October 8, 2005
Bert Whitehead and Carol Johnson
6033 Franklin Road
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48025

Dear Bert and Carol,

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to share my passion for Opera with your very distinctive group of people. It was truly a pleasure for me to give my presentation in your beautiful home. And thank you both for the very beautiful roses!

Bert, you asked me what my fee would be if you wanted to deal with my performances directly in the future. Know that I would be willing to do it for whatever fee you feel is justified. I enjoyed doing my work for you so much; I would not wish the fee to determine the lack of an opportunity in the future. As you know, I have, in recent years, been offering my presentations to the Waldorf School auctions in the wish to help this worthwhile organization. Some years ago, I would command the figure I gave you for workshops in Opera which I gave in Texas. But now, I am "retired" and out of touch with what sort of price this work should demand. As long as I can still do it, I am glad to do it. Name your own price. I am sure it will be fair and reasonable. After all, it is the joy that I can still give (and get) out of it, that is the most important aspect of it all.

Thank you again.

Biography

DINA SORESI WINTER

Celebrated singer, teacher, and raconteur Dina Soresi Winter began her operatic training at the age of fourteen, subsequently winning the prestigious Blanche Thebom Scholarship Award (a major national competitive award, given by Blanche Thebom, mezzo soprano of the Metropolitan Opera). This led to studies in Italy where she debuted as Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana and sang the revival world premiere of Donizetti's Maria Stuarda at the Teatro Donizetti di Bergamo under the direction of the well-known conductor, Oliviero de Fabritiis. Dina Soresi (now Winter) made her German debut in the role of Tosca at the Stuttgarter Staatsoper in Germany, and has sung leading soprano roles with major opera theatres in Italy, Germany and Holland.

Among her many roles, Dina Soresi Winter has sung: Violetta in La Traviata; Mimi in La Boheme; Leonora in II Trovatore; Amelia in Ballo in Maschera; Turandot in Turandot; Madama Butterfly; Desdemona in Otello; Norma; Aida; Tosca; Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana; Maria Stuarda; Leonora in La Forza del Destino; Maddalena in Andrea Chenier and the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro.

She has taught voice and coached singers in operatic roles for over 25 years. Her primary specialties are in Italian language coaching, voice production and the study of opera roles. She is mainly involved in the teaching of Italian repertoire and the interpretation of roles, based on an understanding of the composer's use of vocal line and recitativo, an impeccable pronunciation, and a profound study of the role being performed.

Mrs. Winter is now artistic director of the HOSTIA Performing Ensemble (Heights Of the Spirit Through the Integration of the Arts), and vocal advisor and foreign language coach for the award-winning DETROIT CONCERT CHOIR (1996 CHOIR OF THE WORLD).

She has created and assisted in the preparation of opera productions such as: Gounod' s Faust; Verdi's La Traviata, I Trovatore, Rigoletto and Ballo in Maschera; Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, Elisir d'Amore and Don Pasquale; Merry Widow (in German and in English); Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and Zauberfloete (Magic Flute) in both German and English. She is also the author of SINGING AND THE ETHERIC TONE and TOWARD FREEDOM IN SINGING.

Dina Winter has become an increasingly well-known and sought-after lecturer on opera and is often asked to give dramatic recitations in English, Italian and German in the United States and abroad. In talking about opera, she draws on her years of experience as a performing artist, making for a unique, exciting and often profoundly moving presentation.

Curriculum Vitae

At the age of 14, began vocal lessons privately with FRANCESCA SECHI PASELLA, originally from Sardinia (Italy), in New York City.

At age 17 she obtained scholarships with the Amato Open in New York City for the study of various roles, which she sang (Violetta in La Traviata; Mimi in La Boheme; Micaela in Carmen; Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana; and Tosca in the opera Tosca.)

1948 Scholarship with Opera Workshop at Hunter College of Music, New York

1949 First concert at Carnegie Recital Hall, New York City

1951-53 Full Scholarship with Opera Department of Mannes College of Music, New York City; Music Director: Carl Bamberger; Stage Director: Martial Singher; Opera Coach: Otto Guth. This provided study of such roles as Countess in Le None di Figaro, Tosca in Tosca, Violetta in Traviata, and culminated with the singing of the leading role of Emily Dickinson in Jan Meyerowitz' Eastward in Eden.

1954-55 Winner of the BLANCHE THEBOM SCHOLARSHIP AWARD (a major national competitive award given by Blanche Thebom, mezzo soprano of the Metropolitan Opera)

1956 Two Year Scholarship for study in Italy (Milano)

1958 Obtained first engagement in Italy, singing the part of Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana then toured through various cities of Holland with a company called OPERA ITALIANA, singing roles of Aida in the opera, Aida; Norma in the opera, Norma; Nedda in Pagliacci.

In October of 1958 sang leading role of Maria Stuarda in Donizetti's Opera of that name at the Teatro Donizetti, also known aso 'Teatro delle Novita'. The opera was conducted by Oliviero de Fabritiis.

1958-60 Radio, concert and opera performances in Rome, Milano, Legnago, and Parma.

1961 Debut in Germany at the Stuttgarter Staatsoper in the role of Tosca.

1961-63 Performances of leading roles in operas and concerts in various cities of Germany, including Cologne, Heidelberg, Mannheim, Stuttgart.

1963 Kiel Opera, Germany, performed roles Turandot in Turandot; Leonore in Fidelio; Amelia in Ballo in Maschera.

1964-65 Moved to the concert stage, with concerts in many cities in Germany, including Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Tubingen, and Heidelberg.

1966-81 Returned to the United States and helped found the Detroit Waldorf School in the city of Detroit, Michigan. Waldorf Schools (sometimes known as Rudolf Steiner Schools, after their founder) started in Germany in 1919. There are now over 800 such schools in the world. Primarily elementary schools (and sometimes high schools), they are based on an artistic approach to learning. The education promotes the study of academic subjects largely through the arts. Music, foreign languages, painting and sculpting all form an important part of the learning process and interweave with the study of mathematics, language arts and social sciences.

Continued to give occasional concerts in Europe, the United States and Canada and lectures on opera in the United States and Europe.

1981 to present Continue lectures on opera in the United States and Europe.

Founded a performing arts organization called HOSTIA (Heights Of the Spirit Through the Integration of the Arts), which gives singers and musicians, actors and eurythmists (eurythmy is a form of classical movement), artists of different talents, an opportunity to perform together on one program. HOSTIA performances often include scenes from operas.

Taught singing at Waldorf Institute Teacher Training Programs in Los Angeles, California, and Spring Valley, New York; at the Alanus Hochschule in Bonn, Germany; and at the Goetheanum Theatre in Dornach, Switzerland.

Conducts singing workshops; Gives private voice lessons; Coaches young singers and seasoned performers in opera roles;

Specializes in teaching singers the nuances of the Italian language in operatic arias and songs; Trains singers in the use of dialect in Neapolitan songs (Tosti, Cardillo, Di Capua, etc.); Works with singers on the pronunciation of German Lieder and Arias; Serves as foreign language coach to the award-winning Detroit Concert Choir; Performs dramatic recitation in English, Italian and German both in the United States and in Europe.