Arts and Entertainment

Soprano wins School of Music's Brewster Competition

Lisa Marie Rogali, a senior pursuing the Bachelor of Music Education degree, was recently awarded the Marjorie Jane Brewster Memorial Music Scholarship, one of the most prestigious scholarships awarded by the Penn State School of Music. Created in memory of 1961 arts graduate Marjorie Jane Brewster by her father, the late R. Wallace Brewster, a 1928 arts and letters graduate and 1930 political science master's graduate,, the scholarship is awarded based on competition to selected undergraduates in their final year of study who wish to pursue advanced degrees. The scholarship supports one year of graduate study at any accredited institution of higher learning or conservatory of the student’s choice.

Rogali is a voice student of Jennifer Trost. She has performed in Penn State Opera Theatre productions as Elle in Poulenc's "La voix humaine," Blanche de la Force in Poulenc’s "Dialogues of the Carmelites," Musetta in Puccini’s "La Bohème," and Dorabella in Mozart’s "Così fan tutte."

She has also sung leading roles in Leonard Bernstein’s "Mass," a performance honoring the College of Arts and Architecture's 50th anniversary, and in Stephen Sondheim’s "Marry Me a Little" for the Penn State School of Theatre. In addition, she performed as Cosette in "Les Miserables" and Louise in "Gypsy" in summer community theater productions in State College.

Rogali has performed twice as a soloist in the School of Music's annual Mosaic concert and is a member of the Penn State Concert Choir. In November 2015, she performed as a soloist in Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor with the Concert Choir and the Penn State Chamber Orchestra. She will next be featured as the soprano soloist in Handel's "Messiah" with the Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra.Rogali’s Brewster Competition repertoire was "Da tempeste il legno infranto" (from Giulio Cesare) by Handel, "Ach, ich fühl's" (from Die Zauberflöte) by Mozart, and "No Word from Tom" (from The Rake's Progress) by Igor Stravinsky.

Euphonium player Mitchell Mest was named as first alternate. Second alternate was Cynthia Vong, flute, and Kevin Eppinger was named third alternate for composition.

 

Penn State senior Lisa Marie Rogali won the Encouragement Award at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Dec. 5 in Pittsburgh. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated November 30, 2015