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.

Keith A. Dixon, (Joan Kreitzer Snyder Award Wisconsin District 2006) is enjoying the summer working for the University of Wisconsin PEOPLE Program where he will be teaching a music course to minority high school students who are aspiring to major in music.  Keith will also be directing a gospel choir through the Fine Arts program as well.  In addition, Keith performs at Romano’s Macaroni Grill in Middleton, WI a few nights a week. Keith will graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in August 2007 with a Master’s degree in Music, concentration in Voice-Performance.  After graduating, he will continue to audition for young artist programs and compete in vocal competitions.

Steven Ebel, (4th Place 2004, Florentine Opera Recital Winner 2006), tenor, just returned from Montreal where he won 2nd place in the Montreal International Musical Competition in Voice.  He performed with L'Orchestra du Grand Montreal in final round and the competition gala.  His recent performances include a recital with the Florentine Opera, a world premiere of his own composition and performances of other premieres/commissions with New Music New York on their concert "21st Century Shakespeare," and a world premiere of an opera at the Guggenheim Museum entitled ROMULUS on their Works & Process Series - the first full production of an opera in the history of the Guggenheim.  Steve soon leaves New York for Cleveland where he will be singing Peter Quint in Opera Cleveland's production of TURN OF THE SCREW.  This fall many exciting this are happening, he will participate in the Wigmore Hall Art Song Competition this September in London, Jachino in FIDELIO with Empire Opera, recitals in New York and Berlin, the premiere of his own opera MOGENS and will sing and compose for more innovative programs with New Music New York.  For more information about Steve visit his website www.novoartists.com/ebel.html.  A podcast or audio recording of highlights from his Semi-Final Round at the Montreal International Musical Competition can be found at this web address  http://www.radio-canada.ca/radio2/cmim2007/ (on the top left is a link for an English version of the page and.  Click the tab for 2nd Grand Prize or 2e grand Prix).

Saira Frank (4th place at the Wisconsin District 2006) will complete her fifth-year at Northwestern University with degrees in Vocal Performance and French this June.  Last December, Saira performed the soprano solo in the C.P.E. Bach Magnificat with Northwestern University's Symphonic Choir and the Symphony Orchestra; a performance that was repeated in Madison, WI at the WCDA State Convention in January.  In the past year, she has performed the role of Il Cavaliere Armidoro in Northwestern's fall production of LA BUONA FIGLIUOLA, and the role of Josephine in HMS PINAFORE with Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre’s Young Artist Program last summer.  A 2006 recipient of the Oconomowoc Festival of the Arts Scholarship, she performed at the festival last summer.   She has previously participated in a Master Class with Diana Soviero, and she looks forward to performing in a Master Class for John Wustman in May.  Previously, Saira studied at the National Conservatory in Nantes, France, where she sang the role of Louis in FORTUNIO’S SONG. Other productions include THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE and LA BOHEME with Music On the Lake and DIE FLEDERMAUS with Carroll College.  Saira is also a five-time recipient of the Oconomowoc Community Choir Scholarship of the Arts, and a three-time recipient of the Arnold R. and Enda F. Weber Scholarship for the Arts and Academic Excellence.

Summer Grest (Romany Singers Award 2006) Mimi in LA BOHEME with Millenium Chamber Players (Chicago)- End of April; Cio-Cio San in MADAMA BUTTERFLY with Capital Opera Raleigh (North Carolina)- End of May.

Hein Jung (Wisconsin District Winner 2006 & 2004) is happy to announce that she completed her DMA in Voice Performance from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.  She was a recipient of the Collins Outstanding Music Scholarship while she was pursuing her degree.  Last fall, she made debuts with Madison Opera as Countess Ceprano in RIGOLETTO and with the Milwaukee Symphony as Ernst Knabe in a concert version of DIE ZAUBERFLOTE.  She will be featured in the Wiscosnin District winner’s recital sponsored by Florentine Opera on Jan 25^th at St. John’s Home.  Her future engagements include singing the title role in a the concert version of LUCIA DI LAMMERMOORE with the Lincolnwood Fine Arts Series in Chicago. Hein now teaches at Beloit college as an adjunct faculty member.

Valerie Kraft, soprano, is originally from Muskego, but she currently resides in Boston with her husband. This summer Valerie will sing Nella in GIANNI SCHICCHI with Opera del West, just outside of Boston. Valerie will also be a concert soloist in Longwood Opera’s Summer Concert Series.  Recently she sang with Kentucky Opera in their puppet theater production of THE HAPPY PRINCE. She was previously a young artist of Kentucky Opera and sang Micaela in their educational tour of CARMEN. Valerie also sang La Comtesse in Massenet’s CHERUBIN with New Jersey Opera Theatre. Valerie has also been heard with Sorg Opera as Mrs. Gobineau in THE MEDIUM and the Shepherd Boy in TOSCA. In Milwaukee, Valerie sang Adele in DIE FLEDERMAUS with the Caroll College Opera Theater. Valerie received her Bachelor and Master of Music from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music and appeared in L’INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA, LES MAMMELLES DE TIRESIAS, THE RAKE’S PROGRESS and IL VIAGGIO A REIMS while studying there.

Rebecca Olthafer, (5th Place at the Wisconsin District 2006, Florentine Opera Mainstage Performance Award 2006, Arline Johnson Award 2005), currently resides in Chicago, IL.  Following her performances in TURANDOT and DIALOGUE OF THE CARMELITES with the Lyric Opera of Chicago chorus this spring Rebecca sang in the chorus of the Verdi REQUIEM with the Chicago Symphony. This summer, Rebecca will be singing the role of Annina in LA TRAVIATA with Sugar Creek Symphony and Song in Watseka, IL and preparing to teach music appreciation at North Park University next year. Rebecca is the alto soloist and section leader at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Evanston, IL and maintains a thriving private voice and piano studio. www.RebeccaO.com

Christopher Aaron Smith, (Skylight Opera Theatre Award, 2006; Skylight Opera Theatre Award and Milwaukee Music Teacher's Association, Inc. Award, 2005) just finished Civic Music Association's "Supporters of Young Opera Singers" Program where he coached with Tim Shaindlin from November of 2006 until April of 2007.  Recent performance credits include a soloist in Winter Spells with the Madison Savoyards, the Tenor Soloist in Theodore Dubois' The Seven Last Words of Christ with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and Laurie in Little Women with Stoughton Opera Company.  This past year, he also took part in the Madison Savoyards' Outreach Program, The Abridged Sorcerer, in the role of Dr. Daly, the Vicar of Ploverleigh.  He is presently preparing two recital programs, which will feature the music of Donald Swann, Daniel-Francois-Esprit Auber, Giacomo Puccini, John Ireland, Fernando Obradors, William Bolcom, and arrangements of Mark Hayes and Jay Althouse.  He will begin work this fall on a Master of Music in vocal performance at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston under the tutelage of Patricia Craig.

Brianne Joy Sura recently made her Skylight Opera debut in the ensemble of PATIENCE after returning from St. Petersburg Opera where she performed the role of Prince Orlofsky in the company's young artist production of DIE FLEDERMAUS.  This summer she will join the BASOTI young artist program in San Francisco and will sing Dorabella in COSI FAN TUTTE in addition to Sesto in scenes of LA CLEMENZA DI TITO.  Her next Milwaukee appearance will be in Milwaukee Opera Theatre's upcoming production of AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS in which she will sing the role of the mother.

Amanda Tarver, (2006 District Winner) has completed her Masters of Music degree from Chicago College of Performing Arts. She was recently requested to perform with the ensemble of Chicago Opera Theatre’s production of Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict which finished its run on June 2. This summer Ms Tarver will be performing works with the Chicago based music company, VOX 3, in their Opera Outdoors series. On September 6 at 7:30pm, Ms Tarver will be giving a recital in Ganz Hall at Roosevelt.University on 430 South Michigan in downtown Chicago. This recital will feature works of Ravel, Purcell, Rossini, Bellini, Heggie, as well as Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder. This fall Ms Tarver will begin her studies as a Young Artist with Chicago Opera Theatre in their Artist Diploma Program