Presenting the Merola Artists for 2013
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Kate Allen mezzo-soprano
HOMETOWN: Dublin, Ireland
MEROLA ROLE: Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia)
SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Dublin Institute of Technology, Conservatory of Music & Drama; San Francisco Conservatory of Music; Music Academy of the West
TEACHERS: César Ulloa
MAJOR ROLEs: Second Lady (Die Zauberflöte); Giulio Cesare (Giulio Cesare); Baba the Turk (The Rake’s Progress); Mère Marie (Dialogues des carmélites); Dorabella (Così fan tutte)
INTERESTS: Traveling, reading, languages |
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John Arnold bass-baritone
HOMETOWN: Cumming, Georgia
MEROLA ROLE: Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Georgia State University; University of Tennessee, Knoxville;
University of Wisconsin, Madison; Atlanta Opera
Studio; Knoxville Opera Studio; Madison Opera
Studio; Kentucky Opera Studio; La Musica Lirica (Italy); Des Moines Metro Opera Apprentice Artist Program; Opera New Jersey Emerging Artist Program
TEACHERS: Julia Faulkner, Andrew Skoog, Andrew Wentzel, Magdalena Moulson-Falewicz
MAJOR ROLES: Don Giovanni/Leporello (Don Giovanni); Count Horn (Un ballo in maschera); Angelotti (Tosca); The Father (The Prodigal Son); Schaunard (La bohème)
INTERESTS: Reading books, traveling, motion pictures, cooking shows, Atlanta Braves baseball |
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Linda Barnett soprano
HOMETOWN: Greeneville, Tennessee
MEROLA ROLE:Female Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: University of Tennessee, Knoxville; East Tennessee State University; Oberlin in Italy; Vocal Arts Symposium
TEACHERS: Marjorie Bennett Stephens, Lorraine DiSimone, Karen Smith, Dr. Thomas Jenrette
MAJOR ROLES: Mimì (La bohème); Countess (Le nozze di Figaro); Angelica (Suor Angelica); Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel); Nella (Gianni Schicchi)
INTERESTS: Reading, cooking, crafts, hiking, traveling, gardening, gritty crime-solver television shows, ska music, goofing off with family
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Chris Carr baritone
HOMETOWN: Quasqueton, Iowa
MEROLA ROLE: Tarquinius (The Rape of Lucretia)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: University of Missouri, Kansas City; Simpson College; Lyric Opera of Kansas City Apprentice Program; Des Moines Metro Opera Apprentice Artist Program; Central City Opera
TEACHERS: Vinson Cole, Dr. Kimberly Roberts
MAJOR ROLES: Pish-Tush (The Mikado)
INTERESTS: Film, reading, gaming, fitness
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George Cederquist apprentice stage director
HOMETOWN: Ann Arbor, Michigan
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Northwestern University; Yale University; Wolf Trap Opera Company
TEACHERS: Anna D. Shapiro, Jessica Thebus, Jay Lesenger, Noel Koran
DIRECTING EXPERIENCE: Gianni Schicchi; Trouble in Tahiti; Les Mamelles de Tirésias; No Exit; Reagan’s Children: An Opera-Oratorio; Sweeney Todd
INTERESTS: College football, “The Adventures of Tintin” book series, pub trivia nights, Carl Orff operas |
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Rihab Chaieb mezzo-soprano
HOMETOWN: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
MEROLA ROLE: Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio; Steans Music Institute, Ravinia Festival; Franz Schubert Institute; McGill University; International Vocal Art Institute; Opera Nuova
TEACHERS: Wendy Nielsen, Timothy Noble
MAJOR ROLES: Annio (La clemenza di Tito); Juno/Ino (Semele); La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi); Tisbe (La Cenerentola); Third Lady (Die Zauberflöte); Dryade (Ariadne auf Naxos); Pélerin (L’amour de loin); Second Secretary to Mao (Nixon in China); Mother Goose (The Rake’s Progress); Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus); Dido (Dido and Aeneas); Inez (Il trovatore); Carmen (La tragédie de Carmen)
INTERESTS: Running, fitness, tango, Muay Thai, traveling and backpacking, wine and beer tasting, reading, cooking, nature
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Timothy Cheung apprentice coach
HOMETOWN: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: University of Western Ontario; Canadian Opera Company; Music Academy of the West; Canadian Operatic Arts Academy; Merola Opera Program 2011
TEACHERS: John Hess, Liz Upchurch, Geoffrey Moull, James Anagnoson, Leslie Kinton, Torin Chiles
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Don Giovanni; Le nozze di Figaro; La clemenza di Tito; Il barbiere di Siviglia; Rigoletto; Die Fledermaus; Tosca; Gianni Schicchi; Eine florentinische Tragödie; Little Women; Into the Woods; The Brothers Grimm; Isis and the Seven Scorpions
INTERESTS: Board games, traveling, curling, medium-rare steaks, scotch
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Alex DeSocio baritone
HOMETOWN: Wichita, Kansas
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni); Rodrigo (Don Carlo); Taddeo (L’italiana in Algeri); Iago (Otello)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Northwestern University; University of Maryland; Opera Colorado; Resident Artist, Pittsburgh Opera
TEACHERS: Barbara Conrad, David Kelso, Leon Major, Dominic Cossa, Bruce Hall
MAJOR ROLES: Michele (Il tabarro); Guglielmo (Così fan tutte); Man with a Shoe Sample Kit (Postcard from Morocco); Pip (Miss Havisham’s Fire); Il marito (Amelia al ballo); Figaro (The Ghosts of Versailles); L’horloge comtoise (L’enfant et les sortilèges)
INTERESTS: Athletic training, trying new foods, reading, video games |
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Casey Finnigan tenor
HOMETOWN: Austin, Texas
MEROLA ROLE: Basilio (Le nozze di Figaro)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Lyric Opera of Kansas City Apprentice Program; University of Missouri, Kansas City; University of Houston; University of North Texas; Opera North; Opera in the Ozarks
TEACHERS: Vinson Cole, Melanie Sonnenberg, Dr. Timothy Jones, Dr. Linda DiFiore
MEROLA ROLES: Pablo Neruda (Il Postino); Don José (Carmen); Cavaradossi (Tosca); Rodolfo (La bohème); The Mayor (Albert Herring); Goro (Madama Butterfly); Count Almaviva (Il barbiere di Siviglia)
INTERESTS: Reading, writing, politics and economics, cooking, Japanese cartoons, modern opera
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Aviva Fortunata soprano
HOMETOWN: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni); Desdemona (Otello)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: University of Toronto; Chautauqua Institution; Centre for Opera Studies in Italy; Merola Opera Program 2012
TEACHERS: Wendy Nielsen, Darryl Edwards
MAJOR ROLES: Lady with a Cake Box (Postcard from Morocco); Donna Anna/ Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni); Savitri (Savitri); Nedda (Pagliacci); Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi); Micaëla (Carmen); Gertrude (Hänsel und Gretel); Paquette (Candide)
INTERESTS: Roller derby, nail art, musical theatre, shoes |
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Daryl Freedman mezzo-soprano
HOMETOWN: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
MEROLA ROLE: Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Manhattan School of Music; Temple University; Music Academy of the West; Sarasota Opera Studio Artist; Chautauqua Opera Apprentice Artist; Portland Opera Studio Artist, Caramoor Apprentice Artist; Central City Opera Studio; Wolf Trap Opera Studio
TEACHERS: Patricia McCaffrey, Kevin Murphy
MAJOR ROLES: Federica (Luisa Miller); Dinah (Trouble in Tahiti); Concepción (L’heure espagnole); Baba the Turk (The Rake’s Progress); Sandman (Hänsel und Gretel)
INTERESTS: Swimming in the ocean, hiking, cooking |
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Katie Hannigan mezzo-soprano
HOMETOWN: Newburgh, New York
MEROLA ROLE: Bianca (The Rape of Lucretia)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Eastman School of Music; State University of New York, Purchase College Conservatory; Opera on the Avalon; CoOPERAtive Opera Fellow; Westchester Vocal Institute
TEACHERS: Kathryn Cowdrick, Sherry Overholt
MAJOR ROLES: Zita (Gianni Schicchi); The Abbess
(Suor Angelica); Maurya (Riders to the Sea); Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro); Charlotte (A Little Night Music); Maman (L’enfant et les sortilèges); Don Ramiro (La finta giardiniera); Mercédès (Carmen)
INTERESTS: Reading, comedy
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Alisa Jordheim soprano
HOMETOWN: Appleton, Wisconsin
MEROLA ROLES: Lucia (The Rape of Lucretia); Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: VUniversity of Cincinnati College, Conservatory of Music; Lawrence University; Florentine Opera; Central City Opera
TEACHERS: William McGraw, Patrice Michaels
MAJOR ROLES: Frasquita (Carmen); Flora (The Turn of the Screw); Zerlina (Don Giovanni); Lucia (The Rape of Lucretia); Echo (Ariadne auf Naxos); Fredrika (A Little Night Music); Pamina/Papagena (Die Zauberflöte); Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel)
INTERESTS: Scandinavian vocal music, acting, dance, health and wellness, travel, shopping, fashion |
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Joseph Lattanzi baritone
HOMETOWN: Mableton, Georgia
MEROLA ROLE: Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Seattle Opera Young Artist; University of Cincinnati–College Conservatory of Music; Oberlin Conservatory; Chautauqua Institution; Merola Opera Program 2012
TEACHERS: William McGraw, Salvatore Champagne, Howard Lubin
MAJOR ROLES: Malatesta (Don Pasquale); Man with a Shoe Sample Kit (Postcard from Morocco); Moralès (Carmen); Albert (Werther); Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni); Guglielmo (Così fan tutte); Papageno (Die Zauberflöte)
INTERESTS: Tennis, food, reading, Spotify, crosswords |
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Noah Lindquist apprentice coach
HOMETOWN: Brooklyn, New York
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Mannes College of Music; Williams College
TEACHERS: Cristina Stanescu, Doris Stevenson, Zitta Zohar
COACHING EXPERIENCE: La voix humaine; Il tabarro; Pelléas et Mélisande; Tristan und Isolde; Lohengrin
INTERESTS: Food, tennis, travel
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Matthew Newlin tenor
HOMETOWN: Georgetown, Illinois
MEROLA ROLES: Don Curzio (Le nozze di Figaro); Schwabacher Summer Concert: Lindoro (L’italiana in Algeri); Cassio (Otello)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Florida Grand Opera Young Artist Studio; Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program for Singers; Chicago Opera Theater Young Artist Program; Chicago College of Performing Arts; Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
TEACHERS: Judith Haddon, Scott Gilmore
MAJOR ROLES: Tamino (Die Zauberföte); Elvino (La sonnambula); The husband (Les Mamelles de Tirésias); Tenor (The Diary of One Who Disappeared); Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance); Matteo (Arabella); The Captain (Wozzeck)
INTERESTS: Travel, cooking, new music, animals, getting lost on Wikipedia |
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Sahar Nouri apprentice coach
HOMETOWN: Tehran, Iran
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS:Utah Opera Resident Artist; Aspen Opera Theater Center; University of Michigan; Arizona State University; Arts University (Tehran, Iran)
TEACHERS: Martin Katz, Russell Ryan, Eckart Sellheim
COACHING EXPERIENCE: The Rake’s Progress; Falstaff; Sweeney Todd; La Cenerentola; Le docteur Miracle; Die Zauberflöte; Il barbiere di Siviglia
INTERESTS: Hiking, swimming, dancing, traveling, languages, poetry |
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Pene Pati tenor
HOMETOWN: Mangere, Auckland, New Zealand
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Don Carlo (Don Carlo); Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor); Fritz (L’amico Fritz)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Wales International Academy of Voice; University of Auckland
TEACHERS: Dennis O’Neill, Nuccia Focile, Patricia Wright, Frances Wilson, Rosemary Barnes
MAJOR ROLES:Elvino (La sonnambula); Malcolm (Macbeth); Orpheus (Orpheus in the Underworld)
INTERESTS: Sports, seafood, eating, games |
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Jacqueline Piccolino soprano
HOMETOWN: Palatine, Illinois
MEROLA ROLE: Countess Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS:University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Merola Opera Program 2012; Houston Grand Opera Young Artists Vocal Academy; Wolf Trap Opera Studio Artist
TEACHERS: Cynthia Haymon-Coleman
MAJOR ROLES: Arminda (La finta giardiniera); Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia); First Lady (Die Zauberflöte); Giunone (La Calisto)
INTERESTS: Spending time with family, Italian language, learning how to cook, aerial yoga,
Vietnamese and Korean food, “Words With Friends” |
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Thomas Richards bass-baritone
HOMETOWN: Burnsville, Minnesota
MEROLA ROLE: Dr. Bartolo (Le nozze di Figaro)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: George Washington University; University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music; Central City Opera Festival Apprentice Artist
TEACHERS: William McGraw
MAJOR ROLES: Dr. Bartolo (Le nozze di Figaro); Colline (La bohème); Leporello (Don Giovanni); Frank Maurrant (Street Scene)
INTERESTS: News and current events, opera, travel |
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Issachah Savage tenor
HOMETOWN: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
MEROLA ROLE: LSchwabacher Summer Concert: Otello (Otello)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Institute for Young Dramatic Voices; Wagner Theater Program; Catholic University of America, Benjamin T. Rome School of Music; Morgan State University
TEACHERS: Reginald Pindell, Betty Ridgeway, Jean Carter, In Dal Choi
MAJOR ROLES: Radames (Aida); Turiddu (Cavalleria rusticana); Otello (Otello); Canio (Pagliacci); Parsifal (Parsifal); Siegmund (Die Walküre); Rienzi (Rienzi)
INTERESTS: Family, obscure opera recordings, traveling, technology, cooking |
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Michael Shannon apprentice coach
HOMETOWN: London, Ontario, Canada
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: McGill University; Syracuse Opera Resident Artist; Opera NUOVA; Brevard Music Center; Canadian Operatic Arts Academy
TEACHERS: Sanford Sylvan, Patrick Hansen, Michael McMahon
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Le nozze di Figaro, Gianni Schicchi, Béatrice et Bénédict, Alcina, Tosca, Pagliacci, The Rape of Lucretia, The Threepenny Opera, Tintypes, Sweeney Todd, La traviata
INTERESTS: Swimming, food and wine, scary movies
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Efrain Solis baritone
HOMETOWN: Santa Ana, California
MEROLA ROLE: Junius (The Rape of Lucretia)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Chapman University; San Francisco Conservatory of Music; Russian Opera Workshop; Operafestival di Roma
TEACHERS: César Ulloa, Peter Atherton, John Churchwell, Cheryl Lin Fielding
MAJOR ROLES: Dr. Malatesta (Don Pasquale), Gianni Schicchi (Gianni Schicchi), Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Eugene Onegin (Eugene Onegin), Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), Dr. Falke (Die Feldermaus), Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro), Matthew (La Divina)
INTERESTS: Cooking different kinds of foods, exercising, trying new coffee shops |
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Zanda Svede mezzo-soprano
HOMETOWN: Valmiera, Latvia
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Isabella (L’italiana in Algeri); Beppe (L’amico Fritz); Emilia (Otello)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music; Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences; Tyrolean Opera Program; Manhattan Summer Voice Festival
TEACHERS: Andžella Goba, Kim Josephson, Maitland Peters
MAJOR ROLES: María (María de Buenos Aires); Endimione (La Calisto); Charlotte (Werther); Cléopâtre (Cléopâtre)
INTERESTS: Traveling, knitting traditional Latvian mittens and socks, needlepoint |
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Rhys Lloyd Talbot bass-baritone
HOMETOWN: Cedar Falls, Iowa
MEROLA ROLES: Antonio (Le nozze di Figaro); Schwabacher Summer Concert: Leporello (Don Giovanni); Mustafà (L’italiana in Algeri); Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor); Lodovico (Otello)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: University of Northern Iowa; Wolf Trap Studio Artist; Houston Grand Opera Young Artists Vocal Academy; Central City Studio Artist
TEACHERS: John Hines
MAJOR ROLES: King Melchior (Amahl and the Night Visitors); David (A Hand of Bridge); Papageno (Die Zauberflöte); Frank (Die Fledermaus); The Count (Prima Donna)
INTERESTS: Fitness, traveling, vintage stores, pop culture, karaoke
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Maria Valdes soprano
HOMETOWN: Atlanta, Georgia
MEROLA ROLE: Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Georgia State University; SongFest at Pepperdine University
TEACHERS: Richard Clement
MAJOR ROLES: Micaëla (Carmen); Countess Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro); Laetitia (The Old Maid and the Thief)
INTERESTS: Poetry, philosophy, local farming/gardening
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Robert Watson tenor
HOMETOWN: Kansas City, Missouri
MEROLA ROLE: Male Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Oklahoma City University; San Francisco Conservatory of Music
TEACHERS: César Ulloa, Dr. William Nield Christensen
MAJOR ROLES: Roberto (Le Villi); Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus); Alfredo (La traviata); Canio (Pagliacci); A nobleman (Lohengrin)
INTERESTS: Cooking, classic foreign cinema, art history, geocaching, urban hiking
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David Weigel bass-baritone
HOMETOWN: Asheville, North Carolina
MEROLA ROLE: Collatinus (The Rape of Lucretia)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute; University of North Carolina, Greensboro; Furman University; Opera North; Brevard Music Center
TEACHERS: Marilyn Taylor, Robert Wells, Trudy Fuller
MAJOR ROLES: Leporello (Don Giovanni); Don Basilio (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Colline (La bohème); Spencer Coyle (Owen Wingrave); Rambaldo (La rondine); Antonio (Le nozze di Figaro); Moralès (Carmen); Frank (Die Fledermaus)
INTERESTS: Whitewater kayaking, biking, hiking and other outdoor activities, working out, music theory
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Jeremy Weissmann apprentice coach
HOMETOWN: Culver City, California
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Northwestern University
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Don Giovanni; Die Zauberflöte; Dialogues des Carmélites; The Poisoned Kiss; The Old Maid and the Thief; La bohème
INTERESTS: Cooking, cryptic crossword puzzles
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