Ibidunni Ojikutu is a member of the Seattle Opera chorus.Photo by Danielle Barnum
It’s Friday. We did it, everyone. We made it.
To send this week out on a high note, we turn to the gifted soprano Ibidunni Ojikutu.
In an alternate universe, she would be appearing in La Boheme at Seattle Opera tonight. “It was a production that we were all looking forward to, with an amazing cast, and I know all of us are so sad to not be together,” she says toward the end of her message. “But we’ll be together again.”
Ibidunni sings two pieces, accompanied by pianist Rebecca Manalac, who is on the other side of that window.
Known for diverse vocals including opera arias, art song, music theater, and spirituals, Ibidunni has a reputation for having a strong foundation and extensive studies in both traditional and contemporary repertoire.
A recipient of the top award in the Seattle Opera Guild Training Grant Competition, Ms. Ojikutu is a teaching and freelance artist. Recent credits include the roles of Strawberry Woman and also Serena in Seattle Opera’s productions of Porgy and Bess; her Benaroya Hall debut with Showtunes Theater Company’s production of Finian’s Rainbow; and, the role of Sally Hemings in Garrett Fisher’s new opera Monticello Wakes which had its debut at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
Thank you for singing to us this morning, Ibidunni.
And thanks to Rebecca for the accompaniment (and the brilliant use of a window) and to Gabriel Manalac for making the video.
Happy weekend, everyone.
Good luck.
* * Previously in this series:
RL Heyer’s message to the city on May 14.
Garth Stein’s message to the city on May 13.
Okanomodé’s message to the city on May 12.
Zoe Scofield’s message to the city on May 11.
Aham Oluo’s message to the city on May 8.
Pete Rush’s message to the city on May 7.
Trent Moorman’s message to the city on May 6.
Renée Valencia’s message to the city on May 5.
Justin Huertas’s message to the city on May 4.
Charles Mudede’s message to the city on May 1.
Kathryn Rathke’s message to the city on April 30.
Anthony White’s message to the city on April 30.
Miss Texas 1988’s message to the city.
Matt Bishop’s message on April 27.
Cherdonna’s message to the city on April 26.
Shenandoah Davis’s message to the city on April 25.
Lorena González’s message to the city on April 24.
Clyde Petersen’s message to the city on April 23.
David Ritt’s message to the city on April 22.
Sara Porkalob’s message to the city on April 21.
Julia Sweeney’s message to the city on April 20.
Linda Derschang’s message to the city on April 19.
Molly Sides’s message to the city on April 18.
Nick Garrison’s message to the city on April 17.
Tomo Nakayama’s message to the city on April 16.
Rebecca M. Davis’s message to the city April 15.
Heather McHugh’s message to the city on April 14.
Brandon O’Neill’s message to the city on April 13.
Kate Wallich’s message to the city on April 12.
Rebecca Brown’s message to the city on April 11.
Lucien Postlewaite’s message to the city on April 10.
Betty Wetter’s message to the city on April 9.
Amanda Morgan’s message to the city on April 8.
Nancy Guppy’s message to the city on April 7.
Jonathan Biss’s message to the city on April 6.
Chris Jeffries’s message to the city on April 5.
Lesley Hazleton’s message to the city on April 4.
John Roderick’s message to the city on April 3.
Bill Carty’s message to the city on April 2.
Price Suddarth’s message to the city on April 1.
Kary Wayson’s message to the city on March 31.
Ellen Forney’s message to the city on March 30.
Major Scales’s message to the city on March 29.
E. J. Koh’s message to the city on March 28.
Ken Jennings’s message to the city on March 27.
Demarre McGill’s message to the city on March 26.
Lynn Shelton’s Message to the City on March 25th.
Timothy White Eagle’s message to the city on March 24.
