Opera Quad Cities will celebrate its 25^th anniversary with gala concerts this weekend – Friday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 21 at 2 p.m. at Galvin Fine Arts Center, at St. Ambrose University, Davenport.

The program – “In Full Voice” — will present a wide swath of operatic hit tunes, from the 17th to the 20th century, said Michelle Crouch, Augustana College music professor and company opera director. The concert will include some solo arias, duets and smaller ensembles, some featuring just the chorus, accompanied by an opera orchestra.

The program composers feature Rossini, Mozart, Donizetti, Purcell, Verdi, Rachmaninoff, Offenbach, Wagner, Puccini, and Bernstein. “There’ll be something for everyone,” Crouch said this week.

A scene from the 2024 Opera QC production of Puccini’s “La Boheme.”

“Opera Quad Cities has provided a place for local singers to continue to use their vocal training and experience and provide for Quad City audiences rich experiences of the genre of opera,” she said. “This is something we are dedicated to continuing to do.”

The 25^th anniversary concerts will feature the following soloists:

• Juan Carlos Mendoza, tenor
• Rochelle Schrader, soprano
• Jonathan Schrader, baritone
• Kelly Hill, mezzo-soprano
• Haley Tromblee, mezzo-soprano
• Zinnia Manning, soprano
• Ethan Elsbernd, baritone
• Jaime Webb, soprano (Opera Quad Cities debut)
• Hannah VonMulert, soprano (Opera Quad Cities debut)
• Emmalynn Haugen, soprano
• Chad Sonka, baritone
• Joshua Morey, tenor
• Maddie Baez, soprano

In September 2001, Opera Quad Cities was created to complete the spectrum of performing arts within the greater QC community, according to the group website. A formal, professional organization that presented opera and other artistic singing opportunities was needed to enhance the existing efforts of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Quad Cities, Genesius Guild, Quad City Music Guild, Playcrafters, Chamber Music Quad Cities, Circa ‘21 Dinner Theatre Playhouse, and other local performing arts organizations. The need to support the efforts of artistic local singers and respond to the audiences traveling outside the QC for opera and related performances provided the incentive to begin.

A scene from the 2025 Opera QC production of Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus.”

Various projects and performances over the seasons include fully staged productions of major opera works such as The Magic Flute (Mozart), La Boheme (Puccini), Cosi fan butte (Mozart), Carmen (Bizet), Rigoletto (Verdi), and The Medium (Menotti); Children’s operas The Little Sweep (Britten), The Three Little Pigs ala Mozart (arr. Davis), and The Pied Piper (Francouer); Opera Highlights Concerts with orchestra; a Young Artist Competition for singers of various ages and experience; Vocal Valentine Celebrations, and other lectures and demonstrations for local civic organizations to “de-mystify” opera and make the art form more accessible.

Even though the programming is diverse and vibrant, Opera QC strives to support local professional singers with outlets to be expressive and grow in their artistry while supporting local audiences who enjoy fine singing, the website says.

A scene from the 2024 Opera QC production of Puccini’s “La Boheme.”

“OQC also invites professional singers back to the community who have, out of necessity, left the area in pursuit of their singing careers in more established markets.  Professional artists from all over the US have collaborated with OQC to support the best productions possible within our local resources and to encourage other local professional singers to continue their artistic endeavors.

Performances (the last three years featured full productions of “Don Giovanni,” “La Boheme” and “Die Fledermaus”) have been held at the Adler Theatre, St. Ambrose University, Augustana College, The Capitol Theatre, Figge Art Museum, Bettendorf High School, Davenport Public Library, Moline Public Library, and for local public schools.

In recent years, a consortium between Augustana College, Genesius Guild, and Opera Quad Cities was begun in order to coordinate and share resources toward making performances more affordable and to not duplicate required expenses. OQC is overseen by a local volunteer Board of Directors made up of local professionals including college/university voice instructors, business professionals, and experienced theatre artists. Volunteers are welcome to support all aspects of our work through an endless variety of tasks and activities.

Tickets for this weekend are $30 for general admission, $25 for seniors and free for students (and those 18 and under), available online HERE, through the ticket office at St. Ambrose in advance or at the door.

Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner -- who has called the Quad Cities home since 1995 -- has decades of experience as a professional journalist and pianist. His experience writing for daily newspapers, public radio and local TV encompasses a wide range of subjects, including the arts, politics, education, economic development, historic preservation, business, and tourism.

Jonathan most loves writing about music and the arts (which he now does as a freelancer for the River Cities Reader and Visit Quad Cities). He has a passion for accompanying musicals, singers, choirs and instrumentalists, including playing for QC Music Guild's 2023 productions of RENT and SWEENEY TODD. He is assistant music director and accompanist for the spring 2025 Music Guild show, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. He wrote an original musical based on The Book of Job, which premiered at Playcrafters in 2010. Jonathan penned a 175-page history book about downtown Davenport, that was published by The History Press in 2016, and a travel guide about the QC published by Reedy Press in 2022.