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Resident Colorado Artists
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| Lyric Coloratura Soprano Burgstahler, Patrice Bishop Hoch, Juliana Eversole, Mary Beth Francisco, Ruth Wilson Hill, Heather Keene, Shauna Koenigberg, Rebecca Manring, Lesley Raddatz, Amanda Schock, June Twitty, Katrina Vaughn, Cynthia Lyric Soprano Amidei, Angela Anderson, Charmaine Bolden-Taylor, Diane Burns, Judeth Shay Davis, Sarah L. Diggs, Michelle Dodson, Désirée Draina, Bonnie Emerich, Kate Fernald, Beverly Christiansen Guggenmos, Kara Kasch, Catherine Kerr, Jeannie M. Lovejoy, Tina Rusthoi, Keri |
Seligmann,
Ellie Staggs, Samantha Stuemky, Amy Walecki, Lisa Wigley, Sarah Yeager, Katherine Lyrico-Spinto Soprano Andersson, Amy Boxer, Nikki Canterbury, Stacey Magee, Emily Dramatic Soprano Kirkman Romoff, Cynthia Patterson, Karen Tucker Rowland, Martile Smith, Sheila Lyric Mezzo-Soprano Auer, Judith Barber, Sarah Connolley Christine Creek, Leah Davis, Regina DeDominici, Jennifer Gee, Sharon Harris, Nancy E. Holman, Leigh Kaufman, Tracy |
Laree,
Britta Lattimore, Margaret Morrow King, Janet Ragonetti, Marcia Razón, Gina Remmert Soich, Leslie Vogel, Nicole Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano Christin, Judith Green, Julia Malde, Melissa Scherlong, Lee Ann Simson, Julie Countertenor Scotting, Randall Lyric Tenor Baldwin, Jason Burcham, Joel Fosha, Daniel Goodrich, Lucas Glenn, Larry Kaasch, Donald Queen, Todd Sattley, Adam Shannon, Zachary Sortore, Jeremy |
Stinar, Brian Tallman, Donald Tamblyn, Dennis Walz, Steven Werner, James Dramatic Tenor Appenzeller, Sha Lyric Baritone Aguirre, Carlos Angerhofer, Thomas Erik Gardner, Robert Gerbrandt, Carl Gerbrandt, Gregory Lueck, John Mason, Patrick Shaff, Deven Taylor, Charles Taylor, Steven Thompson, Bradley Tuff, Peter Webster, Douglas Wilson, William Bass Biesterfeld, Mark Cox, Kenneth Job, Christopher |
| Those who Teach and Create
Operas |
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| Chorus Master Baril, John Coach Aguiló-Arbues, Steven Carthy, Nicholas Kasch, Catherine Moteki, Mutsumi Conductor Andersson, Amy Baril, John Brussel, David Carthy, Nicholas Kenney, Wes Simons, Harriet Director, Academic Cox, Kenneth Gustafson, William Luedloff, Brian Clay Queen, Todd Director, Education Holman, Leigh Morrow, Deborah |
Director, Artistic Bishop Hoch, Juliana Myers, Katherine Pearce, Pelham G. Queen, Todd Rowland, Martile Werner, James Director, Executive/General Carpenter, Greg Pearce, Pelham G. Rusthoi, Keri Director, Stage Auer, Judith Holliday, Thomas Holman, Leigh Pianist Aguiló-Arbues, Steven Carthy, Nicholas Green, Julia Moteki, Mutsumi Supertitles Librarian Sortore, Jeremy |
Voice Teacher, Academic Andersson, Amy Bishop Hoch, Juliana Bolden-Taylor, Diane Draina, Bonnie Emerich, Kate Fosha, Daniel Glenn, Larry Kasch, Catherine Koenigberg, Rebecca Lattimore, Margaret Lueck, John Malde, Melissa Manring, Lesley Morrow King, Janet Queen, Todd Schock, June Simson, Julie Stinar, Brian Taylor, Steven T. Thompson, Bradley Twitty, Katrina Vaughn, Cynthia Wilson, William |
Voice Teacher,
Private Auer, Judith Barber, Sarah Bishop Hoch, Juliana Burgstahler, Patrice Draina, Bonnie Emerich, Kate Eversole, Mary Beth Fernald, Beverly Christiansen Francisco, Ruth Wilson Green, Julia Guggenmos, Kara Harris, Nancy E. Kerr, Jeannie M. Kirkman Romoff, Cynthia Patterson, Karen Tucker Rowland, Martile Seligmann, Ellie Smith, Sheila Sortore, Jeremy Thompson, Bradley Twitty, Katrina Van Etten, Anne Walecki, Lisa |
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Steven Aguiló-Arbues, Pianist and Vocal Coach  Steven
Aguiló-Arbues, a native of Southern California, holds a Bachelor
of
Music from the University of Colorado (Boulder) and a Masters of Music
as well as a Professional Studies Certificate from the Manhattan School
of Music in Piano Accompanying. His keyboard and accompanying studies
have been with Larry Graham, Robert Spillman and Thomas Muraco. Mr.
Aguilo-Arbues has given solo and collaborative performances through out
San Diego, Los Angeles, Colorado, New York, Peru, Spain and Italy. His
interest in ethnomusicology has also lead him to Western Europe where
he investigated a rare medieval instrument called the Zanfona, with the
help of an academic UROP Grant from the University of Colorado. Upon
his return, he presented lectures for the faculty and students
regarding his newly found research. In 2002, Mr. Aguilo-Arbues was
appointed music director of Marvin Hamlisch’s A Chorus Line
with the Boulder Broadway Co. and conducted four sold-out performances.
During his time at Manhattan School of Music, he has worked with
numerous distinguished faculty and guest artists. He participated
frequently in coachings and master classes with artists such as Brian
Zeger, Martin Katz, Marilyn Horne, Martha Eggerth, Richard Danielpour,
Ubaldo Fabbri, Thomas Hampson, Stephen Lord, Nico Castel and Renata
Scotto. His love for opera has led him to coach and prepare productions
of Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni, Dialogues des
Carmélites, Il Tabarro and Gianni Schicchi
with the Thomas Muraco/Dona Vaughn Opera Seminar at MSM. In the summer
of 2005 he was invited to join the accompanying and coaching staff at
the Centro Studi Lirica opera program in Italy. In the fall of 2006, he
joined the Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater as an associate
English diction coach for the premieres of their mainstage opera
productions: Lord Byron’s Love Letter and The Village Singer.
During the fall of 2007, he was appointed music director of Manhattan
School of Music's Senior Opera Theater featuring Dido and Aeneas
in collaboration with Dona D. Vaughn. In January of 2008, he joined the
Opera Colorado Outreach Ensemble as their coach pianist; preparing and
playing productions of La Curandera, an abridged version of Rossini's Cinderella
(La Cenerentola), a young artist performance of Don Pasquale,
and special event performances for the 2008 National Performing Arts
Convention and Opera America in conjunct with artists from Central City
Opera. Future engagements include Opera Colorado's '08/'09 season:
Principal rehearsal pianist for Madama Butterfly under the
baton of Stephen Lord, one of two rehearsal pianists for Les
Pêcheurs de Perles, and pianist for the Opera Colorado
Chorus. RESUME 6/08Carlos Aguirre, Lyric Baritone  Born in Guadalajara,
Mexico, Carlos Aguirre received a Bachelor in Psychology from
Universidad ITESO, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. In 1999, Mr. Aguirre
traveled to Colorado where he earned a Master of Music in Vocal
Performance from the University of Colorado Boulder studying with Dr.
Robert Harrison. While at the University of Colorado, Mr. Aguirre
performed Count Almaviva in Le Nozze Figaro under the direction
of Martin Iseep. He also performed Ford in Falstaff and Don
Giovanni in Don Giovanni. In 2002 Mr. Aguirre was accepted into
the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin, Germany where
he studied with renouned tenor Scot Weir. After completing his studies
at the Hochschule in 2005, Mr. Aguirre was accepted into the Jeunes
Voix du Rhin opera studio of the Opéra national du rhin in
Strasbourg, France where he performed for two seasons. As part of the
program Mr. Aguirre performed the role of Escamillo in Carmen
throughout France, and he also performed the role of Dimitri in the
French premire of the American opera The Music Shop by Richard
Wargo. After completing his contract, Mr. Aguirre returned to Colorado
and will be performing Escamillo in Carmen with Opera Theatre
of the Rockies in 2008. 9/07Angela Amidei, Lyric Soprano  Ms.
Amidei, a native Texan, holds both a Bachelor of
Music Education degree and a Master of Music degree from Baylor
University
where she studied under the guide of Dr. John Van Cura. In 2003, she
received
the Louise Conter award as a 4th place finalist in the Denver Lyric
Opera Guild
Vocal Competition. She spent the summer of 2002 singing the role of
Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro
with the New Opera
Festival di Roma (ILAR) under the baton of Maestro Stefano Vignati.
While in Rome, she performed in
several concerts and had the opportunity to coach with famed soprano
Fedora
Barbieri as well as Mara Waldman of New York. Her other roles include
Susannah
in Floyd's Susannah
with the
Denver Opera Company; Donna Anna in Don
Giovanni, Mimi in La
Bohème,
the soprano lead in Side by Side
by Sondheim,
each of which she performed with the Baylor Opera Theater. Her
orchestral and
concert experience includes Soprano Soloist in the Mozart Requiem with the Denver Opera
Company,
soloist for Omaggio a Verdi
with
New Operafestival di Roma as well as solo and ensemble work for "An
Evening of Opera" with the Denver Opera Company. She has had the
privilege of singing Master Classes for Speight Jenkins, Janet Perry,
Sarah
Walker, William Sharp, Lois Alba and Carol Meyer. Ms. Amidei also
performs
concerts benefiting Beyond Baby
Blues,
a non-profit organization she created to provide assistance to women
struggling
with postpartum depression. She currently coaches with Beverly
Fernald with whom she has worked since 2000. RESUME 6/07Go
to Top
Charmaine Anderson, Lyric Soprano  Ms.
Anderson has thrilled audiences along the Front Range for the last ten
years. Professionally trained at Colorado State University and the
University of Northern Colorado, she has appeared in numerous college
opera productions, as well as in recitals and master classes. She sang
the role of Strawberry Woman in Opera Colorado’s 2000 production of Porgy
and Bess. Most notably, Charmaine Anderson has distinguished
herself as a passionate interpreter of Negro Spirituals, the religious
folk songs created by enslaved Africans in America, in the 18th and
19th centuries. Appearing with the Spirituals Project as Marian
Anderson at Gates Hall on the University of Denver campus in 2005, her
stirring rendition of Give Me Jesus, brought an immediate
standing ovation. As a singer of spirituals Ms. Anderson has appeared
as guest artist for the Alpine Chorale, the Spirituals Project Choir,
and for the Shivers' Library Benefit Concert in Colorado Springs. She
was invited to sing as a guest soloist for the National Association of
Negro Musicians annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia and was a
finalist in the organization's national vocal competition. Ms. Anderson
portrayed the singing voices of Dorothy Maynard and Marian
Anderson in the nationally broadcast radio series "Destination
Freedom," for KUVO and KGNU. 10/07Amy Andersson, Lyrico-Spinto Soprano, Vocal Music Faculty, Denver School of the Arts  Go to the website of Amy Andersson Amy Andersson, Conductor, Music Director of the High Plains Youth Symphony  Go to the webpage of Amy Andersson Thomas Erik Angerhofer, Lyric Baritone  Go to website of Erik Angerhofer Sha Appenzeller, Dramatic Tenor  Mr.
Appenzeller, a native Iowan, received his Bachelor of Music Education
degree from The University of Northern Iowa. While pursuing his
Master's degree in Vocal Performance from The University of Texas at
San Antonio, he trained as a baritone. During his time in San Antonio,
he performed many roles at the university as well as with the San
Antonio Lyric Opera, including Kaplan in Street Scene, Imperial
Commissioner in Madame Butterfly, Dr. Gregg in The Gallantry,
Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Fiorello in The Barber of
Seville, Vicar in Albert Herring, and Umberto in La
Serva Padrona. Mr. Appenzeller was also a 1st place graduate men
division winner in the South Texas NATS competition and was the
baritone soloist in Mozart's Solemn Vespers with the San
Antonio Symphony. Since moving to Colorado, Mr. Appenzeller now studies
as a tenor with Martile Rowland.
While
in Colorado he has performed in scenes from Il Trovatore/Manrico,
Otello/Otello, Cavalleria Rusticana/Turridu, Parsifal/Parsifal,
and Norma/Pollione at Opera Theatre of the Rockies' Vocal Arts
Symposium. He also sang the role of Judge Danforth in The Crucible
with Opera Theatre of the Rockies and the roles of Parpignol in La
Bohème and Giuseppe in La Traviata with Opera
Colorado. Mr. Appenzeller was in the ensemble of Sweeney Todd
with Opera Colorado. Concert performances include tenor soloist in
Haydn's The Creation with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and
Chorale. He sang the role of Reymendado in Act II of Carmen and
Manrico in Act IV of Il Trovatore with the Colorado Springs
Philharmonic. He also was the tenor soloist in Handel's Messiah
with First United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs. Mr. Appenzeller
was a finalist in the 2004 Denver Lyric Opera Guild competition. 2/07Judith Auer, D.M.A., Lyric Mezzo-soprano, Voice Teacher, Stage Director  Dr. Auer holds Masters Degrees in
French and in Music from Indiana University and a Doctorate in Vocal
Performance from the University of Colorado. She spent two years in
France on a French Government Assistantship and Fulbright Grant. She
has performed with the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program, the Zurich
International Opera Studio, Stadttheater St. Gallen in Switzerland and
with the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. Dr. Auer, an Associate
Professor of Voice and Opera at the University of Tulsa, took early
retirement in 1995 to join her husband in Boulder. At the University,
she also served as Director of the School of Music and as Associate
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. She now maintains a private
voice studio in Boulder for advanced opera singers and works as a free
lance opera director. She has staged productions of Die Fledermaus,
Cosi fan tutte, and La Bohème for the
University of Kentucky, La Bohème and I Pagliacci
for Colorado Opera Troupe and scene programs for Denver-based Lyric
Artists of the West. In May 2007 she will direct Le Nozze di Figaro
for Columbus State University in Georgia. Each summer Dr. Auer directs Suor
Angelica and teachers voice at the Operafestival di Roma; in August
she team-teaches the Opera III Class at Ghost Ranch Santa Fe. In 2002,
Dr. Auer taught voice and staged opera scenes for the Chongqing Opera
Company in central China and presented a vocal Masterclass at the
Normal University in Shanghai. Dr. Auer returned to China in 2005 and
again worked with the singers of the Chongqing Opera Company. In
addition she spent 10 days at East China Normal University (with 1000
music major) where she gave daily Masterclasses. Together with her
sister Elizabeth Auer, a Ph.D. Psychologist, Dr. Auer conducts master
classes on vocal technique and performance anxiety. 2/07Jason Baldwin, Lyric Tenor  Go to the website of Jason Baldwin Sarah Barber, Lyric Mezzo-Soprano, Voice Teacher  Go to the website of Sarah Barber John Baril, Central City Opera Music Director, Opera Colorado Chorus Master  In November 2005, Maestro John Baril
was the named Central City Opera's first ever Music Director and will
lead a new production of Don Giovanni this summer. He is slated
to conduct Massenet's Cendrillon in the company's 75th
anniversary season in 2007. In past seasons, Maestro Baril conducted
numerous productions including Street Scene, Candide, Little
Women, La Traviata, Carmen, Pagliacci, Goyescas,
Les Contes d'Hoffmann, and last summer's sold-out Madame
Butterfly, marking the directorial debut of Catherine Malfitano.
John has also led numerous young artist cover performances including Tosca,
Rigoletto, and La fanciulla del West. Mr.
Baril is featured as Chorus Master for the Newport Classics recording
of The Ballad of Baby Doe, an opera which, along with Floyd's Susannah,
he has conducted with Opera Theater of Pittsburgh. During his six years
at Yale Opera, he led performances of La cenerentola and Tchaikovsky's Iolanta
as well as numerous scenes programs. His thirteen-year tenure
with Nevada Opera included singing numerous tenor roles including
Dancaire, Spalanzani, Normanno, Goro, Monostatos, Gastone, Parpignol,
Don Basilio, St. Brioche, Eisenstein, Harry and the Magician in The
Consul, as well as conducting L'elisir d'amore, Hänsel
und Gretel, Mame and Il trovatore, in addition to
several productions of The Nutcracker. He has collaborated with
such artists as Dolora Zajick, Colin Graham, Paul Curran, James
Robinson, Stephen Lord, David Agler and Toni Tennille. Mr. Baril has
judged Metropolitan Opera auditions for San Diego, Kansas City and,
most recently, Northwestern Mississippi. This is his fourth season as
Chorus Master for Opera Colorado. 2/06Mark Biesterfeld, Bass  A new name
on the
musical horizon is bass Mark Biesterfeld, a graduate
of the Cincinnati Conservatory and Indiana University. The young
bass has appeared in performances with such companies as the Cincinnati
Opera, Ash Lawn-Highland Opera Festival, Utah Festival Opera, Sarasota
Opera, and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. He has also been a member
of the Opera Colorado Artist Center. On the concert stage, Mr.
Biesterfeld has performed with such orchestras as the Cincinnati
Symphony, Northern Kentucky Symphony, and the Asheville Symphony, among
others. He also has appeared as a soloist with the Wayne Oratorio
Society and the Philadelphia Chamber Chorus. Mr. Biesterfeld recently
appeared with the Boulder Philharmonic as a soloist in Beethoven's
Ninth Symphony. 6/07Juliana Bishop Hoch, Coloratura Soprano, Founder and Artistic Director of Loveland Opera Theatre  Ms. Bishop, a graduate
of
Manhattan School of Music and Eastman School of Music, is currently
completing a doctorate in Voice Performance, Pedagogy, and Opera
Directing at the University of Northern Colorado. A native of Denver,
she began her career in New York in the early 80s performing with
numerous opera companies and orchestras throughout the United States
including Washington Civic Opera, Blossom Opera Festival, Aspen Music
Festival, Mississippi Opera Festival of the South, Westchester Opera,
UNC Opera Theatre, Eastman Opera Theatre, John Brownlee Opera Theatre,
National Symphony, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia
Virtuosi Orchestra of New York, and Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra. Ms.
Bishop has taught on the voice faculties of Colorado Christian
University, Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Columbia
University Teacher's College, University of Northern Colorado, and AIMS
Community College in Loveland. She also maintains a private voice
studio in Loveland. Her teachers and mentors include Elly Ameling,
Gerard Souzay, Birgit Nilsson,
Ellen Faull, Margaret Hoswell, Stephen Wadsworth, Lou Galterio, Joan
Dornemann, Thomas Grubb, Stephen Lord, Will Graham, Robert Spillman,
Henry Lewis,
Howard Skinner, Charmaine Coppom, Carl Gerbrandt, and William
Barto-Jones.
She is a winner of the Beethoven Society voice competition and the
National
Association of Teachers of Singing competition. Miss Bishop also
received
grants from the Denver Lyric Opera Guild and the Allied Arts of Denver.
In 1999, Ms. Bishop received the International P.E.O. Scholar Award for
academic excellence. Ms. Bishop belongs to Pi Kappa Lambda, a national
music
honor socitey. Her operatic performances include Mrs. Ford in The
Merry
Wives of Windsor, Marie in La Fille du Régiment,
Norina
in Don Pasquale, Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, Donna
Elvira
in Don Giovanni, Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring,
Adele
in Die Fledermaus, Constanza in Die Entführung aus dem
Serail,
Pamina and Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte and Yum
Yum
and Pitty Sing in The Mikado. Miss Bishop's solo concert
credits
include performances of Handel's Messiah, Brahms', Faure's, and
Mozart's Requiem, Haydn's The Creation, Mozart's Mass
in C
Major,
Vivaldi's Gloria, Honegger's King David, Vaughan
Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem, Britten's Ceremony of Carols,
Ravel's Chansons
Madecasses, Stainer's Crucifixion, numerous Bach cantatas,
and soloist in UNC's 100th GALA celebration as well as the first place
winner of the UNC concerto competition. In 1999 she made her European
singing debut in a solo recital at Propstei St. Gerold in Austria and
in 2001 her Asian debut singing as soprano soloist in Mozart's Requiem
in Beijing, China. 12/06Diane Bolden-Taylor, Lyric Soprano, Assoc. Professor & Chair, Dept. of Voice, University of Northern Colorado  Go to the webpage of Diane Bolden-Taylor Nikki Boxer, Lyrico-Spinto Soprano  Go to the website of Nikki Boxer David Brussel, Conductor  David Brussel's most
recent opera conducting engagement was Madama Butterfly for
Opera Fort Collins in August of 2004, and in 2001 he led that company's
production of La Traviata. He has conducted performances by the
Larimer Chorale, the Rocky Mountain Youth Orchestra, the Front Range
Chamber Players, the Aurora Symphony, the Rocky Mountain Brassworks,
and the Denver Opera Company, with whom he presented the 2000 Western
U.S. premiere of Patience and Sarah by Paula Kimper and Wende
Persons. In 2001 he was assistant conductor for the Colorado Opera
Troupe production of I Pagliacci. Mr. Brussel has also worked
as accompanist and coach in a variety of settings. He has played French
horn in the Colorado Symphony since 1982, and is an active classical
and jazz ensemble player, soloist and recording artist. Mr. Brussel has
served on the faculty of Colorado State University, Metropolitan State
College of Denver and at the University of Georgia. Currently he is the
Artistic Director of the Front Range Chamber Players of Fort Collins,
with whom he will conduct a performance of the chamber arrangement of
Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde in April of 2007. 1/07Joel Burcham, Lyric Tenor, Assistant Professor, University of Colorado Boulder  Go the the website of Joel Burcham Patrice Burgstahler, Lyric Coloratura Soprano; Voice Teacher; Doctoral Candidate, University of Northern Colorado  Ms.
Burgstahler
completed a Bachelor's Degree at the University of Colorado in Boulder
and a Master's Degree at the New England Conservatory of Music under
the direction of John Moriarty. She won first place in the Regional San
Francisco Opera Auditions and won the Rocky Mountain regional of the
Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She received grants from
Palm Springs Opera Guild, Denver Lyric Opera Guild, and the
Metropolitan Opera National Council. She has appeared with Boston
Opera, Denver Opera, and the New
Jersey Opera, singing the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor,
Musetta
in La Bohème, Madame Herz in The Impressario,
and
Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute. Also Ms. Burgstahler has
sung Madame Latour in Le Postillon de Longjemeau in New York,
Valencienne in The Merry Widow with Denver Opera Company, and
Adina in The Elixir of Love and Gilda in Rigoletto with
New Jersey Opera. She has sung in concerts in New York, Boston, Denver,
and made her European concert debut in Austria in Schubert's Mass
in B-Minor. She performed the role of Carlotta in Phantom
of the Opera in the 1992-2000 Hamburg, Germany, production. Ms.
Burgstahler has recorded a CD on the SYRINX
label, which includes the only recording of Colorado composer Jean
Berger's Villanescas, Spanish song cycle for soprano and
chamber
orchestra. She was based in Hamburg, Germany, from 1992 to 2000, when
she returned to the United States and was on the staff of the
music department at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma until
2005. Ms. Burgstahler was one of five vocalists accepted each summer
into Columbia University, Teachers College Doctoral Cohort Program, and
spent the month of June 2006 in NYC working on her doctorate. 7/06Judeth Shay Burns, Lyric Soprano  Judeth
Shay Burns has
received critical acclaim for her portrayal of operatic and musical
theatre heroines. She was recently awarded a PAPAA for Best Classical
Solo Performance from the Pikes Peak Arts Council for her work as
Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro for Opera Theatre of the
Rockies. Recent engagements include Mozart's Grand Mass in C Major
with the Santa Fe Symphony, Adele in Die Fledermaus for Fort
Collins Opera and Polly Peachum in Three Penny Opera for
Theatreworks. She has performed with Central City Opera, Colorado
Symphony Orchestra, Opera Colorado, Opera Theatre of the Rockies, the
St. Barts Music Festival in the French West Indies, the Landmark
Festival in London, England and a European Tour with the Mid-America
Choir, in such roles as Violetta, La Traviata; Lauretta, Gianni
Schicchi; Adele, Die Fledermaus; Norina, Don Pasquale;
and Baby Doe, The Ballad of Baby Doe. Her concert and oratorio
repertoire includes Handel's Messiah, the Brahms Requiem,
Vivaldi's Gloria, the Bachianas Brasilieros by Villa
Lobos, and Mozart's Exultate Jubilate. She has also performed
as a back-up artist for Sarah Brightman, and was in the ensemble for
the Stephan Sondheim review Not Getting Married Today at the
Trinity Theatre in New York City. Ms. Burns is a graduate of the Mannes
College of Music in New York City where she received the Richard F.
Gold Career Grant form the Shoshanna Foundation and the University of
Colorado at Boulder. She has also studied at the Aspen Music Festival,
where she was a scholarship recipient and member of the Aspen Opera
Theatre Center, and at the Circle in the Square Theatre School in New
York City. 11/05Stacey Canterbury, Lyrico-Spinto Soprano  Ms. Stacey Canterbury, a
soprano native of Charleston, West Virginia, moved to Colorado when she
sang with the
Opera Colorado Outreach Ensemble. Within the Ensemble, she sang the
parts of Mother/Witch in Hansel and Gretel, Monkey/Villager in Monkey
See, Monkey Do, and in the Student Matinee she sang the part of
Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. While in Colorado she has sung
with Opera Fort Collins as Aida in Aida and Soprano
Soloist in an Aria Concert, Opera Theatre of the Rockies in the Singer’s
Mozart and Act I in Tosca for a Puccini Concert,
Opera Fort Collins in an Aria Concert, Greeley Chorale
as the Soprano Soloist in Rossini’s Stabat Mater, The
Black Box Opera Company singing Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Colorado Music Festival singing the Soprano Soloist
part in Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream and Mimi
in La Bohème
(Excerpts) with the Denver Opera Company. She has sung with Sarasota
Opera in their distinguished Studio Artist program as the Lina
understudy in Verdi’s Stiffelio and many Opera
Concerts. Before Ms. Canterbury came to Colorado, she was singing for
four
years with Tri-Cities Opera. While at TCO she sang the roles of
Marguerite in Faust, Suor Angelica in Suor Angelica,
Musetta in La Bohème, Micaëla in Carmen,
Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, Kate Pinkerton in Madama
Butterfly, Gianetta in L'Elisir d'Amore. Her experience in
Oratorio is soprano soloist in Carmina Burana and Dubois' Seven
Last Words. Ms. Canterbury has also performed many Gilbert and
Sullivan operas with the Summer Savoyards, including Josephine in H.M.S.
Pinafore, Casilda in The Gondoliers, Yum-Yum in The
Mikado, and Aline Sangazure in The Sorcerer. She received a
Bachelors and Masters from The Cleveland Institute of Music, and while
at CIM she sang roles such as Monica in The Medium, Despina in Così
fan Tutte, Lady Ella in Patience and Sister
Genevieve in Suor Angelica.
Her awards include the 2004 Finalist in Denver Lyric Opera Guild
Competition, 2003 Finalist in Metropolitan Opera Colorado/Wyoming
District Finals, TCO Guild Scholarship Award, Adele Bernstein Award and
several NATS First Place Awards. Future Engagements
include singing as a soloist in the Opera Fort Collins
Aria Concert and as Leonora in Verdi’s Il Trovatore in April of 2009. Stacey Canterbury
currently studies voice with Martile Rowland. 10/07Greg Carpenter, Executive Director, Opera Colorado  Go to the webpage of Greg Carpenter Nicholas Carthy, Conductor, Pianist, and Vocal Coach, University of Colorado Opera Music Director  Go to the webpage of Nicholas Carthy Judith Christin, Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano  Ms. Christin has
performed over one hundred roles with the leading opera companies
throughout the United States including the Metropolitan Opera, San
Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Santa Fe
Opera and many others. She began the 2002-2003 season by singing her
premiere performances of Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd at the
Lyric Opera of Chicago. She also continues her relationship with Seiji
Ozawa's Saito Kinen Festival for performances of Zita in Gianni
Schicchi in Japan this spring. Later in the season, she returns to
San Francisco Opera for performances
of Mama Lucia in Cavalleria Rusticana, Gertrude Stein in The
Mother of Us All, and The Forester's Wife in The Cunning Little
Vixen. She returns to Chicago for Faust, Houston for Jenufa
and the old lady in Candide with Opera Pacific. Recent
engagements have included performances of Emma Jones in Kurt Weill's Street
Scene with Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Witch in Hänsel und
Gretel at Metropolitan Opera, and Marcellina in Le Nozze di
Figaro with Dallas Opera. She also sang the role of Filipievna in
scenes from Eugene Onegin with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
and Madame Larina in Hawaii Opera Theater's Eugene Onegin.
In the summer of 2002, she performed the role of Marcellina in Nozze
again for her debut with Detroit's Michigan Opera Theatre, and Madam
Larina in Euegne Onegin in Santa Fe, as well as
Mrs. Sedley in Peter Grimes with the Saito Kinen Festival.
Additional past engagements have included performances of Meg Page
in Falstaff, and Margaret in Wozzeck, both with Santa
Fe Opera, Despina in Cosi fan tutte at Houston Grand Opera,
Martha
in Faust and Effie Belle in Floyd's Cold Sassy Tree (a
role she created in the opera's world premiere in Houston), both at
the San Diego Opera, her first performances as Herodias in Salome
with the Milwaukee Symphony, Mrs. Sedley in Peter Grimes with
the Los Angeles Opera, and Annina in Der Rosenkavalier with San
Francisco Opera. Some other memorable characterizations include the
Witch in Hänsel und Gretel with the Los Angeles Music
Center Opera, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly with Opera Colorado
and the New York City Opera; Mrs. Sedley in Peter Grimes, Third
Lady in Die Zauberflöte, the
Countess in Andrea Chenier, Filipievna in Eugene Onegin
and
Rossweisse in Die Walküre all at the Metropolitan Opera;
her
acclaimed Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro has been heard at
the
San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, the Saito Kinen Festival, The
Metropolitan
Opera, and the San Diego Opera; Countess Maritza at the Los
Angeles
Music Center Opera, Gertrude in Romeo et Juliette with
Pittsburgh
Opera, Mum in Albert Herring with Opera Theatre of St. Louis,
and
the Forester's Wife in Janacek's The Cunning Little Vixen at
the
New York City Opera. As a frequent guest of the Santa Fe Opera, she has
performed such roles as Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Mother Marie
in Dialogues of the Carmelites, and Adelaide in Arabella.
As
a highly sought after interpreter of new and unusual repertoire, Ms.
Christin has created several roles in the U.S. premieres of many
operas, including Susanna in John Corigliano's Ghosts of Versailles
at the Metropolitan Opera in 1991. She also sang the role of Dolly in
the U.S. premiere of
Iain Hamilton's Anna Karenina with the Los Angeles Opera
Theatre,
and La Baronne in the American premiere of Massenet's Cherubin
at
Carnegie Hall. Additionally, her other world premiere performances
include
Beeson's Dr. Heidegger's Fountain of Youth, Burton's The
Duchess
of Malfi, Pasatieri's Signor Deluso, Titus' Rosina,
and
revised versions of Pasatieri's Washington Square and Mayer's Death
in the Family. Judith Christin is also noted as a soloist with
orchestra
and made her Carnegie Hall debut as the alto soloist in Handel's Messiah
with the Oratorio Society of New York. She has been a guest
soloist
with the National Symphony, Houston Symphony, Denver Symphony, Buffalo
Philharmonic, Syracuse Symphony, Long Island Philharmonic, Choral Arts
Society of Washington, Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra, and
Westchester
Choral Society. Miss Christin is the recipient of awards from the
Metropolitan
Opera Regional Auditions, Opera America Auditions, Sullivan Foundation,
and Martha Baird Rockefeller Fund for Music. She is a native of
Providence,
Rhode Island and received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees
from Indiana University. She currently resides in Denver with her
husband Larry Glenn.Christine Connolley, Lyric Mezzo-Soprano
Go
to Top Christine
Connolley, a graduate student at Colorado State University
and Apprentice Artist with Opera Fort Collins, most recently performed
the title role in Britten's Rape of Lucretia for Colorado State
Opera Theater and Mamma Lucia in Opera Fort Collins' performance of Cavalleria
Rusticana. Christine has also performed the Witch in Hansel and
Gretel at Metro State College. Scenes include Augusta in the Ballad
of Baby Doe, Dido in Dido and Aeneas, Amneris in Aida,
Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus and the title character of Carmen
at Metro State College and Black Box Opera Workshop. Christine recently
traveled with the Denver Choir of the Cathedral of the Immaculate
Conception to Salzburg where they performed Mozart's Requiem at
the International Mozart Festival. Christine holds a Bachelor of Music
from Metro State College where she was the recipient of the Beverly
Fernald Scholarship, Denver Lyric Guild Scholarship and Metro's Music
Talent Award. 11/07Kenneth Cox, Bass, Professor, Chair of Vocal Department, Director of Opera Theater, Lamont School of Music University of Denver  Prof. Cox has sung as a
leading
basso with international opera houses of the world, including Paris,
Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal,
Seattle, San Diego, Washington, Philadelphia, Dallas, Amsterdam,
Brussels, and the Opera San Carlo in Napoli. Some of his portrayals
have been Baron Ochs, Sarastro, Osmin, Hunding, Mephistopheles, Arkel,
King Phillip, Banquo, Timur, Don Basilio, Raimondo, and Gremin. His New
York appearances include two productions with the New York City Opera,
and his debut at Carnegie Hall, with the Pittsburgh Symphony in Tristan
und Isolde. Several years ago, he was invited to travel to Spoleto,
Italy to
sing the title role in The Death of the Bishop of Brindisi, a
work dear to the heart of Gian Carlo Menotti, in celebration of his
85th birthday. Having sung a large number of the standard bass roles,
Ken has also enjoyed participating in some contemporary productions,
including the world premiers of Conquistador, and Salammbo,
and quite theatrical stagings of Billy Budd, and Of
Mice and Men. He has also appeared with the symphony orchestras of
Cleveland, Los Angeles, Vienna, Tokyo, Jerusalem, San Francisco,
Atlanta, Baltimore, St. Louis, and the Mostly Mozart Festival in New
York. His recordings include Mahler's Eighth Symphony,
with the late Robert Shaw, Herodiade with the San Francisco
Opera, and the Stein/Boulez Pelleas et Melisande, with the
Welsh National Opera. Prof. Cox sang with the French National Orchestra
this past February in a concert of Rienzi and will return next
year to sing with Kurt Masur and the same orchestra in Die Erste
Walpurgisnacht. Most recently, Mr. Cox traveled to Tel Aviv,
appearing with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, and to Amsterdam for
a new production of The Bassarids with the Netherlands Opera
Company. 12/05Leah Creek, Lyric Mezzo-soprano  Ms.
Creek, in addition to being the 1996 winner of the Metropolitan Opera
National Auditions for the Rocky Mountain region, also was named first
place winner in the Dicapo Opera Theatre Vocal Competition. Recently,
Ms. Creek appeared with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic performing as
a soloist in the Mozart Requiem. Ms. Creek was seen in New York
City Opera's Paul Bunyan, on "Live from Lincoln Center." Other
New York City Opera appearances include roles in Intermezzo, L'Enfants
et les Sortileges, Meg Page in Falstaff, and Anna Hope in The
Mother of Us All, among others. Ms. Creek also sang Nicklausse in Tales
of Hoffmann at the Utah Opera Festival in 1999. Recent engagements
include Hansel for Sarasota Opera, Nicklausse for Syracuse Opera, and
Erika in Barber's Vanessa with Des Moines Metro Opera. Ms.
Creek has also appeared with New England Lyric Operetta and Opera
Colorado (Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte under the baton of
Richard Bonynge). She performed with Wolf Trap Opera and was an
apprentice artist with Santa Fe Opera. Ms. Creek made her Carnegie Hall
debut in June, 1999, with Mid-America Productions as soloist for
Mozart's Solemn Vespers. She returned in May, 2000, for the
Durufle Requiem, and sang in the Mozart Requiem in
2001. Ms. Creek recently appeared with the Boulder Philharmonic as a
soloist in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Ms. Creek received a Master of
Music in Voice from Indiana
University. While there she studied with Vera
Scammon and was a recipient of the Richard F. Gold Career Grant. In
the summer of 2003 she and her family returned to live in Colorado. Ms.
Creek is represented by Sara Tornay for concert work and Blythe de
Blasis for opera. 6/07Go
to Top
Regina Davis, Mezzo Soprano  Mezzo Soprano Regina
Davis is a native of Lake Toxaway, NC and is a graduate of Converse
College where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal
Performance. Regina was a sixth place finalist at the 2008 DLOG
competition and received an Encouragement Award at the 2006 Colorado
Metropolitan Opera Auditions. She was a member of the 2005 American
Institute for Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, where she performed in
both operetta and operatic venues. Regina was most recently excepted as
a Studio Artist into the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training
Program with the Central City Opera House Association. While in Central
City she performed the role of Pauline in West Side Story. She
performed the role of Mercedes in Opera Theatre of the Rockies'
production of Carmen. She has also been seen in Opera Theatre
of the Rockies’ productions as Jo, in Little Women, Lady
Charlotte Malcolm in A Little Night Music, Hansel in Hansel
and Gretel and Serse as Serse. She has sung Malika in
Delibes' Lakmé, Zita in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi,
and Maria in The Sound of Music. Regina is a student of Martile
Rowland and lives in Colorado Springs.Sarah L. Davis, Lyric Soprano, Voice Teacher  Go to the website of Sarah L. Davis Jennifer DeDominici, Lyric Mezzo-Soprano  Jennifer DeDominici is
gathering impressive reviews for her work on some of our region's
finest stages. For her portrayal of the title character in Rossini's La
Cenerentola for June, 2005 performances with Opera Theatre of the
Rockies, the Gazette Telegraph stated: "At the end of the
three-hour evening, the dazzling Jennifer DeDominici merely has to
deliver one of the most mind-bogglingly difficult arias ever written
for a mezzo-soprano. She did so on opening night with style, a velvety,
even tone, and an extraordinary clarity that made the aria the
evening's climax." And, for her portrayal of Signora Fioria in the
Arvada Center’s 2007 production of Do I Hear a Waltz?, in Westword:
"Jennifer DeDominici delivers a gemlike performance as pensione-keeper
Fioria. DeDominici’s voice is as fluid and gleaming as a deep, running
stream at night; her Fioria is seductive and amoral, but so utterly
content with herself and her life that you can’t help admiring her;" in
the Boulder Daily Camera: "Jennifer DeDominici nearly steals
the show as Fioria, the pragmatic Italian hotel owner. Her comic solo
‘This Week, Americans’ highlights the first act…" in the Denver Post:
"a spectacular turn by Santa Fe Opera star Jennifer DeDominici…"
and in the Rocky Mountain News: "DeDominici, though, is the
accidental star of this production. With a figure and a face like Ava
Gardner, she seduces without effort, a hottie widow who spits Italian
like a native." Thus far in 2007, Jennifer triumphed as Hänsel in
Opera Theatre of the Rockies’s production of Hänsel und Gretel
and as Aldonza in Colorado Light Opera’s Man of La Mancha. She
was also declared the first place winner of the Denver Lyric Opera
Guild Auditions. Jennifer was selected from among some 1,000 singers to
participate in the prestigious Santa Fe Opera's Apprentice Artist
Program for the summers of 2002 and 2003. For the Santa Fe stage, she
covered the roles of Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, Filipyevna in
Eugene Onegin, and sang the role of Feklusha in Katya
Kabanova. She has also been seen on the stage of Opera
Colorado as Clotilde in Bellini’s Norma, Rosina in Il
barbiere di Siviglia, and Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflote.
In March of 2006, Jennifer enjoyed the role of Pitti Sing in The
Mikado with Central City Opera and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.
Jennifer has toured with Central City Opera both in 2004 and 2005 in
addition to being a regular member of the Central City Opera Ensemble.
She was a member of the Opera Colorado Outreach Ensemble from
2001-2004, and ventured to Alaska in 2005 to be Mezzo-Soprano soloist
for the Anchorage Opera Studio Theatre. Other performances include
"Opera on the Rocks" with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in 2004,
"West Side Story" with Colorado Music Festival, Hänsel for
the Fort Collins Symphony, 2005 Soloist for the Maine Gay Men's Chorus,
and the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors in Boulder in
2005. Ms. DeDominici had the distinct honor of covering the role of
Carmen for Opera Colorado's premiere operatic production in the new
Ellie Caulkins Theatre with Denyce Graves during November, 2005. She
was also one of only 11 singers world-wide to be chosen to study at
Italy's famed EPCASO (Ezio Pinza Operatic Institute in Oderzo) where
she spent the summer of 2006 studying with renowned Italian musicians,
Claudia Pinza and Maestra Enza Ferrari. Ms. DeDominici is performing
now in the Arvada Center’s production of La Cage aux Folles
through December 23 and will debut in the title role in Carmen
with Opera Theatre of the Rockies in March 2008. 11/07Michelle Diggs, Lyric Soprano  Go the the website of Michelle Diggs Désirée Dodson, Lyric Soprano  Désirée
Dodson hails from Littleton, Colorado and is a young blossoming talent
within the Colorado opera scene. As a lyric soprano, Desiree has
essayed the roles of Nedda in I Pagliacci and Magda in La
Rondine for The Aspen Music Festival where she was under the
tutelage of Carol Vaness and Elizabeth Hynes. Ms. Dodson has also
appeared as Cio Cio San in Madama Butterfly scenes, Nedda in I
Pagliacci, and Susannah in Susannah for the Vocal Arts
Symposium. Ms. Dodson appeared as Mimi in La Bohème, and
covered the role of Liu in Turandot for the Opera Theatre of
the Rockies in 2006. Ms. Dodson has been a District Finalist in the
Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2000, 2003, and 2006.
She was a Semi-Finalist in the Meistersinger Competition of Graz,
Austria in 2006. Désirée completed her Bachelor of Arts
degree in English Literature and Religious Studies at the University of
Denver. She currently studies with Martile
Rowland of Colorado Springs and performs regularly as an outreach
artist for the Opera Theatre of the Rockies. She is currently preparing
to sing Micaela in Carmen of Opera Theatre of the Rockies
(performances in March, 2007). 8/07Bonnie Draina, Lyric Soprano, Voice Teacher  Go to the webpage of Bonnie Draina Kate Emerich, Lyric Soprano, Instructor of Voice, University of Denver  Go to the webpage of Kate Emerich Mary Beth Eversole, Lyric Coloratura Soprano, Voice Teacher  Go to the website of Mary Beth Eversole Beverly Christiansen Fernald, Lyric Soprano, Voice Teacher  M. Fernald has made a
profound
mark on the musical world with her flawless and velvety voice. Critics
have praised her voice along with her
ability to portray operatic characters with rare insight. She carries
this depth of understanding into
her interpretations of the "art song" and is now concentrating on
promoting the performance of works by the 'great composers of song and
poetry'. She has concertized throughout the United States and Europe.
Her recent recital tour in Russia won her great acclaim with many
requests for return engagements. Ms. Fernald's extensive career
includes performances with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony,
and the Denver Symphony among many others. She has
performed leading roles in opera throughout the United States including
the New York City Opera, having shared billing with such artists as
Beverly Sills, Sheryl Milnes, and Roberta Peters. Her
experience as a performer covers a broad span, from Opera to Broadway,
from Oratorio to Recital, from Church soloist to Night Club Entertainer
and Recording Artist. She has performed in Summer Stock; on network
television in such shows as the Johnny Carson Show and the Hollywood
Palace; in Milton Berle's Nightclub Review; and has made numerous other
television and radio appearances. Ms. Fernald has also been the
recipient of many prestigious awards including the Ford Foundation
Grant for Young Opera Singers, the Rockefeller Grant, and was a winner
in the Concoure de Geneve in Switzerland. As a vocal teacher and vocal
coach, Ms. Fernald has achieved an impressive reputation. She is the
founder and director of the Colorado Center for the Vocal Arts and was
formerly a faculty member at
Metropolitan State College of Denver. Many successful artists
have come out of her studio and are performing throughout the world.
She is in demand for her master classes in vocal technique and
interpretation of song literature and as a clinician, lecturer, and
adjudicator. 1/07Daniel Fosha, Lyric Tenor 
Mr. Fosha is a Colorado Springs native based in Denver. Upcoming performances include a reprise of Gastone in La Traviata with Opera Colorado in November, and then he will be seen as Goro in Madame Butterfly with Opera Theatre St. Louis in April of 2008. His most recent appearance this year was in the role of Bruno in I puritani with Opera Theatre St. Louis, which followed his role of Buchanan in Kurt Weill's Street Scene also in St. Louis in 2006. He often appears as a member of the Central City Opera Ensemble, having created the role of Rodolfo in the bilingual opera En Mis Palabras. He has been a regular with Opera Colorado, appearing as Monostatos in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Basilio in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, Borsa in Verdi's Rigoletto, Remendado in Carmen, and Normanno in Lucia di Lammermoor. He has premiered many new works, including the role of Orsino in Twelfth Night by composer Joel Feigin with Longleaf Opera in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the role of Houdini in the musical Hocus Pocus in Boulder. He has performed Handel’s Messiah with the Charleston Symphony, the Boulder Philharmonic, and the Aspen Chorale Society. Daniel has performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Colorado Springs Symphony, and twice with the Boulder Philharmonic. Other concert performances include Puccini’s Messa di Gloria with the Denver Philharmonic, the Evangelist in Bach's St. Matthew Passion in Lindsborg, Kansas, Don José in Act 2 of Bizet's Carmen with Opera Theatre of the Rockies, and Gounod's St. Cecilia Mass with the Colorado College Choir. He appeared as Alfredo in the UCCS Theatreworks/Opera Theatre of the Rockies collaborative effort of The Lady of the Camellias. Daniel has also performed in musical theatre, as multiple characters in Cole Porter's Nymph Errant with UCCS Theatreworks, the title role in Candide with Opera Theatre of the Rockies, and the Phantom in the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center production of Phantom. He has been a featured performer in pops concerts with both the Colorado Music Festival and the Colorado Symphony. Daniel got his start with the historic Colorado Opera Festival where he appeared as the tenor Armed Guard in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Remendado in Carmen, and Missail in Boris Godunov. In 2002 he won second place in the Metropolitan Regional Finals in Denver, and was a finalist in the Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition. Daniel was an apprentice with both the Chautauqua Opera and Central City Opera, and received his Master's degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he appeared as Lysander in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the title role in Egisto, Gonzalve in L'heure Espagnole, Tamino in The Magic Flute, Camille in The Merry Widow, and Motel in Fiddler on the Roof. Daniel has also appeared with the Crested Butte Music Festival, Colorado Opera Troupe, Longmont Theater Company, and the Boulder Chorale. He currently is a cantor at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Denver. 9/08 Ruth Wilson Francisco, Lyric Coloratura Soprano  Go to the website of Ruth Wilson Francisco Robert Gardner, Lyric Baritone Sharon Gee, Lyric Mezzo-Soprano  Sharon Gee is a
theatrical and vivacious new performer on the northern Colorado opera
scene. She has recently completed her B.M. degree in Vocal Performance
from Colorado State University and is currently pursuing her Masters
degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Northern Colorado.
Sharon’s future engagements include the role of Jo in Mark Adamo’s Little
Women in November, 2007, and she will originate the role of Tituba
in the premier of Previn Hudentz’s Salem in February, 2008. She
has performed roles with Colorado State Opera Theatre, Opera Fort
Collins, CSU Café Theatre, and Operafestival di Roma including:
Kate/Lilli Vanessi in Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate (2007),
Cherubino in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (2007), Le Maman/Le
tasse chinois in Ravel’s L’Enfant et les sortilèges
(2006), Brick Top/dance lead in Cole Porter’s Red, Hot, and Cole!
(2006), Dorabella in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte (2005), Katisha in
Gilbert and Sullivan’s Mikado (2005), Mercedes (cover) in
Bizet’s Carmen (2005), Ma Moss in Copland’s The Tender Land
(2005), Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (2004), and Mrs.
Herring in Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring (2004). Sharon is
a two-time, first place winner in the CO/WY NATS competition and is a
three-time Denver Lyric Opera Guild Scholarship recipient. 10/07Carl Gerbrandt, D.M.A., Lyric Baritone, Emeritus Professor of Voice, University of Northern Coloado  While
he made his
mark in the field of operatic performance, Dr. Gerbrandt has also
presented many choral workshops, master classes and recitals
nationwide. Of his over seventy opera and oratorio roles, four have
been American premieres. Dr. Gerbrandt has appeared in two filmings of
Handel's Messiah and made his professional directing debut at
Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center with Mozart's The Abduction from
the Seraglio. He has been presented in operatic productions at
three national music conventions, served on a distinguished panel of
international judges, and also given a presentation on the "Opera/Music
Theatre Cross-over Singer" before the national convention of the
Metropolitan Opera's Central Opera Service. In 1990, Dr. Gerbrandt held
a Visiting Scholar position at Cambridge University, England, where he
completed his book, Sacred Music Drama: the Producer's Guide,
published in 1993 by Prestige Publications. He has also recently
completed editing The Complete Songs of Louis Cheslock. In
1991, he was selected by his college as Scholar of the Year. He holds
conducting and performance degrees from Tabor College and Wichita State
University, and a doctoral degree from the Peabody Conservatory of
Music at Johns Hopkins University. Post-doctoral studies have included
work in Detmold, Germany. 1/07Gregory Gerbrandt, Lyric Baritone  Gregory
Gerbrandt comes home to Colorado to sing the role of Figaro in Il
barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Fort Collins, after having
performed concerts with American Opera Projects in NYC in May of 2007.
In February and April of this year, he performed both Gregorio in Romèo
et Juliette and the Commissioner in Madama Butterfly with
Nashville Opera. Also during this past year, Gerbrandt performed the
role of Samuel in The Pirates of Penzance for Glimmerglass
Opera, Pish-Tush in The Mikado with both Opera Idaho and the
Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the title role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah
with the Greeley Chorale and Orchestra, the solos in Haydn’s Paukenmesse
with Nebraska Choral Arts Society, and with Opera Omaha as soloist in War
Horse 101. Future engagements consist of singing Marcello in La
bohème with Ash Lawn Opera (July-August, 2007), Silvio in Pagliacci
with Opera Fort Collins (August, 2007), and a return to Nashville Opera
as the Revival Worker in the world premiere of Elmer Gantry.
Other recent engagements include performing the role of Silvio in Pagliacci
with Sarasota Opera, singing the baritone solos in Faure’s Requiem
and Rutter’s Mass of the Children with the West Nebraska
Masterworks Chorale and Orchestra, performing the roles of Prince
Yamadori in Madama Butterfly and John Shears in Paul Bunyan
with Central City Opera, and performing in Die Fledermaus as
Dr. Falke with Opera Fort Collins. Other notable professional
engagements include Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro,
Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, Malatesta in Don
Pasquale, Belcore in L’elisir d’amore, Tarquinius in The
Rape of Lucretia, and Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
with Glimmerglass Opera, Opera North, Lyric Opera Colorado, Kentucky
Opera, and a tour through Cairo, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. In
addition to his performance schedule, Gerbrandt has found time to keep
his volunteer status as a firefighter at the Kersey Fire Department in
Colorado! 5/07Larry Glenn, Lyric Tenor, Professor of Voice, Lamont School of Music University of Denver  Professor Glenn is a
graduate of the Julliard School. He has performed throughout the U.S.
as a soloist with companies such as the New York City Opera Theatre,
Atlanta Opera, New York Lyric Opera, Mobile Opera, and National Opera.
He has sung leading roles in II Barbiere di Siviglia, La
Cenerentola, Faust, L'elisir d'amore, La
Traviata, and many others. Mr. Glenn has been the featured soloist
with the American Symphony Orchestra, as well as soloist with the
Westchester Symphony Orchestra for the 80th birthday celebration of
Aaron Copland. He also performed Il Barbiere di Siviglia with
the International Gubbio Festival in Italy and for three years as
leading tenor with the Opera Institute of Rome Festival in performances
of Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Nemorino in L'Elisir
d'Amore, and the Witch in Hänsel und Gretel. He also
acted as stage director for the Rome Festival for seven seasons
where he directed Don Giovanni, L'Elisir d'Amore, Le
Nozze di Figaro, Die Fledermaus, Hänsel und Gretel,
La Traviata, Die Zauberflöte and Carmen.
He recently appeared as a guest artist for the Oratorio Society of New
York in performances of Handel's Messiah in the Czech Republic
with the Prague Symphony Chamber Orchestra. Mr. Glenn's current classes
include Lyric Diction (English/Italian, German/French), Vocal
Literature and Opera Direction. For the last five years he has sung
leading roles with the Maud Powell Festival in five world premieres of
operas. He currently resides in Denver with his wife Judith Christin. 1/07Lucas Goodrich, Lyric Tenor  Lucas
Goodrich is a versatile young tenor whose repertoire encompasses opera,
oratorio, art song and musical theatre. Performing credits include Tony
in West Side Story, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte,
Male Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia, Lun-tha in The King
and I, Benvolio in Romeo ét Juliet, Nanki-Poo in The
Mikado, and Tony in Master Class. As a graduate student at
the University of Colorado, Mr. Goodrich served as a teaching assistant
and his thesis work includes a reference guide to Italian song
literature for young singers. While at CU, he was a regular soloist
with the Early Music Ensemble under the direction of renowned
harpsichordist Elizabeth Farr. Lucas has been a soloist with the Arvada
Center Chorale, Grace Chorale, Boulder Messiah Chorale, and Eastern
Symphony Orchestra, performing concert works such as Britten's Ceremony
of Carols, Handel's Messiah and Mozart's Vespers.
Recent productions include Oklahoma and Cosi fan tutte
with the Natchez Festival of Music. Later this summer he
joins Utah Festival Opera as a Festival Artist. Mr. Goodrich holds
degrees from the University of Colorado (MM 2007) and Eastern Illinois
University (BM 2004). He is originally from Arthur, Illinois and
currently resides in Boulder, Colorado where he studies with Margaret
Lattimore. MySpace
5/08Julia Green, Pianist, Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano, Lieder Singer, Voice Teacher  Julia Green began her
study of piano at age 6 in Rockford, Illinois.
She also studied clarinet, cello and musical theatre in high school.
Julia continued her study of music at Northern Illinois University. Ms.
Green soon moved to New York City where she studied voice with
Nancy and piano with Si Ribakov of the Juilliard School of Music. In
addition, she coached in voice with Tom LaMonaca. Presently, Julia
studies piano with Monique le Duc from the Paris Conservatoire, and in
the past piano with Mary Gunning from the New Mexico Symphony, voice
with Ms. Jean Kraft, mezzo-soprano from the Metropolitan Opera, and
Regina Rickless from the European stage. Notably, Ms. Green performed a
piano concert for the Spanish Ambassador to the U.S. (1999) and has
sung several roles and performs throughout the USA and Brazil. Her song
recitals allow her to indulge in her passion for Lieder and romantic
duets. Julia received the honor of teaching opera students at Federal
University, Natal, Brazil. Ms. Green has
served at the University of New Mexico as faculty pianist (2001-2005)
in the Ballet and Theatre Department. She also was Music Director for
the United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, NM. Ms. Green prepared the
children's chorus for Opera Southwest and was director of the Edgewood
Opera Group which introduced the community to the stage and all its
components. She accompanied many students for recitals and competition
and prepared students for auditions in opera, operetta and Broadway
genres. Ms. Green continues to perform and teach both instruments. Ms.
Green resides in Arvada. 1/08Kara Guggenmos, Lyric Soprano, Voice Teacher  Ms. Guggenmos received
her
Bachelor of Music degree in Sacred Voice Performance from Moody Bible
Institute in Chicago, Illinois in 1996 where she studied with Dr. Terry
Strandt. She then went on to study voice at the University of
Colorado at Boulder with professors Julie
Simson and Dr. Robert Harrison,
where she obtained her Master's degree in Vocal Performance in May of
2001. While at the University of Colorado, Kara was awarded the
prestigious Galen and Ada Belle Spencer award for two consecutive
years, granting her full tuition. Kara has coached with
such prestigious singers and coaches as Benita Valente, Martin Isepp
and Ashley Putnam. She won the National
Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Award Competition in July
of 2002 in San Diego, CA. Her prize was a debut solo recital in
Carnegie Hall (Weill Hall), which she gave in 2003. Other
awards and achievements include being a Metropolitan Opera National
Council Regional Finalist for the last three years, the MONC
Colorado/Wyoming District winner in 1999 and 2002, and a Denver Lyric
Opera Guild competition finalist in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Operatic roles
include Violetta in Central City Opera's preview of La Traviata,
the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro under the direction of
Martin Isepp, and Hannah in the Merry Widow, both at the
University of Colorado. Kara was a resident artist with Opera Colorado
in the spring of 2002, playing Gretel in their student matinee of Hänsel
und Gretel. She has also appeared with the Littleton,
Colorado Symphony and the University of Colorado Orchestra performing
the Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss. She was the featured
recitalist in New Orleans in 2004 at the NATS National Convention.
Kara teaches
voice to about 20 students and also works full time as the Director of
Worship at Calvary Church in Longmont. Kara, her husband Neil and their
sons Luke and Landon reside in
Longmont. 2/07William Gustafson, Director of Opera Studies College of Music, University of Colorado Boulder  Go to the webpage of William Gustafson Heather Hill, Lyric Coloratura Soprano  Soprano Heather Hill’s
young musical career has already taken her across the United States,
Europe, South America, and Australia in a variety of venues including
regional opera as well as international tours, concerts and recitals,
off-Broadway and regional musical theater, television and film. In 2008
she is reprising her role as Clara in NY Harlem Production’s European
tour of Porgy and Bess. Recent performances include the role of
Achsah in a rare staged production of Handel’s Joshua, Lisa in La
Sonnamnbula with ConcertOPERA of Philadelphia, and Konstanze in Die
Entführung aus dem Serail with Opera Colorado, for whom she
also created the role of Donisa in the world premiere of Robert Xavier
Rodriguez’ comedic one-act opera La Curandera. Ms. Hill’s other
roles include the title role in Semele, Galatea (Acis and
Galatea), Bastienne (Bastien et Bastienne), La Princesse (L’enfant
et les sortileges), and Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro).
Current projects include the Queen of the Night and Gilda. Ms. Hill’s
awards and honors include the 2006 Karl Schmid Memorial Award of the
Denver Lyric Opera Guild, the 2004 Micki Savin Award of the Connecticut
Opera Guild Competition, and an Astral Career Grant. She holds a
Master’s Degree in vocal performance from Manhattan School of Music,
where she studied with Virginia Davidson and Ashley Putnam. A native of
Englewood, Colorado, Ms. Hill currently divides her time between Europe
and the United States. Resume; Audio and
Video Clips; Photos 3/08Thomas Holliday, Stage Director, Writer, Translator, Lecturer  "Thomas Holliday's
staging [is]
traditional in spirit but full of imaginative touches that instantly
define the characters." (New York Magazine) "He is that rare opera
director, an innovator who has respect for his material." (Syracuse
Post-Standard) With a background in performing both instrumental
(brass) and vocal music, Thomas Holliday has directed opera in Europe
and the United States, including engagements with the Hamburg State
Opera (Germany), and the Stadttheater Klagenfurt and American Institute
of Musical Studies in Austria. In the U.S., he has directed productions
for Indianapolis Opera, Pennsylvania Opera Theatre, Glimmerglass Opera
Theater, Opera Colorado, Berkshire Opera Company,
Shreveport Opera, Sacramento Opera, Bronx Opera Company, Baton Rouge
Opera, and the Ash Lawn Festival in Virginia,
where he was Director of Productions for three seasons. His production
of Hansel and Gretel, in his own new translation, was performed
by the Opera Theatre at the University of Colorado, Boulder, in March
1995; and for the summers of 1995 and 1996, he staged South Pacific
and The Merry Widow (in
his newly-commissioned translation) for his Alma Mater, Indiana
University. More recently, Holliday directed Indianapolis Opera's
productions of Der fliegende Hollander, Faust
and Samson et Dalila; and Sacramento Opera's La Bohème.
From 1991 to 1994, as Assistant to the General Director, Holliday
staged for Opera Colorado (Denver) La Bohème, Il
Barbiere di Siviglia, and Lucia di Lammermoor. He
supervised most aspects of the company's education
program, wrote and directed three puppet operas and education
workbooks, and conceived, wrote and directed the company's
Christmas Madrigal Dinners. From 1998 to 2001, Holliday was Director of
the Joseph and Loretta Law Artist Center of
Opera Colorado. His academic appointments include Directorships of
Opera/Music Theatre programs at North Texas State University,
the Crane School of Music, State University College at Potsdam,
New York, and the University of Denver's Lamont School of
Music; and visiting professorships at Lehman College (CUNY),
College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati; Northwestern
University,
University of Colorado, Boulder; and University of Tennessee,
Knoxville. Holliday finds himself increasingly devoted to many aspects
of writing: fourteen supertitle translations, articles for The Opera
Journal, Lyric Opera of Chicago's Season Companion study guides,
twenty-five performing English translations of operas, two original
opera librettos, and Sources of Opera, a projected
series of translations and commentaries on the background literature
on which much of the operatic repertoire is based. A volume on Mozart's
Don Giovanni is in preparation; The Vampyre and Others,
an annotated book of theatrical and musical sources of vampire
legends, is forthcoming from Micawber Press of Denver. Recently,
Holliday has branched out into artist representation, under the aegis
of Renaissance Artists. Thomas directed his first Otello with
Sacramento Opera in the fall of 2007. He is currently researching and
writing the first full-length, authorized biography of composer
Carlisle Floyd, and will direct Of Mice and Men in Sacramento's
2009-10 season. 5/08
Leigh Holman, Lyric Mezzo-Soprano, Stage Director, Voice Teacher, Director of Education and Outreach at Opera Colorado  Leigh Holman serves as
Director of Education and Outreach at Opera Colorado. She actively
directs opera and musical theatre and has recently lectured and
directed at the University of Colorado School of Music. From 2002-2005
she was Coordinator of Voice and Opera Studies and Opera Director at
the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where she founded the UALR
Opera Theatre, the UALR Opera Theatre Singers and the UALR Opera
Development Council. It is now a thriving university opera program in
the capitol city. Colorado audiences recently saw her staging of
Sullivan's Iolanthe at Colorado Light Opera in Boulder and she
is slated to direct The Sound of Music at St. Luke's Methodist
Church in Highlands Ranch, CO and The Barber of Seville for
Opera Fort Collins in Fall 2006 and Spring 2007. Holman received a
Masters in Opera from the Eastman School of Music and a Doctorate of
Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the
University of Colorado at Boulder. She has sung with the Resident
Artists of Portland Opera, Nashville Opera, Opera Theatre of Rochester
and toured nationwide with the National Opera Company singing over 70
performances of the title role in L'Italiana in Algeri. Some of
her other favorite roles include Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro,
Hansel in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, Cenerentola in
Rossini's La Cenerentola, Beatrice in Berlioz' Beatrice and
Benedict and Maddalena in Rigoletto. Her musical theatre
credits include Maria in The Sound of Music, Reno Sweeney in Anything
Goes, Aunt Eller in Oklahoma, The Stepmother in Cinderella,
Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof and Bianca in Kiss Me Kate
among others. Ms. Holman began her interest in stage directing while
working with Director Richard Pearlman as his assistant director for
the production of La Bohème at The Eastman School of
Music where she was on full fellowship. In recent years she
directed/assistant directed for opera, music theatre and straight plays
including Hansel and Gretel, Copland's The Tender Land,
Britten's Noye's Fludde, The Mikado, The Telephone,
Poulenc's Les Mammelles de Tirisias, Don Giovanni, Falstaff,
The Merry Widow, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Die
Fledermaus, Red, Hot and Cole, Side by Side by Sondheim,
Amadeus, The Odd Couple, Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and A Funny Thing Happened on the
Way to the Forum. As a voice teacher, Holman promotes healthy,
efficient singing and encourages her students to participate in
professional and non-professional performing opportunities alike. Dr.
Holman is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing,
Opera America, the College Music Society and the National Opera
Association. 8/06Christopher Job, Bass  Mr. Job is a Southern
California native who has established himself as an important young
talent in the American opera scene. His recent interpretations of the
operatic and concert repertoire have been praised by critics and the
public alike. He was the Second Place Winner in the 2006 Metropolitan
Opera Competition for the Rocky Mountain Region, and the 2005 Grand
Prize Winner of the Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition. Another honor
has been to create the role of General Godofredo de la Barca in the
2006 world premier of La Curandera, an opera in one act by
Robert Xavier Rodriguez, and commissioned by Opera Colorado. Mr. Job
was seen this season as Sprecher/2nd Priest in Die Zauberflöte
and last season as Zuniga in Carmen, and Osmin in Die
Entführung aus dem Serail all with Opera Colorado. He also was
seen as Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni with Opera Fort Collins
in August of 2006. He debuted as Dr. Grenvil in La Traviata
with Opera Omaha in 2005. In concert, he recently performed as bass
soloist in Beethoven's Missa Solemnis with the Colorado Springs
Philharmonic as well as bass soloist in the Verdi Requiem with
the Denver Opera Company. Last season he was soloist in Handel's Messiah
with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and the Colorado Springs
Philharmonic. Upcoming in February of 2007 he will be Ramfis in Aïda
with Opera Fort Collins. At Opera Colorado he will sing one performance
as Dottore Dulcamara in L'Elisir d'Amore in February and also
appear as Count de Horn in Un Ballo in Maschera in May. This
summer he will sing Caronte in Monteverdi's L'Orfeo ed Euridice
and the Poet in Philip Glass' Orphée with Glimmerglass
Opera of New York. He has appeared with Chautauqua Opera of New
York singing lead roles in their productions of Madame Butterfly,
The Crucible, and The Music Man. Other summer
festival engagements have included Des Moines Metro Opera, Aspen Opera
Theatre, IIVA in Chiari, Italy, and IVAI in Tel Aviv, Israel. Other
roles to his credit include title role in Handel's Giulio Cesare,
Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, Sarastro in Die
Zauberflöte, Méphistophélès in Gounod's Faust,
Simone in Gianni Schicchi, Talpa in Il Tabarro, Grandpa
Moss in Copland's The Tender Land, Seneca in L'Incoronazione
di Poppea, and the title role in Don Giovanni. 12/06Donald Kaasch, Lyric Tenor  The American tenor's career has taken him to the great theaters of the world singing title and leading roles such as Faust in la Scala, La Clemenza di Tito at the Metropolitan Opera, the Megaron in Athens and the Teatro Colòn in Buenos Aires, Mozart's Mitridate, Re di Ponte in Geneva, Paris and Zurich, The Voyage of Edgar Allen Poe with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with the Australian Opera/Sydney, Lord Percy in Anna Bolena with the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte at the Paris Opera/Bastille, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni at the Royal Opera House/Covent Garden and at the Metropolitan Opera. He maintains an active international concert presence with orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony, the BBC and Royal Philharmonic Symphonies, l'Orchestra de Paris, l'Orchestra National de France and l'Orchestra de la Radio-France, among others. The title role in Berlioz La Damnation de Faust is perhaps his signature concert role and one which he sings worldwide with conductors such as Prêtre, deWaart, Soustrot, von Dohnányi and Soudant. He continues to work with such accomplished maestri as Claudio Abbado, James Levine, John Nelson, Christophe von Dohnányi, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Georges Prêtre, Jeffrey Tate, Sir Andrew Davis, Simon Rattle, Edo deWaart, Mung-Whun Chung, Luigi Gelmetti, and Marcello Viotti. Recent engagements include: Thaïs in Chicago; Cherubini's Medée in Berlin; Oedipus Rex in Parma; Der fliegende Holländer and Moses und Aron in Los Angeles; Les Troyens, Flammen and Elektra in Amsterdam; Das Lied von der Erde in Liege and Lille; Listz's Christus in Bonn; Der fliegende Holländer in Hamburg; Alceste in Stuttgart and Parma, Carmen (Don Jose) at the opening of Denver's new opera house, Carmina Burana with the Munich Philharmonic, and Mitridate in Granada. Future engagements include: Carmina Burana in Berlin; Katja Kabanowa, St. Francois d'Assise and Palastrina in Amsterdam; Die Liebe der Danae in Dresden and The Tempest at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. Recordings include Rossini's Armida with Renée Fleming on Sony Classics, Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex with James Levin on Deutsche Gramaphon and Oh Fair to See, a collection of English art songs with Peter Lockwood for Globe. 12/06 Catherine Kasch, Lyric Soprano, Coach, Voice Faculty, Lamont School of Music University of Denver  Go to the webpage of Catherine Kasch Tracy Kaufman, Lyric Mezzo-Soprano  Tracy Kaufman is native
of Edison, New Jersey and is currently pursuing a Master of Music
degree at Colorado State University. Ms. Kaufman has received praise
as, "a compelling young performer with a beautiful and
distinctive-sounding mezzo-soprano voice." Earlier in the 2007 season,
she originated the role of Louise Crane in the new opera The Gentle
Lark of New Rochelle; Celebrating the Life of Ellabelle Davis for
the New Rochelle Opera Company and added the role of Suzuki (Madame
Butterfly) to her repertoire. She then went on to sing Berta in Il
Barbiere di Siviglia and Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana
(starring Charles Taylor and Cynthia Lawrence) for Opera Fort Collins.
In October, Ms. Kaufman will sing the title role in The Rape of
Lucretia with Colorado State Opera Theatre and return to New Jersey
in December for a concert appearance with the Edison Symphony
Orchestra. During the 2004 season, Ms. Kaufman appeared in concert and
operatic performances with the New Jersey Opera Theater. There she
performed the role of Nancy in Albert Herring under the baton
of Maestro Daniel Beckwith and the direction of Marc Verzatt. She was
also seen as La tasse chinoise and Un Pâtre in L’Enfant et
les Sortilèges. This led to a tour with the New Jersey Opera
Theater Outreach Ensemble as the title character in Carmen
during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. As a 2003 Young Artist at the Natchez
Opera Festival, Ms. Kaufman performed the roles of Second Boy in The
Magic Flute, Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto, and as a
soloist in their Gershwin review, An Evening with George and Ira
Gershwin in addition to local area concerts. Notable roles include:
Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Siebel in Faust,
Nicklausse in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Hata in The Bartered
Bride, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, Gianetta in L’Elisir
d’amore, Maddelena in Rigoletto, and Mercedes in Carmen
with such companies as Light Opera of Oklahoma, Liederkranz Opera,
State Repertory Opera of New Jersey, Natchez Opera Festival, Amato
Opera, New York Vocal Arts Ensemble, Goliard Concerts, and Opera Nova.
Additionally, Ms. Kaufman has performed and studied as a participant in
the opera intensive programs of New Jersey Opera Theater’s Singer’s
Circle, The Bel Canto Institute in New Paltz, NY, The Daniel Ferro
Vocal Program in Greve, Italy, and the Oscar Seagle Music Colony in
Schroon Lake, NY. Ms. Kaufman’s talents also span the musical theatre
and theatrical genres. She has delighted audiences across the US and
Canada with her fine-tuned comic timing and piano skills as Vi Petty in
The Buddy Holly Story. Other favorite roles include; Viola in
Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the
Rain, Pitti-Sing in The Mikado, Petra in A Little Night
Music, and Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof. Ms. Kaufman
graduated from Boston University, where she attended on a vocal
performance scholarship, with a Music Bachelor degree in Voice
Performance and Music Education, magna cum laude. 10/07Shauna Keene, Coloratura Soprano  Shauna Keene was born
in Santa Barbara, CA. She is a frequent guest soloist with local
symphonies and orchestras, and is well known in the Colorado opera
scene. She has won first place in several prestigious national
competitions, including the Metropolitan Opera National Council
Auditions (Rocky Mountain Region) and the West Palm Beach Opera
Competition. She was also a national semi-finalist for the Metropolitan
Opera Nation Council Auditions in 2004. She has received awards from
the Dante Alighieri Society, NATS and the Denver Lyric Opera Guild. For
the summers of 2001 and 2002, she was one of the youngest singers ever
to be invited to attend the Music Academy of the West, where she
studied voice with Marilyn Horne. Shauna has participated in many
public master classes with some of the world's leading musicians and
educators, including Warren Jones, Ashley Putnam, Frederica von Stade
and Diana Soviero among others. Some of her operatic roles include
Adina in L'elisir D'amore, Constance in Dialogues of the
Carmelites, Queen of the Night in Magic Flute, Despina in Così
fan tutte and Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow. In
Colorado, Shauna has sung with Opera Fort Collins, Fort Collins
Symphony, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Colorado Springs Philharmonic
and Central City Opera among others. Shauna holds a Bachelor of Music
from the University of Colorado and currently is pursuing a Master of
Music at Colorado State University. Upcoming performances include
Zerlina in Don Giovanni with Opera Fort Collins and Lia in L'enfant
prodigue at Colorado State University. 6/06Wes Kenney, Music Director, Opera Fort Collins; Associate Professor and Director of Orchestras, CSU; Music Director and Conductor, Fort Collins Symphony  Go to the webpage of Wes Kenney Jeannie M. Kerr, Lyric Soprano, Voice Teacher  Jeannie
holds a B.A.S. degree from Salve Regina University and a Master of
Music degree from Colorado State University. She currently is on
faculty
at Arapahoe Community College and maintains a private voice studio.
Jeannie has performed as soloist with such groups as the Augustana
Chamber Choir, Musica Sacra Chamber Orchestra, Baroque Music Academy,
Arapahoe Community College Choir and Orchestra, Littleton Chorale,
Arapahoe Philharmonic Chorus and Carolina Choir. Her solo repertoire
includes works such as Handel's Messiah,
Haydn's Creation, Bach's Coffee Cantata, Vivaldi's Gloria, Handel's Ode on St. Cecelia's Day, Berlioz' Childhood of Christ and Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915. As a
recitalist, Jeannie has performed a large range of works from operatic
arias to 20th Century art song, including such composers as Mozart,
Puccini, Offenbach, Faure and Copland. Ms. Kerr has done recital and
oratorio work in several states and is a frequent soloist in the Denver
Metro area. Among her past teachers are renowned sopranos Nancy Hallas
and Vera
Scammon. Ms. Kerr has done recital and oratorio work in several
states
and is a frequent soloist in the Denver Metro area. She currently
resides in Littleton with her husband David
and their beautiful son, Brendan. 2/07Cynthia Kirkman Romoff, Dramatic Soprano, Voice Teacher  Go to the website of Cynthia Kirkman Romoff Rebecca Koenigberg, Coloratura Soprano, Vocal Music Faculty Regis University and Denver School of the Arts  Go to Regis Univesity webpage of Rebecca Koenigberg Go to Denver School of the Arts webpage for Rebecca Koenigberg Britta Laree, Lyric Mezzo-Soprano  Britta Laree
completed her Masters Degree in Vocal Performance at Colorado State
University in May, 2004. She is an active stage and concert performer
in and around the Denver and Fort Collins area, most recently focusing
on musical theatre. Recent roles include Woman 2 in I Love You,
You're Perfect, Now Change at the Nonesuch Theater, Silly
Girl/Dance Ensemble in Beauty and the Beast and Dolly Levi in Hello
Dolly at the Lakewood Cultural Center with Performance Now Theatre
Company, Edith Piaf (swing and performed) in Pure Piaf (now
renamed to The Life and Music of Edith Piaf) at the Denver
Civic Theater, Aldonza in Man of la Mancha at the Lakewood
Cultural Center with Augustana Arts, Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes
at the Fort Collins Lincoln Center with Front Range Music Theatre,
Sister Mary Amnesia in Nunsense with Castle Rock Players, and
Cathy in Jason Robert Brown's The Last 5 Years. Opera credits
include Dinah in Colorado State Opera Theatre's 2003 production of
Leonard Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti, The Queen in Opera Fort
Collins' 2002-3 original children's opera production of Rumplestiltzkin
a la Mozart, Third Spirit (and Papagena understudy) in Opera Fort
Collins' Die Zauberflöte, Bastien in CSOT's Bastien
und Bastienna, Lady Jane in CSOT's Patience; as well as
various opera scene concerts singing Carmen, Cherubino in Le
Nozze di Figaro, Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, Angelina in Cenerentola,
Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Urbain in Les Huguenots,
Stephano in Romeo et Juliette, and Zerlina in Don Giovanni.
Some other local musical theatre and theatre credits include Alice Bean
in Front Range Music Theatre's Titanic, Aldonza in Colorado
State University Theatre's Man of La Mancha, Songs for a
New World, The Secret Garden, Noon, The Dining
Room, Mary Kenny in Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really
Reflect Up?, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,
Jan in Grease, and CSU's Chess. Beyond performing,
Britta has a passion for producing, directing and choreographing. She
directed/choreographed many scenes for CSOT performances from
2002-2004. Full productions under Britta's direction include Opera Fort
Collins' 2006 production of A Little Night Music, CSU Summer
Theatre's The Last 5 Years, Colorado State Opera Theatre's 2003
productions of Trouble in Tahiti and Susannah
(assistant director), and the 2002 Phoned-In Productions/Bas Bleu
production of Songs for a New World (which she also produced).
Britta will be reprising the role of Alice Beane in Titanic
this August, 2008, at the Lakewood Cultural Center with Augustana Arts
under the direction of Bryan Bell.
5/08 Margaret Lattimore, Lyric Mezzo-Soprano, Assistant Professor of Voice University of Colorado  Go to the webpage of Margaret Lattimore |
