The 2016 Alumna Honoree is soprano Hailey Clark

We are hearing rave reviews after Wednesday night's opening performance of The Most Happy Fella by Frank Loesse, which kicked off the Seagle Music Colony's Main Stage series of performances.

And that, dear readers, is just the appetizer to a delicious season. You can read more about what awaits you from Seagle:

"Nominated for several Tony awards -- the Most Happy Fella by Frank Loessethis will -- will transplant you into San Francisco and the Napa Valley wine country of the 1920's. One of the best-known songs is “Standing on the Corner.” An interesting insight into the composer is that he eliminated politics, labor, and religion in his musicals. He was described as the “most versatile of Broadway composers.” Loesser wrote his first song when he was 4-years-old!. He taught himself to play the harmonica, liking pop music at the time, and also taught himself the piano. His daughter, Susan, called him, ”a most remarkable fella.”

Jack and the Beanstalk, adapted by Denise Page Caraher, will captivate children and adults of all ages on July 9 at 10AM and 11:30AM at The Schroon Lake Boat House theater. The show will also travel throughout the North Country during the summer and early fall. This is a great introduction to opera for young children.

The Elixir of Love by Donizetti depicts magic on July 20-23 in the rural Italian countryside. The bouncy and witty music shows off voices with great virtuosity. This is the first time that this opera has been performed at the Seagle Music Colony.

Roscoe, (August 3-6) is the world premiere performance based on Pulitzer Prize winning author William Kennedy's novel. The setting is in Albany, New York in the 1940s It's is a gripping fictionalized tale of political intrigue in "old" Albany. The composer is Evan Mack, now in residence at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. The librettist is Joshua McGuire. The Colony did a workshop performance of the show last summer. Capital Repertory director Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill directed another workshop performance of the work at Skidmore College. Deborah Voigt, one of the world's most versatile singers, will participate in a world premiere concert version of Roscoe with David Alan Miller conducting the Albany Symphony on October 14th. Colum McCann summed up William Kennedy's versatility, “He's an historian, a journalist, a critic, an essayist, a poet, a philosopher, a playwright.”

The Music Man by Meredith Wilson, on August 17 to 20, provides a rousing ending to the season. The musical takes place in the early 1900's in Iowa. There is much dancing in the show as well as such unforgettable songs as “Seventy-six Trombones,” “Til There Was You” and the well-known barbershop quartet number “Lida Rose.”

Sunday Vespers at 5 PM will be held on August 14 and August 21. Circle your calendar for the two dates of these beautiful concerts featuring solo and choral music. Come early to get a seat. The annual meeting of Seagle Music Colony, Inc. (for many years known as the Oscar Seagle Association), led by SMC President Seth Bader, will be held on August 14 immediately following Vespers. This brief meeting is an opportunity to hear about season highlights and to learn about future activities at the Colony.

Great Songs and Great Singers, featuring four Colony young artists, will perform on September 4th at the Oscar Seagle Memorial Theater.

The 2016 Patrice Munsel Gala

The 22nd Annual Patrice Munsel Gala will be in a giant tent by the theater on Saturday, July 16. The honorary chairperson is Broadway and Metropolitan Opera star Patrice Munsel, who lives in Schroon Lake. She is a continually enthusiastic cheerleader for Schroon Lake as well as Seagle Music Colony. This major fundraising event is a wonderful opportunity to mingle with the guests as well as greet the Seagle Music Colony young artists in their beautiful and handsome finery.

You will have ample opportunity to bid on the unique silent auction items, as well as on exciting and memorable live auction items. The Lily and the Rose will cater the event. The Colony singers will perform. Dancing will be to the very popular Frank Conti Band and will conclude the memorable evening. Valet parking by the Schroon Lake Lions Club keeps your shoes shiny.

This year the Gala will honor Seagle Music Colony active supporters Jim and Eileen Carnahan. The camera is very much a part of Jim who records audition classes, shows, and life around the Colony. He chairs the Buildings and Grounds committee. Eileen is a guild member and a gracious hostess.

The 2016 Alumna Honoree is soprano Hailey Clark. Since she came to SMC in 2009 and 2010, she has made debuts at Santa Fe Opera, Florida Grand Opera, North Carolina Opera and Fort Worth. In addition she made her Europeaqn debut with Salzburg Landestheater in Austria.

Thanks go to the chair person, Heidi Kelly, as well as her hardworking committee. In addition, thanks go to the dedicated co-founders and chairs of the Gala: Irma Fisher, Tom Grogan, Sharon Harder, and Dodie Seagle. Finally, thanks go to the former co-chairs, Frank and Linda Cappabianca as well as the many other hard-working committee members.

2016 Young Artists and Scholarships

Much Gratitude goes to those people who have contributed to making a season at the Colony a reality for more than twenty young artists. A new Seagle Music Colony Alumni Scholarship was funded by enthusiastic alumni who attended the 100th anniversary reunion last summer. The named scholarships and recipients are listed below. Anyone is welcome to create a scholarship as a lasting tribute to honor or commemorate a loved one.

Tascha Anderson & Garrett Obrycki - Kempton & Nancy Smith Young Artists
Kevin Bryant - David Eldredge Scholar
Megan Callahan, Lauren Cook, Remy Martin & Nicholas Yaquinto - Lisa Reid Young Artists
Bridget Cappel - Dorothy & Frank Shames Scholar
Scott Clark - John & Sharon Hieber Scholar
Dustin Damonte - George & Frances Weinstock Scholar
Dylan Elza, Jennifer Jaroslavsky, Michael Pandolfo & Johnny Salvesen - Hattie Mae Lesley Foundation Young Artists
Virginia Hesse - David Schlansker Young Artist
Ryan Hill - Seagle Music Colony Alumni Scholar
Blake Jennings - Ron & Phyrne Pitkin Scholar
Heather Jones & James Resch - Seagle Music Colony Guild Scholars
Tim McGowan - Janet & Moe Friedman Scholar
Shelley Mihm - Ruth H. Pelmas Scholar
Jorie Moss - Patrice Munsel Scholar
Jon Oakley - Phyllis & Marty Korn Scholar
Scott Purcell - Laurence & Karen Meltzer Scholar
Michael Vlach - John & Helen Seagle Scholar
Kyle White - Darren K. Woods Scholar