Category: Board Spotlight

Meet OGR Board Member, Kyle Van Andel.

Where are you originally from?
Grand Rapids, MI

What do you do for a living?
There isn’t only one thing that I would say I do for a living, as I been able to manage my time in a way that allows me to wear more than one hat so to say. For the last few years I have been working in marketing, but currently represent as an Ambassador for Amway. Additionally, I serve with my immediate family as a member of my family’s foundation. Lastly I have become more and more engaged with the local community; by working closely with the amazing people over at Kids’ Food Basket, now the Opera of Grand Rapids, and most recently as a board member of the John Ball Zoo. It’s a thrilling time for Grand Rapids and I am excited to be increasingly more a part of it.

Hobbies?
My favorite hobby is most definitely travelling. The World is a beautiful and vastly changing place that offers so much to see and to experience. I believe we learn the most by immersing ourselves in other cultures and places, making ourselves uncomfortable and pushing ourselves. Travelling affords me with the best way to learn without being stuck in a classroom. It is also a nice way to experience warm weather in the midst of a Michigan winter….

Where is your favorite place to travel? Why?
I have a number of favorite places to travel depending on the purpose but usually my favorite is the next place that I have never visited prior. I love to get lost in cities and experience the culture whether it be food, fashion, historical sites, etc. Although, a few reoccurring favorites that I cherish spending time in are London, Tokyo, and the British Virgin Islands.

What/Who got you involved with OGR? (Past and Current)
My family has for many years now, been big supporters of Opera Grand Rapids. It was near and dear to my grandmother, Betty Van Andel, which continued onto my parent’s supporting the organization to this day. This legacy inspired me to say yes, when my mother asked me if I would consider me to become more involved with OGR.
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Opera Grand Rapids Board Member Spotlight

Where are you originally from?
I was born in Miami, but combination of my father’s military career and my own military career means I moved 24 times.

What do you do for a living?
Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer at Grand Valley State University

Hobbies?
Reading, Running, NY Times Crossword Puzzle, homebrewing, time with my 6 year old daughter.

Where is your favorite place to travel? Why?
Europe… my wife was born in Prague and grew up in Norway, there is so much history and things to see.

What/Who got you involved with OGR? (Past and Current)
Bob Evett recruited me when I indicated my interest in supporting the organization.Read More >

Opera Grand Rapids Board Member Spotlight

Where are you originally from?
North Muskegon, Michigan

What do you do for a living?
I’m a surgeon, specializing in general surgery, trauma and surgical ICU.

Hobbies?
I enjoy playing the piano, singing, cooking, reading, playing tennis and currently working on getting back into shape.

Where is your favorite place to travel? Why?
Favorite place is back home on Lake Michigan because of all the memories of home, family and friends, although I am looking forward to an upcoming surgical mission to Peru.

What/Who got you involved with OGR? (Past and Current)
A good friend and neighbor, Cassandra Hayes, told me about the opera and I attended a production of OGR last season.

What do you like about Opera?
I have loved opera since I was young, probably thanks to exposure to it from my grandfather. I love nearly every genre of music but opera is often the highest dedication and lyrical expression of the art, in my opinion.

Who/what brought you into the world of Opera?
My first opera was watching a recording of Handel’s Dido and Aeneas by Purcell in middle school for music class when talking about baroque music. I think I was the only one who liked it! In later years, though, I continue to be inspired by all kinds of opera.

What is your favorite form/piece of art? (symphony, opera, painting, book, etc.) Why?
Different forms of art are different types of expressions and I couldn’t imagine picking one. We are lucky to be surrounded with all kinds of art and seeking to understand and appreciate different forms, styles, etc. makes life rich.

Why do you think it is important to have an Opera company in our community?
Opera is such an amazing art and because of its history and long amount of training required it can be inaccessible to many communities. The more opportunities we, as a community, can bring opera to more people to inspire, entertain and expose people to opera will help keep Grand Rapids a vibrant and stimulating community.

 

Opera Grand Rapids Board Member Spotlight

Where are you originally from?
New York City

What do you do for a living?
Communications Manager at Amway – Americas Region

Where is your favorite place to travel? Why?
I still have the travel bug after 23 years as a flight attendant. Paris and St. Maarten are my favorite places.

What/Who got you involved with OGR?
(Past and Current)
I was recommended by a former board member when I first moved here in 2013. This is my second term on the board after a two-year hiatus.

What do you like about Opera?
Growing up in New York, I spent a lot of time at Lincoln Center attending the arts that were featured and have fond memories of operas such as The Barber of Seville and Carmen. I found opera more accessible out of all classical music because it was classical music with a narrative and actors. I was also amazed by the “athleticism” of the voices. Opera singers must learn music theory and history, sight-reading, acting, dancing, diction and multiple languages in addition to their vocal studies – it’s quite impressive.

Who/what brought you into the world of Opera?
I had a classmate who studied piano and played at Carnegie Hall at the age of 11. Her parents helped us experience the arts throughout New York City.

What is your favorite form/piece of art? (symphony, opera, painting, book, etc.) Why?
The first aria I remember really paying attention to is “Largo al Factotum” from Barber of Seville and it has remained with me as one of my all-time favorites. “Nessun Dorma” – I love when the tenor hits those glorious notes and the orchestra swells behind him. I would say I’m an opera novice and serving on the board also serves as a profound learning experience for me, too.

Why do you think it is important to have an Opera company in our community?
It is the inspiration behind much of today’s pop culture, for example, Madame Butterfly inspired the musical Miss Saigon and La Boheme inspired RENT; the band Queen uses classical music in some of its songs and the Queen of the Night aria is the centerpiece of a Volvo commercial. Opera is all around us and a community opera company helps to bridge the chasm.

Opera Grand Rapids Board Member Spotlight

Meet Madelaine Lane, Opera Grand Rapids’ newest Board of Trustees member – Attorney, Partner, at Warner Norcross + Judd LLP and professional opera artist whose roots run deep in the Grand Rapids opera community.

Where are you originally from?: Grand Rapids, Michigan

What do you do for a living?:  Attorney. Partner (White Collar Criminal Defense and Commercial Litigation) at Warner Norcross + Judd LLP.

Hobbies?: Opera (soprano) and travel

Where is your favorite place to travel? Why?: I am lucky that I get to travel for many of my singing engagements. My favorite place to travel and to sing is New York City.  I love everything about the City: the rich culture, wonderful food, and the incredible diversity.  Without fail, my favorite moments of any trip to New York is when I find myself walking thru Central Park after a coaching or rehearsal. There is something magical about finding stillness and beauty in the middle of such a busy City.

What/Who got you involved with OGR? (Past and Current): I have been singing with OGR (chorus member, comprimario (“Cousin” in Madama Butterfly), and soloist (soprano in Rossini Stabat Mater)), since 2012.  I auditioned for then Artistic Director, Maestro Robert Lyall, and the then Chorus Master, Duane Davis.  I have been singing with OGR ever since.

What do you like about Opera?: I love the beauty of the music, the athleticism of the sport (singing), and the incredible hard work that goes into bringing a production together.  From the set, the costumes, stage direction, and musical preparation, it is truly a team effort.  As a singer, I am always excited about opportunity that each new opera affords me to improve my technique and to explore a new role not just from a musical perspective, but from a dramatic one as well.

Who/what brought you into the world of Opera?: I have always been drawn to opera, but I have to thank my mentor, teacher, and coach, Nicholas Loren, for working with me over the past six years, to help me realize my dream of singing professionally. His dedication to his students, and to the West Michigan opera community, is a treasure to all of us.

What is your favorite form/piece of art? (symphony, opera, painting, book, etc.) Why?: Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.  The love duet at the end of Act One is one of my favorite musical moments in all of opera. Its soaring melodies and passionate lines illustrate the love shared by these characters, and help the audience to understand Cio-Cio San’s devastation at the end of Act Three.  In addition to the gorgeous music and heart-breaking story, the role of Cio-Cio San requires incredible stamina and dramatic commitment. I have always admired the sopranos who decide to tackle this marathon role.

Why do you think it is important to have an Opera company in our community?: Opera is a unique art form.  It brings together music, art, and drama, to weave together a story that reaches across the centuries and grabs people’s attention and hearts 100, 200, or 300 years later. As a singer, it is an incredible opportunity to learn not only a new language (music and diction), but to be a part of something greater than yourself.  When you are singing, you are a vessel for that composer’s creation to take life.  And, you are just one of the many people necessary for that expression to take place—the singer, the composer, the instrumentalists, and the audience, are all necessary players.  It is a shared experience.