Handel Underwriting
George Frideric Handel, a German-English Baroque composer, was famous for his operas, oratorios and concerti grossi. He was strongly influenced by the techniques of the great composers of the Italian Baroque period and English composer Henry Purcell. Handel’s music was well-known to many composers, including Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. His body of work includes 42 operas, 29 oratorios, more than 120 cantatas, trios and duets, numerous arias, chamber music and 16 organ concerti. His most well known works include Messiah, Giulio Cesare, Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks.
Because of the variety of musical styles, vocal ranges and musical instruments used in Handel’s works, it is important for students preparing for a career in opera performance to be well versed and comfortable singing his work. The Georgina Joshi Fund, administered by The Georgina Joshi Foundation, Inc. and the Indiana University Foundation, was established to encourage and support the student performance of Handel’s operas and oratorios.
In 2009 the Jacobs School of Music presented Handel’s opera, Giulio Cesare. The Georgina Joshi Foundation, Inc. was instrumental in bringing to the JSOM, the renown Welsh soprano and Handel expert, Eiddwen Harrhy, to conduct several days of coaching and master classes for the students performing in the opera. The Foundation also underwrote the cost of bringing noted opera conductor, Gary Thor Wedow, to conduct the opera.
It is the goal of The Georgina Joshi Foundation, Inc. that JSOM students be able to study and perform major works of Handel every year.