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#eye #eye


Elliot Menard

Mezzo-Soprano, Opera-Maker, Grant Writer




Education


California Institute of the Arts, Master of Fine Arts in Voice Arts, Valencia, California (anticipated May 2023)

Reed College, Bachelor of Arts in Classics, Portland, Oregon (May 2019)
Thesis: Ovid is Divo Backwards: the Ovidian Orpheus’ Influence on the Birth and Evolution of Opera
Recital: The Wrong Trousers — a selection of 18th + 19th century pants role arias

Beth Morrison Projects: Producer Academy (Fall 2020)
Aquilon Music Festival’s Young Artist Opera Program (July 2019)
Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies (Fall 2017)

Projects


Tito (2022) | original adaptation of Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito (Renegade Opera) — Performer (Anna/Annio)/Co-producer/Grant writer
Partial Memories (2022) | original work by Judith Berkson (New Opera Days Ostrava) — Soprano 2
Artists in Conversation (2022) | three part lecture series (Renegade Opera) — Co-producer
Orfeo in Underland (2021) | adaptation of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice (Renegade Opera) — Co-producer/Mask Designer/Alto
Artists in Conversation: Deconstruct (2021) | four part lecture series (Renegade Opera) — Co-producer
Secret Diaries of Pennsylvania Avenue (2020) | devised work, music by Mozart (Renegade Opera) — Co-producer/Anna (Annio)
Cold Songs | Warm Songs (2019)  | chamber choir concert (Big Mouth Society) — Solo/chamber vocal ensemble 
The Magic Flute (2019) | W.A. Mozart (Aquilon Music Festival) — 3rd Knabe and ensemble 
The Wrong Trousers (2019) | selection of pants role arias (Reed College) — Solo recital 
The Gonzales Cantata (2018) | Melissa Dunphy (Big Mouth Society) — Jeff Sessions/ensemble              
Cold Songs | Warm Songs (2018) | chamber choir concert (Big Mouth Society) — Solo/chamber vocal ensemble
Last Night (At The Dyke Bar) (2018) | original work by Somerset Thompson (Reed College) — Loma
Paris Commune (2016) | devised by The Civilians, music arranged by Michael Friedman (Reed College) — The Soprano
Sweeney Todd (2014)  | Stephen Sondheim (Saint Ann’s) — Mrs. Lovett


Relevant Work


Co-Founder, Renegade Opera (January 2020 - present)
Roles: Grants Director, Creative Producer
  • Raised a total of $22,300 in grant awards for Renegade Opera’s projects. Research funding opportunities and create the Grants Projection/Calendar for every season.
  • Write grant proposals, manage applications through the grant process, and steward relationships with program officers.
  • Co-produce and execute fundraising campaigns and galas.
  • Create season programming, project budgets, and artist contracts; cultivate relationships with potential collaborators and partners.
  • Maintain Renegade Opera’s website with current information.

Development Associate, Urban Voices Project (September 2021 - present)
  • Write narrative for grant proposals and letters of inquiry (total yield of $186,000). 
  • Conduct prospect research for grant, private foundation, and corporate giving opportunities.
  • Implemented organization system of prospect research and tracking.rtunities.
  • Develop request narrative for grant applications, private foundations, and corporate sponsorship.

    • Student Producer, California Institute of the Arts (2021-2022)
    • Produced the Voice Arts Department’s Voice Event, Fall 2021.
    • Served as Associate Producer under Madeline Falcone and Carmina Escobar for CalArts Expo, Spring 2022.


    Grants


    Perenchio Foundation Multi-Year Operating Support Grant (October 2022)
    Collins Foundation: Responsive Grantmaking Program (June 2022)
    Regional Arts and Culture Council: Make | Learn | Build Grant (November 2021)
    CalArts: Interdisciplinary Grant (November 2021)
    Collins Foundation: COVID-19 Emergency Response Program (July 2021)
    Regional Arts and Culture Council: Make | Learn | Build Grant (May 2021)
    Oregon Community Foundation: Advised Grant Fund (May 2021)
    Oregon Community Foundation: Oregon Arts and Culture Recovery Program for Renegade Opera (July 2020) 
    Reed College: Jim Kahan Music Performance Summer Fellowship (Summer 2018)
    Reed College: Opportunity Grant (Summer 2017) 

    Languages


    English (native); French (native); Italian (proficient); Spanish (proficient); Latin (advanced); Ancient Greek (intermediate)