Boston Wagner Institute

05/27/2025

05/27/2025

04/16/2025

Still looking for MORE MUSIC?
This Friday, April 18, at 7:30 PM | St. Michael's Episcopal Church | 112 Randolph Ave, Milton, MA

Two of our beloved BWS admins and staff will be singing in a recital for Good Friday: Songs of Passion and Woe
Kat Skafidas, soprano; and Kyle Seniw, tenor

As co-directors of their church, Kat and Kyle are presenting a concert to feature the church music staff. They are offering a variety of art songs full of passion: Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Copland, Tosti, Faure, Berlioz, Florence Price, Yvette Souviron, Irma Urteaga, and more.

The program will run slightly over an hour with a brief intermission.
Free and open to the public; all are welcome.
This event will also be streamed and available to watch later on the St. Michael’s Parish YouTube channel.

Kat, a student of Jane, handles the BWS website, communications, graphics, and anything else that might come her way. Kyle fills in the gaps everywhere else; he even stage-managed our recent BWI scenes!

04/15/2025

Did you miss Joel Balzun’s great concert on Saturday?
Now is your chance to hear him again, with two BWS board members, Maria Bozich and Roy Hage, in the first US performance of Sibelius’s opera “The Maiden in the Tower,” conducted by Joseph Bozich.

New England Conservatory Jordan Hall
Tuesday, April 15th, 7:30pm

04/14/2025

Nationally recognized baritone and Boston Wagner Institute alumnus, Joel Balzun will be singing in recital! He will perform at First Church of Boston with pianist Brett Hodgdon on Saturday, April 12, at 2:00 PM.

Featuring Wagner selections from Das Rheingold, Lohengrin, and Tannhäuser. Also presenting pieces by Gustav Mahler, Alma Mahler, Jean Sibelius, and Richard Strauß.

Free for BWS Members — No purchase necessary!

$20 for non-members — bostonwagnersociety.org/tickets-and-merch

Canadian baritone and composer Joel Balzun was recently named winner of the Fulham Opera Robert Presley Memorial Verdi Prize, and a prize winner in the Wagner Society of New York Singers Competition. Highlights of his 2023-2024 season include works of Mozart with San Luis Obispo Master Chorale, a recital with Cincinnati Song Initiative, his debut in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Los Angeles Opera and “Schaunard” (La bohème) with Opera Las Vegas. Recent performance highlights include “Marcello” (La bohème) with Pacific Opera Project, “Giorgio Germont” (La traviata) with Opera Santa Barbara and numerous recitals featuring the premiere performances of Black Dog by Tom Cipullo throughout the United States. He created the role of “Ivan Brisilov” in the world premiere of Stephanie Fleischmann and Peter Knell’s Arkhipov. He is an alumnus of the apprenticeship programs at Opera Saratoga and Santa Fe Opera and the fellowship programs at Tanglewood Music Centre and Ravinia Steans Music Institute.

04/14/2025

SAVE THE DATE: BWI 2026!
We are thrilled to announce our plans to transform our prestigious Boston Wagner Institute (BWI) into a landmark biennial program that will establish New England as America's premier hub for Wagnerian vocal training and artistic development. Set to debut next year, 2026, this ambitious evolution will create unprecedented opportunities for emerging dramatic voices to study, develop, and perform with full orchestra.

Led by the Society's President Jane Eaglen, whose legendary interpretations of Wagner's most demanding roles have graced the world's premier opera houses for over two decades. A Grammy Award winner for her recording of Wagner's "Tannhäuser" under Daniel Barenboim, Eaglen has earned international acclaim for her definitive portrayals of Brünnhilde in "Der Ring des Nibelungen" and the title role in "Tristan und Isolde" at the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, and Teatro alla Scala.

Joining Eaglen in shaping this ambitious vision is distinguished conductor Jonathan McPhee, whose arrangement of Wagner's complete Ring Cycle, "The Essential Ring", has received international acclaim. McPhee brings decades of experience developing orchestras and nurturing emerging talent, having served as Music Director of the Boston Ballet Orchestra for 28 years and conducted for prestigious companies worldwide.

"We're creating a revolutionary approach to developing Wagnerian voices," said Eaglen, who currently serves on the voice faculty at New England Conservatory. " This biennial intensive will offer emerging artists something rare and essential: the opportunity to explore and develop their craft with full orchestral forces in a supportive, educational environment. It's a transformative step in how we nurture the next generation of dramatic voices."

While the Institute's traditional summer program will pause in 2025 to facilitate this evolution, the Society maintains our dedication to advancing Wagner's musical legacy through education and artistic development. The enhanced format promises to make New England the destination for aspiring Wagnerian singers and establish a new model for operatic training in North America.

Full article: https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/792882951/major-new-wagner-training-initiative-to-launch-in-new-england-grammy-winner-jane-eaglen-to-lead-revolutionary-program

11/17/2024

08/18/2024

Boston Wagner Society and Music at the Redeemer present Sarah Taylor, mezzo-soprano (AND BWI ALUMNA!), collaborating with Nigel Potts, organ, in concert.

Featuring: Wagner & Elgar
Wagner:
Wesendonck Lieder
Tristan und Isolde; Act I Prelude & “Liebestod”

Elgar:
Sea Pictures
Chanson de Nuit

Free with a suggested donation, $20-30.

Reception following in the Parish Hall - all are welcome. Wheelchair accessible.

https://www.bostonwagnersociety.org/events/sarah-taylor-bwi-alumna-in-concert