"The Other Swedes"
Honoring Them and Remembering Them
~ The Lindsborg Swedes, Their Neighbors & Friends
Ms. Rebecca Copley COPY
~ Honoring her as Bethany College's “first” graduate to become an International Opera Singer
Honoring Them and Remembering Them
~ The Lindsborg Swedes, Their Neighbors & Friends
Ms. Rebecca Copley COPY
~ Honoring her as Bethany College's “first” graduate to become an International Opera Singer
Bethany College graduate Rebecca Copley‘s critically acclaimed professional debut was in Giuseppe Verdi's Otello with the New Jersey State Opera in 1987. Here, she played the role of Desdemona opposite James McCracken, a pillar of the Metropolitan Opera and its most successful dramatic tenor in the 60s and 70s. As reported by English Opera then, "Desdemona‘s prayer was exquisite." She debuted, just weeks later, in Verdi's Requiem with the Paris Opera; then at New York City Opera as Puccini‘s Turandot, at Carnegie Hall with the New Jersey Symphony as Wagner‘s Isolde and at the Metropolitan Opera as Amelia in Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera. Thus, she began her career as being applauded by the critics, as “one of America’s most gifted vocalists.”
Ms. Copley's career in opera and symphonic works has been characterized as "singing the most demanding repertoire for soprano." This, she performed gallantly in North and South America, Europe, Asia and South Africa, while working with some of the most renowned conductors of her time such as James Levine, Valery Gergeiv, Hugh Wolff, Robert Shaw, Philippe Entremont, Theo Alcantara, and Lawrence Leighton Smith.
In addition, of course, she made special soloist appearances at Lindsborg’s Bethany College Oratorio Society Messiah performances.
Of special note was her debut in Bilbao, Spain. It was there that she performed and recorded the title role, Amaya, in Jesus Guridi's, Basque opera, Amaya, sung in Basque. Amaya was released in Spain as a private limited premier addition recording which was followed by the international Marco Polo release in October 2000. To learn more, go HERE to Ms. Copley's "Music on CD."
Historically, she received wonderful reviews from the Press, that can be seen HERE titled "Reviews."
Some of her opera and symphonic works are also listed in the site section on "Repertoire."
The Operatic Repertoire lists 7 European Composers and 28 operas:
Beethoven - 1; Bellini - 1; Mozart - 4; Puccini - 3; Rossini - 1; Verdi - 15; Wagner - 3.
It also notates the roles she played.
The Orchestral Repertoire lists 25 European Composers and 49 works:
Bach -5; Barber - 1; Beethoven - 3; Berlioz - 3; Brahms - 1; Britten - 2; Bruckner - 1; Durufle - 1; Dvorak 3;
Elgar - 1; Gorecki - 1; Handel - 3; Haydn - 1; Mahler 3; Mendelssohn - 4; Mozart - 4; Penderecki - 1; Ravel -2;
Rossini - 1; Shostakovich 1; Strauss, R. - 1; Verdi - 1; Vaughn-Williams - 2; Villa-Lobos - 1; Wagner - 2.
For more details, go HERE to "Repertoire"
As a Bethany College graduate, she continued her studies at the University of Colorado, the University of Texas and in New York City.
Ms. Copley grew up in the shadow of her most gifted and dynamic father, Bethany College Oratorio Society Messiah Conductor, Dr. Elmer Copley, as well as her mother, Ruth Marie Anderson Copley, an equally gifted and accomplished organist, as well as an acclaimed pianist.
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Ms. Copley grew up in the shadow of her most gifted and dynamic father, Bethany College Oratorio Society Messiah Conductor, Dr. Elmer Copley, as well as her mother, Ruth Marie Anderson Copley, an equally gifted and accomplished organist, as well as an acclaimed pianist. As a Bethany College graduate, she continued her studies at the University of Colorado, the University of Texas and in New York City. She retired from her position as Director of Vocal Studies at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas, to become a voice teacher and clinician from her private voice studio, which is very popular with serious students eager to learn her techniques.
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During the Bethany College administration of President Dr. Joel McKean, in 1992, the Alumni Association awarded her with the Gold Award for Achievement, the first of its kind to be awarded. Therefore, Ms. Copley was the first alumnus to be presented with this award. The criteria for graduates to be honored with such an award is to show that over the last two decades they have made outstanding contributions to society, and that these achievements to date demonstrate a person who shows promise, has high aspirations and has made a difference in the lives of people around them.
Twelve years later, in 2004, during the Bethany College administration of President Dr. Paul Formo, Ms. Copley was highly honored as "Musician of the Year" from the Kansas Federation of Music Clubs.
She retired from her opera career in 2011 ?? and then turned to teaching at Bethany College for a while and in Salina, Kansas, as Director of Vocal Studies at Kansas Wesleyan University for a season. She has also been in demand as voice teacher/clinician having visited as an artist/professor of voice at the University of Oklahoma, Fort Lewis College of Colorado and Bethany College. Ongoing, are her enjoyable hours as a voice teacher and clinician mentoring serious students at her private home studio located at her Smoky Valley farm that she shares with her husband Don Johnson, not far from Lindsborg.
word for word
Ms Copley's vocal gifts and dynamic stage presence translate to the vocal studio as well. Fort Lewis College, Durango (CO), made great use of her vast experience and eagerness to teach last season, where she was Visiting Instructor in Music.
Having finished the season with performances of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic honoring Maestro Lawrence Leighton Smith, the University of Oklahoma School of Music welcomes her in the Fall of 2011.
Ms. Copley's career in opera and symphonic works has been characterized as "singing the most demanding repertoire for soprano." This, she performed gallantly in North and South America, Europe, Asia and South Africa, while working with some of the most renowned conductors of her time such as James Levine, Valery Gergeiv, Hugh Wolff, Robert Shaw, Philippe Entremont, Theo Alcantara, and Lawrence Leighton Smith.
In addition, of course, she made special soloist appearances at Lindsborg’s Bethany College Oratorio Society Messiah performances.
Of special note was her debut in Bilbao, Spain. It was there that she performed and recorded the title role, Amaya, in Jesus Guridi's, Basque opera, Amaya, sung in Basque. Amaya was released in Spain as a private limited premier addition recording which was followed by the international Marco Polo release in October 2000. To learn more, go HERE to Ms. Copley's "Music on CD."
Historically, she received wonderful reviews from the Press, that can be seen HERE titled "Reviews."
Some of her opera and symphonic works are also listed in the site section on "Repertoire."
The Operatic Repertoire lists 7 European Composers and 28 operas:
Beethoven - 1; Bellini - 1; Mozart - 4; Puccini - 3; Rossini - 1; Verdi - 15; Wagner - 3.
It also notates the roles she played.
The Orchestral Repertoire lists 25 European Composers and 49 works:
Bach -5; Barber - 1; Beethoven - 3; Berlioz - 3; Brahms - 1; Britten - 2; Bruckner - 1; Durufle - 1; Dvorak 3;
Elgar - 1; Gorecki - 1; Handel - 3; Haydn - 1; Mahler 3; Mendelssohn - 4; Mozart - 4; Penderecki - 1; Ravel -2;
Rossini - 1; Shostakovich 1; Strauss, R. - 1; Verdi - 1; Vaughn-Williams - 2; Villa-Lobos - 1; Wagner - 2.
For more details, go HERE to "Repertoire"
As a Bethany College graduate, she continued her studies at the University of Colorado, the University of Texas and in New York City.
Ms. Copley grew up in the shadow of her most gifted and dynamic father, Bethany College Oratorio Society Messiah Conductor, Dr. Elmer Copley, as well as her mother, Ruth Marie Anderson Copley, an equally gifted and accomplished organist, as well as an acclaimed pianist.
---
PUT IN INSERT IN 7 3 21
Ms. Copley grew up in the shadow of her most gifted and dynamic father, Bethany College Oratorio Society Messiah Conductor, Dr. Elmer Copley, as well as her mother, Ruth Marie Anderson Copley, an equally gifted and accomplished organist, as well as an acclaimed pianist. As a Bethany College graduate, she continued her studies at the University of Colorado, the University of Texas and in New York City. She retired from her position as Director of Vocal Studies at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas, to become a voice teacher and clinician from her private voice studio, which is very popular with serious students eager to learn her techniques.
---
During the Bethany College administration of President Dr. Joel McKean, in 1992, the Alumni Association awarded her with the Gold Award for Achievement, the first of its kind to be awarded. Therefore, Ms. Copley was the first alumnus to be presented with this award. The criteria for graduates to be honored with such an award is to show that over the last two decades they have made outstanding contributions to society, and that these achievements to date demonstrate a person who shows promise, has high aspirations and has made a difference in the lives of people around them.
Twelve years later, in 2004, during the Bethany College administration of President Dr. Paul Formo, Ms. Copley was highly honored as "Musician of the Year" from the Kansas Federation of Music Clubs.
She retired from her opera career in 2011 ?? and then turned to teaching at Bethany College for a while and in Salina, Kansas, as Director of Vocal Studies at Kansas Wesleyan University for a season. She has also been in demand as voice teacher/clinician having visited as an artist/professor of voice at the University of Oklahoma, Fort Lewis College of Colorado and Bethany College. Ongoing, are her enjoyable hours as a voice teacher and clinician mentoring serious students at her private home studio located at her Smoky Valley farm that she shares with her husband Don Johnson, not far from Lindsborg.
word for word
Ms Copley's vocal gifts and dynamic stage presence translate to the vocal studio as well. Fort Lewis College, Durango (CO), made great use of her vast experience and eagerness to teach last season, where she was Visiting Instructor in Music.
Having finished the season with performances of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic honoring Maestro Lawrence Leighton Smith, the University of Oklahoma School of Music welcomes her in the Fall of 2011.
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since October 8, 2015 to Current Year
as indicated on main menu sections of
www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
