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Northern Ohio Opera League

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NOOL has Restarted Operatic Adventures

NOOL has restarted the Operatic Adventures programs around various libraries in the Greater Cleveland area.

Opera has been a beloved form of musical entertainment for over 400 years. Operatic venues in Cleveland and around the world have continually enthralled audiences. Opera is both an audio and a visual medium and video clips with English subtitles will be utilized to enhance explanations.

Opera is for everyone! Join the Northern Ohio Opera League (NOOL) to explore the art and beauty of opera, discover the many opera companies that call northern Ohio home, and learn how you can enjoy and support the opera scene right here in your own backyard. Bring your lunch and get a front row seat at these lunchtime lectures. All programs are FREE and OPEN to the public.

During the winter months programs will be suspended until spring 2018 except for Beachwood lectures that will continue. 

Downtown Cleveland Library
Lectures are held the 1st Tuesday of every month * 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Cleveland 3rd floor, Main Building, Digital Media Room.

Tuesday, Dec 5, 2017.
The December program will be a holiday extravaganza with a combination of two concerts from: 1) Xmas in Vienna with the Three Tenors; and 2) Xmas in Vienna with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras and Diana Ross.

Bay Village Library
502 Cahoon Road, Bay Village, 44140

Beachwood Library
Lectures:25501 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood, 44122.  All lectures are from 2-3 pm.

The 3 Tenors and A Famous Pop Diva Celebrate Xmas!
                When: Sunday, December 10, 2017 from 2 to 3 pm.
                What: The program consists of elements from two different
                           holiday concerts given in Vienna. Singing stars are
                           backed by the famous Vienna Philharmonic  
                           Orchestra and  Childrens’ Choir.         
                          The holiday spirit is felt as the artists perform
                          traditional songs and carols  
When: Sunday, January 11, 2018 from 2 to 3 pm.
Program content to be determined.

Brecksville Library
9089 Brecksville Road, Cleveland, 44141
All Lectures are from 7:00 8:00 PM

Chagrin Falls Library
100 East Orange Street, Chagrin Falls, 44022. All Lectures are from 7-8 PM.

Rocky River Library
1600 Hampton Road, Rocky River, 44116. All Lectures are from 7:00-8:00 PM.

 

Any questions about the Operatic Adventure Series please contact: Michael L. Blauner, Ph.D. virtual.opera@yahoo.com

EMAIL US


NoOhioOperaLeague@aol.com

Donors/Sponsors/People of Recognition

Mary Hamlin was NOOL’s President for 7 years before her passing in 2017. She also led the local chapter of Daughters of the British Empire, was a Board Member of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation and the personal British Garden caretaker for decades. She was a proper, gentle lady who helped NOOL in its early years with steadfast devotion to Opera. Such dedicated board members should always be remembered. She is pictured below with her husband Clive during NOOL’s Dancing With the Dinosaurs Benefit at the Cleveland History Museum.

Clive Hamlin & wife NOOL President Mary Hamlin.

John Ingold and Phyllis Donnelly Ingold. This couple have been worker bees in numerous organizations for decades including the Cleveland Opera League and Charter members of NOOL. In many instances they maintained address lists, created fliers and invitations as well as reserving venues, ordering meals and almost everything else needed to create benefits. John was more of the administrator, set up and tear down worker for Phyllis while Phyllis was the creative half of the partnership. No one ever donated so many silent auction items as John and Phyllis. Fussy how everything gets done their personal friendships helped fill many a venue.

John Ingold and NOOL Membership Chairlady Phyllis Donnely-Ingold.

Greg and Marcia Snavely Polyak. This couple were on the Cleveland Opera Board and Charter members of NOOL. Marcia is locally famous for her piano playing just about every benefit gig and party. Most often she donates her professional playing abilities helping each organization make a profit. She is known to have music put in front of her moments before playing it for the professional. This sight reading ability allows her to play just about any style of music making her a very busy pianist for so many groups they can’t all be listed. But being a professional musician continually since age six was only half of her story as she was also a Chemist for 40 years.

Greg is a worker bee having been the following: V.P., Secretary, NOOL Webmaster/creator as well as NOOL’s Facebook web page master, 2nd V.P., event Chair, Master of Ceremonies, usually hired the entertainment, helped with event set up and tear down and more. Together they always Donated Silent Auction items as well as buying many of other silent auction items at every single benefit. Greg is also on numerous other nonprofit boards doing similar work on each board be it an Orchestra, Arts, Ethnic, International Grant group or Wine Tasting Society. With 10 kids, 20 Grandkids with 2 more arriving in 2019 they are the Energizer Bunnies of Cleveland’s nonprofits.

Greg Polyak and Marcia Polyak

Important Donors/Sponsors: There are a number of ways to donate to NOOL. There is Cash, Silent Auction Items, Membership dues at different levels, Hosting a benefit in one’s home, and providing Prize money or by Paying stipends to entertainers. The list will never be perfect. It contains names of people who have donated over many years to those who have donated for shorter periods of time but in larger ways. So please excuse any failures, exclusions or other wrongs but feel free to contact me for additions or corrections. Additions to the list will continue making it a living expanding praise of thanks. To be continued.