Presenting the Merola Artists for 2012
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Hadleigh Adams bass-baritone
HOMETOWN: Palmerston North, New Zealand
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Ralph (La jolie fille de Perth)
SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Franz-Schubert-Institut; The Opera Studio (Melbourne); New Zealand Opera Emerging Artist; New Zealand School of Music; The University of Auckland
TEACHERS: Janice Chapman, Rudolf Piernay, Margaret Medlyn, Te Oti Rakena
MAJOR ROLES: Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro); Papageno (Die Zauberflöte); Dapertutto (Les contes d’Hoffmann); Colline (La Bohème); Peter (Hänsel und Gretel)
INTERESTS: Working out, cooking, learning Italian |
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Elizabeth Baldwin soprano
HOMETOWN: Sylvania, Ohio
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Margherita (Mefistofele), Anne Trulove (The Rake’s Progress)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Boston University; Indiana University; Bowling Green State University; Steans Music Institute; Tanglewood Music Center Festival; Virginia Opera Emerging Artist; Pine Mountain Music Festival; Chautauqua Opera
TEACHERS: Penelope Bitzas, Carol Vaness, Timothy Noble, Roy Samuelsen, Patricia Wise, Myra Merritt, Dawn Upshaw, Phyllis Curtin
MAJOR ROLES: Micaëla (Carmen); Yerma (Yerma); Countess (Le nozze di Figaro); Arabella (Arabella); La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi); Mrs. Webb (Our Town)
INTERESTS: Dancing, travel, shopping, exploring new cuisines, yoga, good wine, visiting art museums |
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Joshua Baum tenor
HOMETOWN: Kansas City, Missouri
MEROLA ROLES:Schwabacher Summer Concert: Le Duc de Rothsay (La jolie fille de Perth), Tom Rakewell (The Rake’s Progress)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Michigan State University; Truman State University; Chautauqua Opera
TEACHERS: Richard Fracker, Scott Piper, Jacqueline Collett
MAJOR ROLES: Jim Casy (The Grapes of Wrath); Podestà (La finta giardiniera); Sam (Susannah); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte); Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi); Ferrando (Così fan tutte); The Witch (Hänsel und Gretel)
INTERESTS: Collecting LEGO sets and minifigures
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Gordon Bintner bass-baritone
HOMETOWN: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
MEROLA ROLE: Nardo (La finta giardiniera)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: McGill University; Franz-Schubert-Institut; Opera Nuova; SongFest
TEACHERS: Sanford Sylvan
MAJOR ROLES: Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni); Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro); Colline (La Bohème)
INTERESTS: Cooking, watching movies, sports
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Casey Candebat tenor
HOMETOWN: New Orleans, Louisiana
MEROLA ROLE: Podestà (La finta giardiniera)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Northwestern University; Loyola University New Orleans; Opera North; Chautauqua Opera
TEACHERS: Sunny Joy Langton, Dreux Montegut, Kenneth Smith, Richard Boldrey, Alan Darling, Jay Lesenger, David Morelock, Carol Rausch
MAJOR ROLES: Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore), Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Ernesto (Don Pasquale), Bégearss (The Ghosts of Versailles), Pluton (Orpheus in the Underworld)
INTERESTS: Cooking Southern delicacies, watching “Masterpiece Theatre”, listening to rare recordings |
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Seth Mease Carico bass-baritone
HOMETOWN: Signal Mountain, Tennessee
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Un ouvrier (La jolie fille de Perth), Nick Shadow (The Rake’s Progress)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Middle Tennessee State University; University of Michigan; Seagle Music Colony; Brevard Music Center; Chautauqua Opera; Nashville Opera; Michigan Opera Theatre; Fort Worth Opera; Deutsche Oper Berlin
TEACHERS: Liane Keegan, Markus Brück, Stephen Lusmann, Rebecca Folsom
MAJOR ROLES: Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro); Leporello (Don Giovanni); Don Alfonso (Così fan tutte); Kecal (The Bartered Bride); Olin Blitch (Susannah); Harašta (The Cunning Little Vixen); Colline (La Bohème); Panthée (Les Troyens); Sacristan (Tosca); Monterone (Rigoletto); Zuniga (Carmen)
INTERESTS: Films, running, Ultimate Frisbee, cooking
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Jennifer Cherest soprano
HOMETOWN: La Plata, Maryland
MEROLA ROLE: Sandrina (La finta giardiniera)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: University of Cincinnati–College Conservatory of Music; Carnegie Mellon University; Kentucky Opera Studio Artist; Dayton Opera Artist-in-Residence
TEACHERS: Mary Henderson-Stucky, Laura Knoop Very
MAJOR ROLES: Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro); Miss Jessel (The Turn of the Screw); First Lady (Die Zauberflöte); Drusilla (L’incoronazione di Poppea); Micaëla (La Tragédie de Carmen); Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady)
INTERESTS: Ballroom dancing, shoe shopping, cooking
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Aviva Fortunata soprano
HOMETOWN: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
MEROLA ROLE: Lady with a Cake Box (Postcard from Morocco)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: University of Toronto; Chautauqua Institution; Centre for Opera Studies in Italy
TEACHERS: Wendy Nielsen, Darryl Edwards, Miah Im, Sandra Horst, Steven Philcox
MAJOR ROLES: Donna Anna (Don Giovanni); Savitri (Savitri); Nedda (Pagliacci); Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi); Micaëla (Carmen); Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni); Gertrude (Hänsel und Gretel); Paquette (Candide)
INTERESTS: Biking around Toronto, knitting, collecting show tunes on LP, shoes |
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Francesco Fraboni apprentice coach
HOMETOWN: Senigallia, Italy
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Conservatorio Statale di Musica; Manhattan School of Music; Wolf Trap Opera Young Artist; Florida Grand Opera Young Artist
TEACHERS: Giovanni Valentini, Warren Jones
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Le nozze di Figaro; La Bohème; Tosca; Rigoletto; La Traviata; L’amico Fritz; Nina, o sia la Pazza per amore (Paisiello); Le donne curiose (Wolf-Ferrari); Sweeney Todd
INTERESTS: Cooking, reading, movies
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AJ Glueckert tenor
HOMETOWN: Portland, Oregon
MEROLA ROLE: Man with a Paint Box (Postcard from Morocco)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: San Francisco Conservatory of Music; Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singer; Utah Opera Young Artist; Minnesota Opera Young Artist
TEACHERS: César Ulloa
MAJOR ROLES: Arturo (Lucia di Lammermoor); Dr. Caius (Falstaff); Tambormajor (Wozzeck); The Simpleton (Boris Godunov); Kronprinz (Silent Night); Tybalt (Roméo et Juliette); The Witch (Hänsel und Gretel); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte)
UPCOMING: Philadelphia Opera: Kronprinz (Silent Night)
INTERESTS: Playing squash, cooking, beer making |
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Artem Grishaev apprentice coach
HOMETOWN: Moscow, Russia
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Moscow State Conservatory; Bolshoi Theatre Young Artist
TEACHERS: Nikolai Petrov, Luba Orfenova, Semjon Skigin, Ken Weiss
MAJOR ROLES: Die Fledermaus; The Snow Maiden; The Tsar’s Bride; Roméo et Juliette; Les pêcheurs de perles; La Bohème; Les contes d’Hoffmann; L’enfant et les Sortilèges
INTERESTS: Badminton |
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Erin Johnson mezzo-soprano
HOMETOWN: Washington, New Jersey
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Giovanna Seymour (Anna Bolena), Mab (La jolie fille de Perth)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Philadelphia Biblical University; Rice University; Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singer; Opera in the Ozarks
TEACHERS: Kathleen Kaun, Rose Taylor, DonnaLee Ramsey
MAJOR ROLES: Despina (Così fan tutte); Mrs. Soames (Our Town); Virtù (L’incoronazione di Poppea); Dorabella (Così fan tutte); Zita (Gianni Schicchi)
INTERESTS: Cooking, baking, reading true crime, playing video and board games
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Andrew Kroes bass
HOMETOWN: Onalaska, Wisconsin
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Mefistofele (Mefistofele), Le majordome (La jolie fille de Perth)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Viterbo University; Indiana University; Utah Festival Opera Artist; Sarasota Opera Studio
TEACHERS: Andreas Poulimenos, Daniel Johnson-Wilmot
MAJOR ROLES: Commendatore (Don Giovanni); The Footman (Vanessa); Colline (La Bohème); Mityukha (Boris Godunov); Dr. Grenvil (La Traviata); Méphistophélès (Faust); Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor)
UPCOMING:Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra: Bass Soloist
INTERESTS: Travel, cooking, reading |
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Elena Lacheva apprentice coach
HOMETOWN: Plovdiv, Bulgaria
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: University of Michigan; Chicago College of Performing Arts; Oberlin Conservatory; Tanglewood Music Center; New England Conservatory SICPP; Eastern Music Festival
TEACHERS: Martin Katz, Lydia Frumkin, Solomon Mikowsky
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Falstaff; Renard; L’heure espagnole
UPCOMING:Houston Grand Opera Studio
INTERESTS: Libraries and bookstores, walking, conversation with friends, great wine |
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Joseph Lattanzi baritone
HOMETOWN: Mableton, Georgia
MEROLA ROLE: Man with Shoe Sample Kit (Postcard from Morocco)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: eattle Opera Young Artist; University of Cincinnati–College Conservatory of Music; Oberlin Conservatory; Chautauqua Institution
TEACHERS: William McGraw, Salvatore Champagne, Howard Lubin
MAJOR ROLES: Malatesta (Don Pasquale); Moralès (Carmen); Albert (Werther); Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni); Guglielmo (Così fan tutte); Papageno (Die Zauberflöte)
INTERESTS: Tennis, cooking, reading, listening to
music, crossword puzzles, amateur piano playing |
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Theo Lebow tenor
HOMETOWN: Sierra Madre, California
MEROLA ROLE: Belfiore (La finta giardiniera)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Mannes College of Music; Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singer
TEACHERS: Bonnie Hamilton, Richard Cross
MAJOR ROLES: Fenton (Falstaff); Ferrando (Così fan tutte); Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni); Father Confessor of the Convent (Dialogues of the Carmelites)
UPCOMING: Seattle Opera Young Artist Program: Eduardo (Un giorno di regno)
INTERESTS: Reading, gaming, throwing Frisbees |
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Yi Li tenor
HOMETOWN: Shandong, China
MEROLA ROLE: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Henri Smith (La jolie fille de Perth)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS:University of
Cincinnati–College Conservatory of Music; Sichuan Conservatory of Music
TEACHERS: David Adams, Robin Guarino, Marie-France Lefebvre, Terry Lusk
MAJOR ROLES: Alfred (La Traviata); Cavaradossi (Tosca); Don José (Carmen); Ruggero (La rondine); Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly)
INTERESTS: Basketball |
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Sarah Mesko mezzo-soprano
HOMETOWN: Hot Springs, Arkansas
MEROLA ROLE: Ramiro (La finta giardiniera)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Washington National Opera Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist; Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singer; Rice University; Central City Opera Bonfils-Stanton Young Artist; Aspen Opera Theater Center; University of Arkansas
TEACHERS: Dr. Stephen King, W. Stephen Smith
MAJOR ROLES: Dorabella (Così fan tutte); Alisa (Lucia di Lammermoor); Suzuki, Kate Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly); The Second Lady (Die Zauberflöte); La Sagesse, Sidonie (Armide); Charlotte (A Little Night Music); Komponist (Ariadne auf Naxos); Rinaldo, Goffredo (Rinaldo); Le Prince Charmant, Dorothée (Cendrillon); Mercédès (Carmen); Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel)
INTERESTS: Horseback riding, reading, yoga, hiking, cooking |
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Kevin Miller apprentice coach
HOMETOWN: Bronx, New York
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: University of Michigan; The Glimmerglass Festival; Aspen Summer Music Festival; Mannes College of Music
TEACHERS: Martin Katz, Diane Walsh, Warren Wilson, Rebecca Ringer
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Medea; Annie Get Your Gun; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Die Fledermaus; Postcard from Morocco
INTERESTS: Tennis, traveling, cooking |
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Jacqueline Piccolino soprano
HOMETOWN: Palatine, Illinois
MEROLA ROLE: Arminda (La finta giardiniera)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Wolf Trap Opera Studio Artist; University of Illinois
TEACHERS: Cynthia Haymon, Dennis Helmrich
MAJOR ROLES: Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia); First Lady (Die Zauberflöte); Giunone (La Calisto)
INTERESTS: Karaoke, new foods, yoga, travel, Sudoku puzzles, exploring new cities, visiting coffee shops |
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Suzanne Rigden soprano
HOMETOWN: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
MEROLA ROLE: Lady with a Hand Mirror (Postcard from Morocco)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Atelier Lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal; University of British Columbia; Memorial University of Newfoundland; Acadia University; Banff Centre for the Arts; International Vocal Arts Institute; Merola Opera Program 2011
TEACHERS: Anna Skibinsky, Gerald Martin Moore, Caroline Schiller
MAJOR ROLES: Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Blonde (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Marie (La fille du Régiment); Sophie (Werther); Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte); Tytania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream); Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel); Gertrude (Nelligan); Frasquita (Carmen)
UPCOMING: Ensemble Caprice: Vivaldi Opera Arias
INTERESTS: Yoga, soccer, running, knitting, puzzles, reading, skip-bo, traveling, hiking, good wine, skiing |
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Rose Sawvel soprano
HOMETOWN: Denver, Colorado
MEROLA ROLE: Serpetta (La finta giardiniera)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: University of Northern Colorado; Emerald City Opera Artist Institute; Bel Canto Institute; Scuola Leonardo da Vinci
TEACHERS: Charmaine Coppom, Melissa Malde, James McDonald, Fredrick Martell
MAJOR ROLES: Adina (L’elisir d’amore); La Fée (Cendrillon); Despina (Così fan tutte); Blondie (The Abduction of Figaro); Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance); Anne Page (The Merry Wives of Winsdor); Marenka (The Bartered Bride); Amy (Little Women); Patience (Patience); Eustazio (Rinaldo); Elettra (Idomeneo); Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro)
UPCOMING: Opera Fort Collins: Marie (La fille du Régiment)
INTERESTS: Gardening, creating formal gowns, walking, documentaries, drinking tea |
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Matthew Scollin bass-baritone
HOMETOWN: Walled Lake, Michigan
MEROLA ROLE: Man with a Cornet Case (Postcard from Morocco)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: anta Fe Opera Apprentice Singer; University of Illinois; Michigan State University
TEACHERS: Richard Fracker, Jerold Siena, Nathan Gunn
MAJOR ROLES: Don Basilio (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Don Quixote (Man of La Mancha); Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro); Frère Laurent (Roméo et Juliette); El Capitán (Florencia en el Amazonas)
UPCOMING: Seattle Opera Young Artist Program: La Rocca (Un giorno di regno)
INTERESTS: Reading, swimming, waterskiing |
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Carolyn Sproule mezzo-soprano
HOMETOWN: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
MEROLA ROLE: Lady with a Hat Box (Postcard from Morocco)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Rice University; The Juilliard School; Aspen Opera Theatre Center; The Banff Centre
TEACHERS: Stephen King, Edith Bers
MAJOR ROLES: Dorabella (Così fan tutte); Meg Page (Falstaff); Mrs. Gibbs (Our Town); Ottavia (L’incoronazione di Poppea); Jo (Little Women); Hippolyta (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
UPCOMING: Houston Grand Opera Studio: Zulma (’italiana in Algeri)
INTERESTS: Traveling, food, hiking, yoga, shopping |
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Andrew Stenson tenor
HOMETOWN: Rochester, Minnesota
MEROLA ROLE: Man with Old Luggage (Postcard from Morocco)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Luther College; University of Cincinnati–College Conservatory of Music; Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre Young Artist; Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singer; Glimmerglass Festival Young Artist; Seattle Opera Young Artist
TEACHERS: Karen Kanakis, Kenneth Shaw, Gerald Martin Moore
MAJOR ROLES: Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte); Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni); Martin (The Tender Land); Ernesto (Don Pasquale); Orphée (Orphée et Euridice)
UPCOMING: Glyndebourne Festival: Brighella (Ariadne auf Naxos)
INTERESTS: Cooking, eating, Ultimate Frisbee
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Chuanyue Wang tenor
HOMETOWN: Hei Long Jiang, China
MEROLA ROLE: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Faust (Mefistofele)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: Central
Conservatory of Music; National Grand Theater
TEACHERS: Honghai Ma, Liping Zhang
MAJOR ROLES: Alfredo (La Traviata); The Steersman (Der fliegende Holländer); Ernesto (Don Pasquale)
INTERESTS: Eating Chinese food, travel, cooking
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Melinda wHittington soprano
HOMETOWN: Wilson, North Carolina
MEROLA ROLES: Schwabacher Summer Concert: Anna Bolena (Anna Bolena); Catherine Glover (La jolie fille de Perth)
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: University of North Carolina; Brevard Music Center
TEACHERS: Carla LeFevre, Arlene Shrut
MAJOR ROLES: Violetta (La Traviata); Alcina (Alcina); Pamina (Die Zauberflöte); Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus); Micaëla (Carmen); Marie (The Bartered Bride)
INTERESTS: Cooking, traveling, photography, yoga, scouring thrift and antique stores
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Jennifer Williams apprentice stage director
HOMETOWN: McLean, Virginia
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: University of
Cincinnati–College Conservatory of Music; Cornell University; University of Chicago; Opera North; Wolf Trap Opera Company
TEACHERS: Robin Guarino, Nicholas Muni, Steven Goldstein, Ron Luchsinger
DIRECTING EXPERIENCE: La Cenerentola; Amahl and the Night Visitors; Saint Matthew Passion; L’île de Tulipatan; Rigoletto; The Offshore Pirate; Le nozze di Figaro; Slow Dusk
INTERESTS: Chamber music, early German film, yoga, vegetarian cooking
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Sun Ha Yoon apprentice coach
HOMETOWN: Seoul, South Korea
SCHOOLS &YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS: University of Maryland; The Juilliard School; Seoul National University
TEACHERS: Rita Sloan, Jonathan Feldman, Margo Garrett
COACHING EXPERIENCE: Later the Same Evening (World Premiere); Shadowboxer (World Premiere); L’elisir d’amore; Xerxes; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Così fan tutte; Don Giovanni; Il barbiere di Siviglia; Florencia en el Amazonas; Bastien und Bastienne
INTERESTS: Shopping, watching television
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