Performers

Conductor/Pianist/Coach, Ming Kwong is actively involved in the opera industry. Mr. Kwong is regularly engaged by the Metropolitan Opera Guild as well to accompany their master class series. Credits include: assistant coach position at Glimmerglass Opera, Tanglewood Music Center (assisting Maestro James Levine in Don Giovanni), and an apprenticeship with Florida Grand Opera for their 2008-2009 season. He held a fellowship coach position at the Aspen Summer Music Festival and was a vocal pianist at the prestigious Music Academy of the West, where Marilyn Horne is the chair woman of the program. Fall of 2011, he played the New York City auditions for Aspen Opera Theater and Glimmerglass Opera in addition to being invited back to play for Portland Opera. He is well-known for his ability to adjust tempi, give singers time to breathe and help them through a phrase in a totally unrehearsed situation. He was engaged as a faculty coach at the New Jersey CoOPERAtive program this past summer where colleagues included Anthony Manoli, Thomas Bagwell and William Hobbs. He is very familiar with the German fach system since his wife, Jessica Stavros, currently singing with Deutsch Oper am Rhein at Düsseldorf, Germany. Today's performance is Mr. Kwong’s New York Lyric Opera Theatre debut.

Born in Boston, baritone, Joseph Beckwith showed musical affinity at a very young age on the piano. Transitioning to voice, he showed equal talent, receiving one of the two the Musical Achievement awards from the Worcester Public School system and was recognized by the Mayor of Worcester. Roles include: Belcore and Dulcamara (L’elisir d’amore), Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus), Gasparo (Rita), Mother (The Seven Deadly Sins) and the title role in Signor Deluso. Mr. Beckwith is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in voice at the Manhattan School of Music.

Recognized for her vocal warmth, charming stage presence, and vibrant personality, Canadian soprano, Clodagh Earls has performed in various musical theatre, opera and scene productions throughout Canada and in Europe. She returned to Europe in August 2011 as she was selected to perform at Opernakademie Schloss Henfenfeld in Henfenfeld, Germany. Roles include: Zerlina in Don Giovanni (Toronto’s Concert Opera Group), Jenny Hildebrand in Street Scene (UWOpera), Erste Dame in Die Zauberflöte (UWOpera), and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro (UWOpera).

Georgia native, Melanie Wade Larsen most recently sung the role of Una Conversa in the 2011 production of Suor Angelica with the Augusta Opera and presented Opera Alfresco with the Appleby Garden 2011 summer concert series. Additional roles include Anina in La Traviata, Pamina and The First Lady in The Magic Flute, Friend of Augusta in The Ballad of Baby Doe, and Lady Jane in Camelot. Additionally, she is an artist with Voces Liricas del Mundo. She holds a B M. in vocal performance and received the Lucie Ruzicka Award.

Tenor, Michael Powell is a recent graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. At IU, he performed comprimario roles in La Rondine and The Most Happy Fella, as well the ensembles of Roméo et Juliette, Cendrillon, Die Fledermaus, and The Barber of Seville. His upcoming schedule includes a gala performance with the London Symphony Orchestra in May, as well as performing Pisandro in Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria and covering Tamino in Die Zauberflöte in Amsterdam this August.

Brooke Schooley has been noted for “her florid runs and wonderful acting” as well as her “marvelous soaring voice.” She has performed with Bronx Opera, Delaware Valley Opera, Pacific Opera, New York Lyric Opera Theatre, and New York Opera Studio, and studies roles with The Martina Arroyo Foundation. Roles include: Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte), Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel), Adina (L’Elisir d’Amore), Adele (Die Fledermaus), Blonde (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Oscar (Un Ballo in Maschera), Frasquita (Carmen), and Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro).

Laura Federici recently performed Susan in Davide Zannoni’s Blind Date and works by Anne Phillips and Patrick Soluri with Opera Shorts at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall. She performed Dritte Dame in Die Zauberflöte with dell’Arte Opera in German and English. Additional roles: Zita (Gianni Schicchi) with d’AOE, Zerlina (Don Giovanni) with Satori Opera, Annio (La Clemenza di Tito) with Empire Opera. Venues/Companies: Janaček Academy of Music (Czech Republic), New Jersey Concert Opera, Natchez Festival, La Piccola Opera, Amici Opera and DiCapo Opera.

Soprano, Emily Groveman is making her debut with us in this performance of Suor Angelica. She performs regularly in the Tri-State area. Recent roles include Sally in Die Fledermaus, Peep-Bo in The Mikado, and First Spirit in The Magic Flute. She has performed with Amore Opera, the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera, Chelsea Opera, Utopia Unlimited, and the Binghamton Savoyards, among others. When she’s not singing, Ms. Groveman is the Coordinator of International Media Distribution for the National Basketball Association.

Soprano, Lauren Nicole Haber, recently performed Woglinda in Das Rheingold with the Hellenic Music Foundation. She has created the role of Lauren Kane/Erica as part of OperaWorks’, Pride and Promiscuity. She made her Carnegie Hall debut as Il Paggio (Rigoletto) with New York Lyric Opera Theatre. Roles: Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Mimi in La Bohème, Desdemona in Otello, and the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro. Venues/Companies: Vocal Arts Institute in Canada, Martina Arroyo Foundation, Long Island Youth Symphony and the Westchester Summer Vocal Institute.

Marta Kukularova performed Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro with The Juilliard Opera Theater. She performed the title soprano role of Susannah and Tatiana from Eugene Onegin with the Chautauqua Music Festival. She made her Alice Tully Hall debut in New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. She participated in a U.S. national tour, organized by CAMI where she performed Sacredotessa in Aida and Contessa Ceprano from Rigoletto. She holds a Master’s in Voice at Juilliard. She received a Best Young Singer Grant in Spain from Elena Obraztsova.

Mezzo-soprano, Symi Rom-Rymer has given solo recitals in Berlin and Hamburg, and Germany as well as performed with a variety of companies in Washington, D.C. and Brooklyn, New York including the Mount Vernon Players, the Washington Revels, and the Brooklyn Repertory Opera. Most recently, she performed the Third Spirit in Die Zauberflöte with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre. When she’s not singing, she’s writing about minority communities in the United States and Europe for national and international publications.

Puerto Rican Mezzo-Soprano, Fiorella Vélez will be covering the role of the Page in Salome at the 2012 International Festival of the Aegean and will be part of The Greek Opera Studio in Syros, Greece. She holds degrees from the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music M.M. and the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico B.M. In 2010, she received an encouragement award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in Puerto Rico. She is currently living in New York and is part of the vocal studio of Mezzo-Soprano Patricia McCaffrey.

Conductor, David Štech is the Associate Conductor of the Astoria Symphony Orchestra in Queens, Music director of St. John's Episcopal Church in Passaic, New Jersey, and faculty vocal coach at the Manhattan School of Music. He recently moved to New York City from Chicago where he was music director of the Sherwood Symphony Orchestra, the North Shore Chamber Orchestra, Chicago Choral Artists, and the American Opera Group where he conducted I Barbieri di Siviglia, La Bohème, La Tragédie de Carmen, Madama Butterfly, Rigoletto, The Threepenny Opera, Così fan Tutte, Le Nozze di Figaro, and Don Giovanni. In 2003, he was invited to conduct at Tanglewood, where he studied with Kurt Mazur, Christoph von Dohnányi, Roger Norrington and Robert Spano. Other teachers include Michael Morgan, Gustav Meier, Otto Werner- Müller, Cliff Colnot, Rossen Milanov and Victor Yampolsky. Mr. Štech has also served on the coaching staff of Roosevelt University, Opera in the Ozarks, and the Opera Theatre of Lucca, Italy. A diction specialist in Czech, Bulgarian and Serbian, He has also speaks French, German and Italian. While in Chicago, he sang with virtually every professional choral ensemble in Chicago, including Bella Voce, the Ferris Chorale and the Chicago Symphony Chorus.

Hong Kong native, pianist MunTzung Wong is an active soloist and chamber musician appearing in venues including Carnegie Hall and De Lamar Mansion in New York City. She is currently a staff accompanist for voice department and various instrumental departments at the Manhattan School of Music, where she earned both a Masters and Professional Studies Degree in piano performance under the tutelage of Marc Silverman. She has worked with maestros such as Kurt Masur, Philippe Entremont and George Manahan as an orchestral pianist. She is currently the accompanist of Riverdale Choral Society. As a singer, she is a regular cantor in St. John’s Episcopal Church in Passaic, New Jersey.

Baritone, Zach Appel is currently a first-year Master’s degree candidate at Manhattan School of Music studying with Ashley Putnam. He received a Bachelor of Music from New York University Steinhardt School in 2010, where he was seen in Così fan tutte (Guglielmo), The Gondoliers (Giuseppe), The Telephone (Ben), Gallantry (Dr. Gregg), Down in the Valley (Thomas Buche), and Orpheus in the Underworld (Morpheus). Mr. Appel was a recipient of the New York University outstanding achievement award in the classical voice studies program in 2010.

A native of South Korea, Eui jung Chang makes her debut with us today in the role of the Dew Fairy. Ms. Chang has performed in several summer programs, scenes of opera and master classes across the U.S., Europe and Korea. Roles include: Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, Nanetta in Falstaff, Papagena in The Magic Flute, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Illia in Idomeneo. She received her bachelor’s of Music from Ewha Woman University in South Korea, a Master’s from the Manhattan School of Music currently enrolled in the Doctoral program at The Hartt School.

Soprano, Hannah Elizabeth DeBlock is a Master’s student at the Manhattan School of Music studying under Joan Patenaude-Yarnell. At MSM, she performed with the Contemporary Opera Ensemble and Mignon Dunn’s Opera Workshop. She performed with the University of North Carolina Opera in L’Egisto as Goddess Volupia and the heroine Hero, Un giorno di regno as La Marchesa, and Die Zauberflöte as the First Lady. She performed the First Lady at the Baltimore Summer Opera Workshop and performed the role of Mary in William G. Still’s Highway One, USA.

A native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, soprano, Abbey Harr recently completed her graduate studies at Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Joan Patenaude-Yarnell. Performance highlights include the roles of Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro), Amy (Little Women), 1st Spirit (Die Zauberflöte), La Suora Infermiera (Suor Angelica), Sandman (Too Many Sopranos) the title role in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience and in scenes as Sophie (Werther), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Papagena (Die Zauberflöte), and Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro).

Megan Mikailovna Samarin is a mezzo-Soprano who is a candidate for the Bachelor of Music in Classical Vocal Performance at Manhattan School of Music, studying under the direction of Ashley Putnam. Ms. Samarin has performed in Opera on the Avalon’s Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart as the Flower Girl, along with a scene from The Old Maid and the Thief by Menotti as Letitia. She also attended Pepperdine University’s Songfest in Malibu, California. She has been honored in a variety of competitions and is continuing her love for opera through performing.

Corinne Schaefer is a graduate of Indiana University School of Music. Roles: Nanetta (Falstaff), Musetta (La Bohème), and Clotilde (Norma), Die Königin der Nacht (Die Zauberflöte), Beth (Little Women). Venues: Academy of Vocal Arts (Philadelphia), Opera New Jersey, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Amadeus Opernensemble (Austria, Salzburg), and Intermezzo Music Festival (Brugge, Belgium). Awards: Finalist in The Liederkranz Vocal Competition, The Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition, Encouragement award: Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition.

Dramatic Soprano, Melissa Sumner made her operatic debut as Edith in Knoxville Opera’s The Pirates of Penzance. Roles: Lia (L’Enfant Prodigue), Ilia (Idomeneo), Susannah (Le Nozze di Figaro), Gretel (Hänsel and Gretel), Gerhilde (Die Walküre), and Hannah (The Merry Widow). Venues: Kennedy Center, Brevard Music Center, AshLawn Opera Festival, Staunton Music Festival, Theater Bristol, Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra. Awards: MACCO Competition winner. She recently performed the title role of Suor Angelica at the Mittelsächsisches Theater in Germany.

Praised for his “lovely line and beautiful accompaniment,” Maestro Tony Bellomy has been collaborating with vocalists and instrumentalists for over 15 years. After completing his studies he served as coach/accompanist for several organizations, including the Florentine Opera Company, the Milwaukee Ballet Company and the Skylight Opera Theatre, where he performed in company productions as well as in concerts and recitals with singers. He also helped institute a resident artist program for the Skylight Opera Theatre and organized, rehearsed, and performed educational outreach programs for the company. With baritone, Kurt Ollmann, he has appeared in recital and master classes at universities throughout the Southeast. As part of an International Arts Festival, he collaborated with tenor Darryl Taylor in a recital of songs with texts by Langston Hughes and taught master classes for both singers and collaborative pianists. More recently he has appeared in recital with singers throughout the New York area and with regional winners and national semi-finalists of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He is the Assistant Music Director for Encompass New Opera Theatre and in September 2007 was named Associate Conductor for the Grace Choral Society of New York. He is also a member of our casting committee as well as our musical board of directors.

Described by the San Francisco Chronicle as "...an exceptional pianist" and called "a musician to watch" by San Francisco Classical Voice, Leesa Dahl is enjoying a busy career as a collaborative artist to the emerging stars of her generation. In recent seasons she has played for the New York Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, and enjoys a relationship with the Mark Morris Dance Group. Ms. Dahl has performed and coached at the Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College, and the Opera Studio at Yale. She has worked with Gotham Chamber Opera, American Lyric Theater, Fort Worth Opera, and Glimmerglass Opera. In past summers, she has been a coach for the Aspen Opera Theater Center, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and BASOTI. During the summers of 2001 and 2004, she was an Apprentice Coach in the prestigious Merola Opera Program. She subsequently appeared as harpsichordist in the nationwide tour of Così fan tutte with Western Opera Theater, and as an artist with San Francisco Opera Center. In the Bay Area, Ms. Dahl was recognized for her dedication to performances of new music, and premiered works by composers such as Heggie, Imbrie, Conte, Perle, and Lou Harrison. She is also a member of our casting committee.

Larry Gabbard's theater credits have included stints with regional, off-off-Broadway, theme parks and summer stock. He studied voice at Indiana University where he received his BA; and has sung with cabaret artists, pop and classical choral groups, and is currently a member of the four-part male pop group Uptown Express here in New York City. He is also an educator with a Masters Degree from Columbia University Teachers College. Formerly a teacher of middle and high school English, he is presently the assistant principal at PACE High School in Chinatown.

Elizabeth Heuermann joined the New York Lyric Opera Theatre as a performer, as well as volunteer in 2008. Working with not-for-profits is nothing new to Ms. Heuermann. Her extensive background in volunteerism includes the Salvation Army, Peoria Symphony, Peoria Historical Society, Easter Seals, Junior League, and Sigma Alpha Iota. During her college years, she was a weekly volunteer for the Salvation Army’s Day Care. In Washington D.C., she volunteered to work in a homeless shelter and with an Inner City day care, where most of the young children were born addicted to drugs. In Chicago, she was a member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Historical Society, where she was a volunteer Docent. Ms. Heuermann became an associate board member of Opera Illinois and Peoria’s Lakeview Museum. After graduating from prestigious Indiana University’s School of Music with degrees in both Voice and Public Relations, she moved to Chicago. Just after college, she became a secretary/bookkeeper with a top corporate training firm, The Forum. After one year in Chicago, she moved to Peoria and became a licensed Realtor. She began designing, building, and selling speculative homes. Her real estate profession offered her the flexibility she needed to continue her busy operatic career throughout the United States and Europe. She performed with venues/companies such as: Carnegie Hall (Stern and Weill), New York’s Arena in Times Square, NYC’s prestigious 92^nd Street Y, Symphony Space on Broadway, Long Island’s Kaliope Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Opera Illinois, Milwaukee Opera, Bach Society of St. Paul with the St. Paul Orchestra, and AIMS Festival in Austria. Roles include: Title Role (Manon), Gilda (Rigoletto), Juliette (Roméo et Juliette), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Norina (Don Pasquale), and Contessa Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Musetta (La Bohème), and Gretel (Hansel and Gretel). She was also the recipient of a scholarship at the University of Siena in Italy. Many of her performances took her to the City and she eventually made the decision to make New York City her home base. While in New York, she was given the opportunity of creating an opera division for a chamber orchestra and produced three fully staged operas to sold-out audiences. During her years with New York Lyric Opera Theatre, she has produced over 100 performances and developed the Vocal Competition to award excellence in opera, which now includes regionals held across America.

Christian Zaremba recently covered the role of Agamemnon in Iphigénie en Tauride at the Metropolitan Opera. A fight captain at the Metropolitan Opera, he is also supervising and performing roles in Boris Godunov, Tosca, Don Carlo and Il Trovotore. He received a Tisch Merit Scholarship to study theatre at New York University. He graduated with Honors and received a Founders Award for Excellence. Additional performance experience: concerts for off-Broadway in New York and festivals in Siena and Como, Italy. Mr. Zaremba made his New York Lyric Opera Theatre debut in the roles of Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni and Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte at Carnegie Hall.

Rashard Deleston holds a Bachelor’s from DePaul University and a Master’s in voice from Manhattan School of Music. He has performed Aeneas in Dido and Aenea, the Title role in Idomeneo, Marullo in Rigoletto and Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi, and Sam in Street Scene. Since graduating, he has performed with the Bleeker Street Opera reprising his role in Rigoletto and as Yamadori with Gateway Classical Society in Madame Butterfly. Last season, he performed Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Peter (Hansel and Gretel), and Marullo (Rigoletto) with us.

Caitlin McKechney, mezzo-soprano from Chicago, is thrilled to be performing her first Carmen with us. Roles: Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), Nancy (Albert Herring), the title role in Cendrillon, Meg Page (Falstaff), Tessa (The Gondoliers), The Wife/Mother in Mark-Anthony Turnage's Greek and Inez Serrano in Andu Vores's No Exit, for which she was hailed for her "staggering performance." (Chicago Classical Review). Companies: Des Moines Metro Opera, Sarasota Opera, Cedar Rapids Opera Theater, Opera Santa Barbara, Chicago Opera Vanguard.

Italian-American mezzo-soprano, Gina Perregrino is a recipient of the Liberace Scholarship at the Manhattan School of Music and is under the tutelage of world renowned mezzo-soprano Mignon Dunn. She performed as a soloist in Tuscany and Switzerland and studied at the University of Siena in Italy. Ms. Perregrino has also worked with Sherrill Milnes and Joan Dornemann at the International Vocal Arts Institute and performed twice in Avery Fisher Hall alongside the New York Philharmonic. She made her debut this fall as Maddalena in Verdi's Rigoletto.

Tenor, Michael Powell is a recent graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. At IU, he performed comprimario roles in La Rondine and The Most Happy Fella, as well the ensembles of Roméo et Juliette, Cendrillon, Die Fledermaus, and The Barber of Seville. His upcoming schedule includes a gala performance with the London Symphony Orchestra in May, as well as performing Pisandro in Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria and covering Tamino in Die Zauberflöte in Amsterdam this August.

Soprano, Jacqueline Quirk made her Carnegie Hall Debut as a finalist in the International Verismo Opera Competition. Roles include: Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly) with Kitsap Opera and Marguerite (Faust) with Connecticut Concert Opera, Mimi (La Boheme) with Miami Lyric Opera, and Nedda (I Pagliacci) in the Bechstein Concert Series. Additional Venues: Hawaii Opera Theatre, Washington National Opera, Asheville Lyric Opera, Mansfield Symphony. Upcoming: Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus) with Bremerton Symphony and Contessa (Le Nozze de Figaro) at Lincoln Center.

A graduate of the Manhattan school of Music and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, Dmitri Ribero was a soloist in Durufle’s Requiem, Faure’s Requiem, and Handel´s Messiah. Roles: Belcore (L’elisir d’amore), Malatesta (Don Pasquale), Marco (Gianni Schicchi) at the Martha Cardona Opera Theatre, Sid (Albert Herring) Intermezzo young artist program, Schaunard (La Bohème) at the Valley Lyric Opera, Papageno (Die Zauberflöte) with Dell’Arte Opera. He is currently a Resident Artist at the Martha Cardona Opera Theater and Dicapo Opera Theatre.

Tenor, Alvaro Rodriguez, from Mallorca, Spain, has sung such roles as Rodolfo in La Boheme, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Faust in Faust, and Des Grieux/Edmondo in Manon Lescaut with such companies as Teatre Principal of Palma, Utah Festival Opera, One World Symphony and Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia, among others. He is an active zarzuela performer and has starred in over twenty productions of the genre in the U.S. and abroad. Mr Rodriguez is a MM recipient from the University of Maryland, where he sang Paolino in Il Matrimonio Segreto.

Catherine Webber holds a Master's in Opera Performance from Purchase College Conservatory. There, she performed as Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Lauretta in (Gianni Schicchi), and Miranda in (The Tempest). She also sang Miranda for the professional recording of The Tempest with Albany Records, Micaëla (Carmen) with Stony Hill Opera, Richard Gretry's opera Richard the Lionhearted with the American Classical Orchestra. She is a soprano soloist at St. Matthew's Episcopal under the direction of composer Anthony Newman. She is currently a student of Bonnie Hamilton.

Marijo Newman has served as assistant conductor at New York City Opera. There, she has prepared an interesting mix of traditional and contemporary repertoire, including J. Heggie, Dead Man Walking, C. Wuorinen, Haroun and the Sea of Stories, R. Danielpour, Margaret Garner as well as La Boheme, Carmen, Barbiere di Siviglia, to name a few. In addition, she has participated many times in the VOX Festival of Contemporary Opera. Other recent credits include Opera New Jersey, American Composers Alliance, and the Flexible Orchestra. As a collaborative pianist, she has appeared on distinguished stages in and outside New York including Merkin Hall, Town Hall, Alice Tully Hall and the Tilles Center. As a harpsichordist, she appeared in Carnegie Hall this past December playing continuo for the St. Cecelia Chorus in a performance of Handel’s Messiah. In her private studio, she coaches singers from The Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, the San Francisco Opera and several European companies. As a vocal music educator, she has taught for the NYCO education department, served as music director for the Opera Workshop of the Black Hills, (Johanna Meier, director) and been on the faculty of Manhattanville College. Ms. Newman holds degrees from The Mannes College of Music, and The City University of New York.

A native of China, Yajie Chen “has a warm voice, a wide range and impressive interpretation.” (Luoyang Daily). Ms. Chen performed Alto Solo in Mozart’s Requiem at Manhattan School of Music and has participated in IVAI in Montreal, Canada. Roles: Suzuki (Madama Butterfly), the Third Lady (The Magic Flute), Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier), Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia) and Isabella (L’italiana in Algeri). She will perform Schubert’s opera Die Verschworenen as Udolin in 2012 spring. Ms. Chen is a candidate of Bachelor’s Degree at Manhattan School of Music.

Tenor, Won Whi Choi has performed Alfredo (La Traviata) and Chevalier (Dialogues of Carmelites) with the Mannes Opera, and Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus) with the Martina Arroyo Foundation and the Korean National University of Arts Opera Theater. He has covered the role of Don José (Carmen) for the Crested Butte Music Festival as a member of their Marcello Goirdani Young Artist Program. At the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, he performed the role of Don José (The Tragedy of Carmen) and Le théière (L'enfant et les sortilèges).

Michael Angelo DeCarlo holds a Bachelors of Music from HARTT School of Music where he studied Voice under Joanna Levy. He has performed roles such as the Frederick (Pirates of Penzance), Tamino (The Magic Flute), Kaspar (Amahl and the Night Visitors), Don Basilio and Don Curzio (The Marriage of Figaro), Judge (Trial by Jury), Raoul de St Brioche (The Merry Widow). Last season, he performed the role of Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte with us. Performance venues include Virginia Opera, Hartford Symphony, Connecticut Concert Opera, Todi Music Festival.

Ilana Goldberg is a Master’s degree candidate at the Manhattan School of Music under Marlena Malas. Credits: Une Pastourelle (L’enfant et les sortilèges), Nella cover (Gianni Schicchi) with Lorin Maazel at the Castleton Festival, Chauve-Souris (L’enfant et les sortilèges) at the Chautauqua Opera, Susanna (Nina) - U.S. Premiere at the Manhattan School of Music. Featured in the HBO special Masterclass working with Plácido Domingo, she is also a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, National Foundation of Arts and Awards Winner, and Grand Concours de Chant 2012 Finalist.

Mezzo-soprano, Nadine Kulberg performed Ruggiero in Alcina and La Principessa in Suor Angelica with us this season and was our Dorabella cover for our Summer Festival performance of Cosi fan Tutte. In 2010, she completed a M. M. in Opera at SUNY Purchase, where she performed six roles. Additional roles: Title role (Carmen) and Maddalena (Rigoletto). She has performed with Berkshire Opera Company, Lake George Opera, and the Fanfare Consort. An avid art song recitalist, she has performed Schubert’s complete song cycle Die schöne Müllerin at three venues this year.

Hailed by the Cleveland Plain Dealer as “as feisty and endearing a Susanna as you’re likely to find,” Marie Masters performed Ännchen (Der Freischütz) and Pisana (I Due Foscari) with Maestra Eve Queler and Opera Orchestra of New York. She was the Soprano Soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Soprano Soloist in Stravinsky’s Le Rossignol and Four Russian Peasant Songs under the baton of Pierre Boulez, the Trainbearer (Elektra) with Franz Welser-Möst, Frasquita (Carmen) with Opera Western Reserve and Ash Lawn Opera Festival, and Zerlina (Don Giovanni).

The Rockwall Music Festival in Rockwall Texas hailed LaMarcus Miller as “A voice to remember…” A 1^st year Masters Student at the Manhattan School of Music, he placed 1^st in the vocal division at the 2009 Delta Symphony Concerto Competition. Roles: Dancaïro (Carmen), Il Commendatore (Don Giovanni) and Simone (Gianni Schicchi), a Beast (Beauty and The Beast). Upcoming: Madame Butterfly & Gianni Schicchi with Sugar Creek Symphony and the Finalists Concert at Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall) for The Nico Castel Master Singer Competition.

Jose Sacín has worked with the Washington National Opera, Opera de Lima Peru, Baltimore Opera, Opera Camerata of Washington, Caramoor Opera Festival, Opera North, Choral Arts Society of Washington, Maryland Opera Society, In Series, Opera Guild of NOVA, among others. Roles include: title roles in Rigoletto and Don Giovanni, Alfio, Silvio, Germont, Rodrigo, Count Almaviva, Escamillo, Sharpless. He appeared on the nationally televised performance for Pope Benedict XVI alongside Placido Domingo at Nationals Stadium in Washington, D.C.

	Tamino	Glenn Seven Allen	2011 performances: Don Jose (Carmen) with Buck Hill/Skytop Music Festival, Ernesto (Don Pasquale) with Hubbard Hall Opera Theatre, Rodolfo La Bohème with Operamission, Adam (Opera in Eden) with American Lyric Theatre, Il Duca (Rigoletto) with Queens Symphony, Almaviva (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) with Intermountain Opera, Tamino (Die Zauberflöte) with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre. 2010 appearances: Alexius (The Chocolate Soldier) with Bard Summerscape, Alfredo (La Traviata) with Long Island Opera, Il Duca (Rigoletto) with Bleeker Street Opera. Bio
	1st Lady	Samantha Jeffreys	Samantha Jeffrey’s roles include Flora & Violetta cover (La Traviata) with Belleayre Music Festival, Erste Dame (Die Zauberflöte) with dell’Arte Opera, the Metropolitan Opera’s Masterly Singing Series, Gretel (Hansel & Gretel) with Nashville Opera, Lover (Il Tabbaro) with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, Musetta (La Bohème) with Brooklyn Opera & with us, and has covered Anina (The Saint of Bleeker Street) with Dicapo Opera. She made her Carnegie Hall Solo Recital Debut by Artists International. Awards: Metropolitan Opera National Council Encouragement Award. Bio
	2nd Lady	Lauren Alfano	Soprano, Lauren Alfano is thrilled to return to us in the role of the 2nd Lady. She was a Resident Artist with the Underworld Productions Opera Ensemble, where she performed in Ben Yarmolinksy’s Clarence and Anita. She made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Remarkable Theater Brigade’s in their production of Opera Shorts. Additional companies: Satori Opera and the Opera Company of Brooklyn. Recent/Upcoming: Gilda (Rigoletto), Despina (Cosi fan tutte),Lisa (La Sonnambula), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), and Alessandro Scarlatti’s Stabat Mater. Bio
	3rd Lady	Mary Kathryn Monday	Mary Kathryn Monday, a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, is excited to join the company of Die Zauberflöte as the Third Lady. She has most recently performed with New York Lyric Opera Theatre’s production of Suor Angelica as The Abbess and the Second Touriere. Her scene work includes roles of Carmen, Marcellina, and Dido. She holds a Bachelor's of Music in Vocal Performance from Furman University. She is a private student of Neil Rosenshein. Ms. Monday is looking forward to building her career in the New York Metro Area. Bio
	Papageno	Jonathan Hare	Praised in previous productions for his "robust voice" and "comic flair," baritone, Jonathan Hare, holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music. Recent performances: Tiny Tim in Thomas Pasatieri's world premiere of God Bless us Everyone at the Dicapo Opera Theatre, and Trigorin in Chekhov’s The Seagull, also with Dicapo, which was staged both in New York and at the Szeged National Theatre in Hungary. Additional roles: Papageno (Die Zauberflöte) with Martina Arroyo Foundation and Marcello (La Bohème) with the Martha Cardona Foundation. Bio
	Queen of the Night	Rebecca Shorstein	Praised for her “radiant voice and captivating stage presence”, Rebecca Shorstein currently lives in New York and was seen lighting up the stage as Lucy in The New York Opera Exchange’s performance of The Telephone. She won prestigious accolades from the Southeast Region of National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the Schlern International Music Festival (Italy). In 2010, Ms. Shorstein made her European debut as the Königin der Nacht (Die Zauberflöte) with the Mittelsächsiches Theater Freiberg. She completed her Masters degree at Florida State University. Bio
	Monostatos	Alex Frankel	Tenor, Alexander Frankel makes his New York Lyric Opera Theatre as well as his New York City debut in the role of Monostatos in The Magic Flute. He made his professional debut in the summer of 2010 as Nanki-Poo in The Mikado with Lyric Theatre of San Jose. Additional credits include Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Livermore Valley Opera, Beppe in I Pagliacci with Sonoma City Opera and has frequently appeared with Berkeley West Edge Opera and Opera San Jose. Mr. Frankel is currently a Student at the Manhattan School of Music. Bio
	Pamina	Margaret Newcomb	Margaret Newcomb is a recent graduate of Manhattan School of Music. This summer, she performed the role of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni at Lyric Opera Studio Weimar in Germany. She recently performed the title role of Nina, o sia la pazza per amore at MSM. Other performances at MSM include opera scenes as Violetta in La Traviata, Norina in Don Pasquale, and Euridice in Orphée aux enfers. Past operetta and musical theater roles include Zorah in Ruddigore, Cosette in Les Misérables, and Belle in Beauty and the Beast. She is a student of Ashley Putnam. Bio
	1st Spirit	Abbey Harr	Soprano, Abbey Harr is finishing her Masters’ at Manhattan School of Music, where she studies with Joan Patenaude-Yarnell. Previous credits include the title role in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience, Amy (Little Women), Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro), Sandman (Too Many Sopranos), La Suora Infermiera (Suor Angelica), and partial roles as Sophie (Werther), Papagena (Die Zauberflöte), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Zerlina (Don Giovanni). Mr. Harr returns to the New York Lyric Opera Theatre in the role of the 1st Spirit. Bio
	2nd Spirit	Madison Marie McIntosh	Madison Marie McIntosh, soprano, made her operatic debut as Barbarina with Vero Beach Opera. She has sung the roles of Barbarina and the Sandman with New York Lyric Opera Theatre. She was a first place winner of Golden Voices of America 2010 and performed in the winners’ concert at Weill Recital Hall. She has also performed multiple concerts in the Beyond the Stage series of the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Her other performance venues include Avery Fisher Hall and Mar-a-Lago. She has studied with Virginia Zeani and currently with Ruth Falcon. Bio
	3rd Spirit	Gina Perregrino	Italian-American mezzo-soprano, Gina Perregrino is currently a scholarship student at the Manhattan School of Music under mezzo-soprano Mignon Dunn. She is a two time 1st Place winner in the National Association of Teachers of singing mid-Atlantic Regional Auditions. She studied at the University of Siena in Italy and performed as a soloist in Tuscany & Switzerland. She performed with the International Vocal Arts Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia and alongside Christopher Plummer in Avery Fisher Hall with Alan Gilbert conducting the NY Philharmonic in Henry V. Bio
	Speaker	Jörg Schnass	Jörg Schnass studied theater, pantomime & acting in Paris, Cologne, Cracow, & Wroclaw. He has extensive performance experience, including Tournées in Europe, over 300 stage productions directed by Robert Lepage, Jerzy Jarocki, Klaus Michael Grüber, over 30 movie pictures, (Norman Jewison, Jonathan Demme, Bertrand Tavernier, Erich Rohmer, Agnieszka Holland). Roles: Dulcamara, Colline (New York) - Sarastro & Sprecher (Belgium), and Osmin (New York, Baugé), Monterone, Baugé, Sparafucile (Stuttgart Opera) Projects 2011/12: Watergoblin & Daland (Leipzig). Bio
	Sarastro	Jörg Schnass	Jörg Schnass studied theater, pantomime & acting in Paris, Cologne, Cracow, & Wroclaw. He has extensive performance experience, including Tournées in Europe, over 300 stage productions directed by Robert Lepage, Jerzy Jarocki, Klaus Michael Grüber, over 30 movie pictures, (Norman Jewison, Jonathan Demme, Bertrand Tavernier, Erich Rohmer, Agnieszka Holland). Roles: Dulcamara, Colline (New York) - Sarastro & Sprecher (Belgium), and Osmin (New York, Baugé), Monterone, Baugé, Sparafucile (Stuttgart Opera) Projects 2011/12: Watergoblin & Daland (Leipzig). Bio
	Old Lady/Papagena	Francesca Caviglia	Soprano, Francesca Caviglia returns to us in the role of Papagena. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota where her performed roles included, most notably, Susanna in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro as well as a female adaptation of the Proprietor in Sondheim's musical Assassins. She performed the role of Sister Osmina in Suor Angelica with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre earlier this season. Bio
	1st Armoured Man	Michael Powell	Michael Powell, tenor, is a recent graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. At Indiana University, he performed comprimari roles in La Rondine and The Most Happy Fella, as well the ensembles of Roméo et Juliette, Cendrillon, Die Fledermaus, and The Barber of Seville. This past summer, he participated in the Canadian Operatic Arts Academy, performing in scenes as Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Male Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia), and George (Sunday in the Park with George). Mr. Powell is a student of Barbara Honn. Bio
	2nd Armoured Man	Jörg Schnass	Jörg Schnass studied theater, pantomime & acting in Paris, Cologne, Cracow, & Wroclaw. He has extensive performance experience, including Tournées in Europe, over 300 stage productions directed by Robert Lepage, Jerzy Jarocki, Klaus Michael Grüber, over 30 movie pictures, (Norman Jewison, Jonathan Demme, Bertrand Tavernier, Erich Rohmer, Agnieszka Holland). Roles: Dulcamara, Colline (New York) - Sarastro & Sprecher (Belgium), and Osmin (New York, Baugé), Monterone, Baugé, Sparafucile (Stuttgart Opera) Projects 2011/12: Watergoblin & Daland (Leipzig). Bio

Cover Singers
	Papagena/1st Spirit	Madison Marie McIntosh	Madison Marie McIntosh, soprano, made her operatic debut as Barbarina with Vero Beach Opera. She has sung the roles of Barbarina and the Sandman with New York Lyric Opera Theatre. She was a first place winner of Golden Voices of America 2010 and performed in the winners’ concert at Weill Recital Hall. She has also performed multiple concerts in the Beyond the Stage series of the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Her other performance venues include Avery Fisher Hall and Mar-a-Lago. She has studied with Virginia Zeani and currently with Ruth Falcon. Bio

	Pandolfe	Terence Shawn***	Terence Shawn makes his debut with us tonight in the role of Pandolfe. He has performed with Operesque Classical Concerts in New York City since 2006 where his roles have included Rodrigo in Don Carlo, the title roles in Rigoletto and Nabucco, Di Luna in Il trovatore, Gerard in Andrea Chenier, and, most recently, Ezio in Attila. In recent seasons, he has also performed the Count in Le nozze di Figaro, Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutte, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, and Scarpia in Tosca with various companies in Toronto. Bio
	Madame de la Haltière	Nicole Weigelt***	Mezzo-soprano, Nicole Weigelt is a native of Oswego, New York. Previous roles include La Abuela (La Vida Breve) and Alkandre (Pénélope) at Manhattan School of Music; Cover of Marilyn Klinghoffer (The Death of Klinghoffer) at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Zita (Gianni Schicchi), Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro), Filipvenva (Eugene Onegin), and Un pâtre (L’enfant et les Sortilèges) at the Chautauqua Institution; Hansel (Hansel and Gretel) and Third Lady (The Magic Flute) with the Hillman Opera; and Maurya (Riders to the Sea) and La Badessa (Suor Angelica). Bio
	Noèmie	Julie Lauren Stevens***	Julie Lauren Stevens recently performed the role of Amy March in Adamo’s Little Women with the Opera Academy of California. Ms. Stevens has gained critical praise and recognition for her performances of Gilbert & Sullivan’s works. Her upcoming performances include Scrooge & Gilbert & Sullivan with the Village Light Opera Group, and Gilbert & Sullivan, THE BALLET! with Dances Patrelle. She received her undergraduate training at New England Conservatory where she studied under Patricia Craig. Ms. Stevens is a second year graduate student at New York University. Bio
	Dorothée	Kim Walton*	Praised for her substantial instrument, soprano, Kimberly Walton returns to us this season in the role of Dorothée. Roles include: leading role in Martinu’s Comedy on the Bridge, as well as Erste Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro), Lapak (Cunning Little Vixen), Suor Genevieve (Suor Angelica), and Mere Jeanne (Dialogue of the Carmelites). In addition to opera, Ms. Walton is an avid recitalist, musical theater performer and champion of new music. Earlier this season, she performed the Witch in Hansel and Gretel with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre. Bio
		Alina Lindquist**	Alina Lindquist is recognized for her beauty of singing and true interpretation of characters. She debuted Countess Ceprano in El Festival de Ópera de A Coruña’s Rigoletto by Verdi and Violetta in a concert version of La Traviata produced by Bill Schuman. Competition winnings: Metropolitan Opera National Council, National Association of Teachers and Singer, Barry Alexander Competition, was awarded an encouragement grant from Marcello Giordani Foundation and was a finalist with Liederkranz Foundation Competition. Upcoming: DiCapo Opera as Resident Artist. Bio
	Cendrillon (Lucette)	Angela Christine Smith***	Angela Christine Smith, Soprano, most recently covered the role of Countess Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre. Other credits include performances with the Belleayre Festival Opera, Opera Singers Initiative, Lake George Opera, South Carolina Opera, Delaware Opera, and Liederkranz Opera. Ms. Smith has performed as a principal artist for many seasons with the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP) at New York City Center, Wolf Trap, and on extensive tours from coast to coast, Canada and Buxton, England. Bio
	La Fée	Jennifer Sin*	Jennifer Sin most recently attended Sherrill Milnes’ program, V.O.I.C.Experience, in Tampa, FL. She was featured in numerous performances with the Longwood Opera Summer Concert Series this summer in Boston, MA. Roles include: Susanna cover (NY Lyic Opera Theatre), Königin der Nacht (NY Lyric Opera Theatre, New York Opera Studio, BASOTI), Parthenis from La Belle Helene (L’Opera du Perigold), Olympia (Boston Conservatory), and 1st Novice (James Madison University). Partial roles: Blondchen, Adele, Norina, Prince Caprice, and Carolina (Il Matrimonio Segreto). Bio
		Hyun Jin Cho**	Hyun Jin Cho has performed Olympia (Les Contes H'offmann), Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor), Sophie (Der Rosenkavalier), Despina (Così Fan Tutte), Oscar (Un Ballo in Maschera), Ilia (Idomeneo), Norina (Don Pasquale), and Sophie (Werther). Her concert appearances include AIMS Summer Festival (Graz, Austria), La Voix du Jardin festival (Paris, France) and L'Art de la voix festival (Lyon,France), concerts in Rome Italy, Vienna, Austria and Carnegie’s Weill Hall. She studied at the Conservatoire National du Région in Paris, France and Manhattan school of Music. Bio
	Le Prince Charmant	*Lea Garinis,**	Mezzo-soprano, Lea Garinis returns to us this season in the roles of Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Prince Charming (Cendrillon), and Third Lady (Die Zauberflöte). She received her Master of Music degree in vocal performance from Ithaca College this past May where she sang the role of La Messaggiera in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo. Mrs. Garinis was recently seen in the ensemble of Don Giovanni and La Rondine with the Martina Arroyo Foundation. Additional roles: Hansel (Hansel and Gretel) with Hillman Opera, and Zulma (L’Italiana in Algeri), Sifare (Mitridate). Bio
		Kerry Gotschall**	Kerry Gotschall was seen this past summer as Dorabella in Così fan Tutte with Seagle Music Colony. She was also performed Suzuki in Madama Butterfly with Kansas Concert Opera, Alisa cover in Lucia di Lammermoor and the Wirtstochter cover in Die Königskinder with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble. Originally from Houston, Texas, she recently received her Masters degree at University of Kansas where she performed in L’enfant in L’enfant et les sortilèges, Mrs. Olsen in Street Scene, and Annina in La Traviata, and Lady Saphir in Patience. She also holds a BM from LSU. Bio

November 19* November 20 Both*

Cover Singers
	Cendrillon (Lucette)	Leanna Pearson***

	Figaro	Jean-Michel Borgeaud***	Bass, Jean-Michel Borgeaud is also a violinist and violist. His studies began with violin, graduating with a Gold medal at the Lille conservatory (France) and then in Switzerland. He entered the famous Guildhall School of Music in London with a full scholarship, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music with Honors. Roles include: Caronte in L’Orfeo with Gabriel Garrido at the Festival de Musique Baroque de Sarrebourg, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro in United Kingdom tour, Des Grieux in Manon and Dulcamara in Elisir d’amore with the Swiss National Opera Studio. Bio
	Susanna	Adele Wilson***	Adele Wilson is currently pursuing her Masters at the Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Cynthia Hoffmann. Roles include: Amarilli in the American Premiere of Handel's Il Pastor Fido under the direction of Dona D. Vaughn, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro (Opera in the Ozarks) and Harry in Albert Herring (MSM). She has sung opera scenes with the MSM Undergraduate Opera Theatre, Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca, and the Washington Opera Institute, and Opera in the Ozarks. Programs include OperaWorks!, and the Frost School of Music Summer in Salzburg. Bio
	Bartolo	Alex Boyd***	Alex Boyd is a young baritone from Purcellville, Virginia. He is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory. Currently studying with Mark Oswald, Mr. Boyd has recently performed with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre as Peter in Hansel und Gretel and Melisso in Alcina. Upcoming: Guglielmo in Così fan tutte with New York Lyric Opera Theatre, Figaro in The Barber of Seville with Opera Oggi. Bio
	Marcellina	Heather Roberts***
	Cherubino	Lea Garinis***	Mezzo-soprano, Lea Garinis returns to us this season in the roles of Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Prince Charming (Cendrillon), and Third Lady (Die Zauberflöte). She received her Master of Music degree in vocal performance from Ithaca College this past May where she sang the role of La Messaggiera in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo. Mrs. Garinis was recently seen in the ensemble of Don Giovanni and La Rondine with the Martina Arroyo Foundation. Additional roles: Hansel (Hansel and Gretel) with Hillman Opera, and Zulma (L’Italiana in Algeri), Sifare (Mitridate). Bio
	Count Almaviva	Jordan Shaner***	Baritone, Jordan Shaner is a native of Denver, Colorado. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Denver and a Master's from the University of Memphis. He has performed many principal and comprimario roles in opera and musical theater, including: Il Conte d'Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Marcello in La Bohème, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, Bob in The Old Maid and the Thief, Thomas Putnam in The Crucible (Ward), the title role in Tartuffe (Mechem), El Dancaïro in Carmen, Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus, and the Baker in Into the Woods. Bio
	Basilio/Don Curzio	J. Andy McCullough*	J. Andy McCullough is a recent graduate of The Juilliard School, where he received his Masters in Opera Performance. Roles at Juilliard Opera Theatre: Monostatos, Basilio, as well as small roles, such as Our Town under the direction of Ed Berkeley. Under the tutelage of Marlena Malas, he has performed the role of Sam in the Chautauqua Summer Schools Production of Susannah and Ensemble in the Juilliard Opera Theatre and Aspen Opera Theatres The Rape of Lucretia. Mr. McCullough is premiering the role of Baldur in Evan Fein's new Opera The Raven's Kiss at Juilliard. Bio
		Dorian Balis**	Tenor, Dorian Balis recently performed the role of Orombello in West Side Opera Society’s production of Bellini’s rarely performed opera Beatrice di Tenda. Roles include Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Gernando and Carlo in Rossini’s Armida, and Idreno in Semiramide, Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw, Camille in The Merry Widow, Gardiner in Giannini’s Beauty and the Beast at Dicapo Opera Theatre, and the Yale Freshman in Gregory Spears’ Paul’s Case with American Opera Projects. He understudied Grivet for the NYC premiere of Tobias Picker’s Thérèse Raquin. Bio
	Countess Almaviva	Meredith Mecum***	Meredith Mecum was awarded Second Place in our 2011 Annual Vocal Competition, Second Place in the first annual Ades Vocal Competition at Manhattan School of Music, and an Encouragement Award from the Gerda Lissner Foundation Competition. Roles: Berta (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) with Opera New Jersey, Donna Anna (cover) with Ash Lawn Opera, Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus) with Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance, and Rose Segal in the NY premiere of Later the Same Evening at Manhattan School of Music, Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) with us last season. Bio
	Antonio	Aaron Grant***	Aaron Grant, a native of Emporia, Kansas, recently completed his graduate studies at The Florida State University where he studied with Mr. David Okerlund. Previous performances include Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola at The Montefeltro Festival in Novafeltria, Italy; Count Ceprano in Rigoletto with Nashville Opera; Peter in Hansel and Gretel with Cimarron Opera; Baron Douphol in La Traviata at The Masterworks Festival; Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore, Don Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Schaunard in La bohème, Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Collatinus in The Rape of Lucretia, with The Florida State Opera. Bio
	Barbarina	Julie Wyma***	Soprano, Julie Wyma, recently moved to New York as a Resident Artist with Dicapo Opera Theater, and is thrilled to be making her debut with us. Performance highlights include Sophie in Werther, Amy in Little Women, Norina in Don Pasquale, Despina in Così fan tutte, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Alice in Alice in Wonderland, Monica in The Medium, Beauty in Beauty and the Beast, Frasquita in Carmen, and Lisette in La Rondine. Her concert work includes Soprano solos in Bach’s Mass in B Minor, St. Matthew Passion, and Magnificat, and Messiah and Judas Maccabaeus. Bio

November 5* November 12 November 5 & 12*

	Leporello	Aaron Grant***	Aaron Grant, a native of Emporia, Kansas, recently completed his graduate studies at The Florida State University where he studied with Mr. David Okerlund. Previous performances include Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola at The Montefeltro Festival in Novafeltria, Italy; Count Ceprano in Rigoletto with Nashville Opera; Peter in Hansel and Gretel with Cimarron Opera; Baron Douphol in La Traviata at The Masterworks Festival; Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore, Don Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Schaunard in La bohème, Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Collatinus in The Rape of Lucretia, with The Florida State Opera. Bio
	Don Giovanni	Gustavo Ahualli***	Gustavo Ahualli made his operatic debut in 1996 as Papageno in Die Zauberflöte in his native city of Tucuman, Argentina. Since then, he has sung in South America, US, France and Italy in leading baritone roles such La Traviata, Don Carlo, Il trovatore, Un ballo in maschera Lucia di Lammermoor, Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni,La boheme, Turandot, Eugene Onegin, I pagliacci, Carmen. He began his musical training at age of seven. In 1998, he obtained his Master in voce from the ISA-Teatro Colón. He was named first-prize winner of the NJAVO in 2006. Bio
	Donna Anna	Meredith Mecum*	Meredith Mecum was awarded Second Place in our 2011 Annual Vocal Competition, Second Place in the first annual Ades Vocal Competition at Manhattan School of Music, and an Encouragement Award from the Gerda Lissner Foundation Competition. Roles: Berta (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) with Opera New Jersey, Donna Anna (cover) with Ash Lawn Opera, Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus) with Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance, and Rose Segal in the NY premiere of Later the Same Evening at Manhattan School of Music, Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) with us last season. Bio
	Il Commendatore	Christian Zaremba***	Christian Zaremba recently covered the role of Agamemnon in Iphigénie en Tauride at the Metropolitan Opera. A fight captain at the Metropolitan Opera, he is also supervising and performing roles in Stephen Wadsworth in Boris Godunov, Luc Bondy in Tosca, Nicholas Hytner in Don Carlo and David McVicar in Il Trovotore. He received a Tisch Merit Scholarship to study theatre at New York University. He graduated with Honors and received a Founders Award for Excellence. Additional: concerts for off-Broadway in NY and festivals in Siena and Como, Italy. Bio
	Don Ottavio	Dorian Balis***	Tenor, Dorian Balis recently performed the role of Orombello in West Side Opera Society’s production of Bellini’s rarely performed opera Beatrice di Tenda. Roles include Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Gernando and Carlo in Rossini’s Armida, and Idreno in Semiramide, Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw, Camille in The Merry Widow, Gardiner in Giannini’s Beauty and the Beast at Dicapo Opera Theatre, and the Yale Freshman in Gregory Spears’ Paul’s Case with American Opera Projects. He understudied Grivet for the NYC premiere of Tobias Picker’s Thérèse Raquin. Bio
	Donna Elvira	Sara Murphy*	New York Times has hailed Sara Murphy's voice as a “soprano [that] soared with a lovely musicality.” Upcoming: staged excerpts from Die Walküre and Cavalleria Rusticana, a concert with excerpts from Aida and Il Trovatore, a solo recital on the Trail Mix Concert Series in Woodstock, NY and the soprano solos is Petite Messe Solennelle in March 2012 with Pro Arte Chorale. Recent performances have included a concert of opera excerpts with Canta Lyrica in May 2011, and an all-Schumann recital with pianist Dalton Baldwin and a recital with pianist Joshua Greene in November. Bio
		Clarissa Lyons**	California native soprano, Clarissa Lyons holds degrees from the University of California Berkeley, the Manhattan School of Music, and Bard College where she studied under the tutelage of Dawn Upshaw and Patricia Misslin. She is the recipient of the Marc & Eva Stern fellowship at SongFest, the Thelma Fisher Memorial Fellowship at Tanglewood, and the 2011 Henry & Maria Holt Scholarship. Additional Credits: recitals with Dawn Upshaw, Stephanie Blythe, Martin Katz, and Graham Johnson, Susan Graham, the Boston Symphony and Rod Gilfry as Elijah. Bio
	Zerlina	Adrienne Pardee***	A native of Los Angeles, Adrienne Pardee recently returned from a second summer at the Tanglewood Music Center, where she appeared as Europe in Milhaud’s Opera L’Enlèvement d’Europe, directed by Mark Morris, and the First Priestess in excerpts from Iphigénie en Tauride as part of a recital by Susan Graham and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Additional performances: Pierrot Lunaire, Four Nocturnes from the Oblivion Ha-ha with New Jersey’s Con Vivo Ensemble, as well as roles of Bessie & Blanche on a premiere recording of Louis Karchin’s new opera, Jane Eyre. Bio
	Masetto	Wesley Landry***	Baritone, Wesley Landry was a Studio Artist with Opera New Jersey for three summers, understudying Cascada (The Merry Widow), Pooh-Bah (The Mikado), and Masetto (Don Giovanni). Additional roles: Trevor in Courtside, a world premiere chamber opera for Houston Grand Opera, Customs Guard in La bohème with Houston Grand Opera and Hortensius (La Fille du Régiment) at Houston’s Opera in the Heights. He received his Masters degree from the University of Houston singing roles in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Die Fledermaus, and A Room with a View. Bio

November 12* December 11 November 12 & December 11*

Tamino	Jonathan Winell*
Tamino	George Jo**	Tenor, George Jo made his debut for the role of Faust from a French grand opera Faust by Gounod at One World Symphony Orchestra. He performed Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte New York Lyric Opera Theatre. He also had a covered role of Rodolfo La Bohème at the Opera Company of Brooklyn. He appeared at Remarkable Theater Brigade Young Artist Summer Program as Sam from House. He has also performed numerous opera gala concerts for various lyric tenor roles such as Des Grieux from Manon, Faust from Faust, Rodolfo from La Bohème and Alfredo from La Traviata. He graduated Manhattan School of Music for the professional studies in 2010, and he holds a Masters of Music degree from Mannes College of Music. Bio
1st Lady	Alexandra Lang***	Soprano, Alexandra Lang, soprano, is recognized for her integrity as a musician, distinct vocal color and versatility as a singing-actress. A native of Atlanta, she made her operatic debut in the title role of Masssenet’s Manon with Opera in the Ozarks. Ms. Lang performed abroad in Périgueux, France where she performed Eurydice in Jacques Offenbach’s Orphée aux Enfers. She performed the national anthem at Boston's historic Fenway Park. Ms. Lang made her debut with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre this season as Gertrude in Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel. Bio
2nd Lady	Sara Fanucchi***	Mezzo-soprano, Sara Fanucchi performs regularly in and around New York City. She recently received praise from Opera News as having given “a delightful portrayal of Zerlina” with a “vibrant, eye-catching presence whenever she was onstage” while performing in Don Giovanni with the Bronx Opera. Additional roles: Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro with Amore Opera, Dorabella in Così fan Tutte at Symphony Space, and Lucretia in The Rape of Lucretia at The Players Club. She was a young artist with Opera New Jersey and holds a Masters from Manhattan School of Music. Bio
3rd Lady	Lea Garinis*	Mezzo-soprano, Lea Garinis returns to us this season in the roles of Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Prince Charming (Cendrillon), and Third Lady (Die Zauberflöte). She received her Master of Music degree in vocal performance from Ithaca College this past May where she sang the role of La Messaggiera in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo. Mrs. Garinis was recently seen in the ensemble of Don Giovanni and La Rondine with the Martina Arroyo Foundation. Additional roles: Hansel (Hansel and Gretel) with Hillman Opera, and Zulma (L’Italiana in Algeri), Sifare (Mitridate). Bio
	Heather Petrie**	Contralto, Heather Petrie, holds a degree in Voice from Bard College and a Masters from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music. Venues/companies include: The American Symphony Orchestra, Westchester Philharmonic and the New Haven and Hartford Symphonies. Roles: Witch (Hansel und Gretel) Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro), Flora (La Traviata), Larina (Eugene Onegin), Miss Todd (The Old Maid and the Thief), Baba (The Medium), and Arnalta (L'Incoronazione di Poppea). She has also performed extensively throughout South Korea with her husband, guitarist David Veslocki. Bio
Papageno	Alex Boyd***	Alex Boyd is a young baritone from Purcellville, Virginia. He is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory. Currently studying with Mark Oswald, Mr. Boyd has recently performed with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre as Peter in Hansel und Gretel and Melisso in Alcina. Upcoming: Guglielmo in Così fan tutte with New York Lyric Opera Theatre, Figaro in The Barber of Seville with Opera Oggi. Bio
Queen of the Night	Monica Pasquini***	Monica Pasquini, coloratura soprano, was a studio artist for Center City Opera Theater in Philadelphia singing Francesca in the North American premiere of The Shops, Norina in Don Pasquale and Despina in Cosi fan tutte. Additional roles: Belinda in Dido & Aeneas, Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ruth Baldwin in the southeastern premiere of John Musto’s Later the Same Evening, and The Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute. Ms. Pasquini holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rollins College and a Master of Music degree from Florida State University. Bio
Monostatos	Alex Frankel***	Tenor, Alexander Frankel makes his New York Lyric Opera Theatre as well as his New York City debut in the role of Monostatos in The Magic Flute. He made his professional debut in the summer of 2010 as Nanki-Poo in The Mikado with Lyric Theatre of San Jose. Additional credits include Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Livermore Valley Opera, Beppe in I Pagliacci with Sonoma City Opera and has frequently appeared with Berkeley West Edge Opera and Opera San Jose. Mr. Frankel is currently a Student at the Manhattan School of Music. Bio
Pamina	Elizabeth Heuermann***	Soprano, Elizabeth Heuermann is a graduate of Indiana University School of Music. Roles: Title Role (Manon), Juliette (Romeo et Juliette), Pamina (The Magic Flute), Norina (Don Pasquale), and Contessa Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Musetta (La Bohème), and Gretel (Hansel and Gretel). Venues: Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space in New York City, Austin Lyric Opera, Opera Illinois, Milwaukee Opera, Bach Society of St. Paul with the St. Paul Orchestra, Dell’Arte Opera of NYC, Kaliope Opera of Long Island, AIMS Festival in Austria, New York Lyric Opera Theatre. Bio
1st Spirit	Julie Wyma***	Soprano, Julie Wyma, recently moved to New York as a Resident Artist with Dicapo Opera Theater, and is thrilled to be making her debut with us. Performance highlights include Sophie in Werther, Amy in Little Women, Norina in Don Pasquale, Despina in Così fan tutte, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Alice in Alice in Wonderland, Monica in The Medium, Beauty in Beauty and the Beast, Frasquita in Carmen, and Lisette in La Rondine. Her concert work includes Soprano solos in Bach’s Mass in B Minor, St. Matthew Passion, and Magnificat, and Messiah and Judas Maccabaeus. Bio
2nd Spirit	Madison Marie McIntosh***	Madison Marie McIntosh, soprano, made her operatic debut as Barbarina with Vero Beach Opera. She has sung the roles of Barbarina and the Sandman with New York Lyric Opera Theatre. She was a first place winner of Golden Voices of America 2010 and performed in the winners’ concert at Weill Recital Hall. She has also performed multiple concerts in the Beyond the Stage series of the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Her other performance venues include Avery Fisher Hall and Mar-a-Lago. She has studied with Virginia Zeani and currently with Ruth Falcon. Bio
3rd Spirit	Symi Rom-Rymer***	Mezzo-soprano, Symi Rom-Rymer is based in Brooklyn, New York. She has given solo recitals in Berlin and Hamburg, Germany as well as performed with a variety of companies in Washington, D.C. and Brooklyn, New York including the Mount Vernon Players, the Washington Revels, and the Brooklyn Repertory Opera. She is very excited to make her debut with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre. When she’s not performing, she’s writing about minority communities in the United States and Europe for national and international publications. Bio
Speaker	Jörg Schnass*	Jörg Schnass studied theater, pantomime & acting in Paris, Cologne, Cracow, & Wroclaw. He has extensive performance experience, including Tournées in Europe, over 300 stage productions directed by Robert Lepage, Jerzy Jarocki, Klaus Michael Grüber, over 30 movie pictures, (Norman Jewison, Jonathan Demme, Bertrand Tavernier, Erich Rohmer, Agnieszka Holland). Roles: Dulcamara, Colline (New York) - Sarastro & Sprecher (Belgium), and Osmin (New York, Baugé), Monterone, Baugé, Sparafucile (Stuttgart Opera) Projects 2011/12: Watergoblin & Daland (Leipzig). Bio
Sarastro	Christian Zaremba***	Christian Zaremba recently covered the role of Agamemnon in Iphigénie en Tauride at the Metropolitan Opera. A fight captain at the Metropolitan Opera, he is also supervising and performing roles in Stephen Wadsworth in Boris Godunov, Luc Bondy in Tosca, Nicholas Hytner in Don Carlo and David McVicar in Il Trovotore. He received a Tisch Merit Scholarship to study theatre at New York University. He graduated with Honors and received a Founders Award for Excellence. Additional: concerts for off-Broadway in NY and festivals in Siena and Como, Italy. Bio
Old Lady/Papagena	Ji Hyun Jang***	A native of South Korea, Ji Hyun Jang has performed several solo recitals in Korea and United States and performed Olympia in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, the Fire in L'enfant et les sortilèges, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. She received her Bachelor at Ewha University and came to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in voice performance at Peabody Conservatory. She continued her studies at Cleveland Institute of Music for Artist Diploma. Currently, Ms. Jang is working on her doctoral studies at the College-Conservatory of Music.