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Founded by David Preston Durrett
Gwen Durrett - President -------------------------------------------
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Como Opera Guild Biographies of the Staff David Preston Durrett Founder of the Como Opera Guild
David was born in Como, MS and lived in both Sardis, MS and Batesville, MS while growing up. He graduated from high school in Okeechobee, FL. His father was the late Rev.Thomas Durrett. His mother is Mary R. Gray of Senatobia. David was a veteran of over 125 productions in Opera, Musical Theatre, Plays, Movies, Television, Commercials, and Sacred Music throughout the United States and Canada. In his over 25 year career, (which actually started at the Panola Playhouse in Sardis), he performed with San Francisco Opera, Seattle Opera, Opera Memphis, New York City's Opera in the Parks, Omaha Playhouse, Playhouse on the Square - Memphis, and Nebraska Theatre Caravan; along with a host of other civic, regional, and community theatres. In addition to performance, his degrees include an A.F.A in Music from Northwest MS Comm. College, a Bachelor of Music from the University of Mississippi, and Master of Fine Arts in Theatre/Music from the University of Mississippi. Oxford audiences might remember him from his portrayals of “Huey Long” in Kingfish! And “Big Daddy” in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Return to the top. Gwen Durrett President
Gwen is the first cousin of David Durrett, the Founder of the Guild. A 1979 graduate of
South Panola High School in Batesville, MS, Gwen received her BSN in 1984 from the
University of MS School of Nursing. As a Registered Nurse, she worked for 18 years in
Labor and Delivery becoming a Certified Inpatient Obstetric Nurse, and in 2002, a
Certified Legal Nurse Consultant. Gwen has been employed from 2002 to present with the
Renal Care Group in Southaven, MS as Charge Nurse. She has been active in charitable
organizations, predominately with the March of Dimes.
Gwen is instrumental in the founding of the Guild with David and shares his dream of bringing opera to the children of North Mississippi. Return to the top. Bonnie Durrett Long Vice President/Director of Fundraising
Bonnie has over 20 years of direct involvement with business management, including records maintenance, inventory management and customer service. She currently holds the position of Volunteer Coordinator with AseraCare Hospice of Senatobia and is responsible for recruiting, training, and coordinating the volunteer staff of the hospice organization, as well as maintaining records and providing education to the community.
Bonnie’s past and present work experience involves extensive work in product sales and customer relations. Her day–to–day involvement with the various aspects of financial record keeping continues to be a crucial part of business operations management. Well–versed in financial computer software, Bonnie has been responsible for maintaining financial records for national and international business sales. Additional responsibilities have included purchasing, quality control and product liability insuring that clients’ needs were met. Bonnie holds degrees and certifications from the following: AutoZone, Dow Electronics, Genesis Communications, The American Institute of Banking, Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Florida, and the University of Mississippi. Active in the community, she is a member and Vice President (President–Elect) of the Como Rotary Club, Sponsorship Committee Chairman and Team Captain with the 2007 Tate County Relay for Life (to benefit the American Cancer Society), and sings regularly as a member of the Chancel Choir with First Baptist Church of Senatobia. Return to the top. D. Scott Rhines Vice President of Public Relations
Scott a 37 year old, life-long resident of Hernando, MS has just moved to Como and will start building his personal home in January 2007. He is currently
an Art & Antiques Dealer with Main Street Market Antiques in Tunica,
MS. Other experience includes that of Merchandising Consultant in the
Atlanta, GA and Las Vegas, NV markets. Scott also builds and re-models
homes for his own investment property business, D.Scott Rhines,
Investment Properties, LLC. Scott graduated from Delta State
University in 1992 with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration.
Since taking over as V.P. of Fundraising in the spring of 2004, the Guild
has solicited over $75,000 in private and corporate funds.
Scott is looking forward to living in Como and being apart of raising the area's awareness and appreciation for the arts. Return to the top. Mimi Herring Treasurer
A graduate of Como High School, Mimi attended the University of
Mississippi. She worked at a variety of jobs while raising her family in
Como, including administrative assistant for a lawyer, retail sales person
for Talbots of Memphis, and Fountain's Fine Jewelry in Memphis, and
also as a travel agent in Oxford, MS. Her family grown, Mimi is thankfully
retired and enjoying it. She is responsible for depositing and tracking
contributions and working the Box office at all performances.
Return to the top. Anne Davis Historian INFORMATION TO BE ADDED!
Return to the top. Stephen Eisenhard Artistic Consultant to the Company
Stephen Eisenhard, Director, graduated from the University of Cincinnati
under the tutelage of Italo Tajo. His extensive repertoire spans both
buffo and dramatic characters including the Baron in La Traviata,
Dulcamara in Elixir of Love, and Bartolo, in Barber of Seville and
Marriage of Figaro. Stephen has sung with numerous companies
throughout the country, including Michigan Opera Theatre, Connecticut
Opera, Memphis Opera, Sarasota Opera, Nashville Opera, Opera de
Puerto Rico, and San Francisco's Western Opera Theatre. Because he
had the good sense to marry a girl from Como, we will of course absolve
him of the blame for the Civil War and Reconstruction. Stephen also
directed our very successful production of The Barber of Seville last
June and also our past May production of Don Pasquale.
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© 2006 Como Opera Guild
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