Quartet) and piano with Dr. Yu-Chi Tai, and his Master of Music degree at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University with Dr. Tanya Carey, former president of the SAA and with whom he continues long-term teacher training every summer. Ryan has also taken teacher training with Dr. Louis Bergonzi and Dr. Karen Hendricks (cello), Caroline Fraser (piano), and Melanie Ron (early childhood music). He has performed in masterclasses for Steven Doane, Richard Aaron, David Halen, Amit Peled, John Sharp, Wendy Warner, the Arianna, Biava, and Shanghai String Quartets, and has spent summers studying at the Meadowmount School, Innsbrook Institute, Madeline Island Music Camp, Britt Festival, and the Astona International Festival in Leysin, Switzerland.

Before relocating to Pittsburgh, Ryan performed frequently as a member of the Sinfonia da Camera, the Champaign-Urbana, Eastern Illinois, and Decatur Symphony Orchestras, and the Lyria Piano Trio. His performance of Gian Carlo Menotti’s Trio for Two Cellos and Piano was also featured on Chicago’s classical radio station 98.7 WFMT. Ryan has since performed recitals of solo and chamber music on the Holy Trinity Concert Series in Robinson Township, Music on the Edge, Living Room Chamber Music Project, and appeared with Ripieno Pittsburgh as well as the Butler County, Westmoreland, Huntington, and Ohio Valley symphonies. He currently serves as cello faculty at the Center for Young Musicians and as cellist of the Beo String Quartet.

Origin Story

The DOC’s Matt Boresi chats with the team about the creation of “Letter to Our Children”: composer Justine F. Chen, librettist Jacqueline Goldfinger, mezzo-soprano Laurel Semerdjian, director/cinematographer Christopher Ash, assistant director Mary Tuomanen, and Resonance Works Artistic & General Director Maria Sensi Sellner.