Presenting the Merola Artists for 2010
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Colleen Brooks mezzo-soprano
HOMETOWN: Platteville, Wisconsin
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia); L’Elisir d’Amore chorus
SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Florentine Opera Young Artist; Aspen Music Festival and School Student Artist; Central City Opera Studio Artist; University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Indiana University; University of Wisconsin, Madison
TEACHERS: Irene Gubrud, Connie Haas, Barbara Honn, James McDonald, Patricia Wise, James Doing
MAJOR ROLES: Third Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Kate Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel)
INTERESTS: Movies, books, volleyball, yoga |
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Janai Brugger soprano
HOMETOWN: Chicago, Illinois
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Sophie (Werther) and Anne (The Merry Wives of Windsor); L’Elisir d’Amore chorus
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: University of Michigan; DePaul University; Chicago Opera Theatre Young Artist Program; Chautauqua Institute Marlena Malas Young Artist Program
TEACHERS: Maggie Cook, Shirley Verrett, Elsa Charlston, Martin Katz, Timothy Cheek, Joshua Major, Harry Silverstein
MAJOR ROLES: Tatiana (Eugene Onegin); Adina (L’Elisir d’Amore); Silvia (Zanetto); Ilia (Idomeneo); First Witch (Dido and Aeneas); Mercedes (Carmen)
INTERESTS: Writing music, reading, spending time with family and friends, shopping
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Benjamin Covey baritone
HOMETOWN: Mallorytown, Ontario, Canada
MEROLA ROLE: Belcore (L’Elisir d’Amore)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Calgary
Opera Emerging Artists Program; University of Toronto, Masters of Opera; Wilfrid Laurier University; Banff Centre for the Arts Opera As Theatre Program
TEACHERS: Tracy Dahl, Darryl Edwards, Selena James, Victor Martens, David Falk, Tom Diamond, Kelly Robinson, Don Tarwanaski
MAJOR ROLES: George (Baby Kintyre), Marullo (Rigoletto), Wagner (Faust), Jacob (The Ballad of Baby Doe), The Clock (L’enfant et les sortilèges), Demetrius (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Frobisher (Frobisher)
INTERESTS: Cooking, exercising, skating, hiking, triathlon training
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Rebecca Davis soprano
HOMETOWN: Naperville, Illinois
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Rodelinda (Rodelinda) and Marenka (The Bartered Bride); L’Elisir d’Amore chorus
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Illinois
Wesleyan University; Northwestern University; Opera North; Kentucky Opera; Sarasota Opera; Chicago Opera Theater; Opera San Jose Principal Artist-in-Residence
TEACHERS: Sheri Greenawald, Carlos Montane, Carlo Bergonzi, Barbara Pearson, Elizabeth Fischer, Jody Kienzler, Jane Jennings, Elizabeth Gottlieb
MAJOR ROLES: Countess (Le nozze di Figaro), Micaëla (Carmen), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Adina (L’Elisir d’Amore), Tatiana (Eugene Onegin), Tosca (Tosca), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Violetta (La Traviata), Magda (La Rondine), Mimi and Musetta (La Bohème), Abigail Williams (The Crucible), Despina (Così fan tutte), Poppea (L’incoronazione di Poppea), Leonora (Il Trovatore), Cio Cio San (Madama Butterfly)
INTERESTS: Swimming, snow skiing, yoga, golf
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Jenna Douglas apprentice coach
HOMETOWN: Barrie, Ontario, Canada
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Oberlin College Conservatory; University of Western Ontario; Banff Centre for the Arts Opera As Theatre Program
TEACHERS: John Hess, Carolyn Herrington
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Frobisher, Così fan tutte
INTERESTS: Traveling, jogging, yoga |
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Valentina Fleer soprano
HOMETOWN: Moscow, Russia
MEROLA ROLE: Adina (L’Elisir d’Amore)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Barnard College, Columbia University; Manhattan School of Music; Glimmerglass Opera Young American Artists Program
TEACHERS: Joan Patenaude-Yarnell, Sonya Gutkina
MAJOR ROLES: Gilda (Rigoletto), Giulietta (I Capuleti e i Montecchi), Catherine (A View from the Bridge), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), Marfa (The Tsar’s Bride), Sylvia (L’isola disabitata), Anna Gomez (The Consul)
INTERESTS: Yoga, playing guitar, songwriting
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Robin Flynn mezzo-soprano
HOMETOWN: Orlando, Florida
MEROLA ROLE: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Unulfo (Rodelinda); L’Elisir d’Amore chorus
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: The Mannes College of Music; The Aaron Copland School (CUNY); Opera New Jersey, Intermezzo
TEACHERS: Dr. Robert White, Glenn Morton
MAJOR ROLES: Cendrillon (Cendrillon), Stephano (Roméo et Juliette), Beulah Binnings (Orpheus Descending), Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel)
INTERESTS: Training for endurance sports events—swim-bike-run, reading
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Thomas Florio bass-baritone
HOMETOWN: Manassas, Virginia
MEROLA ROLE: Dulcamara (L’Elisir d’Amore)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: James Madison University; Indiana University; Wolf Trap Opera Studio; Staunton Music Festival Young Artist Program
TEACHERS: In Dal Choi, Brian Horne
MAJOR ROLES: Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Lackai (Ariadne auf Naxos), Falstaff (The Merry Wives of Windsor), Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro), Judge Number 3 (Volpone)
INTERESTS: Telling jokes, attending live theater, watching movies, reading Popular Science |
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David Hanlon apprentice coach
HOMETOWN: Arlington, Virginia
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Wesleyan University; Manhattan School of Music; Houston Grand Opera Studio
TEACHERS: Kathy Kelly, Peter Pasztor, Tim Hester, Miyoko Lotto, Constance Keene, William Braun
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Serse, Tosca, Lohengrin, Brief Encounter, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Béatrice et Bénédict, The Refuge
INTERESTS: Cooking, reading
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Ted Huffman apprentice stage director
HOMETOWN: Greenwich, Connecticut
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Yale University; Watermill Center
TEACHERS: Robert Wilson
DIRECTING EXPERIENCE: Der Kaiser von Atlantis, Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria, Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne, Dido and Aeneas
INTERESTS: Yoga, biking
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Natalia Katyukova apprentice coach
HOMETOWN: Klin, Russia
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: The Juilliard School; Texas Christian University; Bolzano Conservatory; Moscow State Conservatory; Gnessin Music College
TEACHERS: Margo Garrett, Jonathan Feldman, Brian Zeger, Diane Richardson, JJ Penna, Tamas Ungar, Luca Schieppati, Lev Naumov
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Carmen, La Bohème, Les contes d’Hoffmann, Le nozze di Figaro
INTERESTS: Travel, reading, Italian food
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Dan Kempson baritone
HOMETOWN: Wilton, Connecticut
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Fluth (The Merry Wives of Windsor) and Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia); L’Elisir d’Amore chorus
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Peabody Conservatory; Manhattan School of Music; Seagle Music Colony; Caramoor Festival; Pittsburgh Opera
TEACHERS: Marlena Malas, William Sharp, Warren Jones
MAJOR ROLES: Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Tarquinius (The Rape of Lucretia), Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus), Belcore (L’Elisir d’Amore), Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni)
INTERESTS: Movies, food, good wine, great times with friends
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Ryan Kuster bass-baritone
HOMETOWN: Jacksonville, Illinois
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Garibaldo (Rodelinda), Bartolo (Il barbiere di Siviglia) and Dr. Caius (The Merry Wives of Windsor); L’Elisir d’Amore chorus
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS:Westminster Choir College; Boston University; Academy of Vocal Arts; Opera North; Opera New Jersey; Bard Summerscape; Chicago Opera Theater; Spoleto Festival U.S.A.; Chautauqua Opera; Oberlin in Italy
TEACHERS: Elem Eley, Penelope Bitzas, Carlos Serrano, William Stone
MAJOR ROLES: Marullo (Rigoletto), Angelotti (Tosca), Schaunard (La Bohème), Don Pasquale (Don Pasquale), Enrico VIII (Anna Bolena), Dikoj (Kát’a Kabanová), Don Alfonso (Così fan tutte), Bass (Postcard from Morocco), Garrido (La Navarraise), Ferrando (Il Trovatore), Snug (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Frére Laurent (Roméo et Juliette)
INTERESTS: Travel, reading, movies
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Hye Jung Lee soprano
HOMETOWN: Seoul, The Republic of Korea
MEROLA ROLE: Giannetta (L’Elisir d’Amore)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Mannes College of Music; Dresden Hochschule für Musik; Seoul National University
TEACHERS: Beth Roberts, Ilse Hahn, Hyun Joo Yun, Joshua Greene
MAJOR ROLES: Gilda (Rigoletto), Blonde (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Marie (La fille du régiment), Zdenka (Arabella), Amy (Little Women), Nannetta (Falstaff), Frasquita (Carmen)
INTERESTS: Movies, cooking, traveling
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Alexander Lewis tenor
HOMETOWN: Sydney, Australia
MEROLA ROLE: Nemorino (L’Elisir d’Amore)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
TEACHERS: Patricia Price, Neil Semer, Sharolyn Kimmorley, David Harper, Craig Rutenberg, Bradley Moore, Carrie-Ann Matheson
MAJOR ROLES: Raoul (The Phantom of the Opera), Anthony Hope (Sweeney Todd), Fredrick Barrett (Titanic)
INTERESTS: Watching sports (particularly Australian rules football and rugby), going to the gym, reading fantasy novels, watching “NCIS”, good coffee
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Ao Li baritone
HOMETOWN: Shandong, China
MEROLA ROLE: Belcore (L’Elisir d’Amore)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Shandong Normal University Music College
TEACHERS: Fanjian Wei, Lydia Qiu
MAJOR ROLES: Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro), Leporello (Don Giovanni), Belcore (L’Elisir d’Amore)
INTERESTS: Singing, making friends, chatting
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Daniel Montenegro tenor
HOMETOWN: Santa Ana, California
MEROLA ROLE: Nemorino (L’Elisir d’Amore)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS:San
Francisco Conservatory of Music; Minnesota Opera Resident Artist Program
TEACHERS: Don Brinegar, Hermann LeRoux, César Ulloa, Robert Volbrecht
MAJOR ROLES: Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly),
Rodolfo (La Bohème), Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Ruggero (La Rondine), Fenton (Falstaff), Hoffmann (Les contes d’Hoffmann), Sextus (Giulio Cesare), Alfredo (La Traviata)
INTERESTS: Playing “World of Warcraft”, golf, making vodka and whiskey (while in Mexico), working on classic cars
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Sidney Outlaw baritone
HOMETOWN: Brevard, North Carolina
MEROLA ROLE: Dulcamara (L’Elisir d’Amore)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro; The Juilliard School; Music Academy of the West; Opera North; Florida Grand Opera Young Artist Program
TEACHERS: Levone Tobin Scott, W. Stephen Smith, Marilyn Horne, Manny Perez
MAJOR ROLES: Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Demetrius (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte)
INTERESTS: Working out, yoga, text messaging, knitting
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Renee Rapier mezzo-soprano
HOMETOWN: Marion, Iowa
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Charlotte (Werther); L’Elisir d’Amore chorus
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: University of Northern Iowa; Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute; Chautauqua Opera
TEACHERS: Jean McDonald
MAJOR ROLES: Rebecca Nurse (The Crucible), Maurya (Riders to the Sea)
INTERESTS: Large and gaudy accessories, travel, good wine and good friends
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Kevin Ray tenor
HOMETOWN: Cornwall, New York
MEROLA ROLES:Schwabacher Summer Concert:
Grimoaldo (Rodelinda), Jeník (The Bartered Bride) and Slender (The Merry Wives of Windsor); L’Elisir d’Amore chorus
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Oberlin Conservatory of Music; Curtis Institute of Music; Music Academy of the West; Santa Fe Opera Apprentice
TEACHERS: Patricia McCaffrey, Mark Oswald, Marlene Ralis Rosen, Salvatore Champagne, Richard Miller, Lorraine Nubar
MAJOR ROLES: Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Don Alvaro (Il viaggio a Reims), Golaud (Impressions of Pelleas), Jules Goddard (A Wedding), Robert (Iolanta), Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Belcore (L’Elisir d’Amore)
INTERESTS: Sports, classical music, TV shows on DVD
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Eleazar Rodriguez tenor
HOMETOWN: Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Fenton (The Merry Wives of Windsor) and Count Almaviva (Il barbiere di Siviglia); L’Elisir d’Amore chorus
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: San Francisco Conservatory of Music; Sociedad Internacional de Valores de Arte Mexicano; International Vocal Arts Institute; Merola Opera Program 2009
TEACHERS: César Ulloa, Denise Masse, Joan Dornemann, Kathryn Cathcart, Tito Capobianco
MAJOR ROLES: Ferrando (Così fan tutte), Count Almaviva (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Belmonte (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Nemorino (L’Elisir d’Amore), Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Egisto (L’Egisto), Tom Rakewell (The Rake’s Progress)
INTERESTS: Cooking, walking, picnics
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Abigail Santos Villalobos soprano
HOMETOWN: Ciales, Puerto Rico
MEROLA ROLE: Giannetta (L’Elisir d’Amore)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music; University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; International Vocal Arts Institute; Oberlin in Italy
TEACHERS: Ilca Lopez, Barbara Honn, Terry Lusk,
Marie France-Lefebvre, Donna Loewy, Robin Guarino, Justino Diaz
MAJOR ROLES: Adina (L’Elisir d’Amore),
Governess (The Turn of the Screw), Madame Herz (Der Schauspieldirektor), Morgana (Alcina),
Tiresias (Les mamelles de Tirésias)
INTERESTS: Puerto Rican food and sushi, doing impressions of family members and famous people
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Nadine Sierra soprano
HOMETOWN: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
MEROLA ROLE: Adina (L’Elisir d’Amore)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Mannes College of Music; Palm Beach Opera Young Artist Program
TEACHERS: César Ulloa, Kamal Khan, Ruth Falcon, Cristina Stanescu
MAJOR ROLES: Sandman (Hänsel und Gretel); First Spirit (Die Zauberflöte); Beth (Little Women), Despina (Così fan tutte)
INTERESTS: Shopping, swimming, eating, exercising, going to movies, dancing, all fun things
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Michael Spassov apprentice coach
HOMETOWN: Ottawa, Canada
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: The Juilliard School, Canadian Opera Company, Washington National Opera
TEACHERS: Victor DeRenzi, Steven Philcox, Albert Krywolt, Ken Weiss
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Le nozze di Figaro, Falstaff, Tosca, Don Carlos, Don Giovanni, Renard, Rigoletto, I due Foscari, Suor Angelica, Luisa Miller, Madama Butterfly, Attila, La Bohème, Carmen, Il barbiere di Siviglia
INTERESTS: Reading, travel
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Kevin Thompson bass
HOMETOWN: Washington, D.C.
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Falstaff (The Merry Wives of Windsor) and Basilio (Il barbiere di Siviglia); L’Elisir d’Amore chorus
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: The Juilliard School, Aspen Music Festival, AIMS Graz
TEACHERS: Michael Paul, Mark Oswald, W. Stephen Smith
MAJOR ROLES: Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte), Colline (La Bohème), Sparafucile (Rigoletto), Grandpa Moss (The Tender Land), Judge Turpin (Sweeney Todd), Frank Maurrant (Street Scenes), Il Commendatore (Don Giovanni), Martel (Troubled Island), Il Re (Aida)
INTERESTS: Swimming, listening to music, cultural events, concerts, opera, cooking, travel
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