Opera in the Park

Opera
in the
Park

Event Information

Opera in the Park offers a free outdoor classical performances that brings together the community, making opera accessible to all. This initiative fosters community pride and encourages family engagement, allowing residents to enjoy world-class performances in a welcoming atmosphere. Additionally, it provides a platform for local talent showcasing the Permian Basin. This season, there are nine amazing performers, free balloon twisting by Harlin, and face painting by 432 face paint. Don't forget our local food trucks; BoonThai Street Food, Miss Ria's Famous Empanadas, Pacifik Flava, The Blizzard Bus, and Scooter Dog. Bring your picnic blanket and enjoy a beautiful night with PBO.

Meet the Performers

Zach Douglas is a gifted vocalist from Angelo State University. A member of the TMEA All-State Small School Mixed Choir in 2018, Zach was awarded the CARR Scholarship in 2019 and has been a recipient of the Music Merit Scholarship since then. In 2022, they were honored with the Eldon Black Vocal Excellence Award. Passionate about music’s transformative power, Zach is excited to participate in the Permian Basin Opera event, eager to showcase the exceptional talent at ASU and reveal how music can deeply resonate with the soul.

Jillian Pena was born in Amarillo, TX and raised in Midland, TX. She attended Premier High School and graduated from Midland College with an associate’s degree in Arts and General Studies. For the last three years, Jillian has been a part of the TMEA All State Choirs through the Texas Two Year College Choir Directors Association (TTCCDA). She most recently completed her senior recital at Midland College and is continuing to work on strengthening and building her vocal skills, storytelling, and emotion through her performances.

Kira Garza is a soprano from San Angelo, Texas, currently pursuing a degree in vocal music education at Angelo State University, where she has received several talent-based music scholarships. She began her vocal studies in high school and earned top scores for her solo performances at the Texas State UIL Solo and Ensemble contest. At ASU she has participated in Concert Chorale, Chamber Singers, as well as Opera Workshop. Most recently, she was a young artist with Opera Maya during their 2024 season, “Nuevos Horizontes”, where she performed opera arias with orchestra in several concerts around Mexico. Kira studies voice with Dr. Mark Covey and is expected to graduate in 2027.

Sonja K. Millichamp spends most of her professional life as a French horn player. She received her musical training at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and she is currently Co-Principal Horn of the West Texas Symphony and hornist with its woodwind quintet, the West Texas Winds. Sonja has also loved singing since early childhood. In high school she studied voice with Judith Mack in her hometown of East Lyme, CT and very much enjoyed singing in choir and a small amount of musical theater. College marked the beginning of a thirteen-year pause from singing, but she resumed in 2011 when she moved to the Permian Basin and joined the West Texas Symphony Chorale. She quickly became involved in solo work with the chorale and began several years of study with Janice Archer, with whom she began to discover her mature voice. Sonja frequently performs as a vocalist in her role as Co-Director of Music for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Midland. She has also done solo work for Midland’s Musica Sacra, the Lone Star Brass, the Missouri Symphony’s Firefly Music Festival (where she also plays horn), a guest recital at Baylor University, and Permian Basin Opera’s 2023 Gala.

Rachael Harper first caught the theatre bug at age six playing a lost boy in a community theatre production of Peter Pan, sparking a love for the arts that would eventually become an addiction. Since then, she has performed in over 25 theatre productions across Texas both as an actress/singer/mover as well as various backstage work, played a lead in a Christian TV mini-series, has performed on live television, multiple opera and theatre showcases with various colleges, an in-person masterclass with Grammy winner Larry Gatlin, and most recently starred with the Midland Community Theatre’s as Ella in Cinderella and Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music. Rachael is currently enrolled as a Music Major at The University of Texas of The Permian Basin in hopes of pursuing a career as a professional Musical Theatre actress.

Gabriel Yafet is a tenor lírico ligero, composer, and director, renowned for his versatile career that spans over two decades. His vocal talents have taken him to prestigious stages and events worldwide. Beginning his career as a boy soprano (1994-1999) and later transitioning into a tenor (2000-present), Gabriel has performed more than 270 renditions of the Mexican National Anthem at official events, including ceremonies attended by Presidents and other high-profile figures. He has also interpreted the national anthems of the United States, France, Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Guatemala, further establishing his reputation on the international stage. Notable performances include the 1996 Major League Baseball game between the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets in Monterrey and the inaugurations of various professional baseball league seasons for Sultanes de Monterrey. Gabriel's opera career includes roles in Rossini's "L'occasione fa il ladro" (Don Eusebio) and "La Scala di Seta" (Dormont), as well as performances in Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors". He has also been a soloist at world-class venues such as the Hollywood Bowl and Walt Disney Concert Hall during Mariachi USA Festivals. In addition to his vocal achievements, Gabriel is a composer with over 30 original works, including music for television and film soundtracks. His dedication to the arts extends to his role as a social activist, having founded a non-profit organization focused on bringing the arts to disadvantaged communities. Gabriel's artistic journey is supported by academic training from institutions such as the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, UCLA, and the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, where he earned degrees in communication and business administration, all while receiving scholarships for his artistic skills. Fluent in Spanish, English, French, and Italian, Gabriel continues to enchant audiences around the world with his passion for music and his commitment to sharing the arts.

Mr. Watt is in his ninth year on the faculty of Howard College. He is currently an Associate Professor of Music directing both the Howard College Chorale and the Howard College Band. He also teaches Music Theory, Music Literature, Music Appreciation and private lessons in both voice and various wind instruments. Prior to his position at Howard College, he taught band and choir in public schools in Texas for 29 years. His ensembles won numerous UIL Sweepstakes awards, as well as, numerous other competitions. As the Director of Bands at Mission (TX) High School, his band won the first Sweepstakes award the school had won in 25 years. The band won many other awards including numerous Sweepstakes awards. In 1995 the band competed in the prestigious Musicfest Orlando competition against ensembles from all over the United States. The Mission band was named the outstanding band, and the overall award for the best ensemble for the entire competition.
Mr. Watt received his BME from Wayland Baptist University where he was a featured soloist four years in the International Choir. He also won the James Cram Memorial Award which is awarded annually for the top graduate in music. Additionally, Mr. Watt played in the Wayland Band under Greg Berry during his entire time at WBU. He went on to earn his MME from Texas A & M Commerce where he studied voice and advanced vocal conducting with the legendary Charles Nelson, and advanced instrumental conducting under the equally legendary Dr. Neill Humfeld.
In addition to teaching, Mr. Watt has performed with the Chorale in performances with the Rio Grande Valley Symphony and the Dallas Symphony on numerous occasions and played the tuba for numerous performances with many different ensembles. He has also served in music ministry for numerous years directing church choirs and church orchestras.
Mr. Watt has been married to Cyndy Watt (Howard College Math Instructor) for over 45 years. They have eight children and six grandchildren. He is a member of TMEA, TBA, TCDA, TCCBDA and TTCCDA. He is currently serving as the President for the Texas Two-Year College Choral Directors Association. He also serves as President of the Big Spring Symphony Association, a member of the board for Pops in the Park committee and the treasurer for the Permian Basin Opera and is a Rotarian.

Dr. Katie Osuamkpe graduated with her Bachelor of Music Degree from Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho, Masters in Missoula, Montana from the University of Montana in 2012, and her DME from Liberty University Lynchburg, Virginia in 2023. Katie grew up in Blackfoot, Idaho and has been involved with music for over twenty-five years. For seven years, Katie has taught at Midland College as the Vocal/Choir Director. Some notable performances over the years have been Vivaldi’s Gloria with Helena Symphony, Brahms Quartet Neue Liebeslieder Op. 65 with the University of Montana, Mozart Vespera solennes de confessore Werk 339 with the Butte Symphony, Assistant director for Edges, Inez in Gondoliers, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro with Montana Lyric Opera House, Pitti Sing in The Mikado, Catherine in Pippin, a witch in The Mini Magic Flute, Directed 101 Dalmations Jr., Annie Jr., Seussical Jr. and a dancer/singer in The Merry Widow, West Side Story and Oklahoma. Katie loves teaching music and being a part of the Permian Basin Opera.

Dr. Joan Lucas has served as Accompanist and Adjunct Professor of Piano at Midland College since 2018. She located in Midland in 1985 and has been a private piano teacher as well as Organist at First United Methodist Church (1992-2914), St. Nicholas Episcopal Church (1985-92) and Memorial Christian Church (2014-15); she has also been very active in these 37 years as accompanist for numerous soloists and choirs in the community. Dr. Lucas received her higher education degrees at Texas Tech (Bachelor of Music in Applied Piano, 1970, and Master of Music in Music Theory, 1972) and at Louisiana State University (Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory, 1978). Notable experiences for Dr. Lucas include serving as rehearsal pianist and orchestral pianist for the World Premier of Samuel Adler’s opera, ”The Wrestler,” at the National Convention of the American Guild of Organists in Dallas, Texas in 1972; in 1969, while a student at Texas Tech University, she had the challenge and honor of accompanying baritone Bill Lucas, Texas Tech Faculty, in his performance of Franz Schubert’s “Die Winterreise,” settings of poems of Wilhelm Mὓller in 24 songs for voice and piano. Dr. Lucas delights in her musical experiences of accompanying and ensemble playing and in her teaching of students of all ages.