Cherry Duke

Encores & Overtures: A Night in Monte Carlo | El Paso Opera
2025-09-05 18:00 - 22:00 (America/Denver) | The Elmont Event Center, 240 W Castellano Dr,, El Paso, TX, 79912, United States
This year’s gala was the first with Cherry at the helm as El Paso Opera‘s Artistic Director, and the second time she created, directed, and narrated the entertainment portion of the evening.
This year’s program celebrated operatic highlights, with special focus on duets and quartets. The EPO Artist Ambassadors were the featured performers with special guest soloist and international opera star Levi Hernandez.

BON APPETIT | El Paso Opera
2025-06-14 | Ardovino’s Desert Crossing,, 1 Ardovinos Drive, Sunland Park, NM, 88063, United States
You got to see this on El Paso Opera’s livestream in 2021 but now you can finally see it in person! Cherry Duke will once again don Julia Child’s wig and apron to perform Lee Hoiby’s one-woman opera, Bon Appétit!. And with the performance rounded out by our talented Resident Artists, we know this will be a treat worth waiting for.
Two performances, both on Saturday, June 14, 2025:

2 PM with beverage & dessert included
7 PM with dinner & dessert included

Opera UTEP Spring Showcase
2025-05-02 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | University of Texas at El Paso, Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall, El Paso, Texas, US
Cherry directs UTEP students in scenes and arias from LAKMÉ, THE TALES OF HOFFMANN, MADEMOISELLE MODISTE, MANON, and THE MEDIUM. with Dr. Esequiel Meza, Jr., piano.
Two performances, each with a different cast!

Friday, May 2, 2025, at 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 2:30 PM

Location & Parking

Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall, 500 W University Ave M301, El Paso, TX 79968

Parking is convenient and free in the Sun Bowl Parking Garage, off Sun Bowl Drive

TICKETS
$10 general admission/adults
$8 seniors, military, students, and UTEP alumni
FREE for Children 12 and under; as well as UTEP students, faculty, and staff

Casino Night | El Paso Opera
2025-03-29 19:00 - 23:59 (America/Denver) | Lost and Found, 2514 N. Stanton, El Paso, TX, 79902, United States
Casino Night at Lost & Found

Your ticket to Casino Night includes $10K in “funny money” to test your luck at the tables (classic casino games like Poker, Blackjack & more)
Every win earns you tickets for the prize drawings (the prizes are awesome, and you can learn more about them on El Paso Opera’s social media).
You’ll also enjoy a signature cocktail, sweet & savory bites, thrilling live performances, and non-stop gaming until midnight.

Event Details:
Location: Lost & Found, 2514 N. Stanton
Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
Time: 7pm-Midnight

Limited tickets available. Click here to purchase your tickets to Casino Night 2025 (March 29) and Bon Appétit! (June 14).

ROMÉO ET JULIETTE | El Paso Opera
2025-01-30 - 2025-02-06 | St. Rogers Depot, 420 N Campbell Street, El Paso, TX, 79901, United States
Roméo et Juliette as you’ve never seen it before! This immersive and intimate portrayal of the iconic star-crossed lovers was made for St. Rogers Depot and we can’t wait to share it with you! This 90-minute adaptation of Charles Gounod’s classic opera will be performed in French. Directed by Justin Lucero, and conducted by Maria Sensi-Sellner.
Cherry Duke plays Gertrude, Juliette’s nurse and confidant.
FOUR PERFORMANCES

Thursday, January 30, 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 1, 2:30 PM
Tuesday, February 4, 7:30 PM
Thursday, February 6, 7:30 PM

BON APPÉTIT! & ECHO with South Bend Lyric Opera
2024-10-18 - 2024-10-19 | TX
With South Bend Lyric Opera in Indiana, Cherry reprises the role of Julia Child in Lee Hoiby’s one-woman opera, BON APPÉTIT!, which is a musical transcription of one episode of Julia Child’s iconic television cooking show. This performance is a collaboration with the chamber orchestra Ensemble CONCEPT/21, conducted by Casey Robards. Cherry will also sing the mezzo-soprano solo in the world premiere of a new chamber work by John William Griffith II, ECHO.
BON APPETIT is paired with another Hoiby one-act opera, THE SCARF. Both are stage-directed by Richard Gammon.
Two performances, October 18 & 19, 2024, at 7:30 PM

Pergolesi's STABAT MATER
2024-10-01 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | University of Texas at El Paso, Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall, El Paso, Texas, US
The Voice Area of the University of Texas at El Paso’s Department of Music presents the Stabat Mater by Giovanni Pergolesi, featuring members of the UTEP Symphony Orchestra conducted by Bohuslav Rattay; ten student vocal soloists and the Cantare treble choir prepared by Brian Downen; Prof. Cherry Duke mezzo-soprano soloist; and Jieun Newland, organ.
Sung in Latin, this work depicts what Mary, the mother of Jesus, might have felt as she witnessed Christ crucified on the cross.
TICKETS AVAILABLE at any UTEP Ticket Center or at Ticketmaster (additional fees apply).

¡CELEBRACIÓN! Opera UTEP's annual Hispanic Heritage Concert
2024-09-20 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall, 500 W University Ave., El Paso, TX, US
Opera UTEP’s annual celebration of Hispanic composers features the singers of UTEP’s Opera Workshop class and Dr. Esequiel Meza, Jr., piano. The program is directed by Cherry Duke, Director of Opera.
GUEST ARTISTS include: UTEP Percussion Area; Maria Fernandez Guglielmina, flute; Carmen Walker, soprano; and Dr. Dena Kay Jones, piano.
FREE and open to the public. Family friendly!

Faculty Recital of Dr. James Logan, clarinet
2024-09-09 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | University of Texas at El Paso, Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall, El Paso, Texas, US
Dr. James Logan, principal clarinetist with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, will give a recital with Dr. Dominic Dousa, piano. Cherry will perform Mozart’s virtuosic aria from LA CLEMENZA DI TITO, “Parto, ma tu ben mio” with Drs. Dousa and Logan.

An Afternoon of Music at St. Alban's
2024-08-25 15:30 - 17:00 (America/Denver) | St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1810 Elm St, El Paso, TX, 79930, United States
Join us for a fundraising concert highlighting some of the talented musicians of El Paso and Las Cruces and resident musicians of St. Alban’s. Freewill proceeds raised will benefit the St. Alban’s Music Ministry.

Encores & Overtures | El Paso Opera
2024-08-23 18:00 - 22:00 (America/Denver) | The Elmont Event Center, 240 W Castellano Dr,, El Paso, TX, 79912, United States
As Director of Resident Artists for El Paso Opera, Cherry programs and directs the EPO Resident Artists in a short, interactive entertainment called “Making A Splash!” The artists will perform songs from opera, Zarzuela, and musical theatre, related to “show business” at the annual fundraising gala.

STREET SCENE with Central City Opera
2024-07-13 - 2024-08-03 | Central City Opera House, 124 Eureka St., Central City, CO, 80427, US
Cherry plays the role of Olga Olsen in Central City Opera’s summer 2024 production of STREET SCENE. The production is directed and choreographed by Daniel Pelzig and conducted by Adam Turner.
Taking place over two hot summer days in New York City, Kurt Weill’s two-act American opera STREET SCENE delves into the lives of the multi-ethnic residents of a tenement building, showcasing their hopes, dreams, and struggles. Throughout the story, musical numbers range from operatic arias to jazz and blues, reflecting the mix of cultures and emotions present in the tenement setting. Street Scene offers a commentary on the challenges immigrants face, the impact of poverty, and the complexities of love and relationships in a densely populated urban environment.

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE with El Paso Opera
2024-05-17 19:30 - 2024-05-18 00:00 UTC | Abraham Chavez Theatre, El Paso Convention And Performing Art Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, El Paso, TX, US
Two performances, May 17 & 18. Cherry Duke plays “Old Lady” and “Blair Daniels” in Stephen Sondheim’s musical about French pointillist painter, Georges Seurat.
Conductor: Matthew Mailman
Stage Director: Justin Lucero
George: Luis Orozco
Dot: Avery Boettcher

National Opera Association Conference Presentation
2024-01-04 09:50 UTC | TX
All Together Now: Opera as a Vehicle for Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Community Engagement, presented by Cherry Duke at the 2024 Tempe, AZ, Conference, January 3–6: “Our Sounds and Stories”

¡Celebracion!
2023-09-28 19:30 UTC | TX
Opera UTEP’s annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration concert features students, faculty, and guest artists performing Latin American and Spanish art songs and arias. Directed and produced by Cherry Duke, with pianist and vocal coach, Dr. Esequiel Meza, Jr.
TICKETS:

MOZART BY MOONLIGHT with El Paso Opera
2023-09-16 19:30 UTC | TX
Cherry Duke joins tenor Brian Downen, baritone Levi Hernandez, director Justin Lucero, the El Paso Opera Resident Artists, and members of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra conducted by Bohuslav Rattay for an evening of Mozart under the moonlight in McKelligon Canyon.

LA TRAVIATA with El Paso Opera
2023-06-03 19:30 UTC | TX
Cherry Duke plays Flora Bervoix in El Paso Opera’s production of the Verdi classic, LA TRAVIATA.

An Afternoon of Song
2023-04-23 16:00 UTC | TX
Cherry Duke and her husband, tenor Brian Downen present a concert of music for voice and piano with Dr. Casey Robards, piano and William McClain, viola.

THE FOX AND THE COOKIE - world premiere
2023-03-28 18:30, 2023-03-27 18:30 UTC | TX
Cherry Duke produces and directs the world premiere of Maria Thompson Corley’s opera for children, THE FOX AND THE COOKIE, performed by the students of Opera UTEP.

Song Cycles by African Heritage Composers
2023-02-25 12:00 UTC | TX
The SHSU College of Arts & Media along with the SHSU School of Music proudly announces the third annual SHSU Art Song Festival. Presented as a hybrid event, featuring art song performances, scholarly presentations, and a much-anticipated student competition. Registration for the festival is FREE of charge, and all live performances take place in the beautiful facilities of the SHSU James and Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts Center in Huntsville, Texas.
In addition to dynamic live performances, this festival will offer the opportunity for art song scholars vetted from across the country to present their research in a virtual format, with opportunities for participant discussion and questions through the online festival portal.

LIFE & DEATH: Art songs by African American & African Diaspora composers
2022-11-10 14:00 UTC | TX
Cherry Duke and pianist Esequiel Meza, Jr. were selected to present a 50-minute version of their recital as part of the Artist Series at the Texoma NATS conference.

¡Celebracion!
2022-10-13 19:30 UTC | TX
Cherry Duke directs, produces, and is a guest soloist on Opera UTEP’s Hispanic Heritage Concert.

LIFE & DEATH: Art songs by African American & African Diaspora composers
2022-10-08 18:00 UTC | TX
Performed by Cherry Duke, mezzo-soprano & Esequiel Meza, Jr., piano.

El Paso Opera's FRIDA
2022-08-27 19:30 UTC | TX
Cherry Duke is the Assistant Director for this production, produced by El Paso Opera.

Opera UTEP's LUISA FERNANDA
2022-04-09 14:30, 2022-04-07 19:30 UTC | TX
Director/producer Cherry Duke revives El Paso’s tradition of zarzuela with Federico Moreno Torroba’s masterpiece, LUISA FERNANDA. The production will feature UTEP student singers, the UTEP Symphony Orchestra and the UTEP Concert Chorale. The cast will be led by UTEP voice professor Dr. Phillip Hill, baritone, in the role of Vidal and El Paso native Diego Valdez, tenor, in the role of Javier.

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
2022-02-19 19:30, 2022-02-18 19:30 UTC | TX
El Paso Symphony OrchestraBohuslav Rattay, Conductor
UTEP Choral Union
Beethoven Symphony No. 9 “Ode to Joy”
Celebrating Beethoven’s 250th Birthday!

NOA Conference Presentation: The Case for Zarzuela in Collegiate Opera and Voice Programs
2022-01-06 14:50 UTC | TX
Professor Cherry Duke presents on the topic of Zarzuela as a genre suitable for collegiate opera and voice training, alongside Dr. Paulina Villarreal from the University of Memphis
