Mark your calendars now for our first outreach of the year at Concord’s 2nd Annual Juneteenth event in Todos Santos Park- June 23, 2024 12:00-4:00pm. This event is sponsored by the Concord Communities Alliance and other private donors/nonprofits, This year, Solo Opera is thrilled to be a Juneteenth sponsor again, and will be bringing one of the performers and her pianist for the event- Shawnette Sulker -who recently starred in our The Three Feathers opera. They will be performing at 12:15pm. We will also be there with a sponsor booth with crafts for kids and families, prizes, and info. about next year’s opera- Lucinda y las Flores de Nochebuena. As always, this will be a fun family event. Hope to see you there!
Artists photos and bios below
Critically acclaimed soprano, Shawnette Sulker, has sung the roles of Cleopatra (Handel’s Giulio Cesare); Sister Rose (Dead Man Walking by Heggie); and Die Königin der Nacht (Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte), to name just a few. International highlights include a concert of operatic repertoire at the Teatro di San Carlo in Napoli, touring Die Fledermaus as Adele in Holland and Belgium, and orchestra concerts in Leipzig’s Gewandhaus and Prague’s Smetana Hall. She has been a soloist with companies such as the San Francisco Opera, American Bach Soloists, Mark Morris Dance Group, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Opera Memphis, Opera Fairbanks, Opera Idaho, Solo Opera, Opera Naples, West Edge Opera, Livermore Valley Opera, and Union Avenue Opera. Recent engagements included workshopping Jake Heggie’s new opera Intelligence in the main role of Mary Jane Bowser with Houston Grand Opera, singing Ariel in the world premiere of Prospero’s Island by Shearer, singing Die Königin der Nacht with Santa Rosa Symphony and Livermore Valley Opera.
Full bio at www.ShawnetteSulker.com
As a soloist or collaborator, Daniel is equally versatile on the piano, organ and harpsichord. A native of San Diego, CA, he began formal piano studies at the age of five. Throughout high school, he exclusively studied the organ. After getting his Bachelor’s in Piano Performance and a minor in organ from Loma Linda University, he attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and obtained an advanced degree in the specialized field of Accompanying, studying with the originator of the field, the renowned Gwendolyn Koldofksy. While at USC, he also studied instrumental accompanying with Brooks Smith, accompanist to Jascha Heifetz and Jenny Tourel. Daniel was honored as the only American finalist at the first International Accompanying Competition held in Den Haag, the Netherlands. In his role as pianist/collaborator, his wide arranging career has taken him around the globe, playing throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Has has been praised for exhibiting a strong sense of rhythm, lovely variety of touches, and a convincing sense of historical style. Following one of his many recital appearances, it was stated in a Los Angeles Times review that “Daniel Lockert was the expert pianist of the occasion; his sensitive and authoritative playing matched in every way the level of the singing.” In his role as coach and teacher, Daniel has been on the staffs and faculties of the Juilliard School, The San Francisco Opera, Opera San Jose, Chapman University, Cal State East Bay, Notre Dame de Namur University, Mills College, Holy Names University, Santa Clara University and the Aspen Music Festival.
Full bio at www.DanielLockert.com
