IOSD Artists

The International Opera Studio of Dallas has some new talent to display to you. And, as you all know, we love to promote young talent.

Loretta Crosthwaite sings the enormously difficult part of Leonora in Fidelio on April 28, 2002. When I suggested the part to her over a year ago, we both wondered if she could make the switch from Mezzo to Soprano. She has made the switch successfully, as did so many famous singers before her, for example, Christa Ludwig (I studied with her mother), and Sena Jurinac. Most recently, as a soprano, Loretta sang a wonderful Josephine in the Music Theatre of Denton's production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta, H.M.S. Pinafore.

I first heard M. Shane Hurst perform in February as Ralph Rakestraw in H.M.S. Pinafore. I thought to myself, “What a perfect Jacquino this man would make!” So I asked Loretta to introduce us. Sure enough, it was as I thought. He has had a tremendous training at the University of North Texas, and is on his way to receiving his doctorate from this prestigious university. The IOSD hopes to be giving a recital of lieder with this charming gentleman later on this year.

Soprano Christie Turner has recently come to work with us. Christie will sing the part of Marzelline in the Fidelio scenes on April 28.

Bass Donald Jones has a Masters Degree from SMU. He has so much talent and musicianship that, if I had my druthers, he would do nothing but sing opera and oratorio. But he must keep body and soul together (as must we all) and he is head nurse of the Emergency Ward at Baylor. A demanding job indeed.

Accompanist Clarece Candamio is organist at Lovers Lane Methodist Church in Dallas.