Heelan alumni to sing in concert

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
November 20, 2003

Bishop Heelan High School alumni plan to return to Sioux City to sing in a concert presented by the Sioux City Chamber Music Association.

Timothy and Micah Olson, Heelan alumni, both tenors, will return to sing along with Danielle Conroy, a soprano, in an evening of art songs, opera arias and American musical theatre. Richard Steinbach, pianist and professor of music at Briar Cliff University, will accompany the singers in a lively evening of song.

Timothy Olson is a 1991 graduate of Heelan High School. While at Heelan, he was in the choir. From Heelan he went to St. Ambrose University in Davenport.

"My background in music and science at Heelan was strong so I did both at St. Ambrose," said Timothy Olson. "Then I decided to pursue music from there."

He received his master's degree in opera from the Hartt School of Music and has appeared with L'Opera de Montreal, Florida Grand Opera, Central City Opera and Connecticut Opera. He is currently living in New York City and singing with various opera companies around the country.

"I am excited, it will be fun," said Timothy Olson of the upcoming performance. "It is nice to come back to my hometown and have our family and friends there. It is a really great opportunity to come back from New York to sing in Iowa."

Micah Olson graduated from Heelan in 1993. He is a recent graduate of Manhattan School of Music with a master's degree in opera.

Conroy graduated from the Hartt School with a degree in Music Theater and recently made her debut on the New York City cabaret scene in Tom, Dick and Harry.

The three singers currently live in New York City and sang together for the first time at the Deck House Cabaret Theater. They have been performing together since and work well together.

The Sioux City Chamber Music Association is in its 28th season. It presents five concerts per season.

"They present a wide variety of programs," said Steinbach. "Oftentimes, chamber music has featured artists who have roots to Sioux City or the Siouxland area, that have grown up here and now have been successful professionally."

The concert is set for 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 25 at the First Presbyterian Church, 608 Nebraska St., Sioux City.

Tickets for the concert are $10 each and can be purchased at the door. The Siouxland community and anyone else interested are encouraged to attend the concert.