Susanne Schiller

I’m a Canadian opera singer, and in spring 2014 I was a guest artist at the Munich Staatsoper for a new production of Zimmerman’s Die Soldaten. It was a huge production, and one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career. It was also the first time I had ever worked with a prompter. In…

I haven’t seen Chris since we graduated from high school but I have clear memories of his kind, sincere character.  We were in the orchestra together and I was always impressed with the way he approached music.  I knew he experienced the music in a way that I did not.  But, he was always supportive….

I babysat for Christopher and his sister, in Dornach, Switzerland, in 1985; Christopher was a delightful, steady, poised, sweet kid.  I am blown away that this uniquely loving, kind, gifted, creative man’s life has come to a sudden end amidst so much beautiful vitality. Each and every day, so important, so mysterious, so precious. Thank you,…

Already as a 14-year old, Christopher had the baton in his hand, leading a group of about 12 elderly Health Retreat patients and staff in songs.  ‘How can he and how does this young boy dare work with us oldies’ I (who could have been his grandmother) wondered. But soon enough it was clear: his…

September 2004: first time I met you, joyfully welcoming me at Dartmouth. January 2020: last time I hugged you, after celebrating my mother’s Befana in Italy. In between, too much for now, but I’ll share more. I’m shocked and I cry. Romeo is not informed, but he asked me: “Mamma, hai bisogno di un’abbracciatona?”. I’m splitting it…

I became friends with Zeke at Dartmouth where we were classmates.  I don’t recall how we met, but we spent the most time together over sophomore summer.  There were swimming adventures, ice cream, long evenings on the porch, and “Prom” at the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge (where this photo was taken).  Zeke’s eyes were always filled…