On April 13, 2000, at the Embassy of Germany in Washington DC, and with the support of the Coca-Cola Corporation, the Wagner Society of Washington DC held a concert featuring two young sopranos singing arias from many of Wagner's works.

Laura Zuiderveen recently received first prize in the Wagner division of the Liederkranz Foundation vocal competition. As a result, she will make her New York debut at Alice Tully Hall on April 15th. She has performed with the Washington Opera, the Baltimore Opera, the Cincinnati Opera, the Annapolis Opera, the Tulsa Opera, the Whitewater Opera, the Baltimore Symphony, the Baltimore Choral Arts Society and the Theater Chamber Players of the Kennedy Center. She is a graduate of Ohio State University and studied at the Peabody Conservatory. She now studies with Evelyn Lear and Tom Houser.

Ms. Zuiderveen sang Erda's "Weiche, Wotan Weiche" passage from Das Rheingold, the "Einsam wachend in der Nacht" passage from the second act of Tristan und Isolde, "Der Engel" and "Träume" from the Wesendock-Lieder, and "Höre mit Sinn", Waltraute's passage from Götterdämmerung. All in all, some of Wagner's best and most interesting music in the opinion of this author.

Connie Coffelt has performed with the Washington Opera, National Opera Company in Raleigh, the Sarasota Opera Company, and the Toledo Opera Company. She has been a finalist in the Lyric Opera of Chicago auditions, the Met Council Regional Auditions, and a semi-finalist for the Birgit Nilsson Prize. In the coming season she will sing Strauss roles in Baltimore. Ms. Coffelt was educated at Bowling Green State University. She currently works with Evelyn Lear and Tom Hauser.

Ms. Coffelt sang the "Dich, teure Halle!" Aria from Tannhäuser, "Du bist der Lenz" from Die Walküre, Senta's "Johojoe" from The Flying Dutchman, and Brünnhilde's "Hojotojo" from the second act of Die Walküre.

Gillian Cookson was born in England and received her early training at the Watford School of Music. She continued her studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. She started her career in Washington accompanying the acclaimed baritone Todd Duncan. She now coaches voice in her own studio. She has performed widely in the United States, England, and Europe. In her work as an accompanist-coach she has been associated with several opera companies in the DC area, including the Washington Opera and the Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia. Ms. Cookson accompanied our singers on the piano.