Beginning on Aug. 12, Berks Opera Company will present Giuseppe Verdi's Otello, featuring Metropolitan Opera soprano Jennifer Check as Desdemona, Michael Morrow as Otello and Joshua Jeremiah as Iago. Metropolitan Opera baritone, John Darrenkamp makes a special appearance along with Jennifer Brown Laubach, Frederick Schlick, Thomas Killourhy and Christopher J. Hartung. The Berks Opera Company orchestra and chorus, conducted by Christopher Cinquini, round out the performance.
With the performance coming up, we connected with Chris to see just what inspires him. Here’s what he had to say:
What does inspiration mean to you?
Chris: It's simply encouraging others to do something. Positive, negative - it's interesting how it can occur in some of the most unlikely situations too. I think many times people are inspired by watching others work hard - especially when it benefits other people or their community.
How do you put that into practice in Berks County?
Chris: Teaching - it's all for the kids! I strive to give the students as many "real-life" educational opportunities that I can. The students we bring in to sit among professionals in the Berks Opera Company's orchestra are some of the best in the state. I have always pushed my students in school with challenging music, and I like to think I hold them all to high standards, too!
Who in Berks County inspires you?
Chris: It's tough to single any one person in particular out. I am certainly among some of the best educators and musicians here in Berks County - especially in Boyertown. The other music teachers I work with in Boyertown are constantly striving to give the students the best opportunities and education that they can. Their hard work, creativity, and talent - all of which is given for the kids - constantly inspires me to be better too. It's one of the most cohesive music departments (top to bottom) that you can find.
One of my favorite things we do as a string department in the county is hold a festival for 6th graders. The kids have so much enthusiasm and it's incredible to see the other string teachers in the county work with them. They are all so patient and supportive and know how to connect with the kids so well.
With groups such as Berks Opera, I'm constantly amazed by how much Francine and Tammy Black have put into this organization and how much it has grown over the past decade. I think about all of the great musical opportunities the students in this area have too - groups like the RSYO, RSJSO, Berks County festivals through MEBC, PMEA festivals, and more! It's such a wonderful area to be a part of and I'm so thankful every day to have the chance to work with such great kids here.
What do you want your legacy to be?
Chris: I'm always trying to make a positive difference in people's lives. There are so many issues facing our world today, but if I can make things better for even just one person, maybe give them opportunities they didn't have before or inspire them to do things they never dreamed of - then I'll know I've been successful. I have so many teachers and mentors that have helped me get to where I am today, and it's important that I can give back to this great community as much as possible!
Otello performance info:
Friday, Aug. 12, 7pm and Sunday, Aug. 14, 3pm
Miller Center for the Arts at RACC, Reading
Box Office Hours M, W, F: 10am-3pm
Call 610.607.6270 or order online:
racc.edu/MillerCenter/events.aspx
Christopher Cinquini consistently brings to the stage a performance high in energy, passion and expressiveness. An active educator, he is currently the Director of Orchestras and music department leader at Boyertown Area Senior High School– a community that has regularly been named to NAMM’s national list of “Best Communities for Music Education.” Cinquini has performed regularly with the Berks Opera Company in Reading, since coming to the area in 2011, both as a violinist and associate conductor. In 2015 he was named Principal Conductor for the opera company's acclaimed production of Gounod's Faust - a production which received The Reading Eagle's "2015 Newsmaker of the Year" award. After a competitive search in early 2016, Christopher Cinquini was named to be the newest conductor of the Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra for their 28th season.
