Music, mentorship, and Albright pride take center stage this month as Berks Opera Company and Albright College’s Vocal Arts Department present Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
The production unites current students with accomplished alumni, including Connor McLaughlin, ‘19 who has recently worked with Laconia Theater in a production of Small Mouth Sounds, and has been seen before with Berks Opera Company in the role of The Big Bad Wolf in both Little Red’s Most Unusual Day and The Three Little Pigs and Schaumbacher in These Hills and Valleys.
Among the talented cast is Andrew (Andy) Maier II who received an Honorary Doctorate from Albright in 2011 who will be playing the role of Sarastro. Maier is the husband of June Taylor who graduated from Albright in 1976 and served as Trustee Emeritus of Albright College in October 2011. Maier also carries forward a deep family connection to the college and its music program. His father, William E. Maier ’31, a distinguished alumnus and Trustee Emeritus of Albright College was a beloved mentor and coach to Jeffrey Lentz, now the Director of the production and Coordinator of Albright’s Vocal Performance Program.
For Maier, returning to Albright’s stage holds deep personal meaning. “Music and Albright College were two of my father’s favorite things,” he shared. “As a child, I was told he would sit in a farmhouse window in Blandon singing hymns that could be heard from far away. His education at Albright served him well, and he gave back to the college for many years on the Board of Trustees. I was privileged to serve with him for a year and have since tried to carry forward his enthusiasm and love for the school.”
“It’s remarkable how this production connects generations of Albright musicians,” said Lentz. “To have an alumnus of Andy’s caliber returning to perform alongside our current vocal arts students is a living example of how music at Albright is not just taught but passed down; enriched by time, tradition, and personal connection.”
Maier’s musical journey has long been intertwined with Albright’s artistic community. His experiences range from performing Verdi’s Dite alla Giovine with soprano Toni Marie Palmertree at the 2019 Reading Symphony Orchestra Gala to singing The Pearl Fishers duet with Jarrod Miller at a community event. Still, he says, this production of The Magic Flute holds a special place.
“It’s an honor to be invited by Jeff and Tamara Black on behalf of Berks Opera Company to perform in this entertaining production,” Maier said. “Getting to know the young opera enthusiasts in the cast has been a joy. They are bright, talented, and truly entertaining. They deserve to be seen and heard.”
The production, funded generously by The Presser Foundation and the Reading Musical Foundation, will feature performers from Albright’s Vocal Arts Department as well as talented singers from the local community, accompanied by orchestra. Students are deeply involved both onstage and behind the scenes, performing principal and ensemble roles, assisting with stage direction, and contributing to production design.
Performances will take place November 21–23 at Albright Theatre, located in the Center for the Arts on Albright’s 13th Street campus. Tickets are available through Albright College’s Box Office at 610-921-7547 or albright.universitytickets.com.
The Magic Flute promises a colorful and creative journey into Mozart’s world which is one that highlights not only the brilliance of the music but also the deep connections that continue to inspire Albright’s musical community.
