Emily G. Becker, soprano

Emily G. Becker, soprano, is a recent graduate of the Performance Certificate program at Northwestern University. While there, she performed several roles including Hanna in THE MERRY WIDOW, Adina in L'ELISIR D'AMORE, and Tytania in Benjamin Britten's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. She also had the privilege of singing with Norhwestern's Symphony Orchestra as the Soprano Soloist in CARMINA BURANA. Emily also has a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University, where she performed the role of Lady Billows in ALBERT HERRING. Last summer, Emily was a studio artist at Opera New Jersey, where she performed in the opera chorus as well as several scenes programs. She is currently a student of Pamela Hinchman.

Nicole Benson, soprano

Emily Birsan, soprano

Colleen Brooks, mezzo-soprano

Colleen Brooks, (District Katz Award Winner 2006, District Fifth Place Award Winner 2005), has recently become a mezzo! She will be making her mezzo-soprano debut this July as Rosina in Rossini's Barber of Seville this summer with Rising Star Singers in Rising Sun, Indiana. This weekend she is singing the soprano II part in Mozart's C Minor Mass in Cincinnati, OH. She will also be working with Thomas Pasatieri this coming August and performing several songs from his cycle LETTER TO WARSAW in College-Conservatory of Music's Grandin Music Festival. This past year Colleen tackled the soprano solo part of Stravinsky's ballet LES NOCES. In the year to come Colleen plans finish her doctorate degree at the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati.

Caitlin Cisler, soprano

A native of Appleton, Wisconsin, soprano Caitlin Cisler has already asserted a strong presence as a leading lady on the operatic stage. Her notable roles include Pamina (Die Zauberflöte, 2006), Lucy (The Telephone, 2006), Mélisande (Pelléas et Mélisande, 2007), Norina (Don Pasquale, 2008), and Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro, 2008). In the 2008-2009 season, Ms. Cisler can be seen on the UW Opera stage as Valencienne (Die lustige Witwe) and Morgana (Alcina), as well as Cunegonde (Candide) with Four Seasons Theater. In concert, Ms. Cisler has presented programs on the “Heroines of Shakespeare in Song and Opera” (2005) and “Beauty and the Veil: the works of Richard Strauss and Gustav Klimt” (2006) featuring Strauss’s Brentano Lieder, op. 68 and excerpts from Der Rosenkavalier. She was recently featured as the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem, von Weber’s Mass in G Major, and Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore with various UW ensembles in 2007-2008. In 2008, she presented the Brentano Lieder with the UW Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the university’s concerto competition. Ms. Cisler was selected as a finalist for the 2007 Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition, placed second in the 2007 NATS Adult Professional competition, and most recently received first place in the 2008 Schubert Club Competition in St. Paul, MN. Ms. Cisler currently studies with Ms. Julia Faulkner as an Opera Masters student at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Jessica Louise Coe, soprano

Jessica recently made her opera debut as Barbarina in her hometown of Grand Rapids, MI in Opera Grand Rapids’ production of Le Nozze di Figaro. While working toward her undergraduate degree in Vocal Performance at DePaul University, she performed in the operas The Bartered Bride, Candide, The Coronation of Poppea, (Cupid), and Little Women, (Amy March). An active choral singer, she performed the soprano solo in Fauré’s Requiem with the Chicago Chorale, and is a member of the Grant Park Chorus. Next May she will perform Mozart’s Exsultate, Jubilate and solo on Mozart’s Regina Coeli in Grand Rapids, MI at the Basillica of St. Adalbert with the Choral Scholars. Also an accomplished pianist, she recently worked with the Lyric Opera of Chicago accompanying a number of their Opera Kids performances in local public schools. She studies with Elsa Charlston in Chicago and plans to begin a Masters program in vocal performance in the fall of 2010.

Alyssa Cox, soprano

Soprano Alyssa Cox, hailing from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, recently completed a 5-year program with a Bachelor of Music in Voice and Master of Music in Opera Theater at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Recently she debuted at Carnegie Hall in Weill Recital Hall and was named a grant winner for the 2009 Schuyler Foundation Career Bridges grants. She debuted with Oberlin Opera in fall 2008 as the title role in Oberlin’s production of Massenet’s CENDRILLON and in the spring performed as First Lady in Oberlin’s production of Mozart’s THE MAGIC FLUTE. Other Oberlin credits include Miss Pinkerton in OLD MAID AND THE THIEF and scenes as Violetta in Verdi’s LA TRAVIATA to accompany her master’s dissertation on the opera, “Redemption and Ascension: Giuseppe Verdi’s Metaphysical Struggle and his Exploration Thereof in LA TRAVIATA.” Alyssa recently performed with the Cleveland Orchestra as a soloist in Grieg’s Peer Gynt under the baton of Vladimir Ashkenazy. She has also appeared in concert at Oberlin for the 2009 Commencement Recital and Danenberg Honors Recital. Alyssa has spent extensive time studying and touring as a recitalist in Italy and as an avid art song fanatic, Alyssa appeared as an artist with the Baldwin-Wallace Art Song Festival in May 2008, in which she took part in masterclasses with Stephanie Blythe, Warren Jones, Mikhail Hallak, and Francois Le Roux. Alyssa has also participated in masterclasses with Martin Katz, Mikael Eliasen, Enza Ferrari, and has coached privately with Marilyn Horne, Joan Patenaude-Yarnell, Mikhail Hallak, and Ruth Golden. On the competition circuit, Alyssa recently won first prize with the Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition, and has been a prize winner in the Pittsburgh Keynotes Competition, NSAL Competition Ohio River Valley District, Harold Haugh Light Opera Competition, and the Opera Guild of Dayton Competition. In the fall, Alyssa began study at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music for a Master’s of Music in Voice with a prestigious graduate assistantship.

Meghan Dewald, soprano

Meghan Dewald, soprano, recently covered the role of Margarita in Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar at Cincinnati Opera. Recent Indiana University performances include the soprano soloist in the Britten War Requiem conducted by Robert Porco and Cleopatra in IU Opera Theater’s production of Giulio Cesare, conducted by Gary Thor Wedow. Other roles include Camelia la Tejana in the world premiere of Gabriela Ortiz’s “videopera” ¡Únicamente la verdad! at the IU Jacobs School of Music, Diana in William Bolcom’s A Wedding with IU Opera Theater and Margarita Xirgu in the collegiate premiere of Ainadamar at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Dewald’s operatic credits include the roles of Juliette in Romeo et Juliette (OperaWorks tour) and Berta in Il baribere di Siviglia with Kentucky Opera; First Lady in Die Zauberflöte and Suor Dolcina in Suor Angelica at Northwestern University. She has been the recipient of several awards including Second Place Regional Finalist (Upper Midwest Region) and District Winner (Wisconsin) in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Competition and Friends of Music scholarship at Indiana University. She has participated in master classes with Gianna Rolandi, David Gately and Elizabeth Upchurch. Dewald is a native of Reading, Pennsylvania and completed her Bachelor of Music degree magna cum laude at Northwestern University. She studies with Costanza Cuccaro.

Jesse Enderle, baritone

Jesse Enderle is excited to have started his first semester of graduate study at University of Michigan where he studies with Stephen Lusmann. This past summer he attended Seagle Music Colony where he performed the role of Schaunard in LA BOHEME as well as 2nd Armored Man in THE MAGIC FLUTE and Harry in Sondheim’s COMPANY. This semester he will be singing the role of Prince Gremin the University of Michigan Opera Theatre production of EUGENE ONEGIN followed by Sid in Britten’s ALBERT HERRING during the winter term. Jesse looks forward to the next two years as a time of greater discovery and exploration into the world of music.

Emily Fons, mezzo-soprano

Mezzo-soprano Emily Fons recently finished her second summer as an apprentice with the Santa Opera. In Santa Fe she has covered Meg Page in FALSTAFF, sung Flora in LA TRAVIATA and also performed a series of holiday concerts throughout New Mexico and Texas. Ms. Fons has performed with Indianapolis Opera singing Kate in PIRATES OF PENZANCE and the Sandman in HANSEL UND GRETEL. She received her B.A from Luther College and her M.M. from Southern Illinois University. Emily looks forward to joining the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in April of 2010.

Saira Frank, soprano

Soprano Saira Frank is a recent graduate of UW-Madison, where she was awarded a Masters of Opera for her performances in the title roles of both The Merry Widow and Alcina. Some of her previous opera credits include Josephine in HMS Pinafore with the Cedar Rapids Young Artist Program and Armidoro in Piccinni’s La Buona Figliola both at Northwestern University, where she earned undergraduate degrees in Voice and French, and at the Teatro Piccinni in the composer’s hometown of Bari, Italy. Saira has been a soloist with the UW Madison Chamber Orchestra for their concerts of Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater and Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis. In 2008 she performed the Queen of the Night in Madison-based outreach group Opera for the Young’s adaptation of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and will continue with the group in Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love this fall and the 2010 tour of Dvorak’s Rusulka. Honored for her academic and musical rigor, Saira has received scholarships from Opera Props and the Voice Department at UW Madison, been 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. In the 2008 competition, Saira was awarded the Skylight Opera Mainstage Award and looks forward to performing in a future production with the company.

Celeste Fraser, soprano

Celeste Fraser is a recent graduate of Western Washington University where she earned her Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance. She is currently a student of Julia Faulkner and began her Masters in opera at UW-Madison this fall. Her recent performances include soprano soloist for Britten’s War Requiem (UW-Madison Symphony), Berta in Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Opera North), Mimi in La Bohéme (La Musica Lirica, Italy), Lauretta in Gianni Schichhi (Western Washington University), Anne Trulove’s aria from The Rake’s Progress with Western Washington University Orchestra, Vivaldi’s Gloria with Whatcom Symphony Orchestra, and Helen in Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters (Western Washington University). She has been the recipient of several awards including the Virginia Hunter Competition Scholarship, the Frances Jean Miller Scholarship, and the Florentine Opera Recital Award at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Rachel Gorecki, soprano

John Green, baritone

Jennifer Hansen, soprano

Jennifer Hansen is excited to begin her third year of voice study under Professor Allison Hull at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Ms. Hansen's roles include Constance in THE SORCERER, Second Knitter in A GAME OF CHANCE, Gretel in HANSEL AND GRETEL, La Musica in L’ORFEO, Laetitia in THE OLD MAID AND THE THIEF, Chorus of Witches in DIDO AND AENEAS and is currently playing the role of Adina in L’ELISIR D’AMORE. She was a featured soloist with the UW-Parkside Symphony Orchestra's production of Antonio Vivaldi's Beatus Vir and was also the soprano soloist for the Wisconsin Chorale Directors Association’s presentation of Requiem by Gabriel Faure. In November, Jennifer was awarded second place in the Adult Avocational division of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Student Auditions. In April of 2008, Jennifer was privileged to perform the world premiere of two original compositions: The Lord’s Prayer by Ayesu Lartey and Three Shakespearean Sonnets, a three movement song cycle written specifically for her by composer David Ramsey, Jr. Jennifer eagerly awaits her junior recital that is scheduled for the upcoming spring semester.

Melissa Harvey, soprano

Melissa Harvey is a 22 year old from Richburg, NY and a first year Master’s student at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music majoring in vocal performance. While at CCM for her Undergraduate degree, also in vocal performance, Melissa performed the roles of Le Rossignol in Ravel’s L’ENFANT ET LES SORTILÈGES (2007), Amahl in AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS (2007), Amor in L’INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA (2008), Papagena in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE (2008), and Eurydice in Offenbach’s ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD (2009). Concert works at CCM have included the soprano soloist in Carl Barnett’s The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass (2007), Mendelssohn’s Elijah (2007), Fauré’s Requiem (2007), Mendelssohn’s Hear My Prayer (2008), Tehillim by Reich (2008), Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass (St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, 2009), Rothko Chapel by Feldman (2009), and Bach’s Cantata 78 (2009). In 2008, Ms. Harvey won the Undergraduate Vocal Competition and received the Baur/Powell Scholarship. She was also awarded the Mercer Scholarship for language study in a foreign country, and attended the Goethe Institut in Freiburg, Germany this past summer. Recently, Melissa has performed selections from Strauss’ Brentano Lieder, Milhaud’s Chansons de Ronsard, Der Hirt auf dem Felsen by Schubert, and Webern’s Opus 18: Drei Lieder for voice, E-flat Clarinet, and guitar.

Alexandra Kassouf, soprano

Alexandra Kassouf is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, having earned her BFA in vocal performance under the guidance of Dr. William Lavonis. As an undergraduate, Ms. Kassouf performed the role of Polly Peachum in Weill’s THREEPENNY OPERA and was a featured soloist with the UW-Milwaukee Symphony Band. Recent awards include first place at the 2008 NATS auditions and several talent scholarships at UWM. Ms. Kassouf is currently studying with Teresa Seidl and is in the process of applying for graduate school.

Kristin Knutson, soprano

Kerry J Kuplic, baritone

Kerry J Kuplic holds the master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts, where he studied with Kurt Ollmann. He graduated cum laude in vocal performance from the University of Wisconsin Green Bay, where he distinguished his undergraduate career by receiving the Chancellor’s Leadership Medallion and the Paul D. Ziemer Vocal Scholarship. He was among the first Americans to participate in several initiatives sponsored by the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation of Florence, Italy, and was a semifinalist in the Seventh and Eighth Montreal International Czech & Slovak Voice Competitions. Kerry has sung in the masterclasses of Simon Estes, Eric Graber, Mimmi Fulmer, Timothy Cheek, Sergej Kopcak and Brad Liebl. Upcoming engagements include recitals and chorus work in the Florentine Opera’s productions of ELMER GANTRY and RIGOLETTO. His roles include Lucan (THE CORONATION OF POPPEA), Ben (THE TELEPHONE), Tiger Brown (THE THREEPENNY OPERA), Guglielmo (COSÌ FAN TUTTE), Aeneas (DIDO AND AENEAS), Papageno (THE MAGIC FLUTE), numerous roles in scenes recitals of Mozart, Puccini, Verdi and Lehar operas and a pivotal role in the premiere of Terence O’Grady’s A DIPLOMATIC AFFAIR.

Amber McKoy, mezzo-soprano

Amber McKoy, a native of Deerfield, Wisconsin, is currently finishing her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater under the guidance of Mr. Brian Leeper. Ms. McKoy has appeared as La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi (2006), Grandma in Little Red Riding Hood (2008), and Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro (2009), as well as recently singing with the Madison Opera Chorus at “Opera in the Park” in Madison, Wisconsin. Ms. McKoy has won a number of awards including the Carlene McMonagle Scholarship, the Robert Lee Jennings Scholarship, the UW-Whitewater Student-National Association of Teachers of Singing Scholarship, and was a runner-up in the UW-Whitewater Concerto Competition. This spring Ms. McKoy will be presenting her senior recital with works by Brahms, Duke, Donaudy, Saint-Saens, and Bizet. After graduating Ms. McKoy will be pursuing a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and a Master of Arts in Musicology, followed by a Doctoral degree in Performance.

Ashley Mispagel, soprano

Christopher Nelson, tenor

Rhea Olivacce, soprano

Allen Pruitt, baritone

Allen Pruitt, a recent grad of Viterbo University in Vocal Performance, studies with Dan Johnson-Wilmot. He has been a member of the Cathedral Gallery Singers at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral since 2005 singing under Dr. Brian Luckner. Allen has been in opera scenes from THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO as well as 2nd Armored Man in THE MAGIC FLUTE. He was a soloist in Handel’s Messiah. Allen is currently in an 8-person chorale singing at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse. He is looking forward to finishing the Post-Baccalaureate program at Viterbo University in May.

Tim Rebers, baritone

Michael Roemer, baritone

Michael Roemer is a current student of Mr. Brian Leeper at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, finishing his BM vocal performance degree. His recent performances include Mr. Ford in FALSTAFF (La Musica Lirica, Novafeltria, Italy), Count Almaviva in THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO (UW-Whitewater), Gasparo in RITA (La Musica Lirica, Novafeltria), and Ben in THE TELEPHONE (UW-Whitewater). Michael has performed in masterclasses by John Gates, Robert Brealt, Ubaldo Fabbri, and John De Haan. He has also been a winner of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Concerto Competitions and earned 1st and 2nd places the past three years in the Wisconsin NATS Auditions.

Jennifer Sams, mezzo-soprano

A native of Lockport, NY, Ms. Sams is a student of James Doing, receiving her DMA at UW in Voice Performance and a minor in Opera Production with William Farlow. During the fall semester, she is studying with Paul Rowe while Prof. Doing is on sabbatical. She completed her Master’s Degree as a member of the Knoxville Opera Studio with the University of Tennessee and her Bachelor’s Degree from Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music. At Baldwin-Wallace, Ms. Sams performed the roles of ‘The Third Lady’ in The Magic Flute, ‘Mrs. McLean’ in Susannah, and ‘Sally’ in A Hand of Bridge. At University of Tennessee, Ms. Sams performed the roles of ‘Mrs. Lovett’ in Sweeney Todd, ‘Grace Ansley’ in Roman Fever, and had her Knoxville Opera debut as ‘Pitti-Sing’ in The Mikado. Other roles with the Knoxville Opera Company include ‘Jo March’ in the Tennessee premier of Little Women, ‘Cleo’ in The Most Happy Fella’ and the cover of ‘Suzuki’ in Madama Butterfly. Internationally, Ms. Sams has performed as the alto soloist in Rossini’s Messa di Gloria in Pesaro, Italy and under the baton of Eduoardo Mueller at AIMS in Graz, Austria. Ms. Sams is the current section leader and alto soloist at Christ Presbyterian Church. She was most recently heard as an alto soloist in Beethoven’s Mass in C Major with the University of Wisconsin Choral Union and The Messiah at Edgewood College and Christ Presbyterian Church. She is currently teaching privately at Academy of Sound in Oregon, WI and at University of Wisconsin leading an Introduction to Voice class, as well as a studio of voice majors. Ms. Sams is also an active member and administrator with the Wisconsin Art Song Project. This fall she will present a comparative recital of classical composers with their cabaret pieces, and in the spring she will perform the role of ‘Elisabetta’ with UW Opera in a performance of Maria Stuarda.

Kristin Schwecke, soprano

Kristin Schwecke is a recent graduate of Carroll College with a degree is music performance. At Carroll College she was often a featured soprano soloist for the Carroll College Concert Choir and Vocal Collective. She has performed with many companies. These include: Great Lakes Opera, Music by the Lake, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Chorus. This past spring she was awarded with 3rd place from the MacDowell Club of Milwaukee’s Scholarship auditions. Kristin is looking forward to performing as the soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Waukesha Choral Union in the spring. She will also be performing with The Milwaukee Opera Theater in AMAHL, AND THE NIGHT VISITORS and will appear as The Sandman in their spring opera TOO MANY SOPRANOS.

Sarah Shestak, soprano

Sarah Shestak (2007 District Encouragement Award Recipient) received a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance in 2008 from Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. While at Viterbo she studied under Jean Saladino and performed the roles of Madame Goldentrill (THE IMPRESARIO) and The Queen of the Night (THE MAGIC FLUTE), was featured in many opera scenes performances, and was a soloist in Handel's Messiah. In 2006, Sarah received 2nd place at the Schubert Club Competition, 1st place at the Wisconsin NATS Auditions and participated in masterclasses with Jennifer Larmore and Paul Kiesgen. Sarah is in her second year of graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she studies with Teresa Seidl. Last year she was seen in Milwaukee as Eurydice (ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD) and will be working on the role of Laetitia (THE OLD MAID AND THE THIEF). This summer, Sarah performed in the chorus of MADAMA BUTTERFLY, directed by Christine Flasch for Music by the Lake in Williams Bay, WI and was featured in the Door County Opera Summer Gala presented by the Fox River Opera Company.

Christopher Aaron Smith, tenor

Christopher Aaron Smith is currently in his second year of Recent performance credits include the tenor soloist in Carmina Burana, (Paul Madore Chorale), the tenor soloist in Lord Nelson Mass (Masterworks Chorale), a soloist in the 19th Annual Concert Series (Longwood Opera), the tenor soloist in Messiah (Paul Madore Chorale; New Berlin Community Symphony), a soloist in the 7th Annual Concert Series (New England Light Opera), the tenor soloist in In Memoriam Dylan Thomas (New England Conservatory), a soloist in Side by Side by Sondheim (NEC Opera), Oronte in Alcina (Boston Opera Collaborative), Torquemada in L'Heure Espagnole (OperaHub), Monsieur Vogelsang in The Impresario (NEC Opera, Wartburg College), The Italian in Angelique (NEC Opera), Laurie in Little Women (Stoughton Opera Company), Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd (Four Seasons Theater), Lieut., the Duke of Dunstable in Patience (Madison Savoyards), Tamino in The Magic Flute (Wartburg College), Francis in Forever Plaid (EPAC), The Narrator in Oedipus Tex (Wartburg College), and Marco in The Gondoliers (Madison Savoyards). Also an up-and-coming specialist in the new music and contemporary opera repertory, Mr. Smith has premiered compositions by Jason Belcher, Jeffrey Brody, and Randal Despommier, presented the regional premiere of works by Scott Gendel, Daron Hagen, and Henry Mollicone, and is featured on the recording premiere of Jonathon Lovenstein's With Rue My Heart is Laden, PIPA Passes, and Cara Mia Ben with the composer at the piano. Upcoming new music engagements include the premiere of works by Davide Zannoni, Lawrence Dillon, Andrew Wilson, Dominick DiOrio, Andrew Ager, Allan Gilliland, Zachary Wadsworth, and Jonathon Lovenstein and the role of Mortimer in the world premiere of David Walther's Edward II with Acting Singers Project. Other upcoming engagements include Cavaradossi in Tosca with Longwood Opera and solos/leading tenor roles in The Tales of Offenbach, Red, White, and Opera, and the 1st Annual Contemporary AmericanaFest with the Boston Metro Opera.

Christiaan Smith-Kotlarek, baritone

Christiaan Smith-Kotlarek, baritone, is in his second and final year of his Master’s degree at IU-Bloomington, where he studies with Distinguished Professor Timothy Noble. In the past year, Smith-Kotlarek has performed with IU Opera Theater as Farfarello in THE LOVE FOR THREE ORANGES, soldier in GIULIO CESARE, and Clem/dancer in THE MOST HAPPY FELLA. Smith-Kotlarek also performed as company member in TERMINUS, a movement play, before heading to the Des Moines Metro Opera James M. Collier Apprentice Program, where he performed Betto in GIANNI SCHICCHI as well as scenes from PASSION, COSI FAN TUTTE, and ARIADNE AUF NAXOS. This fall, Smith-Kotlarek will play Papageno in IU Opera Theater’s upcoming new production of DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE. In 2008, he played Mr. Jenks in Madison Opera’s production of THE TENDER LAND, conducted by John DeMain. Summer of 2007 found Smith-Kotlarek in Italy with La Musica Lirica, where he played Marco in GIANNI SCHICCHI. Other performances include Aeneas in DIDO AND AENEAS with the UW Women's Chorus, Antonio in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO with UW’s University Opera and Grosvenor in PATIENCE with the Madison Savoyards. Smith-Kotlarek is a second-year member of the twenty-four-member choir, Apollo's Voice, formed by Jan Harrington and performing with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Raymond Leppard. He has coached with Nathan Gunn, W. Stephen Smith, Mark Oswald, Andrew Garland, John DeHaan, Jeffrey Springer, and baroque violinist Robert Mealy. Smith-Kotlarek received his B.M. Voice-Performance from UW-Madison under Mimmi Fulmer’s and Paul Rowe’s tutelage, and has studied and performed with professors Julia Faulkner and Richard Davis.

Priscilla Jane Smith, mezzo-soprano

Andrew Stenson, tenor

Andrew Stenson, a native of Rochester, MN, is a second year Master’s student at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music majoring in Vocal Performance. During his undergraduate career at Luther College, Stenson performed the leading roles of Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore by Donizetti and Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. More recently, he has performed the roles of the Messenger in Aïda (2008) and Prince Yamadori in Madama Butterfly (2009) with the Cedar Rapids Opera Theater, The Guard this summer with the Santa Fe Opera in Paul Moravec’s The Letter, and will be performing the role of First Jew in Salome with the Cedar Rapids Opera in 2010. In his first year at CCM, he was cast as the cover of Fenton in CCM’s Main Stage production of Verdi’s Falstaff. Stenson has also performed in many opera scenes, including Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, the title role in Candide, Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Luther College), and Alfredo in La Traviata and Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor at CCM. As a 2009 apprentice with the Santa Fe Opera, he performed Flute in Midsummer Night’s Dream, Franz in Les contes d’Hoffman, and Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia in the apprentice scenes program. In 2007, Stenson was awarded the Luther College Alan and Sally Brudos Opera Prize. The following year, he was honored with an Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera National council in the Iowa District, and this year, he was a participant in the Junior Division of the Palm Beach Opera Guild Competition.

Shaylae Szotkowski, soprano

Shaylae Szotkowski is enjoying her fourth year at the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse, where she studies voice with Dr. Terence Kelly. She has sung in both the 2008 and 2009 UW- La Crosse Music Department Honor Recitals and has performed for master classes with Adrianne Queiroz from the Berlin State Opera and Anne Tormela, founder of the Manhattan Lyric Opera. After the master class with Tormela, Szotkowski was invited as a guest performer in the Manhattan Lyric Opera's presentation of DIE FLEDERMAUS. Szotkowski is currently pursuing a degree in Choral and General Music Education with a Spanish minor, but plans to attend graduate school in the future. She will be presenting her senior recital in the spring of 2010, featuring works by Barber, Bach, Schumann, and Mozart.

Jessica Lee Timman, mezzo-soprano

Jessica Lee Timman, Mezzo-Soprano, completed her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Voice Performance with a minor in Opera Production in 2008 from the University of Wisconsin under the direction of professor Julia Faulkner. Most recently, Jessica performed the role of the Mother and covered the role of Suzuki in Music by the Lake’s production of MADAMA BUTTERFLY. She will be appearing this season in the chorus with the Florentine Opera’s production of TOSCA and ELMER GANTRY. Jessica has performed the roles of Prince Orlofsky (DIE FLEDERMAUS), Erika (VANESSA), Hansel (HANSEL AND GRETEL), Meg Page (FALSTAFF), Cecilia March (LITTLE WOMEN), Zita (GIANNI SCHICCHI), Second Lady (DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE) among other roles. Jessica has been the alto soloist for the Mozart Requiem, Bach Magnificat, Telemann Der Tag des Gerichts, Saint-Saens Christmas Oratorio, and de Falla El Amor Brujo. Jessica is also an active member of the Madison Bach Musicians in Madison, WI. Jessica has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Voice Excellence Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship at UW. Jessica graduated magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a Bachelors in Music Education and summa cum laude from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Master of Musical Arts Degree in Voice Performance.

Katherine Weber, soprano

Katherine Weber, a senior vocal performance major at Viterbo University, studies with Dan Johnson-Wilmot. In 2008 she received an Encouragement Award from the MET. Katherine was a NATS finalist in 2006 and first place winner in 2007 and 2008 also receiving the Teachers Choice Award in 2008. She was the Schubert Club Intermediate Winner in 2008 and Advanced Winner in 2009 as well as guest performer at their annual luncheon. She has participated in masterclasses with Paul Kiesgan and Carol Vaness and was given the opoportunity to be a part of the Teaching Sopranos workshop at Indiana University. In 2007 she sang the role of Cathleen in Riders to the Sea, Katie in Plain and Fancy in 2008, and Hansel in Hansel and Gretel in 2009. She has been a soloist in Handel's Messiah and is currently preparing the role of Suor Angelica in Suor Angelica. Katherine is a 2008 and 2009 Liberace Scholar.

Margaret Wendt, soprano

Margaret Wendt has performed a wide array of roles on the operatic stage including most recently the principle role of Meg March in the European premiere of Mark Adamo's Little Women. She debuted with the Florentine Opera last spring as the 3rd Spirit in THE MAGIC FLUTE. Other operatic roles have included Pitti Sing THE MIKADO with Beloit-Janesville Symphony, the title role in Gilbert and Sullivan’s IOLANTHE with Prairie Fire Theatre, Dinah in Bernstein’s TROUBLE IN TAHITI at IWU. In concert, Ms. Wendt has sung as a soloist for THE MESSIAH with Beloit Janesville Symphony , Mozart’s REQUIEM with UW-Madison Chamber Orchestra, 2nd soprano in Mozart’s MASS IN C MINOR with UW-OshKosh and has sung as a member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and the Grant Park Chorus. Ms. Wendt has been the recipient of several awards including a semi-finalist for the Oratorio Society of New York Competition, a finalist in the UW- Madison Concerto Aria Contest, Audience Favorite Finalist for the Lotte Lehmann Foundation Cyber-Sing Competition, First place at the Granquist Music Competition Adult Voice Division, Honorable Mention NATS Chicago District. Wendt a native of Nashville, TN holds degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University (B.M.) and University of Wisconsin- Madison (M.M). and currently resides in Sycamore, IL while continuing her studies with Julia Faulkner.

Autumn Mallory West, soprano