Creative OPERAtions, in collaboration with the Monmouth County Parks System, is excited to present American Classics: Weill, Gershwin & Bernstein in Concert, as part of the Summer Concert Series at Thompson Park. This free concert will take place on Saturday, August 23rd at 7:00 PM at the Theater Barn in Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Rd, Lincroft, NJ.
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This event celebrates the enduring legacies of Kurt Weill, George Gershwin, and Leonard Bernstein, three composers whose works have defined American music. Their contributions span opera, classical music, musical theater, and popular songs, influencing generations of musicians.The performance will feature a mix of beloved favorites and hidden gems from their iconic repertoires. This free concert
is open to all members of the public.
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If you're interested in learning more about these iconic composers, check out our podcast episode featuring opera director and General Director of Bronx Opera, Benjamin Spierman, where we talk about opera, accessibility, and the music of Weill, Gershwin, and Bernstein.
Our Performers
Rebecca Eng, piano
Rebecca Eng, pianist and teacher, studied at Wheaton Conservatory of Music (BM) and Eastman School of Music (MM) where she was awarded the Performer’s Certificate. After two decades of performing at Montclair State University as a collaborative pianist, she worked with The Opera Theatre of Montclair for seven years as the pianist and Assistant General Director. She now performs as a freelance accompanist in the New York metropolitan area and teaches piano privately. Rebecca also serves on the boards of the Music Educators Association of New Jersey and the New Jersey Federation of Music Clubs.
Eliam Ramos, bass-baritone
Eliam Ramos is a Puerto Rican singer with a rich bass-baritone voice who has performed opera and concert works with companies in the United States, Spain, Israel, Puerto Rico and Mexico. His artistic engagements range from traditional opera and symphonic concerts, to zarzuelas and modern compositions. The Metropolitan Opera Guild featured Mr. Ramos in their Verdi’s Baritones Serie in their 2022-2023 season in which he also made his Carnegie Hall Debut with Clif Hardin’s Requiem.
Mr. Ramos engagements for 2024-2025 include Alfio from Cavalleria Rusticana with Regina Opera, Bach’s Cantata No. 33 with Bach in Baltimore, the Doctor in the world premiere of The Extinctionist with Heartbeat Opera, Hayden’s Lord Nelson Mass with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, various roles with the American Opera Project’s Opera Lab, the role of Cascada and the cover of Baron Zeta in Lehar’s Die Lustige Witwe (Merry Widow) with Geneva Light Opera, Pap (Fannie Lou Hammer’s husband) in the world premier of Is This America with White Snake Projects, Scarpia in Tosca and Silvio in I Pagliacci both with Regina Opera and Bach’s Cantata 82 with Bach in Baltimore, soloist in the world premier of Paul Aiken’s Missa Pro Terra at Carnegie Hall, Beethoven’s 9th with the New Britain Symphony Society, Dumas in Rossini Perduto with the Long Island Concert Orchestra, Dulcamara in L'Elisir D'Amore with Boston's Bar Harbor Festival, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro with Soo Theatre Projects well as different concert in the NYC area.
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For more information please visit: www.eliamramos.com
Corinne Schaefer, soprano
Soprano Corinne Schaefer is celebrated for her versatility and compelling performances across opera, concert, and musical theater stages. She portrayed Carlotta in The Phantom of the Opera at Stage Theater Neue Flora in Hamburg, performing the role 114 times. Her operatic repertoire spans a wide range of iconic roles, including The Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte), Beth in the European premiere of Little Women (Brugge, Belgium), Olympia (Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel), Nanetta (Falstaff), Musetta (La Bohème), Clotilde (Norma), and Norina (Don Pasquale).
As a highly sought-after concert soloist, Corinne has performed with renowned ensembles that include the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Polizeichor Hamburg, and Bucks County Symphony, with performances across Germany, Austria, Italy, and the U.S.
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Corinne’s accolades include 1st prize in Haßloch Meisterkurs La Primavera, 2nd place in the National Opera Association Vocal Competition, and encouragement awards from the Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation, Palm Beach Opera, and Opera at Florham. She was also a finalist in the Liederkranz and Belvedere International Singing Competitions.
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A passionate advocate for accessibility in the arts, Corinne is the Founder and Artistic Director of Creative OPERAtions, a New Jersey-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that bridges classical music with communities with limited access to these art forms. She also serves as a teacher and adjudicator for the New Jersey Teen Arts Program and recently participated in the 2024 Eastman Leadership Bootcamp. Corinne is a member of Opera America and the National Opera Association.
Corinne holds a BM in Vocal Performance from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and is an alumna of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.
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For more information please visit: www.corinne-schaefer.com
Edward Washington II, tenor
American tenor Edward Washington II was born in England and raised in Saudi Arabia. He is celebrated for his compelling tenor voice, lightning-fast coloratura, and unwavering dedication to the art form.
Mr. Washington has performed with Detroit Opera, Opera Omaha, Florida Grand Opera, Lyric Opera, Opera Orlando, Annapolis Opera, the International Festival of the Voice, Syracuse Opera, New York City Opera, and The Metropolitan Opera—earning three Grammy nominations and two Grammy wins.
His concert career includes appearances with the United States Air Force Band, Alexandria Symphony, Wheeling Symphony, Britain’s Got Talent finalist group Vox Ventura, New Philharmonic Chorus, and the American Spiritual Ensemble, among others. He has performed works by seven American composers, including numerous spirituals, art songs, one cantata, two song cycles, and two operas. Recently, he was featured as a soloist in Solange Knowles’ curated El Dorado Ballroom at Jones Hall in Houston, Texas.
A brother of Phi Mu Alpha and an accomplished clarinetist, Edward has conducted choirs, musical theater, and opera professionally. He also served as Music and Education Director of the nonprofit Negro Spiritual Scholarship Foundation. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Stetson University and his Master’s degree from Morgan State University, graduating with a 4.0 GPA.
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For more information please visit: www.edward2know.com
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