Judith Siirila Paskowitz

Judith Siirila Paskowitz, soprano

“Dead Sopranos Society”

Habanera (Carmen)………..Bizet
Addio, del passato (La Traviata)………..Verdi
Juliette’s waltz (Romeo et Juliette)………..Gounod
Regnava nel silenzio (Lucia di Lammermoor)………..Donizetti
Adieu, notre petite table (Manon)………..Massenet
Stridono lassù (Pagliacci)………..Leoncavallo
Ebben (La Wally)……….. Catalani
Elle a fui (Les Contes d’Hoffmann)………..Offenbach
Summertime (Porgy and Bess)………..Gershwin

A native of Los Angeles, Judith Siirila Paskowitz has appeared in leading roles in such operas as Lucia di Lammermoor, La Bohème, Madama Butterfly, Aida, Il Trovatore, Le Nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte, The Magic Flute, Die Fledermaus and Hansel and Gretel. She has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras, including Redlands, Torrance, Palisades, Cypress and Westchester Symphonies and the Estonian National Symphony. She has toured Estonia and Russia with the Pacific Chorale and has performed lead roles in many musical productions. A musical theater highlight was as a pit singer for the L.A. company “Reprise!” in a production of Promises, Promises, starring Jason Alexander, Jean Smart and Alan Thicke. Other highlights include tours of Japan with the Roger Wagner Chorale, tours of Spain and Brazil with the Holy Trinity (Georgetown, DC) Choir, and tours of France and Italy with the St. Cyril of Jerusalem Choir (Encino, CA). Her voice can be heard in over 100 films, recordings and commercials, including the voice of Eve in the Sony Play Station game “Parasite Eve.” Judi is the soprano soloist at Pasadena Presbyterian Church.

William Schmidt has accompanied in the Los Angeles area for the past 38 years, touring to San Francisco, New York, Vancouver, Honolulu and Great Britain with various choral groups. He played organ continuo at Carnegie Hall under the baton of British composer/conductor John Rutter. He accompanies the Glee Club and Chamber Singers at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, as well as at Occidental College in Eagle Rock. He has collaborated with students in the Academy of Jewish Religion since its inception. He plays for services at Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills and is organist for Oneonta Congregational Church in South Pasadena. Mr. Schmidt holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Organ performance from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and furthered his studies in Los Angeles under Brooks Smith while working on a Masters of Music degree in Accompanying at the University of Southern California.