Obtaining a performing arts visa is a long and drawn out process. A few days ago, I shared a link to an article I wrote about Eric Houghton’s “Pioneer Songs,” which will be performed by the Westminster Community Orchestra, the Westminster Community Chorus, and the Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble, at Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton on November 10. I only received word yesterday that famed coloratura soprano Carla Maffioletti, formerly of André Rieu’s Johann Strauss Orchestra, will not be appearing on the program due to visa issues.

Maffioletti is also scheduled to appear at the War Memorial with the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey on two programs, both also at the War Memorial, on December 28 (a recital with chamber orchestra in the intimate George Washington Ballroom) and December 31 (a New Year’s Eve celebration with full orchestra in Patriots Theater). It is hoped that on those occasions everything will proceed as planned.

The article appeared on November 1 in the Trenton Downtowner. An extended version (which you probably won’t be surprised to hear, given the source, had to be edited for inclusion in the Downtowner due to its extreme length) will run in this upcoming week’s U.S. 1 Newspaper – PrincetonInfo, out on Wednesday. I am sharing the Downtowner piece again, minus the Maffioletti info, below.

https://communitynews.org/2018/10/31/upcoming-musical-pioneer-songs-tells-the-story-of-american-pioneers/