John Arnold, bass-baritone

John Arnold; The American bass-baritone is forging an exciting career as a singing actor of the highest quality.  Hailed by Knoxville Metro Pulse as “magnificient” and “a singer to look for”, recent performances include his much-lauded turn as the titular role in Gianni Schicchi, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, Talbot in Maria Stuarda, the title role in Don Giovanni, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, and Il Conte in Le Nozze di Figaro.  The 2011 season marked his debut with Cincinnati Opera in a touring production of The Magic Flute (Papageno), his main stage debut as the Sergeant in La Bohéme and as Carlino the Notary in Don Pasquale, for which he received praise in “Opera News”, both with Des Moines Metro Opera.  Other highlights included a special performance of Debussy’s Don Quichotte à Dulcinée with the University of Wisconsin Symphony as a UW Concerto Competition Winner.  Future engagements include his debut with Madison Opera as Young Galileo in Galileo Galilei by Philip Glass.  A student of acclaimed voice teacher Julia Faulkner, John is a District Winner of the 2011 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Curtis Bannister, tenor

Curtis Banister's 2011-2012 Season begins with his return to dramatic theatre with performances as Aaron in William Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus with Stillpointe Theatre Initiative and CENTERSTAGE. Later in the season he will travel to San Marino to compete in the 2011 International Renata Tebaldi Competition, will be heard in Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Gounod’s St. Cecilia Mass with the St. John Cantius Resurrection Choir and Orchestra in Chicago,returns to Sarasota Opera with their Apprentice Artist Program for their 2012 Winter then travels to Baltimore for performances of Faust with Lyric Opera Baltimore. Mr. Bannister’s recent roles include John Cheever (The Crucible), Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore), Rodolfo (La Bohème), Arturo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Ferrando (Cosí fan tutte), and Tamino (Die Zauberflöte).

Joseph Beutel, bass-baritone

Joseph Beutel is an emerging bass-baritone originally from Indiana.  For the Minnesota Opera this season, he will appear as the British Major in Silent Night, Le Bailli in Werther, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor and the Bonze in Madame Butterfly, and covering the role of Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte.  He has joined the Minnesota Opera’s Resident Artist program after spending the summer as a Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Artist, where he covered the role of Méphistophélès in Faust and the Catholic Priest in The Last Savage. Previous roles have also included the Impresario/Direttore in the young artist production of Viva La Mamma! at Seattle Opera; Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Mustafà in L’italiana in Algeri, Simone in Gianni Schicchi, and Herr Reich in Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor for IU Opera Theatre and the Sergeant in Pirates of Penzance

Keely Borland, soprano

Soprano Keely Borland is an engaging performer praised for her ‘bright silvery tone, vocal agility, and comedic presence.’ Most recently she performed the role of Cathleen in Ralph Vaughan Williams’ one act opera Riders to the Sea at the Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute (BASOTI) in San Francisco. While there she also performed in opera scenes as the dimwitted stepsister Clorinda in La Cenerentola and the spirited Echo in Ariande auf Naxos. Keely earned both a B.M. in Vocal Performance and B.A. in Art History from Lawrence University/Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin. She was the recipient of a Lawrence University/Conservatory Merit Scholarship and placed in the top three singers for five consecutive years at the Wisconsin NATS competition. Opera roles include Princess Laoula (L'étoile), Anne Page, cover (The Merry Wives of Windsor), Suor Genovieffa (Suor Angelica), Bastienne (Bastien & Bastienne), and Second Lady (The Magic Flute). Favorite partial roles include Norina (Don Pasquale) and Marie (La fille du regiment).  She is currently a masters student in Vocal Arts at the University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music, studying with Gary Glaze.

Sarah Butler, soprano

Native to Milwaukee, WI, soprano Sarah Butler is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Vocal Performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. While in Milwaukee she studied voice with Connie Haas (Eastman School of Music). Recently, she appeared in Fresco Opera's production of Dueling Divas II and placed third in the Jenny Lind™ Competition for Sopranos. She was also Runner-up for Concord Chamber Orchestra’s Concerto Competition and will be featured with them in November. Other appearances include chorus for Florentine Opera's world premiere of Río de Sangre and performing leading roles with UWM Opera.

Elisabeth Cejpek, soprano

Elisabeth Cejpek is an undergraduate of Viterbo University of La Crosse Wisconsin.  Cejpek comes from the southwest farm country of Viola Wisconsin where she began her study under current Professor, Daniel Johnson-Wilmot.  She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance; Vocal Pedagogy.  The past year, Cejpek has begun her endeavor in giving lessons to local high school students as they prepare for solo and ensembles, as well as local theatrical performances. Cejpek has a long list of acting and performance roles including: Mrs. Herring in Britten’s Albert Herring with the University of WI- Eau Claire (2009), Baker’s Wife in Sondheim’s Into the Woods (2008), Third Lady in Mozart’s The Magic Flute with Luther College (2008), Anita in L. Bernstein’s West Side Story (2007), Eliza Doolittle in Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady (2005), Marty in Casey and Jacob’s Grease (2004), Marian Paroo in M. Wilson’s The Music Man (2003), and Anna Leonowens in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I (2002) with Kickapoo High School in Viola Wisconsin.

Naomi Enter, mezzo-soprano

Naomi Enter is a mezzo-soprano from Oshkosh, WI and earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Flute Performance summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.  Opera roles there included Flora (cover, Turn of the Screw), Mrs. Olsen (Street Scene), chorus (La Bohème), as well as excerpts from Candide, Carmen, Così fan tutte, etc.  She also sang with the Bach Society of Minnesota and toured the Midwest as soloist with the U of M New Music Ensemble. In 2008, Naomi made her China debut as the alto soloist for Handel’s Messiah (Beijing International Festival Chorus), providing a repeat performance in 2009.  She appeared as the operatic soprano soloist for China’s premier performance of David Fanshawe’s African Sanctus with the Shanghai IFC in 2009.  After working with Fanshawe on his piece, he said of her performance, “Your articulation, rhythm, control and style was the perfect voice for this operatic work.”  She accepted the invitation to perform African Sanctus again in Beijing and Tianjin in 2010.  Under direction of Hungarian composer Norbert Nemeth in 2009, Naomi sang the role of Anna (Mendacious Romance) in a concert performance of excerpts from his opera held at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing.

Toni Esker, soprano

Toni Esker, soprano, recently finished her Masters Degree in Voice Performance from Northwestern University where she studied with Sunny Joy Langton.  While at Northwestern, Ms. Esker was seen as Zemfira in Aleko, First Gossip in The Ghosts of Versailles, and First Spirit in The Magic Flute.  Other roles and concert appearances include Micaëla in Carmen, Schubert’s Mass in C Major, and Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate

Saira Frank, soprano

Soprano Saira Frank, holds a master’s degree in opera from UW-Madison and two bachelor’s degrees, one in vocal performance and one in French from Northwestern University. Her studies also include a year at the National Conservatory in Nantes, France, where she participated in opera scenes and sang the role of Louis in Fortunio’s Song. A favorite of Madison’s Opera for the Young, Saira has performed in their past four productions and will sing the role of the Mother/Witch in the upcoming tour of Hansel and Gretel. A devoted outreach artist, Saira has sung with Candid Concert Opera of Madison as Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Adina in The Elixir of Love, and Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte. Other roles in Saira’s diverse repertory include the title roles in The Merry Widow. Saira lives in Waukesha and teaches there at Carroll Academy. Saira’s honors include scholarships from Opera Props and the Voice Department at UW Madison, and she is also a five-time recipient of the Rod Rahn Scholarship for the Arts, a three-time recipient of the Arnold R. and Enda F. Weber Scholarship for the Arts and Academic Excellence, and has previously taken fourth place in the 2006 Upper Midwest District MONC Auditions. Saira has sung in masterclasses with distinguished musicians such as Diana Soviero, John Wustman, Sherrill Milnes, Philip Morehead, and Giulio Favario.

Rachel Gorecki, soprano

Rachel Gorecki most recently performed the role of Countess Ceprano this summer in the mainstage production of Rigoletto at the prestigious opera program, La Musica Lirica in Novafeltria, Italy. Previously, while studying voice with Joyce Andrews as a theatre major at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Rachel performed the roles of the Abbess in Suor Angelica and Gertrud in Hansel and Gretel.  In the fall of 2010, Rachel finished first in her division at the Wisconsin NATS Auditions in Milwaukee, improving on her second place finish in 2009.  Rachel currently studies voice with Brian Leeper at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she is preparing for her upcoming senior recital in March of 2012. Upon graduation from UW-Whitewater, Rachel plans to pursue a graduate degree in vocal performance.

Corey Grigg, baritone

Baritone COREY GRIGG is a versatile performer who can be frequently heard as a soloist in the Chicago region. Recently, he has performed as a soloist with Chicago’s Music of the Baroque, the New Philharmonic, the North Shore Choral Society, UIC String Ensemble, the Newberry Consort Emerging Artists, Ars Musica Chicago, and the Chicago Early Music Festival, as well as in a televised concert of Rachmaninoff’s Aleko, sponsored by Northwestern University. In addition to concert repertoire, he has been seen as Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro) at the Peninsula Music Festival in Door County, WI, Silvio (Pagliacci) at Chautauqua Opera, and Ben Budge (The Beggar’s Opera) under the baton of Maestro Lorin Maazel as part of the inaugural season of the Châteauville Foundation’s Castleton Festival. A recent graduate of Northwestern University, he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Voice Performance, and portrayed Count Almaviva (The Marriage of Figaro), Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Danilo (The Merry Widow), Belcore (L’elisir d’amore), Demetrius (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), and Guglielmo (Cosi fan tutte). He was also a soloist for Orff’s Carmina Burana, C.P.E. Bach’s Magnificat, and Telemann’s Der Tag des Gerichts. For details on upcoming performances, please visit www.coreygrigg.com.

Ashley Henry, Soprano

Ashley Henry is a native of Mississippi where she has attended Jones County Junior College and the University of Southern Mississippi. At JCJC she sang in the JCJC Concert Choir, as well as in the JCJC Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble. Also, while being at JCJC, she has performed as the “Witch”, in the Musical, “Into the Woods”.  At USM, she has sung in the Southern Chorale and has performed in the Chorus of “The Marriage of Figaro”, and “I Pagliacci”.  She now attends The University of Michigan, where she has sung in the University Choir and now currently sings in Chamber Choir.  She is also a voice student of Dr. George Shirley, and she hopes to pursue a professional career in Vocal Performance.

Dustin Hertzog, bass-baritone

Denver native Dustin Hertzog is privileged to be singing his bass-baritone in the mid-west; having been featured locally in the outreach programs and ensemble of Florentine Opera. He was seen previously with Tulsa Opera in ensemble and comprimario positions. Dustin is a proud graduate of Oklahoma City University with a BM in Vocal Performance where role highlights include Mozart’s Figaro, Nicolai’s Falstaff, Strauss Jr.’s Frank, and Dominick Argento’s The Boor. He has also been heard in concert singing Faure’s Requiem and Dubois’s The Seven Last Words of Christ. Dustin is currently studying towards a MM in Vocal Performance at University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee under baritone Kurt Ollmann.

Kelley Hollis, soprano

In 2010 soprano Kelley Hollis received her Bachelor of Music in Voice and Opera Performance from Northwestern University, where she is currently completing her Masters.  She has spent the last two summers as a young artist at the Castleton Festival where she covered the role of Musetta in the Festival’s production of La Boheme and performed in the ensemble of several operas including La Boheme, Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortileges, and Il Trittico.  Ms. Hollis has been a semifinalist in the Palm Beach Opera Competition and was the winner of the Bel Canto Foundation of Chicago’s Bella Voce Award.

Rachel Eve Holmes, soprano

Rachel Eve Holmes most recently made her Carnegie Hall debut sponsored by the Associated Music Teacher’s League of New York in May, 2011. Other recent accolades include encouragement awards from both Longleaf Opera National Vocal Competition and Georgia District MONC, first place in the Colorado Graduate Division NATS competition along with being the winner of grants from the Young Singers Foundation, Society of Singers, and the Schuyler Foundation for Career Bridges. Miss Holmes was an Apprentice Artist with Opera Fort Collins during the two years she was in the MM program at Colorado State University. Roles included Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Pamina (Die Zauberfloete) and Adele (Die Fledermaus). She also made her regional solo debut with orchestra singing Marzeline in Fidelio with the Fort Collins Symphony in 2010. Rachel has performed extensively overseas, including partial roles Violetta (La Traviata), and Laetitia (The Old Maid and the Thief) in a series of concerts sponsored by East China Normal University in Shanghai (2011). She performed full roles Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) in Novafeltria, Italy (2008), and Beth March in the European Premiere of Mark Adamo's Little Women under the assistance of Adamo himself (Stadsschouwburg, Brugge, Belgium) in summer of 2009. Ms. Holmes received her BM from New England Conservatory of Music, where she was taught by the late pedagogue Dr. James McDonald, who was also her teacher in Colorado. She now resides in Madison, Wisconsin and studies with Julia Faulkner. Upcoming engagements include Frasquita in Opera Fort Collin’s production of Carmen.

Angela Jarosz, soprano

Angela Jarosz is a rising talent in the bay area classical music scene. She was recently engaged to understudy Olympia in Parlor Opera’s production of Les Contes d’Hoffmann. Ms. Jarosz earned her Masters of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Jane Randolph. She portrayed Anne Trulove in the Conservatory’s production of The Rake’s Progress at the Cowell Theater. She also performed the Mother in Conrad Susa’s definitive and final version of his opera The Love of Don Perlimplin which was premiered in collaboration with the New Music Ensemble. Other SFCM credits include Diana in Orpheus in the Underworld, a role Ms. Jarosz stepped in to two weeks before the show opened. Ms. Jarosz earned her Bachelors of Music at Roosevelt University - Chicago College of Performing Arts where she studied with Judith Haddon and Michael Best. While studying there she played Lucy in G.C. Menotti’s The Telephone and Peony in Ned Rorem’s A Childhood Miracle. Ms. Jarosz has performed as a soprano soloist for John Rutter’s Requiem, Grand Pianola Music by John Adams and Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten. She also participated in the Opera Theater and Music Festival of Lucca.

Alisa Suzanne Jordheim, soprano

A native of Appleton, Wisconsin, Alisa Suzanne Jordheim’s lyric coloratura soprano “has that measure of quick spin that keeps it rock steady in all registers” (Northeast Wisconsin Music Review).  Alisa is a doctoral student at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), and her cognate field of specialization is Scandinavian Vocal Music and Diction.  At CCM, Alisa has performed the roles of Lucia in The Rape of Lucretia, Echo in Ariadne auf Naxos, and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte.   For Cincinnati Opera’s 2011 summer season, Alisa appeared as the Page in Verdi’s Rigoletto and 2^nd Knabe in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.  Alisa sang with Central City Opera for their 2010 Regional Tour and, as a studio artist with Central City Opera in summers 2009 and 2010, she performed the roles of Fredrika in A Little Night Music and Sirena in Rinaldo, as well as the partial roles of Gilda in Rigoletto, Lakmé in Lakmé, and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, among others.  Alisa has appeared as soloist with the Hilton Head Symphony, the Dayton Philharmonic, and the Fox Valley Symphony.  Alisa was the recipient of the Audience Favorite Award at the 2009 Tri-State College Vocal Competition, and a 2009 Central City Opera Bonfils-Stanton Young Artists Award.  Most recently, she was named a finalist in the Kurt Weill Foundation’s 2011 Lotte Lenya Competition in New York.  Upcoming engagements include the role of 1^st Fairy in a staged production of Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Columbus Symphony, and Zerlina in CCM’s upcoming production of Don Giovanni. 

Angela Kloc, soprano

Angela Rosa Kloc recently completed her graduate coursework at Indiana University, having studied with Costanza Cuccaro. In February 2010, Angela made her debut on the Indiana University Opera Theater stage singing the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor. Subsequently, she sang the role of Rosina in IU's new production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia and performed Mahler's Symphony No. 4 with the IU Philharmonic Orchestra. This summer, she joined the Des Moines Metro Opera Apprentice Artist Program and covered the role of Norina in Don Pasquale, as well as performed scenes from Falstaff, Powder Her Face, I Capuleti e I Montecchi and Cendrillion. She will make her professional debut with The Atlanta Opera in April of 2012, singing the role of Zerlina in Don Giovanni. Other roles include: Queen of the Night (The Magic Flute), La Fee (Cendrillion), Amore (L'incoronazione di Poppea), Carolina (Il Matrimonio Segreto), and Despina (Cosi Fan Tutte).

Darik Knutsen, baritone

Darik Knutsen, baritone from McLean, VA is excited to make his Kennedy Center debut with Evelyn Lear's Wagner Society, as well as his Madison Opera debut in Phillip Glass's Galileo Galilei this season. He also looks forward to recitals with the American Opera Society of Chicago and with the Lyric Opera of Chicago's Wilmette Chapter. The past two summers Mr. Knutsen was an Apprentice with the Santa Fe Opera where he sang the role of Wagner in Faust (2011) and Schlemil in The Tales of Hoffmann (2010).

     Mr. Knutsen has also worked with the Chicago Opera Theater for the past two seasons where he sang the role of Arcas in Charpentier's Médée (2011), and understudied the role of Charlie in Jake Heggie's Three Decembers (2010). Other operatic experience includes the title role of Eugene Onegin at the Chautauqua Institute of Music, as well as Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte and Peachum in The Threepenny Opera at Northwestern University. Mr. Knutsen is the recipient of numerous awards including 2nd Place Winner in the Central Region Finals of the Metropolitan Council Auditions (2010), Winner of the American Opera Society Scholarship (2011), and 1st Place in the Bel Canto Foundation of Chicago (2011). Mr. Knutsen is a current voice student of Marlena Malas.

Kathryn Leemhuis, mezzo-soprano

American mezzo-soprano, Kathryn Leemhuis, a recent alumna of the Ryan Opera Center, returned to the Lyric Opera of Chicago this fall to understudy the role of Giulietta in Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann.  She recently performed Zerlina in Opera Theatre St. Louis’ production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and Dorabella in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte at the Tanglewood Music Center under the baton of James Levine.  Ms. Leemhuis will be making her role debut as Suzuki in DuPage Opera’s production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, and will return to Opera Theatre St. Louis as Dorabella in a new production of Cosi fan tutte.  In 2010, Ms. Leemhuis made her role debut as Amaltea in Rossini’s Mosè in Egitto at the Chicago Opera Theater.  She also sang the role of Paquette in Bernstein’s Candide both with the esteemed Ravinia Festival and with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.  Ms. Leemhuis is the first place winner of the 2010 Musicians’ Club of Women Competition, the 2009 American Opera Society Competition, and the 2009 Union League Civic of Chicago Competition.  She is the second place winner of the 2011 Gerda Lissner Foundation Vocal Competition, the 2011 Bel Canto Vocal Competition, and the 2010 Fort Worth McCammon Competition.

Ashley Mispagel, soprano

Ashley Mispagel is a senior vocal performance major at Viterbo University in La Crosse. She is the recipient of a performance scholarship from the Liberace Foundation of Las Vegas. Ashley has won awards at the Wisconsin NATS auditions and won the $1500 second place award in the 2009 Bruce Carlson Scholarship Competition at the Schubert Club in St. Paul. MN. Ashley has sung title roles as Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, The Princess in Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Laetitia in Menotti’s Old Maid and the Thief. She was recently cast as the Countess in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro to be performed as part of Viterbo University’s Bright Star Season in February of 2011. She has served as assistant music director for Suor Angelica, Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. Ashley has worked in Master Classes with Cynthia Lawrence and Adriana Querioz. She plans further study in vocal performance in graduate school after graduating this spring from Viterbo University.

Christopher Nelson, tenor

Christopher Nelson was a Opera Santa Barbara Young Artist in 2010 where he sang Fenton in Falstaff and Tybalt in Roméo et Juliette.  Christopher received his Masters of Music in Voice from Indiana University in 2009. He has performed with IU Opera on multiple occasions, most notably as Donato Corelli in Bolcom’s The Wedding, Arlecchino in Arlecchino, Ralph in H.M.S. Pinafore, Monostatos in The Magic Flute, El Remandato in Carmen, and Borsa in Rigoletto. Under the direction of Carol Vaness, he has studied and performed the roles of Romeo (Romeo and Juliet), Nadir (Les pêcheurs de perles), Chevalier de la Force (Dialogues des Carmélites) and Ferrando (Così fan tutte).

Kevin Newell, tenor

A native of Wisconsin, Kevin Newell is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance. Newell is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Voice Performance at the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor; he attended the Seagle Music Colony in Schroon Lake, New York in the summers of 2009-10. In the summer of 2011, Newell sang as a studio artist with the Central City Opera House Association, in Central City, CO. Opera roles include Laurie in Adamo’s Little Women with the University of Michigan (2011), Roméo in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette with Seagle Music Colony (2010), Albert in Britten’s Albert Herring with the University of Wisconsin (2009), Camille de Rosillon in Lehar’s The Merry Widow with the University of Wisconsin (2007) and Aeneas in Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas (2007). Additionally, Newell has been a tenor soloist for Hayden’s Messe in tempore belli, Ariel Ramírez’s Missa Criolla, Handel’s Messiah, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah. He was also a soloist on the Michael Joncas album In the Sight of the Angels (2008), and the Joncas, Alonso, Haugen album Christ be Near (2009). Newell studied with Dr. Mitra Sadeghpour in Wisconsin and currently studies with Prof. Stephen Lusmann in Michigan.

Rhea Olivaccé, soprano

Rhea Olivaccé holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from University of Michigan Ann Arbor, where she also completed a Master of Music degree, both on a full-tuition scholarship.  In June 2011 Ms. Olivaccé covered Musetta in La Bohème during her apprenticeship with Des Moines Metro Opera.  In November 2009, she performed the role of Contessa in UMAA’s production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro under the baton of Kenneth Kiesler.  In March 2009, Ms. Olivaccé performed the role of Suzel in Mascagni’s L’amico Fritz at UMAA.  She also has performed the leading soprano roles of Tatyana in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and Mimi in Puccini's La Bohème, both conducted by Martin Katz. In April 2009, Ms Olivaccé performed at the New York Pops Gala under the baton of Steven Reineke in Carnegie Hall where she performed her debut recital in October 2008, sponsored by the Netherlands American Trust. She recently performed again in recital at Carnegie Hall in October 2010, singing “Music of the Americas” with Kevin Miller. In June 2008, she made her international debut in recital at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  Ms Olivaccé was one of the winners of the Metropolitan Opera-District Competition (2010) and took second place in the National Association for Negro Musicians Vocal Competition (2011).   Ms Olivaccé will perform the soprano solo in Bach’s Magnificat with First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor this December. 

Anna Petrie, mezzo-soprano

Anna Petrie, Mezzo-Soprano, is a Wisconsin native and currently resides in New York, NY. Opera credits include: Olga (Eugene Onegin), Mercedes (Carmen),Third Lady (Die Zauberflote), Hansel (Hansel & Gretel), Juno (Semele), Meg Page (Falstaff), Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro) and A Novice, Lay Sister, Prima Sorella Cercatrice (Suor Angelica). Ms. Petrie has appeared as a guest artist with Encore Productions, the New York Chamber Virtuosi and the Fond du Lac Symphonic Band. She has also given two solo recitals to benefit the Fond du Lac Center for Spirituality and Healing. Ms. Petrie has worked with companies such as Delaware Valley Opera, Opera New Jersey, Opera Breve, Inc., Amore Opera and the New York Opera Studio. She has been a Studio Artist with Opera New Jersey in the 2010 season has studied with the Martina Arroyo Foundation and was a member of the Professional Artist Development Program with the Delaware Valley Opera for the 2011 Summer Season.

Tim Rebers, baritone

Baritone Tim Rebers is a Milwaukee native who sings a wide variety of musical styles. This summer he performed the title roles in Gianni Schicchi and Dido & Aeneas, as well as Tommy in Brigadoon. Tim has sung with several local music groups including Skylight Opera, Florentine Opera Chorus, MSO Chorus, Music by the Lake, Master Singers of Milwaukee, and the Concord Chamber Orchestra. Past roles include the Bo'sun in HMS Pinafore, Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte, Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Soloist in Dave Brubeck's Christmas oratorio, "La Fiesta de la Posada". Upcoming events include an Opera Gala with the Concord Chamber Orchestra, and a recital of Vaughan Williams's "Five Mystical Songs" and other religious art songs. Tim holds a Masters degree in vocal performance from Truman State University, and a B.A. in music from Wisconsin Lutheran College.

Anthony Reed, bass

Sarah Richardson, soprano

Sarah Richardson (Shestak) (2007 District Encouragement Award Recipient) currently resides and performs in the Milwaukee area.  Most recently, Sarah has been featured in performances with Kalliope Vocal Arts, the Milwaukee Choral Artists, Ensemble Musical Offering, and the East Side Chamber Players.  Sarah completed her Master of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and her Bachelor of Music degree from Viterbo University.  During her studies, Sarah performed the roles of Eurydice in Orpheus in the Underworld, Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief, Madame Goldentrill in The Impresario, and Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute.  Sarah received 1st place in the Wisconsin NATS Auditions (2006 and 2009) and 2nd place at the Schubert Club Competition (2006). In May 2009, she was honored to give a recital for the Lyric Opera Club of Milwaukee, for receiving their distinguished young artist award.  She currently studies with Dawn Riesing.

Michael Roemer, baritone

Michael Roemer is a current student of Julia Faulkner at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, finishing his MM opera performance degree.  He completed his BM degree at University of Wisconsin- Whitewater and studied voice with Brian Leeper.  Mr. Roemer traveled to Italy in 2008 and 2009 to attend La Musica Lirica, where he performed the roles of Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff and Gasparo in Donizetti’s Rita.  Mr. Roemer was a winner of the UW- Whitewater Concerto Competitions and earned 1^st and 2^nd places the past three years in the Wisconsin NATS Auditions.  Mr. Roemer performed in Madison University Opera last year as Marco in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and John Sorel in Menotti’s The Consul.  Recently, Mr. Roemer has performed with Candid Concert Opera in performances of Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore and Don Pasquale.  Mr. Roemer attended the Des Moines Metro Opera as a Collier Apprentice Artist this past summer.

Benjamin Schultz, bass-baritone

Benjamin Schultz (Bass-Baritone) originally from Green Bay, is a second year doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison where he studies with Mimmi Fulmer.  Mr. Schultz received his Masters degree from Belmont University in Nashville and his Bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.  He has performed in numerous operatic and oratorio roles which include Simone in Gianni Schicchi, Don Alfonso in Cosí fan tutte, Raphael in the Haydn Creation, John Proctor in The Crucible, and Sid in Albert Herring.  He has sung with both the Florentine Opera and Nashville Opera as a soloist, comprimario, and chorister.   He was recently inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda musicological society and is a current member of the American Guild of Musical Artists and National Association of Teachers of Singing.  Mr. Schultz recently joined the voice faculty at the University of Wisconsin – Platteville and also serves as the Marketing and Operations Manager for University Opera in Madison.  This year he will perform the roles of Colline in La Bohème and Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni, both with University Opera.

Catherine Schweitzer, soprano

Catherine Schweitzer has been praised with having “an exceptionally beautiful voice and good comic timing” by Fanfare Magazine. Miss Schweitzer’s recent musical performance credits include Princess Zara in Utopia, Limited and Elsie Maynard in Yeoman of the Guard. Other opera roles include Sandrina/Violante in La Finta Giardiniera, Erisbe in L’Ormindo, Yum-Yum in The Mikado and Monica in The Medium. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Peck School of the Arts at UW Milwaukee, and her Masters of Music from the Longy School of Music. She has studied and coached with Wendy Rowe, Martin Katz, Dr. William Lavonis, and Donna Roll.  She currently studies with Julia Faulkner.

Lindsay Sessing, soprano

Ms. Sessing is currently pursuing a Masters of Music in Opera at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, studying with Julia Faulkner. With their University Opera she has performed the roles of Suor Angelica (Suor Angelica), Magda Sorel (The Consul) and this year will be performing the roles of Musetta (La Boheme) and Donna Anna (Don Giovanni). She has completed a BM-Music Performance from the University of Minnesota where performed several roles including The First Lady (The Magic Flute).

Meagan Seubert, soprano

Caroline Shaul, soprano

Caroline Shaul, soprano, received her training in the Midwest at Illinois Wesleyan University and University of Wisconsin-Madison.  While studying, Caroline performed roles such as Lauretta from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, the title role from Carlisle Floyd's Susannah and Donna Anna from Mozart's Don Giovanni. Upon finishing her graduate degree, Ms. Shaul relocated to Washington DC and taught and performed extensively throughout the area in the past 4 years.   In Washington DC, Caroline studied with Elizabeth Daniels.  She performed in multiple operas, operettas, and musicals in the area including the Countess Almaviva from Le Nozze di Figaro with the Maryland Opera Society, Musetta from La Boheme with Repertory Opera Theater of Washington, and Rose Williams in one of the first readings of the new musical Tom to TENN by Paul Leavitt.   She has recently relocated to Chicago, IL and is now studying with Jo Rodenberg.

J. Adam Shelton, tenor

Caitlin Shirley, soprano

Soprano Caitlin Shirley will perform the role of Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore during April 2012 with the Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University. She recently received a Master of Music degree in Voice at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she sang Ann Page in Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica, and Mrs. Hayes in Susannah. For the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where received a Bachelor of Music, she performed the roles of Gasparina in La Canterina, Fedra in L’Egisto, Jessica in Festival of Regrets, and Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro. A former Apprentice Artist with Sugar Creek Symphony and Song, Shirley covered the role of Laurie Moss in their 2009 production of The Tender Land. During summer 2008 she was an Apprentice Artist with Ash Lawn Opera, where she performed the role of Mrs. Pearce in My Fair Lady, and during summer 2007 she sang Drusilla in L’incoronazione di Poppea with the Chautauqua Institution. She was the recipient of the 2010 Encouragement Award from the Mississippi/West Tennessee District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Other awards include the Bellini Award in the 2008 Orpheus Vocal Competition and Third Place in the 2007 Irma M. Cooper Opera Columbus International Vocal Competition, Junior Division.

Brenna Sluiter, soprano

Aidan Smerud, baritone

Aidan Smerud is a senior pursuing his Bachelors in Vocal Performance at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He is a La Crosse native and is a graduate of Aquinas High School. Aidan has won awards at the Wisconsin NATS Student Auditions the past three years. He was the most recent winner of the Advanced Voice Division in the Bruce Carlson Scholarship Audition of the Schubert Club. Last year, Aidan was selected to participate in the Supporter’s of Singers Young Artists Program. Active in both Music Theater and Opera, Aidan has sung roles of Fagin in Oliver, Judas in Godspell, Gianni Schicchi in Gianni Schicchi and Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro. He performed the bass solos in Handel’s Messiah on Viterbo University’s Bright Star Season and in London at Southwark Cathedral as part of the commemoration concert of the death of Handel. This fall Aidan was invited to sing on the Schubert Club Courtroom Concerts Series at the Landmark Center in St. Paul. This spring he will perform the role of Sam in Trouble in Tahiti and his performance degree full recital at Viterbo University. Aidan will audition for graduate schools this spring and will continue his studies in vocal performance with his sights on a career in opera performance.

Chelsey Spaeth, soprano

Chelsey Spaeth is a senior at Viterbo University where she is pursuing a Bachelor Degree in Vocal Performance and Piano Pedagogy. She is a three-time semi-finalist in the Wisconsin NATS auditions, a finalist in the 2010 Bruce Carlson Scholarship Competition at the Schubert Club in St. Paul. MN, and was a finalist in the Classical Singer Competition in New York, New York. Chelsey has performed roles on the Viterbo University stage, including her most recent performance in February, 2011 as Susanna in Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.” Other roles include Spirit in Purcell’s  Dido and Aeneas,” Suor Genovieffa in Puccini’s “Suor Angelica,” and Miss Pinkerton in Menotti’s ”Old Maid and the Thief.” She has performed in Master Classes with Adriane Queiroz, Mlada Khudoley, Cynthia Lawrence and Karen Brunnsen. Chelsey is a National Liberace Scholar and the recipient of a performance scholarship from the Liberace Foundation, Las Vegas.

Diana Stoic, soprano

Soprano Diana Stoic is a Chicago-area native who is garnering acclaim on both opera and concert stages. This summer Diana returned to the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, being described as “utterly luminous” in her portrayal of Cunegonde in their production of Candide. She has sung extensively with Des Moines Metro Opera, performing mainstage roles in their productions of Le nozze di Figaro (First Bridesmaid) and Tosca (Shepherd Boy). With DMMO she has covered leading roles including Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro and Alexandra in Blitzstein’s Regina. A frequent soloist with the DuPage Symphony Orchestra, Stoic has performed a program of Czech songs and arias, Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5, and the roles of Sandman/Dew Fairy in concert performances of Hansel and Gretel. Ms. Stoic is passionate about introducing young audiences to opera and educating them about classical music. She toured with OPERA Iowa’s productions of The Barber of Seville and Hansel and Gretel. She has also participated in outreach programs with Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre and Opera Santa Barbara. This coming fall she will join Opera for the Young, performing the role of Gretel. Ms. Stoic completed her Masters of Music from the Chicago College of Performing Arts and received her Bachelor of Music from Simpson College.