$ 83* per person (dinner $63 & program $20)

The Annual Bristor Dinner at the Arts Club of Washington Will Feature Opera Classics

Soprano Jennifer Simone Smith recently made her Loudoun Lyric Opera debut singing the role of 1st lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Ms. Smith frequently performs with the Heritage Signature Chorale, in Opera Baltimore’s education outreach programming, and joined The Carter Legacy singers this year. Her 2024 performances with The Heritage chorale include Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony under the baton of Marin Alsop at The National Cathedral and a performance with The National Pops Orchestra at The Kennedy Center with Heather Headley. In 2022 Ms. Smith performed with the Los Angeles Opera in the Pulitzer Prize winning opera, Omar, a new composition by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels. In 2021 Ms. Smith was featured on the Amazon Prime live concert with Sunday Service, Kanye West’s choir, at The Coliseum in Los Angeles featuring Drake. Other operatic roles include Alice in Verdi’s Falstaff performed with The Bronx Opera, Poppea in L’incoronazione di Poppea performed at Symphony Space and Scorca Hall, and Violetta in scenes from La Traviata with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre performed at Carnegie Hall. Originally from Baltimore, MD, Jennifer’s local venues include The National Cathedral, The Washington Arts Club, The Hippodrome, The Kennedy Center, Basilica of the Assumption, and with The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at the Meyerhoff. Ms. Smith is pursuing the Master of Music degree in performance (Fall 2024) and holds a Bachelor of Science in music (2020) from Towson University. Additional operatic education includes the Juilliard Evening Division and WNO’s Summer Institute. Ms. Smith currently studies with Dr. Leneida Crawford, and resides in Baltimore, Maryland with her two sons.

Esther Lee is a collaborative accompanist at Towson University. She received her konzert examen degree in harpsichord performance from the Musikhochschule Lübeck in Germany. She holds a Master of Music (M.M.) degree from the Korean National University of Arts, a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree from Amsterdam University of the arts, and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary. As a soloist and collaborative artist, she has appeared in recitals and concerts in the U. S., Europe, and Asia. She made her solo debut at the Utrecht Early Music Festival. She has given concerts in halls such at the Musikhalle in Hamburg, Salzburg, München, St. Thomas Church in Frankfurt, the Oude Kerk and Noorder Kerk in Amsterdam, St. Lamberus Kerk in Bure, Chicago City Hall, Seoul Arts Center, Kumho Art Hall in Seoul, and St. David’s Church in Baltimore.

Dress code: Black Tie Optional