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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Group promotes opera appreciation

Larry Grossman Special to Voices

In the early 1970s, Katherine Gellhorn (now a legend among the music and art community) invited opera lovers to her home to listen to opera recordings from her collection. From this small beginning, Opera Buffs of Spokane was born, first meeting in the auditorium of the previous former Spokane Library.

Katherine planned many trips to Seattle to enjoy the Seattle Opera Company as well as trips to New York and Santa Fe to see live opera. She died in 1997, and John Bouchard, an active opera buff, took over the responsibility of planning trips by bus to Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., to see “big time” live opera.

The Opera Buffs of Spokane is now headed by Marie Moe, chairwoman; June Johnson; Bobbee Hepworth; Mary Jane O’Neill; Susan Windham and Larry Grossman. Monthly programs are held at the Rockwood Retirement Community Center (three blocks east on 25th Avenue from Southeast Boulevard). The programs feature regional artists, including vocal instructors from Whitworth, Eastern Washington University and Gonzaga University, as well as Spokane Opera Company.

An e-mail list of more than 240 names are regularly informed about opera news, including information about the Metropolitan Opera Company’s live transmission of operas from New York to the North Regal Cinemas, as well as presentations by Spokane Opera and Opera Plus of Coeur d’Alene.

The Metropolitan District Auditions will be coming to Spokane Oct. 12, 2008, and will be held in the Martin Woldson Theater at the FOX. Patrice Munsel, who won the District Auditions in 1943 to go on to become the youngest diva soprano to star at the Metropolitan Opera, will act as hostess for the event, and will present the awards.

Opera Buffs of Spokane is proud of the progress that has been made to make our region more aware of the beauty of opera.

For more information about Opera Buffs programs and live transmissions from the Metropolitan Opera to the North Regal Cinemas, contact Marie Moe at 535-7051, or e-mail mariemo@aimcom.com. To find out about trips to see the Seattle or the Vancouver, B.C., operas, contact John Bouchard at 624-6230.