Monét X Change to host MN Opera’s New Glam Jam Benefit Concert

Join the Minnesota Opera on Sep. 28 for the first-ever Glam Jam benefit concert hosted by “RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars 4” winner Monét X Change. The hour-long show will feature performances by Monét X Change and a cast of soprano and mezzo-soprano artists ranging from operatic classics to musical theater favorites to some rarely performed arias. 

Monét made her operatic debut in full drag in the Twin Cities as the Duchess of Krakenthorp in “The Daughter of the Regiment” in 2023. Monét is known for appearing on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 10 and for being the first queen of color to be inducted into the Drag Race Hall of Fame after she won Season 4 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars.”

She said “Drag Race” provided her with the opportunity to join the Minnesota Opera in “The Daughter of the Regiment,” which was a meaningful performance for her since it was her first opera performance in full drag.

Her rendition of “Vi ravviso, o luoghi ameni” from “La sonnambula” on “RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars: All Winners” in 2022 caught the eye of the Minnesota Opera and the San Francisco Symphony as well as stunning audiences and fans of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

“I spent a lot of time, energy, and money on school, so to be performing in drag while doing opera and seeing the two worlds I’ve probably spent the most time and energy crafting and creating magic coming to life is a dream come true,” Monét says.

Monét received a degree in opera performance from Westminster Choir College in New York City. She has been interested in singing opera since high school and received guidance from her choir director Chantel Wright while studying at Westminster.

“She said, ‘You need to do this music thing. You have a great gift, and you would do yourself a disservice if you don’t pursue music,’” Monét says. “She thought I could do it in a real way, and she was right.”

As a performer, Monét enjoys being able to bring the text to life, putting her spin and interpretation on the texts, and having people enjoy what she creates. She also enjoys performing in drag and wowing the audience through her drag and performance. In the audience, Monét said she enjoys being “hit with a wall of sound” and hearing live performances of artists she loves after admiring them through various old recordings and videos.

Last season, Monét performed with the Dayton Opera and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Aside from the Glam Jam, she will perform at the San Francisco Opera’s Pride concert, reprise her role as the Duchess of Krakenthorp with Opera Colorado and perform with Symphony Nova Scotia this season. 

In addition to Monét X Change’s return, audience favorites Adriana Zabala, Symone Harcum, Karin Wolverton, Jasmine Habersham, and Deborah Nansteel will return to the stage with the Minnesota Opera Orchestra’s full force behind them, directed by Christopher Franklin.

The Glam Jam is a reimagined version of the Minnesota Opera’s annual gala that previously could accommodate only a few hundred people, Minnesota Opera President and General Director Ryan Taylor said in a press release. The unique concert brings a fundraising opportunity for the Minnesota Opera while allowing people to enjoy a one-of-a-kind event.

“Proceeds from this one-night-only event will continue to make our work on the stage and in the community possible, as well as ensure a thriving Resident Artist Program, which has trained artists as exhilarating performers and arts leaders for nearly 30 years,” Taylor said.

This season’s incoming cohort of Minnesota Opera Resident Artists will debut on the Ordway Stage at the Glam Jam pre-concert reception. Incoming artists include John Mburu, Ángel Vargas, Kara Morgan, Fumiyasu Kawase and David Wolfe. The Resident Artists program offers artists a full season of employment at the beginning of their professional careers alongside masterclasses and mentoring.

Guests will be invited to attend an after-party immediately following the concert that will include signature cocktails, light snacks, dancing, and live music.

The Glam Jam will also introduce The Forte Award, which recognizes individuals and corporations for contributions to Minnesota’s arts community and Minnesota Opera’s mission. The 2024 recipients are Gale Sharpe, William White, and Ascent Private Capital Management.

Sharpe began her journey at the Walker Art Center in 1966 when the Minnesota Opera was still called Center Opera and became a distinguished figure in the world of opera through her dedication and longevity. White has been a board member of the Minnesota Opera since 2016 and is known for his community building by inviting new people to the opera, in turn creating new fans and supporters. Ascent has sponsored the Minnesota Opera since 2012 and has been actively engaged with the opera community.

Between Monét as emcee and the various performances by herself and new and returning Minnesota Opera members backed by the Minnesota Opera Orchestra, the jam-packed concert will be nothing short of entertaining. Enjoy the one-night-only event and support the Minnesota Opera at the one-of-a-kind benefit concert.

The Minnesota Opera’s Glam Jam will be on Sep. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts. Tiered tickets range from $78 to $403 and can be purchased online at mnopera.org/season/2024-2025/glam-jam/. You can also buy tickets through the Minnesota Opera Patron Services at 612-333-6669, open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.