ArtistsHere is a list of artists who have performed on our events.
Karen AndersonAmerican lyric-spinto soprano, Karen Anderson has received consistent praise for her operatic and concert performances. She has performed with the Lancaster Music Festival in title role of Turandot with a live National Public Radio broadcast, and with Cincinnati Opera in the role of Kitty Hart in Dead Man Walking. She triumphed in performances of Suor Angelica and Tosca to considerable acclaim with California’s Festival Opera.
Julian Arsenaultis a third year vocal performance undergraduate at UCLA. This year has been his most opera filled year of his young life. In the summer of 2008, Arsenault traveled around Northern Italy singing Schaunard in Puccini’s La Boheme. His experience in Italy helped his Italian skills and gave him important performance opportunities. Upon his return to UCLA, he was cast as Figaro in the school’s production of The Marriage of Figaro. His performance was successful and opened up his eyes to his future career in Opera. In the spring, Arsenault performed in UCLA’s production of Dido and Aeneas as Aeneas. At UCLA Arsenault studies under Michael Dean. Arsenault is thrilled to make his professional Operatic debut near his hometown of Lafayette.
Elizabeth Baker[mezzo-soprano] is a San Francisco native with a background in composition, improvisation, and comedy. A graduate of Williams College, and a student of Olivia Stapp, she has performed the role of Dido/Dido and Aeneas at Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute along with the partial roles of Lucretia/Rape of Lucretia, Meg/Falstaff, Romeo/I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Idamantes/Idomeneo, Oberon/A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Emilia/Otello. An active interpreter of new music, she also composes for voice and choir, often setting her own text. Upcoming events include performing the role of Cherubino in Open Opera's production of The Marriage of Figaro at John Hinkel Park, Berkeley, July 25 and 26.
Raymond Chavezis an Alameda resident who has performed at several venues in Alameda, appearing primarily in musical theater with the Alameda Civic Light Opera. Recently, he premiered two song cycles for tenor and piano by Berkeley composer Aaron Blumenfeld. It was singing with the Bracebridge Dinners in Yosemite where he returned to the opera repertoire after a twenty-year hiatus.
Kendra Doddis a senior at Encinal High School, where she maintains a 4.01 GPA. She has been a proud member of the Young Musicians Program, a full scholarship honors outreach program at the University of California Berkeley, for five years, and studies with David Tigner and James Meredith. Although she has had the pleasure to participate in numerous musicals, including Seussical (Mayzie), Grease (Sandra D.), and Carousel (Nettie), Kendra is most excited to debut in her first opera, La Belle Helene (Oreste) with the Pocket Opera Company in February. She was a semifinalist in the 2008 Classical Singer Youth Division Competition in New York, and a 2nd place winner of the Pacific Musical Society's Competition in 2007. Kendra has a profound love of music, and owes all of her success to those who have supported her throughout life.
Michael ForemanMichael Foreman is in high demand throughout the west coast. Known as a singing actor, Mr. Foreman has performed such roles as Alfredo in La traviata, Fernando in Cosi fan tutte, Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore, the title role in Candide, Frederik in The Pirates of Penzance, Tony in West Side Story and many others. Recently, Mr. Foreman made his debut with Long Beach Opera singing The Rooster and The Innkeeper in Janecek's, The Cunning Little Vixen. In June, Mr. Foreman will tour with the new company, Opera Frontier, which combines opera and hip hop. Last season, Mr. Foreman sang over 150 performances of Hoffman in an outreach version of the Tales of Hoffman with Orange County Opera. Also known for his work creating roles, Mr. Foreman was part of Eric Whitacre's world premiere opera, Paradise Lost. Mr. Foreman was also engaged for the professional debut recording of PhilipWestin's new American Opera, Heartland and is currently working with composer Judy Pautlet Thibault to create the operatic musical, The Veil. Mr. Foreman is also a successful concert soloist. In April 2009, Mr. Foreman will sing the tenor soloist in Mozart's Requiem with the San Francisco Chorale Society; having also sung the same solo with The Cole Conservatory of Music in 2007. Mr. Foreman has also sung the tenor solo in Handel's The Messiah, both with St. John's First Presbyterian Church and Leisure World Community Church. In 2006, Mr. Foreman performed the tenor solo in Bach's Cantata #57. Mr. Foreman has been the recipient of many awards, recently from The Leni FBland Foundation. This season, Foreman was a winner of the 2009 Pacific Musical Society as well as the henry and Maria Holt Scholarship. Last season, Mr. Foreman was a winner as well as the Audience Choice in The Long Beach Mozart Festival. Mr. Foreman has won scholarships from the music fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota, both in Long Beach and Orange County. In 2007, Mr. Foreman was a finalist in Orange County's Artists of the Future. Mr. Foreman was rewarded an Encouragement Award from The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and was the winner of the Nancy Hooker Memorial Scholarship.
Zachary Gordinis a noted interpreter of the 18th century coloratura bass repertoire, the Bel Canto works of Bellini and Donizetti, as well as works of contemporary composers. Formerly one of the leading operatic countertenors of his generation, he brings to his current repertoire the refinement and power demonstrated while working in the U.S. and abroad. As a countertenor, his roles included Cesare, Oberon, Orfeo, Rinaldo, Serse, Sesto, Tancredi, and the Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas, and many others. He appeared at San Francisco Opera (Earthrise), Opera de Monte Carlo (recital, clips aired on PBS), Berkeley Opera, the Ibla International Festival, Oakland Lyric Opera, and many others. Unanimous critical acclaim for his recent performances in Carmen (San Francisco Lyric Opera), Tosca (Festival Opera, Walnut Creek), Lucia di Lammermoor (Center Stage Opera, Los Angeles), and Romeo and Juliette (Opera San José) praise the intensity of his acting, the beauty and versatility of his voice, and his athletic physique. His talent has been recognized in prestigious competitions, including: 2006 Pacific Musical Society Competition (Winner), 2005 East Bay Opera League Vocal Competition (Winner), 1999 Bellini International Voice Competition (Winner), 1999 Ibla Grand Prize Baroque Music Competition (Winner), recipient of the Irene Patti Swartz Encouragement Award for the 2001 Florida Grand Opera National Voice Competition, and Grantee of the Vocal Arts Foundation in San Francisco in 2002. He was also World Finalist for the Academia at Teatro alla Scala in 1999, Regional Finalist for the 2002 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and the youngest candidate selected for the ORFEO 2000 World Competition of International Finalists hosted by Hannover Staatsoper. Highlights of 2003 and 2004 seasons included the World Premiere of "Pido Silencio" by Loretta Notareschi with the Berkeley Contemporary Chamber Players, Couperin's "Trois Leçons de Ténèbres", Handel's "Messiah", and Vivaldi's "Gloria" with the Baroque Musicians Guild, and a recital of virtuoso arias and cantatas by Vivaldi for MusicSources Center for Historically Informed Performance in Berkeley, California. Mr. Gordin created the lead role of Wilder in San Francisco Opera's World Premiere of "Earthrise", a role written especially for him by Pulitzer Prize-Winning composer Lewis Spratlan and librettist Constance Congdon. Classical Singer Magazine also interviewed and featured him as the Guest Artist in its February 2004 edition. The 2005 and 2006 seasons included creating the role of Yama in the premiere of "The Myth of Kurva" for the Berkeley New Music Project's workshop and concert "Words and Music" led by American composer William Bolcom. San Francisco Classical Voice praised him for his "heroic performance" as Escamillo in "Carmen" with San Francisco Lyric Opera. He performed the role of Enrico in "Lucia di Lammermoor", gave a series of Master Classes, and appeared in a gala concert for Center Stage Opera in Los Angeles. He was also the bass soloist in Schubert's "Mass in G" and Vivaldi's "Gloria" with the San Francisco City Chorus. After wide critical praise for his performance of Angelotti in "Tosca" for Festival Opera, he returned to cover the title role in Michael Morgan's acclaimed production of "Don Giovanni". In his Opera San Jose debut, he sang the role of Count Paris in "Romeo et Juliette", followed by a gala concert for the Pacific Musical Society, and performances of Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater" with the Center Stage Opera Orchestra. 2007 and 2008 included a concert of American Arias and Art Songs for Festival Opera, bass soloist in Tippett's "A Child of Our Time" with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and Women Sing, and baritone soloist in "Carmina Burana" in performances with the Santa Clara Chorale, the Choral Project, and Oakland Symphony Chorus. He returned to San Francisco City Chorus for performances as bass soloist in Mendelssohn's "Die erste Walpurgisnacht" and Duruflé's "Requiem", was the Guest Star for the inaugural performance of Opera Frontier "ReMiX8", and was bass soloist in Mozart's "Requiem" with the Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra. He then made his debut with the Oakland East Bay Symphony in performances of Faure's "Requiem", and his debut with the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra in performances of Bach's Cantata #82 "Ich habe genug". More recently, he appeared as Montano in Oakland East Bay Symphony's concert performance of "Otello". Upcoming projects include work on his first solo album, to be released in late 2009, Wagner in "Faust" with Festival Opera, Concert performances with Open Opera, Enrico in "Lucia di Lammermoor" with Center Stage Opera, and a series of Master Classes for young professional singers in the Bay Area.
Nicolai Janitzky[baritone] is a native of California. He recently appeared with San Francisco Opera as Schelkalov in Boris Godunov, and with Opera Santa Barbara as Belcore in L’Elisir d’Amore. As an apprentice artist with Santa Fe Opera, he took on the title role in Eugene Onegin on short notice to high critical acclaim. Other roles he has sung include the title role in Pélleas et Mélisande, Valentin in Faust, Papageno in The Magic Flute, Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro, and Marcello in La Boheme. He has also worked with San Diego Opera, Washington National Opera, and Glimmerglass Opera. He is an active recitalist, and has performed in such venues as Carnegie (Weill) Hall in New York City, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Cleveland Institute of Music Art Song Festival. He is the winner of several competitions including the George London Foundation, Sullivan Foundation, and Opera Index Foundation. He has also been a finalist in the Operalia (Placido Domingo) Vocal Competition. He has studied at the Yale University Opera Program and the Music Academy of the West. Future engagements include Guglielmo in Cosi Fan Tutte at Opera Idaho and Marcello in La Boheme with Sacramento Opera.
Marta Johansenperformed the role of the malevolent ghost Miss Jessel for Oakland Opera Theater’s 2007 “Turn of the Screw.” Other past performances include the Queen of the Night in West Bay Opera’s “Magic Flute”; Marguerite in Berkeley Opera’s “Faust”; the title role in Stravinsky’s opera/ballet “The Nightingale” for Cinnabar Opera; and Evita in Franzetti and Moscovich’s “Corpus Evita” with the San Francisco Camerata. She has performed extensively with Pocket Opera, the Lamplighters, Fairfield's North Bay Opera, and Palo Alto's West Bay Opera (Mimi, Violetta, Gilda, Manon, Lucia), and repeated the Queen for Monadnock Music Festival in New Hampshire. Solo concert appearances have included the San Francisco City Chorus and U.S. Air Force Band.
Jonathan KhunerA San Francisco native, has been Artistic and Musical Director of Berkeley Opera since 1993, and has conducted over 60 productions there, including seven premieres of new works or adaptations. Most recently he was both stage and musical director for their very successful July production of The Ballad of Baby Doe. He is Assistant Conductor and prompter for the Metropolitan Opera (since 1997), and San Francisco Opera (since 1981), appearing occasionally with the Lyric Opera of Chicago also. In 1996 he prompted the Ring Cycle at the Bayreuther Festspiele with James Levine. In 1992-93 Khuner made several appearances with the New Israeli Opera, while their Resident Assistant Conductor.
Rebecca Krouner[soprano] earned her master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music in the studio of Cynthia Hoffmann. At MSM Rebecca was a founding member of the One Act Opera Company, playing Herself in the New York premiere of Milton Granger’s The Proposal. She participated in Discover Opera! with the school’s Opera Outreach program, creating an original opera and performing it in public schools to educate young people about opera. She also performed in the ensembles of Béatrice et Bénédict and Die Zauberflöte. Other performance highlights include Violetta in Act II of La Traviata and Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief at the Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute. She has appeared in scenes as Susannah in Le Nozze di Figaro and Zerlina in Don Giovanni with Longwood Opera in Needham, MA. Ms. Krouner graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with a B.A. in comparative literature and Italian studies. A native of Newton, MA, Ms. Krouner has given several recitals in the Boston area and has performed with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and the Newton Symphony Orchestra.
Jennie Litsterrecently sang a "pure-toned High Priestess" with the San Francisco Lyric Opera's production of Aida. As Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, the San Francisco Classical Voice said "the brightest voice and most spirited performance came from Jennie Litster"; and in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, "on the stage, Jennie Litster's big-voiced Tytania ruled."
Heather McFaddenhas been a prominent singer in the San Francisco Bay Area for several years. Known for her large dramatic mezzo voice, she has appeared with opera companies that include Opera San Jose, Berkeley Opera, Golden Gate Opera, Northbay Opera, Pocket Opera, Townsend Opera, Oakland Opera Theatre and Diablo Light Opera. Some of her signature roes have been Ulrica in Ballo in Maschera, Carmen, Zita in Gianni Schicchi, Principessa in Suor Angelica, Berta in Il Barbieri, Nicklausse in Hoffmann, Orlofsky in Fledermaus, the Commere in Four Saints in Three Acts as well as other supporting roles. Her most recent performance was Buttercup in HMS Pinafore with Townsend Opera. Heather also appears in concerts with Ensemble Vocalise in Las Vegas and the Bay Area and sung as the alto soloist for the Messiah with Townsend Opera, as well as Opera in the Park with Trinity Opera and Open Opera. Upcoming roles include Marcellina in Nozze di Figaro with Opera San Jose and Open Opera.
Eileen Meredithis performing with Open Opera for the first time, although she has been employing what one reviewer called her “cascading liquid voice” on concert and opera stages for many years. She was heard recently in concerts with the Pacific Youth Orchestra, Berkeley Opera, East Bay Opera League, and Goat Hall Productions. A founding member of Alameda’s own Virago Theatre Company, Eileen performed in Virago’s 2008 production of Bernstein’s Candide and 2006 production of Weill’s Threepenny Opera. Next spring she will be in Puccini’s La Boheme. Other roles performed include the title role in Les Mamelles de Tiresias, the title role of Baby Doe, Musetta, Frasquita, and Annina. Eileen also sings with the San Francisco Opera Chorus. Her concert solos include Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, and Handel’s Messiah, at Davies Symphony Hall, Mahler’s Fourth Symphony with the Oakland Youth Orchestra, Haydn’s Theresienmesse with the UC Chamber Orchestra, and Poulenc’s Gloria with Michael Morgan conducting. Eileen can be heard as a soloist on San Francisco Symphony Chorus’ CD Voices 2000, and on a solo CD of American songs and arias. She has performed with fellow Alamedan Frederica von Stade in numerous charity events.
James MeredithOne of the San Francisco Bay Area's most well-rounded musicians, James Meredith conducts the country's acclaimed Sonos Handbell Ensemble. This group's nationally recognized CD's have been played throughout the US and the first was entered in three categories in the 37th Grammy Awards. The San Francisco Examiner called it "sensational." A native of North Carolina, Mr. Meredith received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Tulane University. As a solo pianist, vocal and instrumental accompanist and conductor in America, Europe and Asia, his work has brought him into contact with such artists as Elly Ameling, Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, Olivia Stapp, Frederica von Stade, Eleanor Steber, Gerald Moore and Dalton Baldwin, whose assistant he has been in summer masterclasses at the French Conservatory in Nice.
Leland Morine[baritone] came from a musical family. His father a tenor and mother a piano accompanist/teacher. At an early age he would sing along with recordings of opera singers. He studied voice and choral conducting in Clovis High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts at Fresno Pacific College and a Master of Arts at California State University, Fresno. He won the Metropolitan Opera District Auditions five times, received top prize in the Fresno District Merola Auditions, and was awarded prizes twice from the Henry Holt Memorial Scholarship. His operatic experience began with the Fresno Opera Association as a member of the chorus, then on to principal roles. He performed with Amato Opera, Henry Street Settlement Opera, and Opera Viva in Manhatten, Regina Opera in Brooklyn NY, International Music Festival at Round Top, Texas, West Bay Opera in Palo Alto, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Lamplighters in San Francisco, Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, Marin Opera Association, Davis Artist Series, Oakland Lyric Opera, Pippen's Pocket Opera, and Boise Opera, Idaho.
Elliott Nguyenjoined the Young Musicians Program (YMP) at UC Berkeley in 2001 and studied voice with Norma Levister and Candace Johnson, and piano with Kathryn Winter. He has been a voice and piano student of James Meredith for the last four years at YMP. A winner of the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society Competition, the Junior Bach Festival, a Semi-Finalist for the National Classical Singers High School Competition and 1st Place winner of the prestigious Pacific Musical Society 2008 competition, he has had the honor of being invited to sing in several concerts with mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and work with dramatic soprano Olivia Stapp. Elliott was accepted by UCSB, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, Eastman School of Music and the New England Conservatory. He is currently a freshmen studying with Brian Stuaffenbiel and is going to make his debut as Antonio in Le Nozze di Figaro at UCSC's award winning opera program.
Aimee Puentes[soprano] has sung roles such as, Zerlina, Despina, Micäela, Sister Constance, Pamina, Musetta, Nannetta, Valencienne, Susanna, and Oscar, with San Francisco, Arizona, Pensacola, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Chautauqua, San Jose, Southwest, West Bay, Pacific Repertory, Festival, and Sacramento. As a concert soloist in such works as Haydn’s Creation, Lord Nelson Mass and Mass in time of war, Handel’s Messiah, Israel in Egypt, Ariodante, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Rutter’s Requiem, Mahler’s Symphony No.4, Mozart Verperae Solemnis, Missa solemnis, and Mass in C minor, Dvorak’s Stabat Mater, Brahms Requiem, Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem, Barber’s Knoxville Summer of 1915, Bach’s Coffee Cantata. She has won numerous awards including Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition, three time West Coast regional finalist of The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions where she was awarded the IIE International Vocal Competition Award and a winner of the AUDCOMPS Classical Singer magazine in the professional division in 2007.
Nicole Raynor Rodriguezis a junior at the prestigious Maybeck School and has been in the Young Musicians Program for 3 years. She is an accomplished violinist as well as a gloriously toned soprano. She was the first place winner of the Mondavi's Young Artist Competition in 2007.
Christopher Remmel[Bass-Baritone] is a student of Verdi Baritone Vladimir Chernov. A San Diego native, he has appeared with the Lyric Opera of San Diego and the San Diego Master Chorale. During the completion of his undergraduate degree at UCLA, Mr. Remmel appeared with the UCLA Opera Studio as Betto and Il Notaio in Gianni Schicchi, Snug the Joiner in a Midsummer Night’s Dream, Pistola in Falstaff, Tiger Brown in Die Dreigroschenoper, and most recently as Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro. He will be continuing his studies as a graduate student at the Roosevelt Chicago College of Performing Arts this fall.
Adrien Robertsgrew up in Danville, CA and has her Bachelors degree from Chapman University and her Masters degree from Manhattan School of Music. Ms. Roberts has sung leading opera roles including: Marie in The Bartered Bride, Adina in L'elisir d'amore, Violetta in La traviata, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte and Giulietta in Verdi's Un Giorno di Regno. Ms. Roberts sang the roles of Frasquita in Carmen and Giovanna in Rigoletto. She performed with the Opera Pacific Chorus in Susannah, in the Opera Buffs 2009 Spring Showcase and recently in the Los Angeles Opera Education short, Tanis in America. Ms. Roberts looks forward to premiering Marie’s Orchard with Center Stage Opera in June 2010. www.adrien-roberts.com
Katya Roemer[soprano] is an acclaimed and versatile artist who has performed extensively as a soloist in opera, operetta, concert and musical theater on the West Coast, New York, Spain and Italy. Widely praised for her “musical command,” “big, warm soprano voice and excellent sense of interpretation and characterization,” Ms. Roemer’s varied repertoire includes baroque to contemporary works.† A winner of many awards and prizes, Ms. Roemer took first place in the National Opera Association's vocal competition, and was first runner-up in the Metropolitan Opera Pacific Region auditions.
Sigmund Seigel[tenor] is a graduate of Music and Art High School in New York and received a M.M. in Voice on full scholarship at Stony Brook, SUNY. He studied Italian in Florence,Italy. He has sung roles with Sacramento Opera, San Francisco Opera,San Francisco Lyric Opera,Cinnabar Opera and Pocket Opera companies. Some of his roles are Cassio, Goro, Tamino, Monastatos. He has been 1st tenor with San Francisco Opera chorus for 29 seasons. He is also on the Board of Berkeley Opera and was featured in the academy award winning documentary about Opera Singers, 'In the Shadow of the Stars'. Mr. Seigel maintains a busy schedule singing and has a voice studios in San Francisco and Oakland.
Olivia Stappwas born in New York City. A graduate of Wagner College, she was a two-time winner of the Fulbright Award for opera study and theater performance in Rome, Italy. First engaged professionally at the age of 24 at the Berlin Deutshe oper, she become on the of the world's major dramatic sopranos, singing Prima Donna roles in all the major opera houses of the world, and with many important symphony orchestras. Her challenging repertoire extended from the early Italian bel canto works of Bellini and Donizetti to those of Puccini, Verdi, Wagner, Strauss, and contemporary composers. She has performed as leading lady opposite Domingo, Ramey, Capuccilli, Bruson, Pons and with conductors Maazel, Giulini, Levine, M. Shostakovich, Pritchard, Sinopoli, Sawallisch, and Rudel, and in the productions of such renowned stage directors as Serban, Zefferelli, Mansouri, Ponnelle, Friedrich, Pizzi, Menotti and Del Monaco. Her performances have taken her to over eighty international theatres, amongst them those in the major capitals of the world, Vienna (Volksoper and Stattsoper), Berlin, Rome, Paris, Madrid, London (Covent Garden), Tokyo, Seoul, Washington D.C., Prague, and also the opera houses of New York (City Opera and The Metropolitan Opera), Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Barcelona, Bilbao, Melbourne, Toronto, Montreal, Munich, Hamburg, Buenos Aires (the Colon), Naples, Venice, and Milano (La Scala). She has also performed in large venues such as the Arena di Verona, the Nimes Arena, and in the ancient amphitheaters of Taormina, Lyon, and Macerata, as well as in the sports Arenas of Bercy (Paris) and Zurich. MS. Stapp was renowned for her interpretations of Norma, Elektra, Lady Macbeth, Tosca, Medea, Anna Bolena and Turandot, was acclaimed for her rich vocalism and powerful dramatic interpretations. Upon retiring from the stage her home in the Bay Area she became Artistic Director of Festival Opera, Walnut Creek. During her six year tenure, she elevated this small company to a high level of excellence, and was successful in fund raising and community outreach. A successful stage director, she has directed for Opera San Jose and Festival Opera. She also teaches and writes reviews for San Francisco Classical Voice and is often an adjudicator for the Metropolitan Opera Competitions. Dedicated to teaching and promoting young singers, she has taught master classes in Italy, New York and the Bay Area. During the summer months she teaches a workshop for young performers aged 14-19 at the University of California's Young Musician's Program. She is the recipient of an honorary Doctorate degree, and the prestigious Italian Prize, “Citta di Genova” for her outstanding cultural achievements. Her husband, Dr. Henry Stapp, is a theoretical physicist, lecturer, author and senior staff member of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Ellen St. Thomasenjoys performing, teaching, producing, conducting and directing. Recently, Ellen performed the world premiere of JJ Hollingsworth's The Thomas Jefferson Letter for soprano, piano and marimba for the SFound Concert series in San Francisco. Last year, she was the soprano soloist in the San Francisco City Chorus' performance of Elijah by Mendelssohn. She has performed leading roles with local companies such as West Bay Opera, Livermore Opera, San Francisco Lyric Opera: The Countess, The Marriage of Figaro, Rosalinda Die Fledermaus, Mimi La Boheme, Miss Jessel Turn of the Screw, Donna Elvira Don Giovanni, to name of few. Ellen has done voiceover work cartoon episodes of Madeline and Inspector Gadget for Dic Entertainment. Ms. St. Thomas teaches voice at the Alameda School of Music. She taught Kodaly elementary music and led several youth choruses for the Mountain View School District and was a choral assistant for Campolindo HS in Moraga. Other career highlights include director of licensing and merchandising for Sega of America and producing/directing live educational television events and documentary filmmaking. She is currently in production on a documentary featuring the Sonos Handbell Ensemble be released in 2010.
Taylor Thompsonwill be attending Oberlin Conservatory this Fall. He is a recent graduate of Rodriguez High School in Fairfield, California He has always been a young man with a mission; winning talent competitions at an early age; performing at state fairs and community events; receiving the Performer Of The Year Award (2007) for the Strive For More Music Showcase; and most recently becoming a member of the selective and prestigious Young Musician's Program at UC Berkeley. Mr. Taylor Thompson, a past student Ambassador for the Academic TalentSearch program at Cal State Sacramento (CSUS), holds a 3.5 GPA and is the current and last years RHS Idol (Rodriquez High School) winner. Taylor was recently awarded a scholarship from P.A.S. (Performing Arts Society). Taylor can also be found in the Who’s Who, among American High School Student for 2007 -2008, and 2008-2009. The accomplishment Taylor’s family is most proud of is his versatility. Recently Taylor, who is a member of YMP, Young Musicians Program at UC Berkeley, performed three Opera Musical Theatre Recitals. This year he performed at the annual Black History and Scholarship Recipient program at Downs Memorial United Methodist Church.
David L. Tigner[bass-baritone] is a soloist of great versatility who is familiar to audiences across the nation. Over the last thirty years he has delighted audiences with his impressive voice and musicality in addition to being a highly sought after vocal instructor. In the Bay Area , he has performed with the San Francisco Symphony in the role of Porgy in Porgy and Bess and the Narrator in Gershwin's Blue Monday. Mr. Tigner has performed extensively as a soloist in oratorios such as the Brahms’s Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to name a few. He sang with the Oakland and Sacramento Symphonies in Handel’s Messiah, San Francisco Bach Festival in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and St. John Passion, and the San Francisco Ballet in Pulcinella and Balanchine’s interpretation of Stravinsky’s Requiem Canticles. Mr. Tigner sang Bach's Mass in B Minor for the Scola Cantorum with Douglas Lawrence conducting. Mr. Tigner made his debut with the London Philharmonic in a program of Mozart concert arias and was the bass soloist in Verdi’s Requiem at Avery Fisher Hall and Carnegie Hall with the Manhattan Philharmonic. Other Carnegie Hall recitals include the premiere of Five Songs for a Summer Evening for Bass, String Bass and piano commissioned by David Tigner written by Donald Dennitson. Mr. Tigner also performed Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis and Verdi’s Requiem with the London Symphony Orchestra. On the operatic stage, Mr. Tigner has sung with the San Francisco Opera, the San Francisco Spring Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera and the San Diego Opera center. His numerous opera roles include the title role in Don Pasquale, Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutte, Daland in The Flying Dutchman, Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Noye in Noye’s Fludde, as well as leading roles in Aida and Gordon Getty’s Plump Jack. Mr. Tigner has appeared in a number of premieres, including the critically acclaimed Northern California premiere of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio, Andrew Imbrei’s Prometheus Bound, Ralph Shapey’s Trilogy of Songs, and Undine Smith- Moore’s Scenes in the Life of a Martyr. Mr. Tigner received his education from Pacific University and San Francisco State University. He received First Prize in the America California Symphony Competition , as well as awards from the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, Chicago Lyric Opera, and the Sullivan Foundation. He has studied with Boris Goldovsky, Tito Capobianco, Burt Lancaster. Robert McCracken, Martial Singher, Mary Cobb Hill, Elizabeth Swartzkopf and Janet Parlova. Further, his multi-faceted career as a musical director and voice instructor has influenced rhythm and blues artists and opera singers alike. Mr. Tigner was music director of the Legacy Jubilee Arts institute, a non-traditional school for music in the Africa American Community. He was conductor of Voices of Legacy a group that sang African American folk music. He was a vocal clinician to many Bay Area choirs and vocal ensembles such as Streets Sounds. He has been a guest lecturer at Stanford and is an instructor at UC Berkeley with the Young Musician’s Program where he influences the lives of up and coming talented young singers.
Lisa van der PloegDanish-American Mezzo-soprano, Lisa van der Ploeg has been hailed for her rich, warm, penetrating tone and electrifying stage presence. She “delivered a glorious performance in the starring role as Santuzza” in the opera Cavalleria Rusticana. Her first professional appearances included performances with Maestro Raymond Leppard and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in the Barber of Seville and the Three Cornered Hat. A prize-winner in the Ellen Faull Gordon Competition, Ms. van der Ploeg was also a MET regional finalist for three consecutive years.
Elender Wall[soprano] won international attention and acclaim for her debut CD, “The Poetry of Donald Rumsfeld and Other Fresh American Art Songs.” The title song cycle, by composer and pianist Bryant Kong, uses as its lyrics the exact words of the Secretary of Defense, to highly humorous effect. The CD has been featured on CNN, NPR, the BBC, German and Japanese television, and more worldwide. The corresponding concert tour, the "Weapons of Mass Distraction Tour," concluded with the election of President Obama. A champion of new works, she created the role of The Statue of Liberty in “Red, White and Blue” and the role of Fatso (a dog) in “Cindy Lou”, both new operas by Susan Asbjornson with the Contemporary Opera of Los Angeles. She created the roles of Acacia and Serena in the new opera “The Tree,” an opera that addresses urban sprawl. She is currently playing the Queen of Hearts in the Guild Opera’s school touring production of “Alice in Wonderland” by Los Angeles composer Robert Chauls, in which she is delighted to frighten little children with her “Off with her Head” aria. She created the role of Prudentia, the Virtue, in “Woman in the Wall” by O-Lan Jones, and sang the role of Mistress Quickly in Gordon Getty's opera, "Plump Jack." As a concert artist, Ms. Wall recently sang the soprano solo in Beethoven’s Ninth with the Valley Symphony. She was the featured singer on a national tour of the Sonos Handbell Ensemble, singing the new piece "Hell's Belles" by Libby Larsen, composed for the ensemble, in addition to pieces by Ginistera and de Falla and Ladino songs by Yzekiel Braun. Her most recent art song recital, “Love, War and Politics” was performed at the Goethe Institute of Los Angeles with pianist Yazmine Fleming. Conventional roles include Donna Elvira in “Don Giovanni,” the title role in "Coronation of Poppea" by Monteverdi, the Witch and the Mother in “Hansel and Gretel,” and Giulietta in “Tales of Hoffman.”
Fred Winthroptenor and stage director, originally from Lousiana who after serving in the United States Air Force relocated to Los Angeles, starting with major roles in companies such as Opera Pacific and graduating to the San Francisco Opera stage. "After retiring from the San Francisc Opera, I found that there wasn't a sufficient suppy of classical music of opera productions to meet the needs of communities. I found that there are many who are very interested in this form of art and became dedicated to providing professional productions with experienced artists who love what they do." Fred co-founded the San Francisco Lyric Opera which he directed for seven years then joined the California Opera Summer festival over the past years in his dual roles as both critically acclaimed dramtic tenor and talented stage director. He is currently performing in Rigoletto and Lucia di Lamermoor for Verismo Opera, a company he founded.
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