Opera Vista

Opera Vista is an innovative contemporary opera company based in Houston, Texas. The organization sponsors a festival of contemporary opera in the early summer annually in Houston. In addition to performances of modern works, the festival includes the Vista Competition for aspiring opera composers. The competition gives the audience a chance to hear selections from new operas and ultimately vote to determine the competition’s winner. In Opera Vista’s short history, the company has performed several full operas, including a performance at Houston’s historic Bayou Bend. They also offer cabaret-style performances at Cafe Brasil in the Montrose neighborhood and other special events.

Opera Vista website
Houston Chronicle article and review
Houston Press review
Houston Public Radio Feature

Every Man Heart Lay Down

Every Man Heart Lay Down is a multidisciplinary Christmas musical co-created by choreographer Sandra Organ Solis, musician Daniel Buchanan, and visual artist Karen Capper, based on a children’s book of the same title by Lorenz Graham. The original book is a retelling of the Christmas story in an African context and written in the Liberian dialect. The new musical incorporates modern dance and Buchanan’s original music, as well as indigenous music of Africa and other parts of the world. The work was first performed by a multi-generational, multi-ethnic cast at City of Refuge Church in Houston, Texas.

Pictures of the debut production

Shamwari Arts Project Africa

The Shamwari Arts Project is a team of performing and visual artists dedicated to investing in the lives of African children using the arts. “Shamwari” is the Shona (Zimbabwean language) word for friends. This team of Christian artists traveled to South Africa and Zimbabwe in January 2008 to work with impoverished children in Bloekombos (near Cape Town) and Mvurwi (near Harare). The group is sponsored by the work of LEAD International and operates under the LEAD Academy initiative. The group continues to partner with the people of Africa as advocates and supporters.

LEAD International website
Pictures from the 2008 trip
Blog post about the 2008 trip
YouTube video about LEAD