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March 25 - 31, 2016

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by Jaime Mowers

Webster Groves’ Julia Bullock is making it bigin opera all over the world and will return home toperform in St. Louis next week.

Bullock, 29, who attended Webster Groves schoolsthrough sixth grade and graduated from JohnBurroughs School in 2005, will perform Wednesday,March 30, 8 p.m., at The Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648Washington Blvd. Bullock’s bold, vibrant sopranovoice will be accompanied by Renate Rohlng on

piano. A Juilliard graduate, Bullock’s voice has garnered

her several prestigious awards throughout the pastseveral years. In 2014, she won the NaumburgInternational Vocal Competition, and The New YorkTimes has hailed her voice as “ravishingly visceral.”

Bullock has played the title role in Henry Purcell’s“The Indian Queen,” directed by Peter Sellars, at the

Teatro Real in Madrid and the Perm Opera Housein Russia. She has also performed the title roles inMassenet’s “Cendrillon” and Janá�ek’s “The Cunning

Little Vixen” with the Juilliard Opera.Bullock, who currently lives in New York City, has

toured South America as “Pamina” in Peter Brook’saward-winning “A Magic Flute,” as well as China,singing with the Bard Music Festival Orchestra.She has starred in several other opera roles,appeared at New York’s Carnegie Hall, performedat international music festivals and more. She neverdreamed her singing career would become all that ithas.

“I had no idea this is where my path would leadme,” she said. “It’s been amazing, and I’m humbled

every day by what I get to do.” Although Bullock loves traveling and performing

in new cities, she is particularly excited to sing atThe Sheldon in St. Louis.

“Coming home to sing at The Sheldon is a hugedeal,” she said. “I went to The Sheldon when I wasyounger, and it’s a jewel box of acoustic space. I canalso reintroduce myself as a grown person and fully

developed performer, so that’s really important tome ... and it’s certainly important to my mother thatI’ll be performing at home.”

Having lost her father to illness when she was 9

years old, Bullock said her mother, Allyce PletcherBullock, made sure she had the support she need topursue singing. That meant private voice lessons,putting mentors in place to encourage her, immersingher in an arts education and nding her as many

singing opportunities as possible.Bullock began singing at a young age in the choir

at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Webster Groveswhere her family attended. She remembers takingtap dance lessons in the basement of the WebsterGroves YMCA, and has fond memories of her talentshow debuts at Avery Elementary School.

“I have such vivid memories of the talent shows – it was my rst time putting together routines, and

singing and dancing by myself,” she said. “Havingthe space to share something of my own that Icreated – that’s a big thing. My initial exposure to

music and the people who invested in me early on inmy schools and church provided a rich environmentto be growing up in and it was very nurturing.”

Bullock was also a “Muny Kid,” as part of TheMuny’s performance and training program for youngartists with exceptional voice and dance talent.

“The Muny encouraged me a lot,” she said. “Theywere really trying to discipline us in our (voice anddance) lessons, and create a culture of the artsaround us.”

Bullock took classes at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA), and participated in the Opera Theatreof Saint Louis’ Artists-in-Training program, whichcoaches and encourages talented students from area

Soprano Julia Bullock Comes Home

Webster Groves native Julia Bullock is bringing hervibrant soprano voice to The Sheldon on Wednesday,

 March 30. photo by Christian Steiner

Webster Groves native performsMarch 30 at The Sheldon

cont. p. 3B

 

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2-B Webster-Kirkwood Times March 25 - 31, 2016

Create. Experience.Imagine.

 

11333 Big Bend Road | St. Louis, MO 63122 | stlcc.edu  

If you have accommodation needs, please call LindaMcGinnis at 314-984-7632 within two working daysof the scheduled event to request needs.

It’s free. It’s fun.

 And it’s your chance to

IMAGINE…CREATE…andEXPERIENCE the arts.

Saturday,  April 16, 2016

1-5 p.m., Humanities East Building

Get your ART ON at this interactive, creative free-for-all!  

Make your own typeface, test out your acting chops, enter the

world of virtual reality, and much more with the design, visual

and performing arts faculty at STLCC-Meramec.

 Attendees must be 17 years old or accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Learn more at stlcc.edu/ICE or call 314-984-7632.

St. Louis Community College at Meramec

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’2016 Festival Season features itssignature combination ofcompelling new operas andmasterpieces by belovedcomposers, includingGiacomo Puccini’s eternallypopular “La bohème,”Richard Strauss’s movingcomedy “Ariadne onNaxos,” Giuseppe Verdi’smagnicent and murderous“Macbeth” and the highlyanticipated world premiere of JackPerla and Rajiv Joseph’s “Shalimar theClown,” based on the much-admirednovel by Salman Rushdie.

The season also includes the

second annual Center Stage concert,showcasing the talents of OperaTheatre’s young artists.

The company’s 2016 FestivalSeason begins Saturday, May 21 andcontinues through Sunday, June 26 atWebster University’s Loretto-HiltonCenter for the Performing Arts.

Schedule“La boheme”   – May 21, 25 & 27;

June 2, 4, 8, 12, 15 & 25.“Macbeth”   – May 28; June 1, 10,

16, 18, 22 & 26.“Ariadne on Naxos”  –

June 5, 9, 11, 1, 22 & 24.“Shalimar the Clown”  

 – June 11, 15, 17, 19, 23 &25.

Center Stage Concert  – June 21.

Subscriptions to the2016 season are currentlyavailable, starting at$82. To purchase tickets

or for more information, visitExperienceOpera.org or call the boxofce at 314-961-0644.

Opera Tastings

Music from across the history ofopera is paired with delicious food anddrink chosen to complement the avors

of the music in these Opera Tastings,March 31-April 4, at a variety ofdifferent restaurants. Tickets are $20.

 Visit www.opera-stl.org/operatastingsto learn more.

Opera Theatre Opens 2016Festival Season May 21“Opera Tastings” runMarch 31-April 4

Stages St. Louis opens its30th anniversary season with “ItShoulda Been You,”   runningJune 3-July 3 at the Robert G.

Reim Theatre, 111 S. Geyer Road inKirkwood. This refreshingly modernromantic comedy has more than afew surprising twists in store.

 And, for the kids, “ Disney’s Alice In Wonderland”   will be performedJune 15-July 3 at The Playhouse atWestport Plaza. Tumble down therabbit hole with Alice as she falls intothe madcap world of Wonderland.

In honor of its 30th anniversary,Stages brings back one of its mostfrequently requested shows, “The Drowsy Chaperone”   – a musical

about people who love musicals. “TheDrowsy Chaperone” runs July 22-

 Aug. 21 at the Reim Theatre.“Sister Act”  rounds out the season

Sept. 9-Oct. 9, also at the RobertReim Theatre. This divine comedyabout a sassy, low-rent lounge singerforced to hide out from the mob in thelast place anyone would ever look forher – a convent – recently became oneof Broadway’s smash hit musicals.

Subscriptions are available bycalling 314-821-2407. The Stagesbox ofce at the Robert G. Reim

Theatre reopens on May 18 for singleticket sales. For more details, boxofce hours and more, visit www.

stagesstlouis.org.

Celebrate 30 Years WithStages St. Louis This Season

The Repertory Theatre of St.Louis presents “Satchel Paigeand the Kansas City Swing,”   a

freewheelingtake on oneof baseball’sg r e a t e s tpersonalities,through April10 on theB r o w n i n gMainstage of

the Loretto-Hilton Center for thePerforming Arts, 130 Edgar Road.

The crack of the bat, the roar ofthe crowd — it’s what every baseball

player dreams of. In 1947, JackieRobinson had broken baseball’s

color barrier, while Satchel Paigeand his Negro League All-Stars werebarnstorming against their whitecounterparts in the Majors.

Studio Theatre

“Molly’s Hammer” continuesthrough March 27 in the StudioTheatre. Based on the true storyof the Plowshares Eight, “Molly’sHammer” is the account of onewoman’s unwavering beliefs andher family’s desperate attempts toprotect her from infamy.

For tickets and show times,visit The Rep Box Ofce inside the

Loretto-Hilton Center, call 314-968-4925 or visit www.repstl.org.

“Satchel Paige” At The Rep

Meramec Theatre Wraps SeasonSt. Louis Community College-

Meramec’s 2015-16 theatre seasonconcludes in April with “Death and theMaiden.”

This production for matureaudiences runs April 13-16 at 7:30 p.m.

and April 17 at 2 p.m. in the theater onthe Meramec campus, 11333 Big Bend

Road in Kirkwood.The theatrical productions at St.

Louis Community College-Meramecare offered free of charge. Seatingis on a rst come, rst served basis.

The theatre has spaces open for

wheelchairs and walkers. Call 314-984-7564 to conrm availability.

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March 25 - 31, 2016 Webster-Kirkwood Times 3-B

high schools with weekly voice lessonsby opera professionals.

“That was a great program andthat’s when I got really serious aboutsinging classical music,” she said.

 Allison Felter, director of education

and community engagement for OperaTheatre of Saint Louis, spoke highly ofBullock.

“While in the Monsanto Artists-in-Training program as a high schoolstudent, Julia always demonstrateda keen sense of artistry well beyondher years,” Felter said. “Today, thatartistry is in full bloom whenever sheperforms, as she unfailingly transportsher audience to places you didn’t thinkpossible through her music. She is aremarkable artist on a very excitingcareer trajectory at the highest level,and this is just the beginning.”

Bullock’s rst professional theater

performance was at St. Louis’ Black

Rep in the production of “BubblingBrown Sugar.” Her time at JohnBurroughs School from grades 7 to12 also helped set her on the path ofmusical success.

“John Burroughs was anothertotally immersive environmentwith some of the best teachers andfaculty in St. Louis,” she said. “Theychallenged me and helped give memore of a perspective and worldview of the impact that I could haveas a performer – it wasn’t just aboutaccolades, but providing reection

and commentary on the world thatwe’re living in – there was a socialresponsibility aspect.”

Bullock has carried that into herprofessional career. She’s currentlypreparing for two upcoming recitals

highlighting the lives of women whohave challenged world views withtheir bodies. Several of her pieces alsoexplore race issues.

“One thing I grappled with growingup of mixed heritage in Webster Groves

is that there was a very clear culturaldivide between north Webster andsouth Webster,” she said. “My familylived right along the railroad tracks,and it was something I was even sortof ashamed of. It took me several yearsto want to take ownership of it and tobe able to sing and talk about it, andnow I can.”

She dedicated a portion of one ofher recitals to exploring her mixed-race identity.

“Having the liberty to createprograms with a repertoire that isreective of my interest in music, but

also as a person, is exciting,” she said.Bullock strives to integrate

community activism into her music byteaching master classes to children,performing outreach concerts andraising funds for non-prots that serve

children and adolescents throughmusic education and performanceprograms. The last time she sang inSt. Louis was at a benet concert for

Ferguson, and she’s excited to performat The Sheldon, where she plans tohave a program of plenty of Americanmusic that also includes some French.

“There will be more, but I’ll justleave it at that,” she said.

Tickets to Bullock’s performanceat The Sheldon Concert Hall are $10to $25, and can be purchased online

at www.thesheldon.org. A sample ofher music can be listened to at www.youtube.com/watch?v=37EtJ0tnOA8.

Julia Bullock from page 1B