
Beethoven’s monumental Symphony no. 9 was revolutionary when it premiered in 1824. The choral finale “Ode to Joy” is also one of the first melodies that beginning musicians learn to play.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024. 6.00 pm.
This concert will feature a complete performance of Beethoven’s symphony, as well as rendition of the “Ode to Joy” by beginning students from the MYCincinnati Youth Orchestra. With supertitle translations in both Spanish and English.
Total run time is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes; there is no intermission.
With full orchestral accompaniment, conducted by Isaac Selya.
In collaboration with the Northern Kentucky Community Chorus, directed by Stephanie Nash.
Seton High School, Kelley Family Theater
3901 Glenway Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45205
Free parking; enter from Beach Avenue.
Tickets available below and at the door on the day of the performance.
Soloists

Soprano Erin Keesy is currently based in Cincinnati, OH. She returns to QCO after performing numerous roles, including Pamina in Mozart’s Super Flute, and the title role in the world premiere reconstruction of Tchaikovsky’s Undina.
She received her Masters degree and Artist Diploma in Opera from the College-Conservatory or Music in Cincinnati. She has made solo appearances with the Cincinnati POPS orchestra, the Louisville Orchestra, Butler Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Queen City Opera and Cincinnati Opera. She made her international solo debut last year in Seoul, South Korea singing the soprano solos in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Seoul Oratorio Festival. Some of her recent role and concert work includes Marzelline (Fidelio) with Queen City Opera, Soprano soloist (MAMMOTH-Abrams) with The Louisville Orchestra, Sheila (The Righteous-Spears) and Soprano 2 (The Knock-Vrebalov) with Cincinnati Opera.

Mezzo: Lauren McAllister
Cincinnati-based Mezzo-Soprano Lauren McAllister recently curated and performed a recital, Take Yourself With You, for Vocal Arts Ensemble Cincinnati, appeared as Vesta in the world premiere of Fierce with Cincinnati Opera, premiered Melissa Dunphy’s Mel et Lac with Heri et Hodie, and performed as Alto Soloist with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra in Tippett’s A Child of Our Time. Upcoming soloist performances include the Bach B Minor Mass with Vocal Arts Ensemble Cincinnati, Dvořak Stabat Mater with Musica Sacra Cincinnati, Bach’s transcription of the Pergolesi Stabat Mater with the Bach Ensemble of Saint Thomas, and Beethoven 9 with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.
Lauren performs regularly with a variety of choral ensembles, including Conspirare, the Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble, Collegium Cincinnati, and Heri et Hodie. She is a co-founder of two ensembles: the Avimimus duo and Seven Hills Baroque. Lauren is an artist on four Grammy®-nominated recordings for Best Choral Performance: Conspirare’s House of Belonging (soloist), The Singing Guitar (soloist), The Hope of Loving (soloist), and the PaTRAM Institute Singers’ Sander: The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
Operatic highlights include Queen of the Virtues in Hildegard von Bingen’s Ordo Virtutum (Collegium Cincinnati), Laura (Iolanta, Queen City Opera), Lazuli (l’Étoile, Sin City Opera), Melanto (Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria, Opera Louisiane), Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus, Undercroft Opera), Courtier and Maid cover (The Witches of Venice, Opera Saratoga), and La Perichole (title role, Sin City Opera). As a soloist, Lauren has performed a variety of Bach cantatas with the Bach Ensemble of Saint Thomas, appeared in staged productions of the Pergolesi Stabat Mater and Bach’s Saint John Passion, and debuted with the Lubbock Symphony for their Chamber Sound! Series with works by Jennifer Jolley and David T. Little. Other notable appearances as a soloist include the Bach Ascension Oratorio and B Minor Mass, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Handel’s Messiah, Fern Hill (Corigliano), Ode to Common Things (Ratcliff), Considering Matthew Shepard by Craig Hella Johnson, and the US premiere of the Telemann Brockes Passion.
Lauren earned her Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music (CCM). She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance from the Eastman School of Music. Lauren was the 2015 Nebraska District winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, was a finalist in the 2012 Jessie Kneisel Lieder Competition, and won first place in the 2011 Syracuse Civic Morning Musicals Competition.

Tenor: M. Andrew Jones
Tenor M. Andrew Jones captivates global audiences with his resounding voice and captivating performances. Demonstrating the epitome of modern operatic excellence, his artistry leaves an indelible impression, earning critical acclaim and fervent praise.
After a temporary hiatus due to the pandemic, Jones made a triumphant return to the stage, showcasing unwavering commitment and artistry. Notably, his portrayal of Lenski in a concert with Queen City Opera, mesmerized audiences with his “firm, heroic” sound full of depth and emotion.
Much acclaim has followed his portrayals of Max in Der Freischütz and Mime in Siegfried at Valhalla Productions in San Francisco, solidifying his reputation as a versatile and technically adept artist. Notable performances include Gulbrand in Queen City Opera’s production of Undina by Tchaikovsky, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni and Pedrillo in Die Entführung aus dem Serail with Queen City Opera, as well as roles such as the 1st Armored Man/Second Priest in Die Zauberflöte with Dayton Opera, The Messenger in Aida, and the Innkeeper in Der Rosenkavalier with Cincinnati Opera.
Jones has embraced diverse musical experiences, including portraying Benny “Kid” Paret/Benny Jr. in Champion and the vibrant character of Sellem in The Rake’s Progress, collaborating with the esteemed Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. His talents have been recognized by Cedar Rapids Opera Company, where he portrayed Spoletta in Tosca, and CCM Summer Opera, where he powerfully embodied the complex and troubled Don José in Carmen.
Jones holds a Master’s of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Cincinnati – College Conservatory of Music, studying under the renowned Kenneth Shaw and a Bachelor of Arts in Music under the esteemed Ed Andereck at Luther College.

Baritone: Mike Young
Mike Young, baritone, is an Ohio native based in Cincinnati. Mike performs a wide variety of repertoire, from Bach to Wagner, on the operatic and concert stages. Past performances with QCO include Alberich in Wagner’s Siegfried, the title role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, the role of the water demon Struj in the world premiere reconstruction of Tchaikovsky’s Undina, and Second Priest in Mozart’s Super Flute.
His other recent operatic performances include Marcello in Puccini’s La Boheme, Scarpia in Puccini’s Tosca, George Milton in Floyd’s Of Mice and Men, Enrico in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Baron Douphol in Verdi’s La Traviata, and the titular roles in Verdi’s Macbeth and Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Concert performances include the title role of Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Baritone Soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, Handel’s Israel in Egypt, and Bach’s B Minor Mass, Magnificat, Christmas Oratorio, St. Matthew Passion, and St. John Passion. In addition to his solo work, Mike is a member of The Bach Ensemble at St. Thomas, Collegium Cincinnati, and Coro Volante. Seemingly never content in a singular profession, Mike is a freelance graphic designer and social media marketer whose oeuvre can mainly be seen on beer cans throughout the Cincinnati metropolitan area.