AJ Wester -Director
Main Stage Directing
Opera
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Tosca (The St. Petersburg Opera, February 2013)
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The Magic Flute (The Bay View Music Festival, July 2010)
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La Traviata (The St. Petersburg Opera, June 2009)
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Roméo et Juliette (Opera Company of Brooklyn, May 2007)
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Così fan Tutte (Intimate Opera, May 2006)
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La Traviata (Intimate Opera, June 2005)
Musical Theater
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Once Upon a Mattress (Merit School of Music 2018)
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Into The Woods (Merit School of Music 2017)
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Urinetown (After School Matters 2015)
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Oklahoma (After School Matters, 2014)
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Ragtime (After School Matters, Summer 2013)
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Once on this Island (Chicago High School for the Arts, Spring 2012)
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A Little Night Music (The St. Petersburg Opera, September 2010)
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Into the Woods (The St. Petersburg Opera, September 2009)
Operetta
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Patience (Savoyaires, September 2012)
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Trial by Jury, The Zoo Eyes, and No Eyes (Savoyaires, September 2011)
Directing: Educational Opera/ Children’s Theater
Director/Choreographer
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Stone Soup (Lyric Opera of Chicago OperaKids,May 2011)
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Into the Woods Jr. (Chicago Opera Theater- COT for Teens, April 2009)
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Pirates of Penzance (Chicago Opera Theater- COT for Teens, April 2008)
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Alice in Wonderland (Chicago Opera Theater- COT for Teens April 2007)
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Beauty and the Beast Jr (Light Opera Works Music Theatre Camp, July 2009)
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The Music Man, Jr. (Light Opera Works Music Theatre Camp, July 2009)
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Bye Bye Birdie Jr. (Light Opera Works Music Theatre Camp, July 2009)
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The Wizard of Oz (Light Opera Works Music Theatre Camp, July 2008)
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Willy Wonka Jr. (Light Opera Works Music Theatre Camp, July 2008)
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The Pirates of Penzance (Light Opera Works Music Theatre Camp, July 2008)
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Guys and Dolls (Light Opera Works Music Theatre Camp, July 2008)
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Annie Jr. (Light Opera Works Music Theatre Camp, July 2007)
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Fiddler on the Roof Jr. (Light Opera Works Music Theatre Camp, July 2007)
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Mikado (Abridged) (Light Opera Works Music Theatre Camp, July 2007)
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Oklahoma Jr. (Light Opera Works Music Theatre Camp, July 2006)
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H.M.S Pinafore (Abridged) (Light Opera Works Music Theatre Camp, July 2006)
Director/ Writer
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The Flowering Tree (Chicago Opera Theater - Opera for All, Spring 2008)
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La Clemenza di Mozart (Chicago Opera Theater - Opera for All, Spring 2009)
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Opera Wind-Free Show (Chicago Opera Theater - COT 4 Teens, December 2006)
Assistant Directing and Production
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La Traviata -Dir. Andrew Sinclair (San Diego Opera, April 2010)
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Nabucco -Dir. Lotfi Mansouri (San Diego Opera, February 2010)
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La Bohème -Dir. E. Loren Meeker (San Diego Opera, January 2010)
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La Bohème -Dir. Michael Ehrman (Indianapolis Opera, November 2009)
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Regina -Dir. Michael Scarola (Utah Opera, January 2009)
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Orlando -Dir. Justin Way (Chicago Opera Theater, May 2008)
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Così Fan Tutte- Dir. Michael Ehrman (Intermezzo Opera, August 2004)
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Albert Herring -Dir. Michael Ehrman (Intermezzo Opera, August 2004)
Teaching
The Chicago High School of the Arts (ChiArts High School)(September 2010 to Present)
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Classical Voice
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Music Theater Voice
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Professional Development (both for Classical and Musical Theatre)
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Theory for Dancers
Merit School of Music and Lyric Opera of Chicago (March 2011 to Present)
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Stage Director of the Opera/ Music Theater Ensemble
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Acting and Movement for the Musical Stage
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Vocal Techniques
(Part of the new Renée Fleming Initiative Vocal Partnerships: a joint venture between
Lyric Opera Chicago And Merit School of Music)
Lyric Opera of Chicago (January 2011 to Present)
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Lyric OperaKids Teaching Artist
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Explore Opera Teaching Artist
The Bay View Music Festival, Bay View, MI (Summer 2010)
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Acting and Movement Teacher
Chicago Opera Theater (Fall 2006 to Fall 2009)
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Chicago Opera Theater for Teens - Stage Director/Voice Teacher/Acting Teacher
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Opera for All - Teaching Artist
Roosevelt University (Fall 2007 to Spring 2009)
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Opera Scenes and Role Preparation Classes (Adjunct Faculty)
DePaul University-Community Music Division (Fall 2004 to Summer 2009)
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Director of Musical Theatre Workshop
Light Opera Works – Summer Musical Theater Workshop (Summer 2006, 2007,2008, 2009)
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Stage Director
Education
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M.M. Vocal Performance: DePaul University B.M. Vocal Performance: Roosevelt University
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Acting: Wesley Balk, Peter Amster, Graham Cozzubbo, Seth Reines, and Harry Silverstein
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Directing: Seth Reines Extended Voice: Richard Armstrong (Roy Hart Theatre)
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Voice: Theresa Brancaccio, Karen Brunnsen, Jane Bunnell, Susanne Mentzer
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Improvisation: Player’s Workshop of Second City Dance: Lou Conte Dance Studio
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Movement: Kelly Arnsby, Barbara Howse-Meadows, Actor’s Gymnasium
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Languages: German (Relatively fluent), Italian and Spanish (Read, Comprehend, Some Conversation), French (Read)
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Utah Opera (Studio-Artist Ensemble Program): Spring 2003 (Christopher McBeth-Director)
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Intermezzo Young Artist Program: Summer 2001 (Mitch Piper and Connie Barnett-Artistic Directors)
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Bel Canto Institute: Summer 2000 (Jane Klaviter – Artistic Director)
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Wesley Balk Opera/Music-Theater Institute: Summer 1999 (Ben Krywosz – Artistic Director)
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Banff Centre for the Arts: Dramatic Integration 1997 (Keith Turnbull- Artistic Director, Graham Cozzubo – Program Director, Marie-France Lefebvre- Music Director)