Merolini
Meet the 2024 Artists
The Merola Opera Program has announced the 2024 season's 29 emerging artists, selected from more than 1,300 international applicants. These inspiring artists come from Australia, China, France, Georgia, and South Korea, as well as across the United States, and Canada. Explore the backgrounds of the 2024 Merola Opera Program participants below.
Lucy Joy Altus (she/her/hers)
Voice Type: Mezzo-Soprano
Hometown: New York, NY
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: The Juilliard School; Carnegie Mellon University; Mazzone Vocal Program
Teachers: Elizabeth Bishop, Maria Spacagna, Catherine Mazzone
Major Roles: Estelle Oglethorpe (Later the Same Evening); La Maestra delle Novizie (Suor Angelica); Priestess, Nymph, and Alto Soloist (King Arthur); Ramiro (La finta giardiniera); Un pâtre, La chatte, L'écureuil (L'enfant et les sortilèges); Sesto (Giulio Cesare)
Upcoming: Annio (La clemenza di Tito)
Awards: Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition: New York Region Encouragement Award, South Carolina District Winner, and Southeast Region Encouragement Award; Music International Grand Prix Young Artist Classical Voice, Winner; Beethoven Young Musician Competition, 1st Prize; International Clara Schumann Competition, 3rd Prize; Les musicales du Centre France Music Competition, 2nd Prize; Charleston International Music Competition, 1st Prize; Hal Leonard Vocal Competition, Honorable Mention
Interests: My orange cat, "Copper," women's soccer, ordering takeout
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Moriah Berry (she/her/hers)
Voice Type: Soprano
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: The Juilliard School; University of Nevada Las Vegas; Oakwood University; Institute for Young Dramatic Voices
Teachers: Darrell Babidge, Dolora Zajick, Beatrice Benzi, Anthony Manoli, Stefano Baldasseroni, Adam Nielson
Major Roles: Eurydice (Orpheus in the Underworld); Belinda (Dido and Aeneas); Zerlina (Don Giovanni)
Awards: Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Houston District Winner
Interests: Spending time in solitude, contemplating the many affairs of life, listening to diverse genres of music, learning about different types of wildlife, eating delicious foods
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Nathan Bryon (he/him/his)
Voice Type: Tenor
Hometown: Geurie, Australia
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: San Francisco Conservatory of Music; Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust; Aspen Music Festival and School; Sydney Conservatorium of Music; Pacific Opera
Teachers: César Ulloa, Glenn Winslade, Sharolyn Kimmorley, Robert Mollicone, Andrew King
Major Roles: Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi); Christof (Bel Canto); The Magician (The Consul); Pasquin/Silvio/Dr. Miracle (Le docteur Miracle)
Upcoming: Tamino (Die Zauberflöte)
Awards: Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, San Francisco District Winner; Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust: Dame Heather Begg Memorial Award, Winner; Australian Music Foundation Yvonne Kenny Award, Winner; Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship, Winner; Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Foundation, Bel Canto Grant Recipient
Interests: Traveling, coffee, hiking, reading, languages
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Michael John Butler (he/him/his)
Voice Type: Tenor
Hometown: Bowie, MD
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: The Juilliard School; University of Maryland; Maryland Opera Studio; Des Moines Metro Opera Apprentice Artist; Aspen Opera Theater Renée Fleming Fellow
Teachers: Kevin Short, Dominic Cossa
Major Roles: Mission Coordinator (Grounded); Faust (Faust); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte); Monostatos (Die Zauberflöte); Rodolfo (La bohème); Fenton (Falstaff); Jimmy O’Keefe (Later the Same Evening); Arnold Murray (Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing); Oronte (Alcina); Mario (Briscula the Magician); Prince Sou-Chong (Das Land des Lächelns); Borsa (Rigoletto); Comte Ory (Le comte Ory); Il Messagero (Aïda); Ivan Lykov (The Tsar’s Bride); Le Dancaïre (Carmen)
Awards: National Opera Association Vocal Competition, 2nd Place; Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Encouragement Award
Interests: Victrola record collecting, cold brew, disc golf, options market trading
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Hannah Cho (she/her/hers)
Voice Type: Soprano
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Mannes School of Music; Seoul National University
Teachers: Margaret Lattimore, Cristina Stanescu, Ted Taylor, Hyunjoo Yun
Major Roles: Nightingale (The Song of the Nightingale); Pamina (Die Zauberflöte); Calisto (La Calisto); Nedda (Pagliacci); Little Madame (Red Shoes); Musetta (La bohème); Nanako (Dongjoo Yoon); Zerlina (Don Giovanni)
Upcoming: Josephine (American Soldier); WQXR young artist showcase; duo recital with bass-baritone Jongwon Han
Awards: Korea National Opera Competition, 1st Prize; Seil Art Song Competition, 1st Prize; Lied Association Competition, 1st Prize; Beijing International Singing Competition: Art Song Division, 1st Prize; Daejeon Opera Competition, 1st Prize; James Toland Vocal Arts Competition, 2nd Prize; Daegu Opera Competition, 2nd Prize; KBS Music Competition, 2nd Prize; Gerda Lissner Competition, Grant Recipient; Michael Sisca Opera Award, Grant Recipient; Gold Smith Foundation Award, Grant Recipient
Interests: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, cooking, Chet Baker, Keith Jarrett, art, wake boarding
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Sujin Choi (she/her/hers)
Artist Type: Pianist/Coach
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
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Merola Production: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: New England Conservatory; Yonsei University; Music Academy of the West; Aspen Music Festival
Teachers: Cameron Stowe, Jonathan Feldman, Kayo Iwama, Tamar Sanikidze, Minsu Pai
Major Productions: La Calisto; La bohème; L'arbore di Diana; Don Giovanni; An American Dream; Le nozze di Figaro
Interests: Driving, Netflix, traveling, matcha latte, coffee, spending time with my friends and family
Merola Sponsor: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Alexa Frankian (she/her/hers)
Voice Type: Soprano
Hometown: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: The Royal Conservatory of Music Glenn Gould School; The University of Toronto Faculty of Music; Institute for Young Dramatic Voices; SongFest—Professional Program and Colburn Fellow
Teachers: Stephanie Bogle, Marta Greda-Kicek, Elizabeth McDonald
Major Roles: Older Woman (Flight); Coach (Ice Time); Kwanyin The Golden Fish (The Monkiest King); Elf Maiden (The Hobbit); Shepherd Boy (Tosca) The Queen (All the King’s Men)
Upcoming: Madame Lidoine (Dialogues des Carmélites)
Awards: Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Encouragement Award; Mildred Miller International Competition, 3rd Place; The Royal Conservatory Glenn Gould School Scholarship; NATS Western University, Second-Year Post Secondary Category, 2nd Prize; Rotaract Singfest, Junior Category, 1st Prize; Ontario Music Festivals Association Provincial Competition, Silver Medalist; Kiwanis Toronto Foundation Scholarship
Interests: Vintage fashion, films, art museums, travelling, baking
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Julian Garvue (he/him/his)
Artist Type: Pianist/Coach
Hometown: Seattle, WA
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Merola Production: TBA
School & Young Artist Programs: Indiana University; Eastman School of Music; SongFest; Music Academy of the West
Teachers: Kevin Murphy, Anne Epperson, Tamar Sanikidze, John Churchwell
Major Productions: La bohème; Don Giovanni; La finta giardiniera; The Mensch; Rhiannon's Condemnation
Upcoming: Sweeney Todd
Interests: Music in its many forms, cooking, weightlifting, kettlebells, economics, history
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Simona Genga (they/them/theirs)
Voice Type: Mezzo-Soprano
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Ravinia Steans Music Institute; Franz-Schubert-Institut; Lunenberg Academy of Music Performance; Chautauqua Institute; Canadian Operatic Arts Academy; University of Western Ontario; Merola Opera Program; University of Toronto Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Gerdine Young Artist; Canadian Opera Company Studio Ensemble; Highlands Opera Studio; Opera Nuova
Teachers: Wendy Nielsen, Patricia Green, Don Marrazzo, Marlena Malas
Major Roles: Bianca (The Rape of Lucretia); Carmen (Carmen); Alto Soloist (Messiah); Eurcylée (Pénélope); Olga (Eugene Onegin); Berta (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Gertrude (Hänsel und Gretel); "Cindy" (WOW Factor: A Cinderella Story); Nettie Fowler (Carousel); Second Maid (Elektra); Mistress Quickly (Falstaff); Annina (La traviata); Sister Helen (Dead Man Walking); Schwabacher Recital Series
Upcoming: Néris (Medea); Carmen (Carmen); Eurcylée (Pénélope); Alto Soloist (Missa Solemnis)
Awards: Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Regional Encouragement Award; Merola Opera Schwabacher Recital Series Competition, Winner; Christina and Louis Quilico Awards, 3rd Prize; The Sullivan Foundation, Career Development Grant; Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, District Encouragement Award; Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Barbara and Stanley Richman Award; CBC’s “Top 30 Canadian Musicians under 30 List”; Canadian Opera Company Centre Stage Competition, 1st Prize and Audience Choice Awards; University of Toronto, Norcop Song Recital Prize; Hynatyshyn Foundation, Career Development Grant; The Jacqueline Desmarais Foundation, Grant Recipient
Interests: Hunting for treasures in thrift stores and markets, reading while sitting by a pool, swimming in mentioned pool, crocheting, crafting, going on adventures, writing poetry
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Viviana Aurelia Goodwin (she/her/hers)
Voice Type: Soprano
Hometown: Tulsa, OK
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Merola Roles: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Rice University; Oklahoma City University; Des Moines Metro Opera Apprentice Artist
Teachers: Nova Thomas, Jeffrey Picón; Meray Boustani
Major Roles: CBeth (Little Women); Sophie de Palma (Masterclass); Sister Mary Amnesia (Nunsense); Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte)
Awards: Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Tulsa District Encouragement Award; Ladies Music Club of Oklahoma, 2nd Place
Interests: Marketing and development, content creation, fashion, interior design, event planning, cooking, history
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring one of our Merola artists? View our sponsorship options.
Lydia Grindatto (she/her/hers)
Voice Type: Soprano
Hometown: Tijeras, NM
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: University of New Mexico; Academy of Vocal Arts; Taos Opera Institute; Santa Fe Opera
Teachers: Bill Schuman, Olga Perez Flora, Sandra Neel, Leslie Umphrey, Kathleen Clawson
Major Roles: Anna Bolena (Anna Bolena); Rusalka (Rusalka); Donna Anna (Don Giovanni); Violetta (La traviata); Mimì (La bohème); Tatyana (Eugene Onegin)
Upcoming: Tatyana (Eugene Onegin)
Awards: Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, District Winner; Opera Index, Award Recipient; Loren L. Zachary Society Competition, Award Recipient; Gerda Lissner Foundation Competition, Grant Recipient; Giargiari Bel Canto Competition, Award Recipient; Vocal Artistry Art Song Festival Competition, Award Recipient
Interests: Travel, photography, DIY home improvement, long talks over coffee, fantasy books and movies, hiking
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring one of our Merola artists? View our sponsorship options.
Giorgi Guliashvili (he/him/his)
Voice Type: Tenor
Hometown: Rustavi, Georgia
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Tbilisi State Conservatoire; Teatro San Carlo Young Artist Program
Teachers: Gerald Martin Moore, Mariella Devia
Major Roles: Tamino (Die Zauberflöte); Alfredo (La traviata); Mario Cavaradossi (Tosca); Don Galfrone (Don Chisciotte); Hervey (Anna Bolena); Lensky (Eugene Onegin); Concerts and opera scenes with orchestra of Teatro San Carlo
Upcoming: Flavio (Norma); Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi)
Interests: Teaching
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring one of our Merola artists? View our sponsorship options.
Elizabeth "Hanje" Hanje (she/her/hers)
Voice Type: Soprano
Hometown: Vestavia Hills, AL
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Des Moines Metro Opera; Oberlin College
Teachers: Salvatore Champagne
Major Roles: Lady Billows (Albert Herring); Lyra (Alice Tierney); Ernestina (L'occasione fa il ladro)
Awards: Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Tennessee District Encouragement Award; Duncan Williams Vocal Competition, Winner; Schmidt Vocal Competition, Winner; George Shirley Vocal Competition, Winner
Interests: Cooking, shopping, video games
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Mary Hoskins (she/her/hers)
Voice Type: Soprano
Hometown: Saratoga Springs, NY
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Brigham Young University; Institute for Young Dramatic Voices; Utah Vocal Arts Academy Summer Opera Festival; Wolf Trap Opera
Teachers: Darrell Babidge, Isaac Hurtado, Nova Thomas
Major Roles: First Lady (Die Zauberflöte); Theodora (Theodora); Suor Angelica (Suor Angelica)
Awards: Gerda Lissner Competition, Encouragement Award; Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Education Grant Recipient
Interests: Writing short stories and novels, listening to podcasts, reading ferociously, playing with my dog Ruth
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Sihao Hu (he/him/his)
Voice Type: Baritone
Hometown: Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Shanghai Conservatory of Music; Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; Theater Kiel
Teachers: Changyong Liao, Zheng Zhou, Dennis O’Neill, Donald Maxwell
Major Roles: Germont (La traviata); Pandolfe (Cendrillion); Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro); Chorèbe (Les Troyens); Silvio (Pagliacci); Barmann (Falscher Verrat); Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni); Ping (Turandot); Guglielmo (Così fan tutte); Shang Yong (A Love Ballad of Kang Ding); Wu Xiuzhu (The Wild Rhododendron); Wu Da (Soma); Tang Xianzu (Tang Xianzu)
Upcoming: Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Escamillo (Carmen）
Awards: Gulang Island International Opera Competition, 1st Place; Chinese Art Song International Singing Competition, 2nd Prize; China Golden Bell Award, Golden Prize; Bologna International Singing Competition, 2nd Place; Classical Singer International Vocal Competition, 1st Place
Interests: Cooking, basketball, fishing, cycling
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Hyemin Jeong (she/her/hers)
Artist Type: Pianist/Coach
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
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Merola Production: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Manhattan School of Music; Merola Opera Program; Palm Beach Opera Bailey Apprentice Artist; Miami Music Festival; Art Song Festival (Cleveland, Ohio)
Teachers: Warren Jones, Youngmi Lee
Major Productions: The Rape of Lucretia; La traviata; Madama Butterfly; Così fan tutte; Carmen; Schwabacher Recital Series
Upcoming: Il barbiere di Siviglia
Interests: Playing board games, travel
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Donghoon Kang (he/him/his)
Voice Type: Bass-Baritone
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Manhattan School of Music; The Juilliard School; Seoul National University
Teachers: Mark Schnaible, Darrell Babidge, Yonghoon Lee
Major Roles: Der Tod (Der Kaiser von Atlantis); Theseus (A Midsummer Night's Dream); Nicandro (Atalanta); Herr Reich (Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor); Nereid, Priest (King Arthur); Father Trulove (The Rake's Progress) Simone (Gianni Schicchi); Satiro, Plutone (Orfeo)
Awards: National Opera Competition by Partners for the Arts, 2nd Prize and Audience Prize; Opera Index Competition, Cesare Santeramo Award; Gerda Lissner International Voice Competition, Encouragement Award
Interests: Vocal technique, badminton, games, dogs, movies
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Yedam Kim (she/her/hers)
Artist Type: Pianist/Coach
Hometown: Paris, France
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Merola Production: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris; Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris; Mozarteum University Salzburg
Teachers: Erika Guiomar, Nathalie Dang, Henri Barda, Jacques Rouvier, Bruno Rigutto
Major Productions: Dido and Aeneas, Hänsel und Gretel, La traviata, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen
Awards: Cleveland international Piano Competition, 4th Prize; San Antonio Gurwitz International Piano Competition, 2nd Prize; Seoul International Music Competition, 6th Prize
Interests: Cats, baking
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Ji Youn Lee (she/her/hers)
Artist Type: Pianist/Coach
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
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Merola Production: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: New England Conservatory of Music; The Juilliard School
Teachers: HaeSun Paik, Dang Thai Son, Jonathan Feldman, Lydia Brown
Awards: Music Academy of the West Duo Competition, Winner; Ke’alohi International Piano Competition, 2nd Place; New England Conservatory Concerto Competition, Winner; Jacob Flier International Piano Competition, 2nd Place; Chopin Competition, Winner; Music World Competition, Winner; Ewha Kyounghyang Piano Competition, Winner; Sejong Orchestra Competition, Winner; Seoul Chamber Music Competition, Winner
Interests: Shopping, cooking, travel
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Lindsay Martin (she/her/hers)
Voice Type: Mezzo-Soprano
Hometown: San Diego, CA
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: University of Southern California; San Francisco Conservatory of Music; Aspen Music Festival and School
Teachers: Elizabeth Hynes, Catherine Cook, Elizabeth Bishop, Robin Rice
Major Roles: Chérubin (Chérubin); Idamante (Idomeneo), Minskwoman (Flight), Giulio Cesare (Giulio Cesare), Annio (La clemenza di Tito)
Upcoming: Mozart Requiem Soloist
Awards: Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Los Angeles District, Winner; Palm Springs Opera Guild Competition, 4th Place; Artist of the Future Competition, 1st Place; Kristin Pankonin Art Song Showcase, 1st Place; Biennial Art Song Competition, 1st Place
Interests: Poetry, songwriting, dancing, traveling
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Tessa McQueen (she/her/hers)
Voice Type: Soprano
Hometown: Loveland, CO
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Rice University; Oklahoma City University; Wolf Trap Opera; Central City Opera; Opera Saratoga
Teachers: Nova Thomas, Larry Keller, Juliana Bishop Hoch
Major Roles: Poppea (L’incoronazione di Poppea), Krystyna Zywulska (Out of Darkness: Two Remain); Cendrillon (Cendrillon); Susannah (Susannah); Marie (The Bartered Bride)
Upcoming: Female Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia)
Awards: Palm Springs Opera Guild Competition, 3rd Place; Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Tulsa District Winner; Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Midwest Region, 3rd Place; Central City Opera, Young Artist of the Season Award; Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition, 3rd Place
Interests: Morning walk enthusiast
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Kara Morgan (she/her/hers)
Voice Type: Mezzo-Soprano
Hometown: Andover, MN
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Drake University, New England Conservatory, Yale University, Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Opera
Teachers: Carole Haber, Victoria Vargas, Adriana Zabala
Major Roles: Anna 1 (Die sieben Todsünden); L'enfant (L'enfant et les sortilèges); Isolier (Le comte Ory); Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia); Hansel (Hänsel und Gretel); Dido (Dido and Aeneas); Mercédès (Carmen), Dorabella (Così fan tutte); Ottone (Agrippina); Madame de Croissy (Dialogues des Carmélites); Mrs. Soames (Our Town)
Awards: Opera Tampa D'Angelo Young Artist Vocal Competition, 1st Place; Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Upper Midwest Region Encouragement Award and North Dakota-Manitoba District Winner; Schubert Club Competition, 1st Place; Chicago Oratorio Award, The American Prize
Interests: Embroidery, snuggling with my dogs, finding a new favorite beer, researching composers, finding new music
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Angelo Silva
Voice Type: Tenor
Hometown: Houston, TX
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: University of Missouri-Kansas City; Taos Opera Institute; Pepperdine University; Central City Opera
Teachers: Weston Hurt, Melanie Emelio, Elisa Thompson
Major Roles: Ollie (Sketchbook for Ollie); Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte); Miles Zegner (Proving Up); Count Almaviva (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Alfred (Die Fledermaus); Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance)
Awards: Central City Opera, The Lew Cady Memorial Award
Interests: Working out, exercise, reading, family, hiking, all things nature
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Benjamin R. Sokol (he/him/his)
Voice Type: Bass-Baritone
Hometown: Westbury, NY
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Manhattan School of Music; Chautauqua Opera Company and Conservatory; Taos Opera Institute; Savannah VOICE Festival; Songfest
Teachers: James Morris, Sherrill Milnes
Major Roles: Bottom (A Midsummer Night's Dream); Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte); Orest (Elektra); Betto di Signa (Gianni Schicchi); Badger/Parson (The Cunning Little Vixen); Wagner (Faust); L'Américain (Angélique); Il Commendatore (Don Giovanni); Speaker (Die Zauberflöte); Second Armored Man (Die Zauberflöte); Bartender (Speed Dating Tonight); Don Magnifico (A Royal Feast)
Upcoming: Der Tod (Der Kaiser von Atlantis)
Awards: Opera Idol, Grand Prize Winner; Alexandra Hunt Endowed Vocal Scholarship
Interests: Playing and watching sports, sampling and critiquing different bourbons and whiskeys, language learning
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Hyungjin Son (he/him/his)
Voice Type: Baritone
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Prague Summer Nights; New England Conservatory of Music; Opera Institute of Boston University; Seoul National University; Aspen Music Festival
Teacher: Bradley Williams, Carol Vaness, Sharon Daniels, Hyun-Jae Park
Major Roles: Marcello (La bohème); Giove (La Calisto); The Bonze (Madama Butterfly); Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni); Doristo (L’arbore di Diana); Don Alfonso (Così fan tutte); Putnam (If I Were You); Pa Zegner (Proving Up); Sir Thomas Bertam (Mansfield Park); Guglielmo (Così fan tutte)
Upcoming: Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus)
Awards: Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Boston District Winner and New England Regional Winner; New England Conservatory, John Moriarty Presidential Award; Boston University, Phyllis Curtin Award; Nanpa National Music Competition, 1st Place
Interests: Fishing, cooking, coffee, Korean barbecue
Merola Sponsor: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Anna Theodosakis (she/her/hers)
Artist Type: Stage Director
Hometown: Vancouver, Canada
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Merola Production: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: University of British Columbia; University of Toronto
Teachers: Michael Albano, Sandra Horst, Nancy Hermiston, Heather Thomson
Major Roles: Così fan tutte; Carmen; La traviata; Flight; The Bells of Baddeck; Die Zauberflöte; La bohème; The Tender Land; L'elisir d'amore; Die Fledermaus; Don Giovanni; WOW Factor: A Cinderella Story; Tears of the Knife; Hin und Zurück; L'italiana in Algeri; Les contes d'Hoffmann; Eugene Onegin; The Rape of Lucretia; The Medium
Upcoming: Così fan tutte; La bohème; Cendrillon (choreographer)
Awards: Vancouver Opera Guild, Career Development Grant; Dora Award Nominee, Outstanding Direction; Johann Strauss Foundation Scholarship
Interests: All styles of dance (especially tap dancing), swimming, photography, learning new languages
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Samuel White (he/him/his)
Voice Type: Tenor
Hometown: Columbia, SC
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Aspen Opera Center; The Glimmerglass Festival; Santa Fe Opera
Teachers: Michael Paul
Major Roles: The Prince (Rusalka); Licinius (La vestale); B.F. Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly)
Upcoming: Canio (Pagliacci)
Interests: Fitness, food, fashion
Merola Sponsor: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Justice Yates (he/him/his)
Voice Type: Bass-Baritone
Hometown: Leesburg, FL
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Yale University; American Institute of Musical Studies Opera Program; Vienna Summer Music Festival; SongFest Young Artist; Houston Grand Opera Young Artist Vocal Academy; Stetson University
Teachers: Gerald Martin Moore; Craig Maddox, Jane Christeson
Major Roles: Father Trulove (The Rake’s Progress); Forester (The Cunning Little Vixen); Aeneas (Dido and Aeneas); Betto di Signa (Gianni Schicchi); Peter (Hänsel und Gretel)
Upcoming: Masetto (Don Giovanni); Simone (Gianni Schicchi)
Awards: Carolyn Bailey Argento Fellowship for Vocal Performance; Carolyn Bailey Argento Vocal Competition Scholarship Division, 1st Place; Benjamin Matthews Vocal Competition Young Artist Division, 1st Place; Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota Vocal Competition, 1st Place; Stetson University Carnegie Competition, 1st Place; Harold Giffin Competition, 1st Place; National Association of Teachers of Singing National Lower Division Tenors, Baritones, and Basses, 1st Place
Interests: Black art song, choral directing, songwriting, home design and interior design
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Olivier Zerouali (he/him/his)
Voice Type: Baritone
Hometown: Middletown, DE
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Merola Role: TBA
Schools & Young Artist Programs: SUNY Purchase; Yale School of Music; Berlin Opera Academy; Highland Opera Studio; Glimmerglass Opera Festival
Teachers: Jacque Trussel, Gerald Martin Moore
Major Roles: Mercutio (Roméo et Juliette); Papageno (Die Zauberflöte); Pandofle (Cendrillon); Zaretsky/Captain (Eugene Onegin); Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro); King Melchior (Amahl and the Night Visitors)
Upcoming: Betto di Signa (Gianni Schicchi)
Interests: Mixology, cooking (especially Mediterranean food)
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
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