Gregory Buchalter is currently Music Director of Varna International and Muzika! The Grand Strand Music Festival. He has been a regular conductor with Florida Grand Opera where he has conducted Andre Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire, Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers and Tosca and I Pagliacci. He is Music Director of Vero Beach Opera where
Gregory Buchalter is currently Music Director of Varna International and Muzika! The Grand Strand Music Festival. He has been a regular conductor with Florida Grand Opera where he has conducted Andre Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire, Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers and Tosca and I Pagliacci. He is Music Director of Vero Beach Opera where he has conducted L’Elisir d’amore, Don Giovanni and next season will lead La Traviata and I Pagliacci. He recently made a highly successful debut with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra conducting Mozart’s Requiem. He has conducted Rigoletto with Opera Orlando, Don Giovanni and Hänsel und Gretel with Vienna Summer Music Festival, Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Pacific Northwest Opera, Idomeneo with New England Conservatory and frequently conducts concerts with the South Florida Symphony. He has been Artistic Director of Opera Fairbanks and Opera Las Vegas. In Fairbanks he has conducted La Boheme, Carmen, L’Elisir d’amore, Don Giovanni, Tosca, La Cenerentola, L’Italiana in Algeri, Hansel and Gretel, Magic Flute, Pagliacci and concerts featuring Vivica Genaux. During his leadership with these companies, he has brought in many internationally renowned singers including Paul Plishka, Sondra Radvanovsky, Francisco Casanova, and Alessandra Marc. Maestro Buchalter is also an active symphonic conductor. He recently had a great successes in Fairbanks conducting Mahler’s Fourth Symphony and Bernstein’s West Side Story Symphonic Dances as well as a recent concert in Belgrade featuring the Sibelius Violin Concerto. With Varna International he recently conducted both Mozart and Verdi’s Requiems throughout Italy and the World Premiere of JAC Redford’s Second Symphony. This summer he will conduct Don Giovanni, La Cenerentola, Hansel and Gretel and Puccini’s Messa di Gloria for the 1ooth anniversary of the death of Puccini.
Maestro Buchalter has conducted Salomé at the Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland with Maria Ewing and Helga Dernesch, Die Fledermaus at the Vienna Volksoper, and Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail at the Spoleto Festival, Eugene Onegin with the New Opera World Festival in Moscow, Così fan Tutte with the Mediterranean Opera Festival in Sicily, and at the Varna International Festival he has conducted Carmen, Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi, Così fan Tutte, Le Nozze di Figaro, L’enfant et les Sortilèges, La Rondine and the Bulgarian premieres of Kurt Weil’s Street Scene and Bernstein’s Candide. With Teatro Lirico d’Europa he has conducted Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Rigoletto, La Boheme and Madama Butterfly.
Mr. Buchalter conducted the American Premiere of Mercadante’s I Due Figaro, Von Winter’s Das Labyrinth, and Donizetti’s Olivo e Pasquale with New York’s Amore Opera and received glowing reviews for the performances. He was the first American to conduct with the Kazakhstan State Opera; the performances there included a televised Gala concert for the President of Kazakhstan. Mr. Buchalter has been Chorus Master of Santa Fe Opera, where he received great acclaim for his choral preparation for Peter Grimes, Turandot, and many other operas. In addition he was Chorus Master at the Bregenz Festival in Austria, Theater des Westens in Berlin, and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.
A Tampa Bay native, lyric coloratura soprano Jennifer Lamont is known for her “captivatingly charismatic” stage presence, “rich, golden” voice, and signature arpeggio laugh. This season, Jennifer will be making her chorus debut in La Traviata with Opera Tampa, after recently performing in St. Pete Opera’s Turandot, and South Florida Lyric
A Tampa Bay native, lyric coloratura soprano Jennifer Lamont is known for her “captivatingly charismatic” stage presence, “rich, golden” voice, and signature arpeggio laugh. This season, Jennifer will be making her chorus debut in La Traviata with Opera Tampa, after recently performing in St. Pete Opera’s Turandot, and South Florida Lyric Opera’s Pierrette et Jacquot/Un mari a la porte and Acis and Galatea. In 2023, she graduated with her Bachelor’s in Music from Florida State University. While attending FSU, she performed in numerous productions, including as the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Beàtriz in La hija de Rappaccini, Parasha in Mavra, Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte, and more. Prior to her collegiate studies, she sang Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance with St. Pete City Theatre. Her recent soloist engagements include Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living with Universidad de Puerto Rico and Craig Hella Johnson’s Considering Matthew Shepard under the baton of Dr. Micheal Hanawalt. In addition to performing, Jennifer is a board member of the International Alliance for Women in Music and has published original research in musicology about musical form, intertextuality, gender performance, and political commentary in classical music.
Anthony Offerle, bass baritone boasts a uniquely exciting and dramatically effective
presence, who makes a noteworthy, memorable splash wherever he appears. His credits include
performances with the Opera Estate in Rome, The Cincinnati Opera, Opera Mississippi,
International Chamber Orchestra, Dayton Opera, Wyoming Opera, Intermountain Opera
Anthony Offerle, bass baritone boasts a uniquely exciting and dramatically effective
presence, who makes a noteworthy, memorable splash wherever he appears. His credits include
performances with the Opera Estate in Rome, The Cincinnati Opera, Opera Mississippi,
International Chamber Orchestra, Dayton Opera, Wyoming Opera, Intermountain Opera, Pacific Opera, and the Spoleto Festival USA. Mr. Offerle has sung over 30 leading roles including the title roles in Don Giovanni and Don Pasquale, Scarpia in Tosca, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, and Bartolo in both Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Le Nozze di Figaro. Equally at home with musical theater repertoire, Mr. Offerle has performed the Major General in The Pirates of Penzance, Sir Despard Murgatroyd in Ruddigore, Riff in West Side Story, and
Curly in Oklahoma. Of note, he created the role of Muffeo in the world-premiere of Stella Sung’s
opera The Red Silk Thread: An Epic Tale of Marco Polo. An active concert performer, Anthony Offerle served as guest baritone soloist in London’s Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral as well as St. Giles Cathedral in Scotland. The Charleston Post and Courier said of his Messiah performance, “Mr. Offerle sang with a rich warm tone and an exciting top.” The New York Amsterdam News said of his recent recital debut in Manhattan, “Offerle brought to his selections an exceptionally beautiful baritone, fine technical command and considerable interpretive skill. He proved to be a compelling singing-actor.” Anthony Offerle is a two-time Metropolitan Opera auditions district winner and regional finalist, a national winner of the Federation of Music Clubs vocal competition, and one of only ten Americans selected to compete in the quadrennial Marian Anderson International Vocal Competition. He has studied with such renowned teachers as Italo Tajo and Andrew B. White at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Mr. Offerle is a native of Miami, Florida.
Lyric tenor Stephen Fee is grateful and blessed to make his debut with Opera for Earth. He was last seen in the Offenbach comedy "A Husband at the Door", in the role of Florestan with South Florida Lyric Opera (SFLO) in his triumphant return to the Opera stage; prior to that he was seen as Alfred in "Die Fledermaus" also with SFLO. A St.
Lyric tenor Stephen Fee is grateful and blessed to make his debut with Opera for Earth. He was last seen in the Offenbach comedy "A Husband at the Door", in the role of Florestan with South Florida Lyric Opera (SFLO) in his triumphant return to the Opera stage; prior to that he was seen as Alfred in "Die Fledermaus" also with SFLO. A St. Pete native and USF graduate, he has spent the last decade raising a family and growing a financial services business. He has kept his performance chops in shape with notable, musical theater appearances such as Jesus in "Jesus Christ Superstar", Rutledge in "1776" and Gomez in "Addams Family". You can catch him later this year as the Greek lover Nicias in Saint-Saëns' rarely performed "Phryne". He is grateful to his wife, Amy, for always supporting him and encouraging his creative outlets, and for sharing this passion with him.
Heidi Skok, American-Slovenian Contralto, who is renowned for her portrayal of the fake Medium Madame Flora, helped to save the Tulsa Opera’s production of Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium in October, 2023 by jumping in as Madame Flora (Baba) at the last minute without rehearsal, for an ailing colleague. James D. Watts of Tulsa World wrote
Heidi Skok, American-Slovenian Contralto, who is renowned for her portrayal of the fake Medium Madame Flora, helped to save the Tulsa Opera’s production of Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium in October, 2023 by jumping in as Madame Flora (Baba) at the last minute without rehearsal, for an ailing colleague. James D. Watts of Tulsa World wrote “Skok has performed the role of Madame Flora in the past, and she gave a well-calibrated performance, carefully revealing the character’s anger and madness without histrionics”. Aaron Beck, Artistic Director of Tulsa Opera, had this to say to the News-Herald about Skok’s performance, “To me, Heidi Skok is the very definition of professionalism and artistry. Tulsa Opera, like many opera companies throughout the world, is indebted to Heidi Skok.” Heidi Skok made her Contralto debut in February of 2023 as Madame Flora with First Coast Opera in St. Augustine, FL to six performances of standing ovations, alongside a stellar cast.
After pursuing a twenty plus year career in the wrong vocal range for her voice as a Soprano, Heidi Skok has now successfully found her way as a Contralto. In her early Soprano career, Skok did yet even still reach some of the highest levels, singing mostly at the Metropolitan Opera in German, Czech, Russian and English operas, and primarily under the direction and baton of Maestro James Levine. Heidi’s performances can also be heard from the MET archives on Sirius XM radio. Skok appeared regionally in such opera houses as Pittsburgh Opera, Wolf Trap, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Skok also sang at the Marlboro and Ravinia Festivals.
Skok has sung many concerts including such venues as Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall in Boston and the 92nd Street Y series, along with symphonic appearances including Albany Symphony Orchestra and baroque appearances with Joshua Rifkin. Skok has served on many vocal faculties throughout the country including New England Conservatory, The University of Kentucky, Bennington College, Oberlin College Conservatory and many more.
Skok’s new album with pianist John Simmons, Wagner: Wesendonck Lieder, was released on May 31st of 2024 and is available on Apple Music Classical, iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon. Her soprano recording of Ned Rorem’s Women’s Voices can be found on the Newport Classic label, and is available on Amazon.
Upcoming engagements in 2024 include a performance of Slovenian songs for Slovenian Statehood Day and Farewell Reception for The General Consul of Slovenia, at the Rotunda in Cleveland City Hall on June 6. In addition, Skok will be teaching a Masterclass “Audition Techniques for Today’s Performer” at Nightengale Opera Theatre, Hudson, OH at the Western Reserve Academy on June 16.
Heidi Skok holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University and an Artist Diploma from Duquesne University along with three years of the MET Young Artist Program which of course adds to one’s postgraduate pedigree.
Heidi Skok is the owner and Master Vocal Instructor at Skokstudio Vocal Instruction LLC, an online vocal instruction business that is helping singers all over the country and locally in Mentor, OH, with their singing development. Learn more about lessons and coaching with Ms. Skok at skokstudio.org.
Monica Camafreita’s eclectic operatic career represents the benchmark of
entrepreneurial artistry. A standout performer in any cast with her rich,
abundant soprano and charismatic characterizations, she has made herself
indispensable in the classical music arena through performance, production and
arts administration.
Most recently, Monica mad
Monica Camafreita’s eclectic operatic career represents the benchmark of
entrepreneurial artistry. A standout performer in any cast with her rich,
abundant soprano and charismatic characterizations, she has made herself
indispensable in the classical music arena through performance, production and
arts administration.
Most recently, Monica made her role debut as The Mother in Amahl and the Night
Visitors with Opera for Earth in Tampa, Florida and performed Wellgunde in Das
Rheingold, with SAS Performing Arts Company. She also jumped in as Donna
Elvira (Don Giovanni) with SAS and debuted the title role in Suor Angelica with
the Varna International Festival in Bulgaria and Italy. Monica’s extensive
repertoire includes la Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi), Elisabetta (Maria Stuarda), Tisbe
(La Cenerentola), Mrs. Gobineau (The Medium), The Nursing Sister (Suor
Angelica), Dama (Macbeth), and many others. She has appeared on the stages of
Teatro Verdi Busseto (Italy), Teatro Accademico di Castelfranco Veneto (Italy),
Varna Festival and Congress Center (Bulgaria), Broward Center for the
Performing Arts (Florida), Carnegie Hall (NYC), Centro de Bellas Artes (Puerto
Rico), Friday Morning Musicale (Florida), The Beethoven Club (Tennessee),
Teatro Caio Melisso (Italy) and Opera America (NYC). Upcoming roles include
Mother Marie (Dialogues of the Caramelites), Miss Pinkerton (The Old Maid and
the Thief) and 1st Trio Member (Trouble in Tahiti).
Additionally, Monica is on the Board of Directors for Opera for Earth, a member
of the New York Opera Alliance, and an ensemble singer with Orchestra Nexus.
Praised for her vocal clarity, crystalline coloratura, and abundant musicality, Lebanese-American soprano Christine Honein has been featured on stages in the United States and the Middle East performing concert work as well as opera. Most recently, Christine performed the roles of the Second Woman and the First Witch in the Baroque Chambe
Praised for her vocal clarity, crystalline coloratura, and abundant musicality, Lebanese-American soprano Christine Honein has been featured on stages in the United States and the Middle East performing concert work as well as opera. Most recently, Christine performed the roles of the Second Woman and the First Witch in the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado’s production of Dido and Aeneas.
In the Fall of 2019, Christine was the featured soloist in Imant Raminsh’s Missa Brevis with the ASTER choir and CU Women’s choir, and premiered the role of Miriam in a workshop of the chamber opera Friday After Friday, by Leanna Kirchoff, which addresses Syrian women’s unique experiences of living through the war crisis. In November, Christine appeared in Boulder Opera’s Carmen Highlights as Frasquita.
In 2018, Christine performed the role of Maria in Eklund Opera’s production of West Side Story. Christine made her debut with the company the previous Spring, playing the role of Dalinda in Handel’s Ariodante. Following that, Christine premiered selections from “Art Songs in Arabic” on poems by Said Akl, set to music by Lebanese composer Iyad Kanaan.
Born in Lebanon to a Lebanese mother and father, Christine spent her formative years in Beirut and Florida. She graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Music, and from the University of Colorado Boulder with a Master of Music. Christine hopes to continue using music to express, expose, and bridge the beautiful and rich cultures of the world.
Being a versatile performer, Jodi Karem has been described as “astonishing to witness her versatility”. She performs in both opera and concert in a variety of roles and styles throughout the United States, Europe and the Middle East. In 2024, Ms. Karem will perform the roles of Miss Havisham (Miss Havisham’s Wedding Night )– 2/2024 at
Being a versatile performer, Jodi Karem has been described as “astonishing to witness her versatility”. She performs in both opera and concert in a variety of roles and styles throughout the United States, Europe and the Middle East. In 2024, Ms. Karem will perform the roles of Miss Havisham (Miss Havisham’s Wedding Night )– 2/2024 at OperaFest Dunedin and 9/2024 at St. John’s in the Village in NYC, Mme. Lidoine (Dialogues des Carmélites) – 11/2024 at Music @ Moccasin Lake Festival and Hélène (Hélène) by Camille Saint-Saëns – 10/2024 with South Florida Lyric Opera.
In 2023, Ms. Karem had the opportunity to cover the role of Leonore (Fidelio) with St. Petersburg Opera under the baton of Maestro Mark Sforzini and perform in several preview concerts of this wonderful opera. She also performed with South Florida Lyric Opera in the roles of Mme. Patacha (Pierrette et Jacquot) and the title role Herminie (Berlioz). In 2022, Ms. Karem performed in music festivals such as Music @ Moccasin Lake and Arts Earth Festival in Mississippi. In 2021, Ms. Karem performed the role of Lady Macbeth both in Opera for Earth’s New York City production and in Austin, TX for the Neill Cochran House Museum’s Porch Concerts Series. In 2019, Ms. Karem was a prize winner in the Lyra New York International Vocal Competition, Opera Division. Ms. Karem’s 2019 performances include the role Alice Ford (Falstaff) and Gertrud (A Hand of Bridge) as well as concert performances in Dubai, UAE and in Germany. In Ms. Karem’s performance of Venus in Wagner’s Dresden version of Tannhäuser with Apotheosis Opera in New York City, she “inhabited her role with seductive tone and movements”. In her portrayal as the Mother in Amahl & the Night Visitors, Ms. Karem “reached emotional and vocal heights that set the pulse racing and the emotional barometer practically bursting” (BrooklynDiscovery.com).
Ms. Karem premiered the role of Lady Mabel with the Center for Contemporary Opera's production of The Secret Agent in New York City, the European debut with the Armel Festival in Hungary as well as in Avignon, France at Opera Grand Avignon. The release of The Secret Agent CD features Ms. Karem as part of the debut cast. As a mezzo soprano, Ms. Karem has performed with Springfield Regional Opera, Long Leaf Opera, Union Avenue Opera, Inter Cities Opera, Florentine Opera, Skylight Opera, Natchez Opera Festival, Center for Contemporary Opera, Armel Opera Festival and Opera Grand Avignon. In a performance of Santuzza with Cape Cod Opera, Ms. Karem’s performance was described as "one of the finest performances I have witnessed, not just stylistically, but in every other way - acting, emotion, facial expression, body movement." (operaOnline.us)
Recent concert performances include guest solo artist with the Athena Music Foundation in Dubai, UAE, with the Canton Symphony Orchestra, performing scenes from Tosca and Tannhaüser, and with New York Dramatic Voices in excerpts from La Gioconda and La Fanciulla del West. Other performances include a performance at Carnegie Hall as a Soloist in Mozart's Vesperae solennes de confessore, as a soloist at Carnegie Hall in Mozart's Requiem, soloist in the Dayton Philharmonic's Messiah, as guest artists with the Canton Symphony Orchestra, as a soloist with the Louisville Orchestra, a concert and master class at Wabash College, as a soloist with the Palm Beach Theatre Guild, Waukegan Public Library Concert Series, Northwest Community Church Concert Series, and Carmen preview concerts with Florentine Opera in Milwaukee. Ms. Karem has been a prize winner and scholarship recipient with Opera Columbus Competition, National Opera Association, Marguerite McCammon Vocal Competition, Lyra New York International Vocal Competition, Aspen Music Festival, Bay Area Summer Opera Theatre Institute and Opera Theatre of Lucca. Young artist programs include Natchez Opera Festival, Cincinnati Opera Outreach Ensemble, Utah Opera, and Aspen Opera Theatre. Ms. Karem also performs in recital throughout the United States, and had the opportunity to perform as a solo artist for the Metropolitan Opera Guild's "Spinning Strauss" Master Class Series with Jane Marsh as well as for the Lincoln Center Patrons.
Ms. Karem works to grow her home community’s exposure to opera and musical arts. She raises funds to give musical training and performance experience to young kids, teaching them vocal and acting skills and shows them her love of musical arts in order to create our next generation of singers and music lovers. She has also worked with children from the Delta, an impoverished community in Mississippi, giving them musical enrichment summer programs. Her documentary of this experience has been invited to 4 film festivals. See it here: https://youtu.be/VqyWdmz10h0
Soprano Peilu Ni was born in Beijing, China. She immigrated to Toronto, Canada with her family. She attended the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal, recognized her talent and accepted her into the singing program on full scholarship.
Peilu moved to Montréal started school in French, knowing nothing at all the language. Three y
Soprano Peilu Ni was born in Beijing, China. She immigrated to Toronto, Canada with her family. She attended the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal, recognized her talent and accepted her into the singing program on full scholarship.
Peilu moved to Montréal started school in French, knowing nothing at all the language. Three years of basic musical training brought Peilu into the world of Western classical music, but she found it too difficult to continue her university level studies in French. She then entered Concordia University in Montréal to earn a degree in English Literature, having already begun English studies in China. While studying at Concordia she discovered how much she missed singing.
Peilu moved to Toronto after university, and was accepted by the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music into the Artist Diploma in Solo Voice, where she continued to study voice with Donna Sherman.
In 2003, she auditioned for the role of Princess Mi in Franz Lehàr's The Land of Smiles and was accepted by the Toronto Operetta Theater. Her portrait of Princess Mi was claimed by critics “both charming and affecting”.
She Moved to Florence Italy to pursue opera career in 2014. She then enrolled in the Italian language school, Instituto Europeo Firenze, while taking private singing lessons with Maestro Franco Pagliazzi and singing in churches.
Due to several personal reasons, Peilu stopped singing in 2005 for 10 years. In 2014, she relocated with her family of 4 in Tampa, Florida, taking private lessons with stella Zambali and Melody Aristo. She participated in opera idol contest and master classes at St. Petersburg Opera Company in 2015. she played the role of the aunt in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly and appeared in several concerts and master classes as an emerging artist with the company.
Andy Morales has an MM in vocal performance from Kent State University. He has a BM in guitar and vocal performance from Mount Union college. Andy has performed with several Opera companies in Cleveland Ohio, Indianapolis Indiana, and Tampa Florida. A truck driver by day, Andy considers himself a blue collar opera singer moonlighting as a
Andy Morales has an MM in vocal performance from Kent State University. He has a BM in guitar and vocal performance from Mount Union college. Andy has performed with several Opera companies in Cleveland Ohio, Indianapolis Indiana, and Tampa Florida. A truck driver by day, Andy considers himself a blue collar opera singer moonlighting as a performer and private music teacher in the Tampa area. When he's not hard at work, you can find him on his boat fishing, at the gun range, or at home listening to heavy metal while petting his 2 cats.
Guillermo Lopez has been hailed as one of the promising voices in Mexico and the
US. He participated as a soloist in the International Festival Alfonso Ortiz Tirado. Mr. Lopez got third place in the NATS competition of the Great Lakes, and he was a semifinalist in the first edition of the International Francisco Araiza Vocal Competition.
Guillermo Lopez has been hailed as one of the promising voices in Mexico and the
US. He participated as a soloist in the International Festival Alfonso Ortiz Tirado. Mr. Lopez got third place in the NATS competition of the Great Lakes, and he was a semifinalist in the first edition of the International Francisco Araiza Vocal Competition. In 2014 he performed in
the world-premiere of the opera Illegal Alien by the Mexican composer Alfonso Molina. He has performed with Tampa Opera, Opera for Earth, Saint Pete Opera and SFLO. Among his opera roles are Ernesto from Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, Alfredo from Puccini’s La Traviata, Parpignol in La Bohème, and Macduff in Verdi’s Macbeth. In Zarzuela, he’s performed with theSpanish Lyric Theater as Leandro in La Tabernera del Puerto and Julián in La Verbena de la Paloma. Future engagements include the role of King Kaspar from Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. Mr. Lopez is a sought-after tenor in the Tampa bay area, and he performs regularly with Tampa Opera Singers in private events and concerts. In addition to his performance schedule, Mr. Lopez is a dedicated voice teacher and
coach.
Winner of the 2021 Louis Sudler Prize in the Performing and Creative Arts from Yale University and recipient of a 2020 Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Lisl Wangermann is a soprano who has performed with the CIM Opera Theater, Opera Western Reserve, the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland C
Winner of the 2021 Louis Sudler Prize in the Performing and Creative Arts from Yale University and recipient of a 2020 Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Lisl Wangermann is a soprano who has performed with the CIM Opera Theater, Opera Western Reserve, the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the Opera Theatre of Yale College, and the Yale Baroque Opera Project. In 2023, Lisl was a semifinalist for the Dallas Opera’s Lone Star Vocal Competition, a finalist for the Nightingale Young Artist Competition, and won the Max Berman Prize in Voice from the Cleveland Institute of Music. In 2023, she also portrayed the roles of Blanche (Dialogues des Carmélites) and Alcina (Alcina) with the CIM Opera Theater and performed two scenes from new operas as part of the Cleveland Composers Guild’s 2023 “Opera Scenes” program, a collaboration with the Cleveland Chamber Orchestra. She also performed a recital featuring songs by Liza Lehmann, Hanns Eisler, and Kurt Weill, among others.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio but raised in Dallas, Texas, Lisl began her opera studies at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts under the guidance Nathan De’Shon Myers, Gloria Stephens, and Alexander Rom. She went on to attend Yale University. During her time on campus, Lisl studied art song with Professor Richard Lalli and coach Sara Kohane. Every semester, she performed in two recitals featuring songs by diverse range of composers, including but not limited to Rogers and Hart, Ivor Gurney, Korngold, Sibelius, Stenhammer, Rebecca Clarke, and Dominic Argento. At Yale, Lisl was also introduced to the wonderful world of Baroque music and historical performance. She played a small role in the Yale Baroque Opera Project’s 2018 performance of Cavalli’s L’Egisto, directed by Dustin Wills and music directed by Grant Herreid. In 2019, she played Eurydice in YBOP’s production of Luigi Rossi’s Orfeo, directed by Toni Dorfman and music directed by Grant Herreid.
During her time at Yale, she also became involved in the Opera Theatre of Yale College. After her first year, when she stage managed Gallantry and performed in Donizetti’s obscure work Viva La Mamma, Lisl helped expand OTYC’s season from two to four shows. In her second year, she directed Menotti’s The Telephone, produced John Blow’s Venus and Adonis, and played Madeline in Debussy’s unfinished work La chute de la Maison Usher. During her third year (and final year on campus), Lisl served as the Managing Director of OTYC. She produced Rameau’s Pygmalion, played Della in David Conte’s 1997 opera The Gift of the Magi, and directed Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience before the pandemic sent everyone home.
In 2024, Lisl played the role of Rosalinde in CIM Opera Theater’s production of Die Fledermaus. In the summer of 2024, Lisl had the honor of working as a Statistin in the Salzburger Festspiele’s production of Les Contes d’Hoffmann, directed by Mariame Clement and designed by Julia Hansen.
Stage Director Benjamin Spierman has seen his productions praised by audiences and critics
across the United States. His work includes critically acclaimed productions of both familiar and unfamiliar pieces. Opera Today praised his production of Lucia di Lammermoor for Opera San José as “imaginative, fluid, and chockful of fresh ideas. The
Stage Director Benjamin Spierman has seen his productions praised by audiences and critics
across the United States. His work includes critically acclaimed productions of both familiar and unfamiliar pieces. Opera Today praised his production of Lucia di Lammermoor for Opera San José as “imaginative, fluid, and chockful of fresh ideas. The character relationships are tellingly developed, and meticulously detailed. Mr. Spierman found limitless nuance in the extended Mad Scene. This was riveting stuff, and almost faultless in its dramatic shape and emotional impact.” Other regional
work has included La bohème for Syracuse Opera (“great visual appeal” - CNY Café Momus); The Magic Flute for Opera Idaho – Idaho Statesman); Roméo et Juliette for St. Petersburg Opera (“a spine- tingling success” - Tampa Bay Times), Turandot for Dayton Opera (“the most intimate, best- characterized production I’ve seen” – Dayton City Paper).
He currently serves as General Director at Bronx Opera, where he has led numerous productions, including critically-acclaimed New York première productions of Kirke Mechem’s The Rivals, Vaughan Williams’ The Poisoned Kiss, the Weber/Mahler posthumous collaboration, Die drei Pintos, as
well as the Kurt Weill/Moss Hart/Ira Gershwin Lady in the Dark. He is also co-Artistic Director of the Oswego Opera Theater in upstate New York, where he’s directed The Marriage of Figaro, a Trumped-up Mikado, Don Giovanni and H.M.S. Pinafore. He also acted as interim Director of Operas at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, where he directed Verdi’s Falstaff and Massenet’s Cendrillon (both winners of National Opera Association prizes). He also led a blackbox
production of Ariadne auf Naxos for the NYC’s dell’Arte Opera Ensemble (winner of the American Prize for Opera). Mr. Spierman remained active during the COVID-19 pandemic. He debuted with Opera in
Williamsburg (Va), directing a virtual production of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, which screened in the Fall of 2020. He then made his first film, of Mozart’s The Impresario for Bronx Opera (available on YouTube since May 2021), followed by live and filmed versions of Seymour Barab’s Little Red Riding Hood for New York City’s Prelude Opera in August 2021. He returned to Williamsburg (and to fully live opera) in September 2021 with L’elisir d’amore. He also joined the Executive Committee of the
New York Opera Alliance, and returned to school to finish his long-delayed Bachelor’s Degree, graduating with honors from Lehman College of the City University of New York. Immediately post-lockdown, he premiered a second film for Bronx Opera (Gilbert & Sullivan’s Trial by Jury), led Bronx Opera back into live work with Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito, and directed three stage premieres: Andrew Ager’s Dracula (with New Opera Lyra in Ottawa, his international debut) Sacco and Vanzetti (begun by Marc Blitzstein and finished by Leonard Lehrman) and Charles Abeles’ The
Golden Cage (written during World War II in Oswego’s Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter) for Oswego Opera. Since the beginning of 2024, Mr. Spierman has directed Bronx Opera’s 2024 season: a double bill of
Rossini’s Il signor Bruschino (in his own English version) and Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, as well as an interactive production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe. He also directed a double-bill of Edward Barnes’ A Muskrat Lullaby and Mystery on the Docks for Prelude Opera in NYC, and once again directed Lady in the Dark, this time for Oswego Opera. Also a performer, he also appeared as Dull and Boyet in Love’s Labor’s Lost with Lehman College’s “Bronx Shakes” festival at Lehman College in The Bronx, of which he is a native and where he lives with his wife and frequent artistic collaborator, soprano Hannah Spierman.
Emerging dramatic contralto Imelda Franklin Bogue sang Erda and Waltraute for Boulder Opera's concert Der Ring des Niebelungen in 2023 and covered Azucena for Boulder's Il Trovatore the previous season. Other recent engagements include Herodias for Madison's Lyric Stage's Salome (cover), Mrs. Sedley for MLS' Peter Grimes, and Mama McCourt
Emerging dramatic contralto Imelda Franklin Bogue sang Erda and Waltraute for Boulder Opera's concert Der Ring des Niebelungen in 2023 and covered Azucena for Boulder's Il Trovatore the previous season. Other recent engagements include Herodias for Madison's Lyric Stage's Salome (cover), Mrs. Sedley for MLS' Peter Grimes, and Mama McCourt for Loveland Opera's The Ballad of Baby Doe. Ms. Bogue was a 2023 Semifinalist in the Premiere Opera Foundation's International Vocal Competition in New York, a 2023 Semifinalist in the Classical Singer Competition in San Francisco, and a Metropolitan Opera Regional Finalist. Her YouTube home is Imelda Franklin Bogue, Contralto. She coaches with William Hicks.
Jenna Armstrong is an emerging mezzo-soprano, currently studying Music Education and Theater at the University of South Florida, under the direction of Dr. Kyoung Cho. In addition to her local engagements, Jenna’s experience extends internationally, having performed with the Assisi International Music Festival in Italy. Most recently, she
Jenna Armstrong is an emerging mezzo-soprano, currently studying Music Education and Theater at the University of South Florida, under the direction of Dr. Kyoung Cho. In addition to her local engagements, Jenna’s experience extends internationally, having performed with the Assisi International Music Festival in Italy. Most recently, she appeared in the chorus of "Samson et Dalila" with St. Pete Opera. Jenna is also deeply passionate about directing. She is currently directing multiple opera scenes in USF's Opera Workshop, serving as the director of the children's chorus at Hillsdale Baptist Church, and as the musical director for Plant City Entertainment's production "Jinglebell Jukebox"
VIOLIN:
Iris Jones
Miles Serrano
VIOLIN II:
Joan M. Lenahan-Bernard 1stchair
Zoe Rivera
VIOLA:
Maribeth Radtke 1stchair
Javier Quiles
Jacob Rodriguez
CELLO:
Jeff Leisinger
BASS:
Luke Kopicki
OBOE:
Khoury Youness – Collier
HORN:
Don Grammer
Karen Grammer
FLUTE:
Italee Philom
CLARINET:
BASSOON:
Brianna Pols
TRUMPET:
Nevin Seeger
John Herring
TROMBONE:
Alexander Couchman Cabral
PIANO:
Wesley Ducote
Teresa Ancaya
PERCUSSION:
Kelsey Bannon
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