UNION ART ALLEY
Special Events
Opera in Union Art Alley
You are cordially invited to an exclusive, fundraising dinner in Union Art Alley, featuring a night of delectable delights, fine wine and artistic wonders.
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Join us for a three course dining experience, complemented by exclusive wine pairings, and and two live performances by the world renowned Opera artists: Hailey Clark, Joseph Dennis, and Joseph Li.
As you dine under the stars, you'll also have the chance to admire the work of Union Art Alley artists doing live art.
Guests will be seated in tables of four.
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Wednesday, July 23rd
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Union Art Alley
222 Commercial St.
Stillwater, MN
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Space is limited, kindly register by July 18, 2025
We look forward to sharing this enchanted
evening with you in partnership with St Croix Valley Opera!
Please see additional event details below.
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Expert Bio's
Ashley Hausman MW
came into the wine industry in 2008 while completing her Masters in English
and American Literature at New York University. She earned her CSW through the Society of
Wine Educators, gained certification as a Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers,
and then attained her Diploma from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust before passing the
rigorous Master of Wine exam on her first attempt in 2017. She is one of only about 50 with this
certification in the United States - and the only in Minnesota!
Hailey Clark
is an award-winning operatic soprano who continues to garner praise on the international stage for her signature character portrayals, as well as her versatility in operatic and concert repertoire spanning nearly three centuries.
Engagements in 2024/25 include debuts of Richard Strauss' Vier Lezte Lieder with the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra in Ankara, Turkey, her title role debut as Violetta in La Traviata with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, her title role debut as Countess Almaviva in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro with Palm Beach Opera, and her return to The Royal Concertgebouw as the Soprano I Soloist (Magna Peccatrix) in Mahler's Symphony No. 8 with the Concertgebouw orchestra, lead by Klaus Mäkelä as a part of Mahler Festival 2025 in Amsterdam. Clark, newly appointed Assistant Professor of Voice, appears regularly in collaboration and performance as a tenure-track faculty member at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music in Nashville, Tennessee. She also joins the voice faculty of Opera Viva! in Verona, Italy, a training program for young opera singers.
The winner of the Austrian Music Theater Prize for Best Female in a Leading Role (Alma Beers in Brokeback Mountain by Charles Wuorinen, The Salzburg State Theater), she has made a dynamic mark in both Europe and North America throughout her career.
Joseph Dennis
studied at The Juilliard School in New York and has been honored with numerous awards, including Grand Final winner of The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition and the top prize at the Gerda Lissner Foundation competition.
This season, Mr. Dennis returns to the role of Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Austin Opera, makes his role debut as Faust in Berlioz’ La Damnation de Faust with the Santa Fe Symphony, and joins the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra for performances of Alfredo in La traviata (conducted by JoAnn Falletta). Next season, he brings his portrayal of Pinkerton to Opera Colorado for his company debut.
In the 2023-24 season, the tenor made his debut at the Washington National Opera, creating the role of Eric in the world premiere of Jeanine Tesori's opera Grounded. He also returned to the Prague National Theatre as Wenzel Strapinski in Alexander Zemlinsky’s Kleider machen Leute. Engagements elsewhere during the season included Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Cassio in Verdi’s Otello, and Shepherd/Spirit in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo with Semperoper Dresden; Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz; and tenor soloist for an evening of Verdi selections with the Städtischer Musikverein Gütersloh.
Joseph Li
joined Minnesota Opera as Vice President, Artistic in 2021.
An alumnus of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, Mr. Li made his conducting debut leading new works commissioned for Houston Grand Opera by Jack Perla and Franghiz Ali-Zadeh. Mr. Li has served as principal coach for world premieres including André Previn’s Brief Encounter at Houston Grand Opera and John Musto’s The Inspector, commissioned by the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. Productions he has coached at HGO include La fille du régiment, La bohème, Béatrice et Bénédict, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna, and Dead Man Walking. He has performed in recital with Jamie Barton, Tamara Wilson, and Ryan McKinny, and has served as a guest coach and instructor for Houston Grand Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Minnesota Opera, Rice University, Baylor University, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Arizona Opera, Opera Birmingham, and the Aspen Opera Theater Center.
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Don't Miss the amazing event from our
friends at St. Croix Valley Opera -
Opera on the River 2025 Festival!
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Experience the magic of St. Croix Valley Opera's Opera on the River 2025 Festival, returning to the picturesque banks of the St. Croix River in downtown Stillwater! Join us for a month of festivities, including St. Croix Valley Opera's 5th Annual Opera on the River Vocal Competition on June 28th at Bethel Lutheran Church in Downtown Hudson, WI. The festival culminates with the Opera on the River Grand Concert on July 26th at 7:30 pm in the park as well, a free event open to all! Bring your chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets and enjoy an enchanting evening of music, featuring headliners soprano Hailey Clark, mezzo-soprano Meridian Prall, tenor Joseph Dennis, and bass-baritone Reginald
Smith, Jr. With our chamber orchestra led by our conductor, Joseph Li from Minnesota Opera, experience an unforgettable journey through beloved opera and musical theater classics, culminating in a breathtaking finale under the sunset sky in Lowell Park on the banks of the beautiful St. Croix River! Don't miss your chance to hum your favorite tunes from the evening in the days and weeks following the festival! For an even more luxurious experience, upgrade to our VIP packages, which include gourmet catering provided by Scheel's Catering. Limited seating is available - reserve yours today!
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