OFFICERS:
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John has been actively involved
in promoting operatic music in Michigan since his moving
to Detroit, from New York, in 1979. He has organized exhibits
on the life of Giuseppe Verdi and on the history of opera,
and he was invited to make presentations on opera at the
Detroit Opera House, at the Toledo Opera, at Oberlin College
Conservatory of Music, the Italian American Cultural Center,
the German-American Cultural Center, the Giuseppe Verdi
Club in Amhertsburg, Canada, and at the International
Institute in Detroit, among others. In 1988 John was a
co-founder of the Verdi Opera Theatre of Michigan/Statue
of Enrico Caruso Society, together with baritone Dino
Valle, a popular Detroit area artist, and Florence Larime,
an active concert organizer. In 1995, together with the
Verdi Opera, John instituted the annual Italian Songs
and Arias Vocal Competition for Michigan High School Students,
which has earned a reputation as the state's top singing
competition for high school classical and opera vocalists.
Through the years the Verdi Opera has presented many concerts
and opera productions together with the major local community
symphony orchestras as well as with such outstanding organizations
as The Parma Opera Ensemble and the La Scala Instrumental
Ensemble from Italy. John's love of opera is evident in
the enthusiasm he brings to every program he presents. |
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Born in Detroit, Ms. Kurtyka holds both B.A. and
M.M. degrees from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
An accomplished violinist, she performs with several
Michigan orchestras and serves as Concertmaster of the
Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra. She is also a regular
substitute member with the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra.
Ms. Kurtyka has performed with Bach Festivals in California,
Ohio, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Michigan, and is a
co-founder of the Lexington (MI) Bach Festival, now
in its 10th season. In addition to being the Conductor
of the Concert and Symphonic String Orchestras of the
Livonia Philharmonic, she is the co-founder and conductor
of the Pointes Area Youth Orchestra of Grosse Pointe,
Michigan, and the Administrative Coordinator/Personnel
Manager/Librarian and Assistant Concertmaster with the
Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra. Part of her
responsibilities include the contracting with and engagement
of various musicians for a variety of events - from
opera concerts to social gatherings and other formal
functions. She also teaches private violin in the Livonia
and Grosse Pointe areas; is an Adjunct Professor in
Music Education at Wayne State University; the Violin
Instructor at Wayne County Community College District
and the visiting violin instructor at Cass Technical
High School.
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Our seven-member Board of Directors come from a variety of
professional backgrounds and are also actively involved in
other non-profit cultural and civic organizations. With their
commitment and input they contribute to the decision-making
of the organization. |
