Mihai Vâlcu – Composer/Professional Conductor graduated from the Special School of Music and Arts in French Horn and the Conservatory of Music “Georges Enesco” in conducting and composition. His first engagement was as principal conductor at Bucovina Symphony Orchestra. In 1982 he was awarded the title “Artist of the Year” of Romania and became the conductor of one of the most important musical institutions in Romania, the State Opera, Timisoara. During this time he was guest conductor in symphony and opera orchestras throughout his country. In 1986 he began his international career in the former communist countries of UdSSR, Hungary, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. After the Romanian Revolution and the fall of the Iron Curtain he became principal conductor at Eduard von Winterstein Theater in Germany. From this point on his international career extended into Western Europe (Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, and Belgian). Working as a freelance conductor since 1999 and adjunct conductor of Opera Westminster and Mihai Vâlcu has also enjoyed assisting Dr. Anne Hagan Bentz in building the opera program at Westminster College.
Dr. William Zeiger – Librettist -Recently retired Associate Professor of English at Slippery Rock University, Dr. Zeiger serves as Member of the Board of Temple Hadar Israel and on the Board of Advisers to Historic Warner Cascade Theatre Museum, both of New Castle, PA. He has three grown sons and is now remarried and lives with wife Janet in Bethel Park, PA
Dr. Anne Hagan Bentz, Editor and Stage Director of this production an Associate Professor of Voice, Head of the Voice Area and Director of the opera program at Westminster. A native of Silver Spring, Dr. Bentz holds a BMUED from the University of Delaware, a degree in vocal performance from the Hochschule für Musik and Theater in Hannover, Germany and a DMA in vocal Performance from the University of Maryland. Ms. Bentz received her first operatic engagement at the Badisches Staatstheater in Karlsruhe, Germany which was followed by engagements with opera companies at the Landestheater Flensburg and at Eduard von Winterstein Theater in Annaberg,. Ms. Bentz is an active performing member of the Friday Morning Music Club, Member of the Tri State Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, a member of the honor society, Phi Kappa Phi, Vice President of the New Castle Music Club and a frequent recitalist locally and in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. Dr. Bentz is also the Stage director of Opera Westminster and Executive Director of The New Castle Lyric Opera which has sponsored many local events and the popular internship program in the schools, “The Human Voice.”
