July 24, 2025

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special festival season that ran from May 24 to June 29, 2025, with many members of the MSM Community taking part.

The OTSL 50th Festival Season showcased four mainstage productions: the world premiere of This House; Die Fledermaus; Don Pasquale; and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (photo above). All productions were performed with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO).

The Festival Season officially kicked off on May 8, 2025,  with a Spring Gala chaired by Noémi K. Neidorff (BM ’70, MM ’72, HonDMA ’17, MSM trustee).

Many MSM alumni, faculty members, and honorary doctorate recipients were proud to take part in the festival. They are:

Solo Artists

• Justin Austin (BM ’14, MM ’17)
• Briana Hunter (MM ’12)
• Emilie Kealani (BM ’21)
• Jana McIntyre (MM ’16)
• Robert Mellon (MM ’11)
• Krysty Swann (BM ’08)

Gerdine Young Artists

• Emilie Kealani (BM ’21)
• Tess Levine (BM ’23)
• Jouelle Roberson (PS ’22)

Artistic Staff

• Yvette Loynaz (BM ’03), Director of Artistic Administration
• George Manahan (BM ’73, MM ’76), conductor
• Leonard Slatkin (HonDMA ’13, trustee), conductor
• Kristen Kemp (faculty), English diction specialist
• Steven Aguiló-Arbues (MM ’05, PS ’06), assistant conductor
• Jonathan Heaney (MM ’17), repetiteur
• Eric Sedgwick (MM ’07), repetiteur
• William Woodard (MM ’19), repetiteur
• Lindsay Woodward (MM ’12), repetiteur

Participating SLSO: Die Fledermaus and Don Pasquale

• Yoojin Lee (AD ’24), violin (I)
• Siyu Zhang (BM ’16), violin (II)
• Alvin McCall (BM ’78, MM ’80), cello
• Dana Hotle (MM ’00), clarinet
• Kevin Ritenauer (BM ’16), timpani

Participating SLSO: This House and A Midsummer Night’s Dream

• Yoojin Lee (AD ’24), violin (I)
• Christian Tantillo (P ’96), viola
• Cally Banham (MM ’96), oboe
• Eric Sedgwick (MM ’07), keyboard
• Lindsay Woodward (MM ’12), keyboard

In addition, MSM Executive Vice President and Provost Joyce Griggs played saxophone with the SLSO in the young artist showcase Center Stage.

Opera Theatre of St Louis: