Arias in Newton returns March 9 for second concert

The Third Annual Arias in Newton concert is planned for 4 p.m. Sunday, March 9, at the First Presbyterian Church, 220 N. Second Ave. E. in Newton.

The concert is part of the programming for the Newton Chapter of Des Moines Metro Opera’s Guild Chapters and will consist of arias and ensemble pieces performed by the OPERA Iowa Educational Touring Troupe, a five-singer troupe of young professional artists selected from more than 1,000 national auditions that acts as the educational arm of Des Moines Metro Opera.

The troupe is currently in the middle of a 10-week tour around the state and parts of Missouri performing in schools and community concert venues. Arias in Newton is part of the performance schedule and will perform selections from opera and musical theater. Selections from Mozart, Donizetti and other luminaries of the operatic repertory and will sing highlights from some of opera’s most popular pieces like The Magic Flute and Carmen as well as highlights from the Broadway stage. General tickets are $15, $10 for guild members and $5 for students. Proceeds go to support the Newton Guild.

The Des Moines Metro Opera, founded in 1973, is an independent, non-profit, professional opera company dedicated to bringing world-class opera productions and vital performing arts education to central Iowa. In addition to providing mainstage productions, Des Moines Metro Opera is responsible for OPERA Iowa Educational Touring Troupe, which brings opera to classrooms across Iowa and to nearly 24,000 students; OPERAtion Opera Community Outreach Program, which works with more than 30 human service agencies to provide opera to underserved and at-risk audiences; the Apprentice Artist Program, one of the largest singer-training programs in the country; and two new programs, The Design and Production Internship Program, a training program for students within the theater arts who wish to expand experience and gain the skills necessary for a successful professional career, and the Raising Voices —  Rising Stars program, which gives high school musicians the opportunity to explore career opportunities from the rare vantage point within a professional opera company.

The Lauridsen Family Endowment is the 2014 Season presenting sponsor, which runs from June 27 through July 20 at the Blank Performing Arts Center in Indianola. Featured will be Verdi’s La Traviata, Heggie’s Dead Man Walking and Rossini’s Le Comte Ory.

More information is available at www.desmoinesmetroopera.org.