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.

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.

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.

¡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:

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”

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

¡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!

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).

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

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

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).

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

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

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.

Robert Owens Centenary Festival | Lincoln, NE
2025-09-19 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Denver) | University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
Cherry Duke premiered Robert Owens’ previously unpublished song cycle, TRAUM, at the festival on the composer’s 100th birthday, September 19.
The song cycle is now published by Classical Vocal Reprints in a centennial edition curated by Festival organizer, Dr. Jamie Reimer:
https://www.classicalvocalrep.com/products/The-Robert-Owens-Song-Book-Centennial-Edition-Edited-by-Jamie-Reimer-20-Discount-thru-Sept-30th-426166.html
Video of Cherry’s September 19 performance with pianist Yimeng Xu: https://www.youtube.com/live/nBOLuvemG6w?si=p1T1XLjTVgRclyaX&t=1667

La bohème | El Paso Opera
2026-01-30 - 2026-02-07 | St. Rogers Depot, 420 N Campbell Street, El Paso, TX, 79901, United States
After having been appointed Artistic Director in mid-2025, Cherry is proud to produce her first opera for El Paso Opera, La bohème, which plays in St. Rogers Depot for five performances, January 30 through February 7, 2026.

Opera Uncorked | El Paso Opera
2026-03-28 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | International Museum of Art, 1211 Montana Ave., El Paso, TX, 79902, United States
Opera and wine expert Matthew Burns will guide the audience through 7 courses of wine and hors d’oeuvres paired with opera arias, duets & trios performed by local favorites Levi Hernandez, Brian Downen, and Cherry Duke.

Roméo et Juliette | Resonance Works
2026-06-19 - 2026-06-21 | New Haslett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square East, Pittsburgh, PA, 15212, United States
Cherry reprises her role of Gertrude in Justin Lucero’s production of Gounod’s operatic masterpiece, Roméo et Juliette.
Two performances:
Friday, June 19, 8:00 PM
Sunday, June, 21, 3:00 PM

BON APPETIT | Bay View Music Festival
2026-06-25 | Bay View Music Festival, Hall Auditorium, Bay View Association, Petoskey, Michigan, US
Cherry Duke (as Julia Child) reunites with stage director Justin Lucero and conductor Casey Robards to reprise their hilarious production of Lee Hoiby’s 20-minute monodrama, Bon Appétit.
Two performances (times TBA) on Thursday, June 25, 2026
Location TBA
