8:45am – 4:45pm: Registration at Millenium Biltmore Hotel Registration Table.
9:30am – 2:30pm: Optional Program – Private docent tour to the Getty Museum: Meet in the lobby. Lunch on your own in Getty cafeteria.
5:00pm – 5:30pm: Shuttle transportation to Music Center; pre-performance champagne in lobby.
6:00pm – 8:30 pm: World premier of Il Postino; Opening Night of 25th Anniversary of LA Opera
8:40pm – 9:15pm: Shuttle transportation return to hotel.
9:15 to 10:30pm: Welcome Reception to meet your fellow volunteers and discuss Il Postino over buffet and open bar in the historic wood-paneled Bernard Room.

7:00am – 8:00am: Enjoy a walk, jog or run in downtown LA (maps in registration packet) or take advantage of the exceptional spa, pool and exercise rooms in the hotel.
8:00am – 8:50pm: Breakfast at Regional tables; meet new Regional Coordinators, discuss regional topics.
8:30pm – 3:00pm: Silent Auction opens next to the Conference Room. Come early and bid often!
9:00pm – 9:20 pm: Presidents’ Welcome by the OVI and Opera League of Los Angeles presidents and the LA Opera President
9:20 – 10:15am: Session One:
Opera Company & Visiting Artist Needs for Volunteer Services
by two Administrators engaged in Domingo-Thornton Young Artists Program and the Chair of the Metropolitan Opera Western Regional Auditions
10:30am – 11:15am Session Two:
How Volunteers Can Meet Company and Artists Needs
by OVI Support Group presidents
11:15am – 12:15pm Session Three: Code of Conduct for Opera Volunteers
Following discussion of the Codes in use by Santa Fe Guilds and the Opera League of Los Angeles, breakout groups will meet, discuss and report back on the pros, cons and applicability to various support groups.
12:30pm to 2:00pm: Awards Luncheon: Presentations to honor OVI 2010 Achievers, General Membership meeting and special entertainment.
3:00pm – 5:00pm: Private docent tour of the LA Music Center, including Disney Hall
7:00pm – 9:00pm: Private docent tour of The Colburn School, Jascha Heifetz Studio and Recital

7:00am – 8:00am: Enjoy a walk, jog or run in downtown LA (maps in registration packet) or take advantage of the exceptional spa, pool and exercise rooms in the hotel.
8:00am – 8:50am: Breakfast by Interest Tables meet volunteers who share your passion
8:30am – 5:30pm: Review favorite Silent Auctions items and make final closing bids!
9:00am – 10:00am: Volunteer Highlights: Share your experiences, ideas and achievements. Moderated by OVI Vice-President, Outreach, Gerald Elijah
10:00 – 11:00am: Session Four: Tracking Volunteer Hours: Why and How
A panel presentation by Los Angeles and OVI representatives
11:15am – 12:30pm: Session Five: Innovative Rewards for opera volunteers
Overview by Rebecca Bowne, with OVI Breakout Group Leaders
1:30pm – 2:00pm: Meet in the lobby for the Grantors’ Circle Reception, transportation by private cars
2:00pm – 5:00pm: Grantors’ Circle Event (available to members at the Grantor level or above and their paid guests)
2:00pm – 4:00pm: Victorian High Tea and Historic Tour of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel; optional $40 for full Registrants and included with Saturday Day-only Registration
5:30pm: Auction closes. Make sure that you check your bids!
6:30 – 9:30pm: “A Night at the Opera Backstage”.
Hosted by Opera League of LA with “cast supper”, Artist Services presentations by Opera League’s expert volunteer Chairs.

Backstage tour by Rupert Hemmings, LA Opera’s Production Director and son of founding director of LA Opera.

Breakfast on your own.
2:00 pm: Optional – The Marriage of Figaro
$88, minimum 12 needed
7:00 pm: Optional – Los Angeles Master Chorale Concert
Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vigil
$60, minimum 8 needed
All Day: Departures to airport.

Josh Winograde, Artistic Planning Director for LA Opera
Nino Sanikidze, Head Coach, Domingo-Thornton Young Artists Program
Molly Siefert, Western Regional Chair, Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions

by OVI Support Group presidents
Una Creditor (Lyric Opera of Kansas City Guild),
Elisabeth Dawson (Vancouver Opera Guild),
Phyllis Driver (Knoxville Opera Guild Liaison),
Shelia McNeill (Omaha Guild)
Mary Svela (Portland Opera Guild) and
Judith Vander Heide (Utah Opera Guild)

Brief discussion of the Codes of Conduct used by Opera League of Los Angeles from Eleanor Gnup and The Guilds of Santa Fe Opera by John Webber. Breakout groups discuss pros, cons and applicability to various support groups.

Breakout group leaders:
Barbara Eckel, OVI Vice-President, Communications
Fern Grauer, Past President, OVI
Judy Lieb, President, OLLA
Rhonda Sweeney, OVI Vice-President, Membership
John Webber, OVI Newsletter and President, Guilds of Santa Fe Opera

Moderated by OVI Vice-President, Outreach, Gerald Elijah
Presentations by Support Group representatives

A panel presentation by Los Angeles and OVI representatives
OLLA—Nina Haro why and basic methods, Ed Shaff computer models
OVI—Gerald Elijah, results of OVI Member survey

Overview by Rebecca Bowne, Opera League of Los Angeles
OVI Breakout Group Leaders:

• Melody Schubert, OVI Secretary, former OLLA board member
• Julie Tadoro, Past-President, Young Patronesses of the Opera
• Fred Dear, OLLA Board member
• Sandra Bruns, a past president of OVI and BRAVO Award winner
• Walter Briggs, OVI Vice-President, Marketing

Barbara Eckel, OVI Vice-President, Communications
Bob Bernard, Artist Services
Ed Shaff
Eleanor Gnup, Opera League of Los Angeles and John Webber, The Guilds of Santa Fe Opera
Elisabeth Dawson (Vancouver Opera Guild)
Fern Grauer, Past President, OVI
Fred Dear, OLLA Board member
John Webber, OVI Newsletter and President, Guilds of Santa Fe Opera
Josh Winograde, Artistic Planning Director for LA Opera
Judith Vander Heide (Utah Opera Guild)
Judy Lieb, President, Opera League of Los Angeles
Julie Tadoro, Past-President, Young Patronesses of the Opera
Lynne Mitchell, Light Walking
Mary Svela (Portland Opera Guild)
Melody Schubert, OVI Secretary, former OLLA board member
Molly Siefert, Western Regional Chair, Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
Nina Haro
Nino Sanikidze, Head Coach, Domingo-Thornton Young Artists Program
Phyllis Driver (Knoxville Opera Guild Liaison)
Rebecca Bowne, Opera League of Los Angeles
Rhonda Sweeney, OVI Vice-President, Membership
Rupert Hemmings, Production Director, LA Opera tour leader
Sandra Bruns, a past president of OVI, and BRAVO Award winner
Shelia McNeill (Omaha Guild)
Susan Heard and Paul Lippe, Cast Dinners
Una Creditor (Lyric Opera of Kansas City Guild)
Walter Briggs, OVI Vice-President, Marketing

Optional Program: Private docent tour to the Getty Museum, presenting the Getty’s collection of western art from The Middle Ages to the present, against a backdrop of dramatic architecture, tranquil gardens and breathtaking views.
Lunch on your own in Getty cafeteria

Opening Night of 25th Anniversary of LA Opera – pre-performance champagne toast!
World premier of Il Postino
Based on the internationally popular 1994 Italian film of the same name, Il Postino stars Placido Domingo as the exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. Tenor Charles Castronovo sings the title role of Mario Ruoppolo, a shy postman who discovers poetry, and with it the courage to pursue his dreams. The superb cast also includes soprano Amanda Squitieri as the beautiful café waitress who inspires Mario’s love, Chilean soprano Cristina Gallardo-Domas as Matilde Neruda, baritone Vladimir Chernov as the postmaster and mezzo-soprano Nancy Fabiola-Herrera as Donna Rosa.

Catán’s rich, melodic score, commissioned by LA Opera, will be brought to life by director Ron Daniels, Tony Award-winning scenery and costume designer Riccardo Hernandez, lighting designer and MacArthur “Genius” Grant winner Jennifer Tipton and video artist Philip Bussmann. Grant Gershon will conduct.

Post-performance Welcome Reception to meet your fellow volunteers and discuss Il Postino over “Mama Mia” buffet and open bar in the historic wood-paneled Bernard Room.

Enjoy a walk, jog or run in downtown LA (maps in registration packet) or take advantage of the exceptional spa, pool and exercise rooms in the hotel.

Breakfast at Regional tables – meet new Regional Coordinators, discuss Regional topics

Silent Auction opens next to the Conference Room. Come early and bid often!

Presidents’ Welcome by the OVI and Opera League of Los Angeles presidents and the LA Opera President

Awards Luncheon: Presentations to honor OVI 2010 Achievers, General Membership meeting and special entertainment.

Private docent tour of the LA Music Center: including Disney Hall

Private docent tour of The Colburn School, Jascha Heifetz Studio, and Recital

Enjoy a walk, jog or run in downtown LA (maps in registration packet) or take advantage of the exceptional spa, pool and exercise rooms in the hotel..

Breakfast by Interest Tables – meet volunteers who share your passion

Grantors’ Circle Event (available to members at the Grantor level or above and their paid guests) Architectural house tour at the Pasadena Arroyo home of Carol and Warner Henry with wine and hors d’oeuvres. Carol Henry is President of the LA Opera board.

Transportation provided in private cars.

Victorian High Tea and Historic Tour of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel
Victorian High Tea includes gourmet sandwiches, freshly baked scones, assorted desserts and a pot of hot or iced tea from a wide selection of flavors.
Since opening in 1923, the Millennium Biltmore Hotel’s history encompasses everything from the golden age of Hollywood with over 700 film and TV shoots, many Academy Awards, and high profile political and social events of the 20th Century. Tour the key locations, magnificent ballrooms and places where history comes alive.

“A Night at the Opera Backstage”.
Hosted by Opera League of LA with “cast supper”, as prepared for rehearsals.

Artist Services presentations will recount the services provided visiting artists, and Light Walking (where volunteers stand in for singers during the process of setting the stage lighting) will be given by Opera League’s expert volunteer Chairs.

The Backstage Tour will be led by Rupert Hemmings, LA Opera Production Director and son of LA Opera founding General Director Peter Hemmings.

Optional: LA Opera: The Marriage of Figaro
Placido Domingo conducts this enchanting production in which Daniel Okulitch (as Figaro) outwits his master Count Almaviva (Danish baritone Bo Skovhus in his company debut). Martina Serafin is the Countess. Marils Petersen (in her company debut) will perform as Susanna. Croatian mezzo-soprano Renata Pokupic will appear as Cherubino.

From the opening notes of the overture to the final curtain, The Marriage of Figaro turns convention upside down when the wily Figaro outwits his master Count Almaviva, whose wandering eye has landed on Figaro’ bride to be, Susanna. This audience favorite delights with its lovable characters, deeply felt emotions and the powerfully moving eloquence of its glorious music.

Optional:
Los Angeles Master Chorale Concert: Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vigil
With champagne for everyone, celebrate Music Director Grant Gershon’s 10th season! Grant and the singers revisit a crowning achievement of Russian choral music, Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vigil, a stunning achievement with the 110 singers of the Master Chorale bathing Disney Hall in a capella radiance. Rachmaninoff uses the singers like cellos, flutes, French horns and bells to create a tapestry of pure vocal harmony.

Make Your Reservations at The Millennium Biltmore Hotel.

The cutoff date for the guaranteed OVI rate of $139 single or double is August 23 at 5 pm PDT. After that, reservation requests will be accepted at the hotel’s prevailing rates, subject to availability.

Be sure to request the OVI rate. Reservations can be made online at www.thebiltmore.com. To get the OVI rate, enter the group code (in drop down menu for special discounts):

1009opvolu

Note: the first four are numbers, the last six are letters, with no space between

Or call 800-245-8673 or the direct number 213-624-1011

The rate is $139 single or double, plus 14.5% taxes (good for Sept 19 through 28). More than two per room, add $30 each.

Exclusive Club Level rooms are available at $189, and offer additional amenities and access for two to the Executive Club Lounge with breakfasts and afternoon drinks with appetizers.

The Four Star Millennium Biltmore Hotel provides a full service Hotel Health Club and Fitness Center modeled after the decks of luxury 1920’s cruise ships which is open exclusively to guests on a complimentary basis. It features an imported Roman-styled tile (circa 1926), indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, dry sauna, steam room, locker rooms and a full range of weight and cardiovascular exercise equipment. A massage therapist is available at an additional fee.

Hotel Valet Parking:
$40 per day. This is not a validated expense, and would be at your full cost.

Pershing Square Garage:

• Directly across the street from the Millennium Biltmore Hotel on Olive Street
• Enter on Olive Street (one-way north, between 5th and 6th Streets OR enter on 5th Street, one-way west, between Hill and Olive Streets)
• Parking is $8.50 per day, or $17.50 overnight.