Robin Stamper, Music Director
Robin Andrew Stamper joined the staff of Florida Opera Theatre as Music Director in the spring of 2011.
He grew up in Orlando and left to earn degrees in performance from The Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School. He was Director of Music for the Kentucky Opera in Louisville for five years and then Artistic Director with the Nevada Opera where he conducted mainstage performances of Rigoletto, Lucia di Lammermoor, Pagliacci, Sour Angelica, Le Nozze di Figaro and Il barbiere di Siviglia.
In 2003, he returned to Orlando to serve as Music Director and Chorus Director with the Orlando Opera where he conducted performances of L’elisir d’amore, Pirates of Penzance and Die Fledermaus. Also notable under his tenure at Orlando Opera was the growth of the Orlando Opera Chorus, which culminated in highly acclaimed performances of Turandot, Il Trovatore and Cavalleria Rusticana.
Maestro Stamper has directed the Florida Opera Theatre Chorus for the Orlando Philharmonic’s productions of La Bohème, Rigoletto, Marriage of Figaro and its Puccini e Verdi concert and recently Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. Most recently, he has conducted The Barber of Seville, The Medium, Gianni Schicchi and The Telephone for Florida Opera Theatre and is serving as its Music Director and accompanist. He also performs as a soloist and is sought after as a recital accompanist.
Eric Pinder, Director in Residence
Music, drama and dance have always been a part of Eric Pinder’s life. After seeing his first musical, “Fiddler on the Roof,” at age 3 1/2, his career path was set. Mr. Pinder received a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Michigan State University and an M.F.A. in Theatre Performance from University of Florida.
“I fell in love with opera while in college and haven’t stopped absorbing it since. So, I’m thrilled to accept the position of Director in Residence for Florida Opera Theater and join them in presenting performances in different, exciting locations throughout the city. My goal is to create productions that will get people as excited about opera as I am.”
Having been a professional performer for twenty years, he has either performed in, directed, or written something for the Orlando Fringe Festival for 16 of its 21 years–twice directing and performing in shows he wrote. He has written and performed in Florida Opera Theatre’s two performances at the Red Chair Affair, and has written a number of shows and short plays.
His opera credits include appearing as a Supernumerary in two Orlando Opera productions (Cosi Fan Tutte and Salome). He played Ambrogio the gardener in “Barber of Seville” during Florida Opera Theatre’s inaugural season. These hours on an opera set gave the already established theater director an opportunity to absorb the peculiarities of opera directing. He was assistant director for two staged operas with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra (Carmen and last year’s Rigoletto.)
“Opera as an art form has been changing and developing with musical styles for centuries, but what hasn’t changed is its ability to affect our emotions.”
Mr. Pinder has studied piano, voice, tap, jazz and ballet along with Polish and Russian Folk Dancing (and four hours of training on Norwegian Folk Dancing). Also an Ice Hockey fan, he is writing a libretto for a hockey opera.
Robin Jensen, Director of Youth Programs
Robin Jensen is the Florida Opera Theatre Director of Youth Programs. Robin holds a Masters in Music in Piano Performance from Drake University with additional opera and piano collaboration studies from The San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Robin is the UCF Opera Program Artistic Director and coaches in the Rollins College Opera Workshop Program. Robin has been Music Director for MadCow Theater since 2004 and is in her 10th season as Artistic Director for Camp Madhatter, a summer intensive music theater camp in Minnesota.
Most recently, Robin was Children’s Chorus Master for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra concert opera productions of Carmen and La Bohème in addition to the OPO’s “Home for the Holidays” concert in November of 2011. In September of 2012 the Children’s chorus will sing the for the OPO’s first concert of the season, Mahler’s Third Symphony.
Robin also served as the first Director of Education and Music Administration with the former Orlando Opera Company where she served as the company’s Assistant Conductor. Robin was the Conductor of several productions and developed and nurtured the Resident Artist Program. She was also the founder of the Children’s Opera Company programs from 1989-97.
When Robin is not at the opera or the theater she is teaching.