The Richard Wagner Society of the Upper Midwest

Music in Action Program

The Richard Wagner Society of the Upper Midwest conceived the Music in Action program in June, 2020. The program had two phases, described below.

2020-21 Program

The objective of the 2020-21 Music in Action program was “to provide financial support for local musicians while addressing the greater need for hope, healing, and community exposed by the killing of George Floyd.” The program provided musicians with the funds needed to create pre-recorded vocal performances.

Performances were premiered online with video hosting provided by RWSUM. You can view these premiere and talkback sessions on the RWSUM YouTube channel.

Our first performance, featuring mezzo-soprano Victoria Vargas and pianist Eric McEnany, premiered March 12, 2021. Victoria is a local mezzo-soprano and a frequent performer with the Minnesota Opera. She identifies as Hispanic, female, and queer. Victoria's recital featured female, LGBTQIA+ and Hispanic composers including Ricky Ian Gordon, Paola Prestini, Kristian S. Rodriguez, and Kala Pierson. These selections express various aspects of Victoria's individuality, as well as her connections to other members of these communities. In addition to premiering the recital via RWSUM's Music in Action program, Victoria gifted her recital to OutFront Minnesota to benefit fundraising efforts for their youth group.

Our second performance, featuring baritone Mark Billy, soprano Alexandra Razskazoff, and pianist Lara Bolton, premiered May 14, 2021. Mark is a Twin Cities-based baritone. He, too, has often performed with the Minnesota Opera. Mark identifies as a Native person of color (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) and a member of the LGBTQ+ community. According to Mark, "Operatic plots are prevalent with the brutality of anger and unaddressed mental health crises, which are mirrored in our current news and events." He used his grant funds to create a recital of "pieces of music of true (and largely untold) stories of the brutality against Native and LGBTQ+ people." His selections will include a variety of appropriate opera arias and Choctaw hymns which depict hope and healing.

By the following measures, Music in Action was a great success:

• Our grant recipients and their collaborators produced exceptional, innovative, and very personally relevant musical performances.
• The record-setting online audiences who attended the premiere and talkback events expressed their satisfaction with our artists' performances and their gratitude for the Music in Action program.
• Support for continuing the program in 2021-22 greatly exceeded our expectations: Over 70% were either “likely” or “very likely” to contribute to a 2021-22 Music in Action grant fund to support local musicians as we emerge from the pandemic.

2021-23 Program

While the immediate shock of the George Floyd tragedy had subsided, we still lived in turbulent times and emerging artists still needed our support. We updated the Music in Action program objectives accordingly:

• Support emerging vocalists with grant funding and audience exposure as they develop their careers.
• Bring an understanding and appreciation of Richard Wagner’s art to a broader audience.
• Encourage the performance of operatic and art song pieces from any era that speak to current social, political and/or cultural issues.
• Celebrate inclusiveness through program and performer selection.

Three grantees were selected in late 2021. Their performances were originally planned for 2022, but were delayed to 2023 due primarily to the untimely passing of Michael Ruppert, RWSUM President and Music in Action Program Coordinator.

The grantees and their performances are:

• Siena Forest, pre-recorded and premiered online on Saturday January 28, 2023. Event details here.
• Megan Wagner Floan, live at Ultan Hall, U of M School of Music on Tuesday Feb 21, 2023. Event details here.
• Sahar Hassan, pre-recorded and premiered online on Saturday April 1, 2023. Event details here.

Recordings of all performances can be viewed on our YouTube channel.

Thank You, Donors!

Matching Fund Contributors

Renate Sharp and Don Notvik, Music in Action Founding Sponsors, In Honor of Dr. David Cline

Meg & Steve Blake

Dr. David Cline

Jim Richardson & Dorothy Horns

Michael J Ruppert, in Honor of Jim Richardson

Jerry Swenson

Members and Friends

Betty Andrews

Anonymous, in Honor of Dr. David Cline

Anonymous, in Honor of Hans Hotter

Anonymous, in Honor of Michael Ruppert

James Ashe

Mark Campbell

Brad Clark

Vicky Cook

Tim Counts

Jeremy Geaga

Marylee Guerrero

Rick Johnson

David Mayo

Michelle Ruppert

Laura Turner

Hilan Warshaw

Kevin Winge, in Honor of Michael Ruppert

P. Hauoli’ipo Wright

Plus Four Additional Anonymous Donors