OperaBuffs celebrates 20 years

Opera Buffs of Western New York is celebrating its 20th year. It was founded in 1987 by Janiece Epke Baldwin, Erwin Johnson, Stacey Johnson, John Vidarte and Sylvia Volk, as an organization of like-minded opera aficionados.

With a current paid enrollment of more than 380 individual members, OperaBuffs offers a monthly Newsletter featuring articles and additional information about upcoming events and opera bus trips.

From Fall through Spring people can attend a monthly Inside Opera Lecture Series, which is free and open to the general public and focuses on various topics, including talks on current productions with lecturers coming from local colleges and universities, choral and vocal directors and instructors, opera company directors, and award-winning performers.

As a member of The Arts Council in Buffalo and Erie County, the group continues a commitment to the well-being of the arts community in Western New York in many ways - economic and public spirited.

The 20th annual Free Inside Opera Lecture will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 10 at the Harlem Road Community Center, 4255 Harlem Road

"Wings, Pit, and Stage: The Art and Science of an Opera Production As Seen From Three Very Different Vantage Points" will feature Frank Scinta, a choral director, vocal instructor, opera director and musician. He is well known as one of Western New York's most active choral director and music educators.

The annual Opera Brunch, a feast for mind, ear and stomach, will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 25 at Fanny's Restaurant, 3500 Sheridan Drive. Reservations must be made by March 15. The cost is $45. Call 873-4677 or e-mail: email@operabuffsofwny.org.

A bus trip to Eastman School Opera Rochester, will be held Sunday, April 15. The bus leaves at noon from 2625 Delaware Ave., bring a box lunch for the bus. The featured performance is Capuleti e Montecchi (Romeo and Juliet) by Bellini. The cost is $60. Deadline for reservations is April 2. Mail to Andrea Pope, 158 Wellworth Pl., Cheektowaga, NY 14225.

The next bus trip will feature Tosca by Puccini, Opera Ontario in Hamilton, Saturday, May 5. The bus leaves from the same location at 3:30 p.m. There will be a buffet dinner in Hamilton. The cost is $115, and deadline for reservations is April 15. Mail to Maria Moffat, 229 Hartwell Rd, Buffalo, NY 14216.

A bus trip to Cleveland will be Sunday, April 22 for Salome by Richard Strauss, which departs from the same location at 8:30 a.m. and features brunch in Cleveland. Deadline is April 1 and costs $130. Mail to Jo Wise, 45 Fordham, Buffalo, NY 14216.

For more information about the organization, visit www. operabuffsofwny. org.