New Wave Opera to perform hERSTORy: feminist arias & ensembles at Revolution Hall’s Show Bar8/2/2025  August 1, 2025 – Portland, OR: New Wave Opera (NWO) heads to Show Bar at Revolution Hall, a community hub with a casual vibe and creative pulse, for Herstory, an evening of music inspired by the strength and brilliance of women, past and present! Audiences can enjoy a signature Show Bar cocktail, glass of wine, or pint of beer with dinner or appetizers from their mouth-watering menu while enjoying dramatic, poignant, and funny arias, art songs, and ensembles on themes of feminism, queer love, motherhood, and persistence in the face of adversity. The program highlights work by local women & LGBTQ+ composers Theresa Koon, Dianne Davies, Lisa Neher, Barbara Ulman, and Caroline Louise Miller alongside mainstay composers of vocal music Libby Larsen & William Bolcom, and Jodi Goble (winner of the 2024 National Association of Teachers of Singing Art Song Composition Award). “Modern compositions give voice to fuller, more authentic experiences of women and LGBTQ+ communities—unlike much of the standard repertoire, which often leans on outdated stereotypes,” says New Wave Opera President and Resident Mezzo Lisa Neher. “At New Wave Opera, we’re passionate about programming living composers because their work reflects the depth and diversity of real lives.” New Wave Opera will also preview selections from September’s upcoming Atoms & Artifacts production, which is a double bill of two west coast premieres: Marie Curie Learns to Swim by Jessica Rudman and Kendra Preston Leonard and Alice Tierney by Melissa Dunphy & Jacqueline Goldfinger. “Show Bar is the perfect venue to explore opera in a low-key, casual environment,” shares NWO Board Member and stage director for Alice Tierney, Brandon Michael. “If you’re a first-time attendee or opera-curious, you can engage at your own pace and you’ll be welcomed with friendly faces from the music community.” Herstory features the cast & pianists for Atoms & Artifacts, an array of Portland’s finest talent: sopranos Lindsey Rae Johnson, Henriët Fourie, Nicole Hanig, & Amanda Rose Taddeo, mezzos Lisa Neher & Alishia Garcia, tenor Scot Crandal, and baritone Dan Gibbs, with pianists Stephen Lewis & Sequoia on the keys. Audiences can get to know the performers they will see on stage in September. No registration is required for this event, just show up anytime between 8-10 pm to hear some great music and enjoy a delicious beverage, dinner, or an appetizer. To learn more about this show and more from the upcoming season, visit NEWWAVEOPERA.ORG. EVENT SUMMARYWhat: Herstory When: Saturday, August 16, 2025 | 8 pm - Late Where: Show Bar at Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark St #101 | Portland, OR 97214 Tickets: No Registration Required Cost: $10 Cover at the Door For Media Inquiries, Contact Lisa Neher, President, New Wave Opera
Herstory Performers Lindsey Rae Johnson, Henriët Fourie, Nicole Hanig, & Amanda Rose Taddeo, Sopranos Lisa Neher & Alishia Garcia, Mezzo-Sopranos Scot Crandal, Tenor Dan Gibbs, Baritone Stephen Lewis & Sequoia, Piano
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August 1, 2025, Portland, OR -- Rehearsals for New Wave Opera's fall double bill, Atoms & Artifacts are underway! This program, which will feature the west coast premieres of two 60-minute operas about the lives and perceptions of historical women, has an all-star cast of Portland vocal and instrumental talent! In Marie Curie Learns to Swim, music by Jessica Rudman and libretto by Kendra Preston Leonard, Madame Curie and her daughter and research partner Irène take a seaside vacation. Irène longs for rest and worries about the health impacts of their work with radium, but her mother's drive to continue her research is all that is on Marie's mind. In Alice Tierney, music by Melissa Dunphy, libretto by Jacqueline Goldfinger, produced through arrangement with Mormolyke Press, a team of graduate students work to unearth details of the life of an 1800s murder victim. Each researcher posits a theory, but where is their evidence? Are they letting their own life experiences color their ideas about who Alice was?
Atoms & Artifacts runs September 19-21 at the Mago Hunt Center in Portland, Oregon. Tickets are on sale now! Atoms & Artifacts is generously supported by the University of Portland, Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC), the Multnomah County Cultural Coalition (MCCC), the Oregon Cultural Trust (OCT), the Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation, and the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation.  July 25, 2026, Portland, OR -- New Wave Opera raises over $1300 in our summer Silent Auction, thanks to the generosity of our community! The funds will support NWO's fall production, Atoms & Artifacts.
"Thank you to everyone who placed a bid on our auction," says New Wave Opera President Lisa Neher. "These funds pay for essential personnel and supplies that bring these operas to life, including: singers, instrumentalists, and artistic staff, costumes, props, & set elements, and score purchases and royalty payments to our living composers & librettists. We cannot make this art happen without you!" "Congratulations to the winners of these amazing packages and experiences," adds Vice-President Lindsey Rae Johnson. "New Wave Opera was fortunate enough to be supported by 20 local organizations and individuals who donated everything from concert tickets to handcrafted quilts to wine tastings and more. We truly feel the support of the Willamette Valley Community!" A HUGE thank you to our Silent Auction Donors: Bottle & Bottega Portland Cappella Romana Choral Arts Ensemble of Portland Delgani String Quartet Helium Comedy Club - Portland Helvetia Vineyards and Winery KingPins Portland Lisa Neher Live Wire Radio Lolati Wines Michaeleen Neher The Oaks Amusement Park Oregon Historical Society Oregon Repertory Singers Oregon Symphony Vanguard Brewing Yo' Daddy's Soap Company ¿Por Qué No? Taqueria July 10, 2025, Portland, OR - 20 Local Arts & Entertainment organizations have come together in support of New Wave Opera! On Thursday, July 10 through Sunday July 20, New Wave Opera will be holding an online auction in support of our fall mainstage production Atoms & Artifacts – all featuring items from local arts & entertainment organizations, restaurants, individual artists, and more! Concert tickets for sure-to-sell-out shows, beautiful handmade goods, family-friendly experiences, and several **mystery prizes** are on offer.
Not sure what you want? Check out our mystery bundles for something special we’ve set aside! A HUGE Thank You to our Summer 2025 Silent Auction Donors: June 13, 2025 - Portland, OR - Join New Wave Opera for our annual outdoor concert & fundraiser: Summer Splash! This all-ages backyard concert features tuneful opera arias, duets, and art songs by living composers, some of whom live in your own backyard! Hosted by renowned Portland Soprano and Voice Teacher Susan McBerry at her Periwinkle Studio, enjoy snacks & drinks of the adult & child-friendly variety while being entertained by NWO’s all-star cast! Last year’s event was standing room only, so save your seats now! The performance will feature exclusive previews of our September double bill of Marie Curie Learns to Swim by Jessica Rudman & Kendra Preston Leonard, sung by mezzo-soprano Alishia Garcia, who will play Young Marie Curie; and Alice Tierney by Melissa Dunphy & Jacqueline Goldfinger, sung by mezzo-soprano Lisa Neher, who will play archeologist Zandra, and soprano Lindsey Rae Johnson, who will play Alice 2. Audience favorite Stephen Lewis returns to the New Wave Opera stage to play piano. In addition, audiences will enjoy uplifting and tuneful music by Portland's own Carolyn Quick & Lisa Neher and nationally recognized composers Monica Chew, Danielle Jagelksi, Emerson Eads, Libby Larsen, Jake Heggie, Jodi Goble, and Michael Ching and poetry by Carolyn Quick, Sarah Teasdale, Caitlin Vincent, Philip Littell, & Robert Creeley. "Our summer & fall 2025 season especially emphasizes the contributions of women composers," says New Wave Opera President Lisa Neher. "We are particularly excited to program music of local rockstar composers Carolyn Quick & Danielle Jagelski, paired with leading composers of the generation before such as Libby Larsen and Jake Heggie. With topics ranging from the sleepless nights of a new mother to a jazzy retelling of Eve's temptation in the Garden of Eden, there is something for everyone on this program!" To learn more about the artists on this program, click on the images above. Food & drinks of the adult and child-friendly variety will be served. Seating is limited, reserve your seats in advance by visiting our RSVP Page. To learn more about this show and more from the upcoming season, visit NEWWAVEOPERA.ORG. *What drives an archeologist to spend days and days digging in the dirt? *How does a chemist push through illness and professional obstacles to make world changing discoveries? *And just what *is* a siren to do when her sisters eat her boyfriend for dinner? Find out at Summer Splash! Join New Wave Opera for Summer Splash!WHAT: Summer Splash Outdoor Concert & Fundraiser with food & drinks for all!
WHEN: Saturday July 12, 7:30-8:45 pm. Doors Open at 7:00 pm WHERE: Backyard Concert in Sellwood-Moreland Neighborhood, address provided upon registration TICKETS: Reserve Your Seats in Advance, Seating is Limited! COST: Suggested $35 donation, payable when you reserve your seats or at the door  NWO Artists Timothy Lafolette, Lindsey Rae Johnson, Jena Slater, and Stephen Lewis backstage at the Reser Center June 8, 2025, Beaverton, OR - New Wave Opera shines with entertaining and light-hearted operatic excerpts at the Patricia Reser Center's Shine the Light!
On Saturday, June 7, NWO performed audience favorites from contemporary operas for an audience of families of all ages. The performance, part of the Reser Centers Shine the Light Community Celebration, shared excerpts of Pepito (Nicolás Lell Benavides & Marella Martin Koch), in which a lonely shelter dog finally finds a forever home with Camilla, Meow & Forever, (Jodi Goble & Basil Considine), in which two bored cats lament the struggles of their life, and a preview of New Wave Opera's fall performance of Marie Curie Learns to Swim (Jessica Rudman & Kendra Preston Leonard), in which Madame Curie's daughter Irene wonders how to tell her mother about her growing concerns about the radium in their research. Plus, the artists performed NWO resident composer Lisa Neher's How Doth the Little Crocodile? a sly and playful setting of Lewis Carroll about a crocodile that lures fish into its smiling jaws! The music was brought to life by New Wave Opera board members and resident artists Lindsey Rae Johnson, soprano, and Stephen Lewis, piano, joined by guest artists Timothy Lafolette, baritone, and Jena Slater, mezzo-soprano. Over 600 people attended the Shine the Light at the Beaverton, Oregon Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, enjoying New Wave Opera's performance alongside music, theater, and dance performances! Thank you to the Patricia Reser Center for hosting us! April 28, 2025 - Portland, OR - New Wave Opera announces their summer and fall 2025 season of female-forward programming, including the west coast premieres of operas written by women about how women are perceived in history.  Coming up first: NWO’s annual SUMMER SPLASH outdoor concert and fundraiser on July 12 at 7:30 pm. Hosted by renowned soprano and voice teacher Susan McBerry in a causal backyard venue, this all-ages concert features opera arias and duets, accompanied by delicious food & drinks. The performance will include previews of our fall production as well as selections by local composers such as Carolyn Quick. Hosted in a cozy West Moreland neighborhood, last year’s event was standing room only, so don’t delay—reserve those seats!
Next, New Wave Opera returns to Portland’s classical music hotspot, Mendelssohns, for HERSTORY, an evening of music inspired by the strength and brilliance of women, past and present! This female-forward program shares excerpts from our fall double bill Atoms & Artifacts by members of the cast, including sopranos Henriët Fourie & Lindsey Johnson and mezzos Lisa Neher & Alishia Garcia. Our fall mainstage show, ATOMS & ARTIFACTS, is an exploration of the perceptions and experiences of historical women. This production features the west coast premieres of two 60-minute operas: Marie Curie Learns to Swim by Jessica Rudman & Kendra Preston Leonard and Alice Tierney by Melissa Dunphy & Jacqueline Goldfinger. The production will take place at the Mago Hunt Recital Hall on the University of Portland Campus. In Marie Curie Learns to Swim, famous scientist Madame Curie and her daughter and research partner Irène take a vacation to the sea. Irène longs for rest, internally struggling with her fears about the radium they are using in their research, while Marie feels the urgency to return to her lab and continue her groundbreaking scientific discoveries. New Wave Opera is proud to perform Marie Curie Learns to Swim in its complete orchestration with chamber ensemble, conducted by Dr. Stephen Lewis! This will be our first production with chamber ensemble and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share the expressive and evocative colors of Rudman’s orchestration with you. In Alice Tierney (Winner, 2020 OPERA America Discovery Grant), a team of archeology graduate students excavate the home of 1800's murder victim Alice Tierney. With little evidence to go on, each posits their own theory about who Alice was, and through the magic of opera, their versions of Alice come to life on the stage. But who was the real Alice? How do we sort out fact from fiction? How do our own experiences color the narratives we impose on history?
ATOMS & ARTIFACTS is generously sponsored by the University of Portland, Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC), Multnomah County Cultural Coalition (MCCC), and the Oregon Cultural Trust (OCT). Mark your calendars for Summer Splash, Herstory, and Atoms & Artifacts! We look forward to seeing you at the opera!  From L to R (back row): Pianist Susan McDaniel, sopranos Henriet Fourie, Gina Adorno, Lindsey Rae Johnson, mezzo Lisa Neher, director Jeffrey Puukka (front row): tenor Timothy Lafolette, soprano Dru Rutledge New Wave Opera was just featured on beloved program, THURSDAYS @ THREE with Christa Wessel on All Classical Radio this afternoon! Performers Lisa Neher, Lindsey Rae Johnson, Gina Adorno, Henriet Fourie, Dru Rutledge, Timothy Lafolette, pianist Susan McDaniel, and director Jeffrey Puukka shared excerpts & insights from our upcoming double bill: WAGS & WHISKERS for a live studio audience, broadcast live to over 5,000 listeners across the region. For those who missed the broadcast, you can hear a recording of New Wave Opera artists on the All Classical Radio archive at the link here (view episode for January 9th) starting in the second half-hour. The broadcast also included a shoutout for our upcoming night of animal-themed music at Mendelssohns (O-PAW-RA NIGHT), highlighted our wonderful partnership with Oregon Humane Society, and even shouted our fun set of social media posts featuring pets from the cast & crew. We're so grateful to All Classical for having us on the air - we can't wait to see our Portland friends at these upcoming events! New Wave Opera WAGS & WHISKERS cast pets! New Wave Opera will partner with Oregon Humane Society on upcoming production  DECEMBER 30, 2024 – (Portland, OR) – New Wave Opera (NWO) announces an exciting new partnership with the Oregon Humane Society to support animals in the Portland area. The partnership is presented through NWO’s upcoming production, Wags & Whiskers, on January 18th and 19th at University of Portland. “As a brand new opera company, it means the world to us to partner with such a long-standing pillar in Portland” shares NWO President Lisa Neher. “We are proud to be raising both awareness of and funds for their work.”
“We are so grateful to New Wave Opera for their support of animals and our work in the community,” says Tricia Willett, Oregon Humane Society Events Coordinator. “OHS relies on donations to support our lifesaving work including pet adoption, veterinary care, behavior and training, and humane law enforcement.”
HOW TO DONATE ITEMS TO OREGON HUMANE SOCIETY In general, OHS can accept most brand new or gently used pet items, such as new and open pet food (in original packaging only), leashes and collars, bowls, toys, clean litter boxes, and more. For a full list of needs, please visit our Amazon Wishlist. You can bring items with you to the opera, or purchase from the wishlist directly. If you have questions about a potential donation, please reach out to [email protected]. ABOUT WAGS & WHISKERS
ABOUT OREGON HUMANE SOCIETY |
| Oregon Humane Society is the largest animal welfare organization in the Northwest, with campuses in Salem and Portland, including a new Community Veterinary Hospital. OHS offers a wide variety of services from pet adoption, training, humane law enforcement, veterinary care, humane education, and disaster response. Founded in 1868 by noted humanitarian Thomas Lamb Eliot, Oregon Humane Society is one of the oldest and most respected animal welfare organizations in the United States. With campuses in Portland and Salem, we are working toward our vision of a world where all animals are treated with compassion, kindness, and respect. OHS puts no time limits on how long animals remain at the shelter—a pet stays available for adoption as long as needed to find a loving home. If a pet in our care needs medical attention, the medical team provides that pet with the same level of care you would want your own pet to receive. |  |
Visit OREGONHUMANE.ORG for more information.
DECEMBER 23, 2024 – (Portland, OR) – New Wave Opera’s next event will present an absolute menagerie of contemporary music for piano & operatic treble-makers. This animal-inspired set of music includes crocodiles, cats, snakes, birds, and even a hippo!
“We are thrilled to perform such a wide array of music about animals,” says NWO President & Resident Mezzo-Soprano, Lisa Neher. “While some of the works are surprisingly moving and insightful, there is a ton of funny and playful music as well.”
“We are thrilled to perform such a wide array of music about animals,” says NWO President & Resident Mezzo-Soprano, Lisa Neher. “While some of the works are surprisingly moving and insightful, there is a ton of funny and playful music as well.”
| Attendees can enjoy a punderfully-delicious Mendelssohns cocktail while hearing an eclectic variety of dramatic works for voice and piano. The performance will feature selections by Melissa Dunphy & Nikita Gill, Jake Heggie, Thea Musgrave, Portland's own Lisa Neher, Drew Swatosh, and Dianne Davies, and more. New Wave Opera will also preview select works from January’s upcoming Wags & Whiskers production (Pepito by Nicolás Lell Benavides & Marella Martin Koch and Meow and Forever by Jodi Goble & Basil Considine). “Mendelssohns is a great venue, especially for first-time attendees,” shares NWO Resident Soprano, Lindsey Rae Johnson. ”The more casual atmosphere lets you engage at your own pace, and there are friendly faces from the music community. It’s always a wonderful time at Mendelssohns!” |  |
Featured performers include sopranos Lindsey Rae Johnson and Henriët Fourie, mezzo Lisa Neher, and pianist Susan McDaniel. Special guest composer-pianist Dianne Davies will complete the evening, with performances of her original works Haven and My Father’s Voice.
To read more about the night's featured artists, click on any of the images above. $10 cover charge at the door, no registration required. To learn more about this show and more from the upcoming season, visit NEWWAVEOPERA.ORG.
 | Join us at the O-PAW-RA! WHAT: O-PAW-RA NIGHT @MENDELSSOHNS WHEN: Saturday, January 11, 2025 | 8 PM to late WHERE: Mendelssohns Bar | 3955 N Mississippi Ave | Portland, OR | 97227 TICKETS: No registration required COST: $10 cover charge at the door |
