Merolini
Meet the 2023 Young Artists
The Merola Opera Program has announced the 2023 season's 28 emerging artists, selected from more than 1,300 international applicants. These inspiring artists come from China, Costa Rica, South Korea, Taiwan, and Cuba, as well as across the U.S. and Canada. Explore the backgrounds of the 2023 Merola Opera Program participants below.
Georgiana Adams
Voice Type: Soprano
Hometown: Wheaton, IL
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Merola Role: Schwabacher Summer Concert
Schools & Young Artist Programs: The Juilliard School; DePaul University; Chautauqua Opera
Teachers: Amy Burton, Rhoslyn Jones, Karen Delevan, Denyce Graves, Howard Watkins, Kayo Iwama, Marlena Malas
Major Roles: Donna Anna (Don Giovanni); Contessa Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro); Lady Billows (Albert Herring); Venere (L'Orfeo); Dew Fairy (Hänsel und Gretel); Baker's Wife (Into the Woods); Chockolka (The Cunning Little Vixen); Bellezza (L'Egisto)
Upcoming: Littler Zegner Sister (Proving Up); Suor Angelica (Suor Angelica); La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi)
Awards: Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, New York District Winner; Cecelia Entner Scholarship; Casa Italia Vocal Competition Winner; Allen R. & Judy Brick Freedman Scholarship
Interests: Cooking new dishes, listening to podcasts, thrift shopping, dancing
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
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Lucy Joy Altus
Voice Type: Mezzo-soprano
Hometown: New York, NY
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Merola Role: Schwabacher Summer Concert
Schools & Young Artist Programs: The Juilliard School; Carnegie Mellon University; Mazzone Vocal Program
Teachers: Elizabeth Bishop, Maria Spacagna, Catherine Mazzone
Major Roles: Ramiro (La finta giardiniera); Un pâtre, La chatte, L'écureuil (L'enfant et les sortilèges); Sesto (Giulio Cesare)
Upcoming: Priestess, Nymph, and Alto soloist (King Arthur); La Maestra della Novizie (Suor Angelica)
Awards: The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, South Carolina District Winner and Southeast Region Encouragement Award; Music International Grand Prix Young Artist Voice Winner; Beethoven Young Musician Competition, 1st Prize; International Clara Schumann Competition, 3rd Prize; Les Music Es Du Centre France Music Competition 2nd Prize; Charleston International Music Competition, 1st Prize; Hal Leonard Vocal Competition, Honorable Mention
Interests: My cat Copper, sports, psychology, eating ice cream, watching New Girl
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Tania Arazi Coambs
Artist Type: Director
Hometown: Champaign, IL
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Merola Production: Merola Grand Finale
Schools & Young Artist Programs: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Stage Director & Choreographer Foundation Observership Fellow, Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh; The BMP: Producer Academy; Austrian American Mozart Academy, Scuola Italia Corso Lirico
Teachers: Segun Ojewuyi, Tim Fink, Anne Fletcher, Peter Davis, Sylvia Stone, Richard Best, Cynthia Haymon-Coleman
Major Productions: Roméo et Juliette; Don Giovanni; Farinelli and the King; The Tender Land; Trouble in Tahiti; Signor Deluso; Brundibár; Stop Kiss; The Informer; Feeding the Moon Fish; Catatumbo (an original opera by G. Candey & T. Arazi Coambs); Scenes from Our Past (a devised play), Stoplight (an original play by T. Arazi Coambs)
Upcoming: Arsenic and Old Lace; Banned Stories (Andrew W. Mellon Public Humanities Project)
Awards: The American Prize Opera Production Competition, 2nd place; The American Prize Stage Director Competition, 3rd place; Friederich & Virginia Schorr Memorial Award Professional Art Song Division, Winner; Chicago Music Theater Award; National Opera Association Biennial Dissertation Competition, Winner
Interests: Traveling, hiking, writing poetry, salsa dancing, and spending time with friends
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Juliette Chauvet
Voice Type: Soprano
Hometown: Avignon, France
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Merola Role: Metamorphosis Recital; Schwabacher Summer Concert
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Pôle lyrique d’excellence; Music Academy of the West; Centre de Perfeccionament Plácido Domingo; Palau de les Arts; Musik und Kunst Universität Vienna; Gstaad Menuhin Festival
Teachers: Cécile de Boever, Nils Neubert, Anna Pirozzi, Bill Schuman, Gerald Martin Moore, Susanna Phillips, Sasha Cooke, Mariella Devia, Plácido Domingo, Jaime Aragall, Edina Lloris, Sylvia Greenberg, Silvana Bartoli, Cecilia Bartoli
Major Roles: Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro); Tatiana, (Eugene Onegin); Elle (La voix humaine); Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni); Prinz Orlovsky (Die Fledermaus)
Upcoming: Recording (Respighi/Martucci); Art Song recital (Liszt/Berlioz); Baroque Opera orchestra concert (Rameau/Monteverdi/Haendel); Bel Canto Orchestra Concert (Norma/Il Trovatore)
Awards: Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Illinois District Winner; NYIOP Anonymous Project German Repertoire, Winner
Interests: Yoga, cooking, history of architecture, all the arts
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Nicole Marie Cloutier
Artist Type: Pianist/Coach
Hometown: White Lake, MI
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Merola Production: Metamorphosis Recital
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Washington National Opera Cafritz Young Artist; Chautauqua Institution; The Juilliard School; Michigan State University
Teachers: Lydia Brown, JJ Penna, Jonathan Feldman, Panayis Lyras, Michele Cooker
Major Productions: American Opera Initiative Workshops at the Kennedy Center; Gianni Schicchi; Canto Vocal Program; The Rake’s Progress; Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor; Le nozze di Figaro
Upcoming: Assistant Conductor, Blue, Washington National Opera; Assistant Conductor, American Opera Initiative at the Kennedy Center
Awards: The Juilliard School Marcus Institute Vocal Piano Fellowship; Michigan State University, Trustee Board Award
Interests: My French bulldog, “Ducky,” tarot reading, art galleries, dance, yoga, meditation
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Caroline Corrales
Voice Type: Soprano
Hometown: Saint Louis, MO
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Merola Role: Female Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia)
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Artist; The Opera Institute of Boston University, Young Artist; Boston University; Webster University
Teachers: Lynn Eustis, Nova Thomas
Major Roles: Ma Zegner (Proving Up); Mary Crawford (Mansfield Park); Anne Trulove (The Rake's Progress); Featured soloist, The Boston Pops Symphony Holiday Pops Concert Series
Awards: St. Botolph Club Foundation Emerging Artist Award; The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, New York District Winner; The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Boston District Winner and New England Region Encouragement Award; Orpheus Competition, 2nd Prize
Interests: Art, fashion, film, chess, travel
Merola Sponsor: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Eleomar Cuello
Voice Type: Baritone
Hometown: La Habana, Cuba
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Merola Role: Schwabacher Summer Concert
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Academy of the National Opera of Cuba
Teachers: Manny Perez, Adolfo Casas, Maite Milian
Major Roles: Valentin (Faust), Guglielmo (Cosí fan tutte), Belcore (L’elisir d’amore), Escamillo (Carmen), Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), Mamma Agata (Viva la Mamma!), Schaunard (La Boheme), Dulcamara (L’elisir d’amore), Silvio (Pagliacci)
Upcoming: Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni); Belcore (L’elisir d’amore); Morales (Carmen); Gianni Schicchi (Gianni Schicchi)
Awards: Emerging Artist Award Opera Index Competition; First Prize Gerda Lissner Competition: Second Prize Florida Grand Opera Competition Young Patronesses of the Opera; Second Prize Veronica Villarroel International Singing Festival Competition
Interests: Cooking, traveling, hiking
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Daniel Luis Espinal
Voice Type: Tenor
Hometown: Sarasota, FL
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Merola Role: Schwabacher Summer Concert
School & Young Artist Programs: Merola Opera Program, Manhattan School of Music
Teachers: Robyn Rocklein, James Morris, Shirley Close
Major Roles: Tamino (Die Zauberflöte); Alfredo (La traviata)
Upcoming: Male Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia)
Interests: Hiking, cooking Cuban family recipes, baking
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Joanne Evans
Voice Type: Mezzo-soprano
Hometown: London, UK
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Merola Roles: Metamorphosis Recital; Schwabacher Summer Concert
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Opera Colorado Artist in Residence; Music Academy of the West Vocal Fellow; Bard College Conservatory; Manhattan School of Music; Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Teachers: Daniel Belcher, Edith Bers, John Evans
Major Roles: Olga (Eugene Onegin); Meg Page (Falstaff); Madame Flora (The Medium); Cherubino (I Due Figaro)
Upcoming: Lucienne (Die Tote Stadt)
Awards: Marylin Horne Song Competition Winner; Career Bridges Winner; Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Boston District Winner; Handel Aria Competition Winner
Interests: Sewing, reading, working-out, hiking
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Simona Genga
Voice Type: Mezzo-Soprano
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
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Merola Roles: Metamorphosis Recital; Bianca (The Rape of Lucretia)
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Canadian Opera Company, Ensemble Studio; Highlands Opera Studio; Ravinia Steans Music Institute; Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Gerdine Young Artist; Chautauqua Institute; Franz Schubert Institute; Opera Nuova, University of Western Ontario; University of Toronto
Teachers: Wendy Nielsen, Liz Upchurch, Patricia Green, Stephane Mayer
Major Roles: Carmen (Carmen); Olga (Eugene Onegin); Gertrude (Hänsel und Gretel); Berta (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Zweite Magd (Elektra); Annina (La traviata); Nettie Fowler (Carousel); Sister Helen (Dead Man Walking)
Awards: Ruby Mercer Award; Christina and Louis Quilico Award, 3rd Place; The Sullivan Foundation Career Development Grant; Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, District Encouragement Award; Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Barbara and Stanley Richman Award; Canadian Opera Company Centre Stage Competition, 1st Place and Audience Choice Award; CBC’s “Top 30 Classical Musicians Under 30” List; University of Toronto, Norcop Song Recital Prize; The Hynatyshyn Foundation Career Development Award
Interests: Cooking, Travel, Arts and Crafting, Poetry, Comedy
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring one of our Merola artists? View our sponsorship options.
Kevin Godínez
Voice Type: Baritone
Hometown: San José, Costa Rica
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Merola Role: Schwabacher Summer Concert
Schools & Young Artist Programs: University of Costa Rica Academy of Vocal Arts
Teachers: Luis Ledesma; Maria Russo; Massimo Pezzutti; Rafael Saborío
Major Roles: Giorgio Germont (La traviata); Marcello (La bohème); Schaunard (La bohème); Gianni Schicchi (Gianni Schicchi); Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni); Silvio (I Pagliacci); Der Vater (Hänsel und Grettel); Masetto (Don Giovanni)
Award: Linus Lerner International Voice Competition, 3rd Place; Giargiari Bel Canto Competition, 2nd Place; Gerda Lissner Foundation, Zarzuela Division, 2nd Place
Interests: Languages, Latino dances (Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Bolero), hiking and chess
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring one of our Merola artists? View our sponsorship options.
Julian Grabarek
Artist Type: Pianist/Coach
Hometown: Acton, MA
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Merola Production: Metamorphosis Recital
Schools & Young Artist Programs: University of Michigan; Oberlin College and Conservatory; Aspen Music Festival; Collaborative Piano Institute; New England Conservatory Preparatory School
Teachers: Martin Katz, Robert Shannon, Cameron Stowe, Thomas Bandy, James Howsmon, Angel Ramón Rivera, Marilyn Roth
Major Productions: The Cunning Little Vixen; Don Giovanni
Awards: Oberlin Conservatory Piano Faculty Prize in Accompanying
Interests: Trivia, maps, hiking, new recipes, houseplants
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring one of our Merola artists? View our sponsorship options.
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Shan Hai
Voice Type: Soprano
Hometown: Beijing, China
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Merola Roles: Schwabacher Summer Concert
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Manhattan School of Music, Chautauqua Opera and Conservatory
Teachers: Marlena Malas, Edith Wiens
Major Roles: Zerlina (Don Giovanni); Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro); Eurydice (Orpheus in the Underworld); Romilda (Serse); Tytania (Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Upcoming: Feu, Rossignol (L'enfant et les sortilèges); Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Winner Concert
Awards: Manhattan School of Music Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition Winner
Interests: Singing, reading, cooking, exercising, shopping
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Hyemin Jeong
Artist Type: Pianist/Coach
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
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Merola Production: Metamorphosis Recital
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Palm Beach Opera Apprentice Artist; Manhattan School of Music; Chung-Ang University; Miami Music Festival; Cleveland Art Song Festival
Teachers: Warren Jones, Ksenia Leletkina, Youngmi Lee
Major Productions: Madama Butterfly, Così fan tutte, Carmen, Il barbiere di Siviglia, La bohème
Upcoming: Music by the Sea; Music in the Mansion
Interests: Playing board games, travel
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Chance Jonas-O’Toole
Voice Type: Tenor
Hometown: Dallas, TX
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Merola Role: Male Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia)
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Merola Opera Program; The Juilliard School; Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Gerdine Young Artist; Tanglewood Music Festival
Teachers: William Burden, Sanford Sylvan
Major Roles: Monostatos (The Magic Flute); Prince Ramiro (La Cenerentola); Jo the Loiterer (The Mother of Us All); Nebuchadnezzar (The Burning Fiery Furnace)
Interests: Opera, song, oratorio, modern/contemporary music, film, gaming, hiking
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Samuel Kidd
Voice Type: Baritone
Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI
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Merola Roles: Metamorphosis Recital; Schwabacher Summer Concert, Tarquinius (The Rape of Lucretia)
Schools & Young Artist Programs: LUniversity of Michigan; University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Yale University; Music Academy of the West; Wolf Trap Opera
Teachers: Gerald Martin Moore, William McGraw, Freda Herseth
Major Roles: : Onegin (Eugene Onegin); Belcore (L'elisir d'amore); Harlekin (Ariadne auf Naxos); Falstaff (Falstaff); Krušina (The Bartered Bride); Jazz Trio (Trouble in Tahiti)
Upcoming: Tarquinius (The Rape of Lucretia)
Awards: Livingston Mather Competition, Winner
Interests: Cooking, badminton, politics, chess
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
So ry Kim
Voice Type: Soprano
Hometown: Daejeon, South Korea
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Merola Role: Schwabacher Summer Concert
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Ewha Womans University; G. Verdi Conservatorio di Milano
Teachers: Jung un Kim, Demetrio Colaci
Major Roles: Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor); Violetta (La traviata); Adele (Die Fledermaus); Donna Anna (Don Giovanni); Liù (Turandot); Mimì (La bohème); Adina (L’elisir d’amore)
Awards: Gino Marinuzzi International competition, 2nd Place; P.Cappuccilli International Competition, 1st Place; Salvatore Licitra International competition, 2nd Place
Interests: Yoga, wine, travel, tennis, art exhibition, contemporary art, The Bible
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Thomas William Kinch
Voice Type: Tenor
Hometown: Cardiff, Wales
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Merola Role: Schwabacher Summer Concert
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Opera School; Emerging Artist Dorset Opera; Associate Artist Welsh National Opera; Iford Arts Emerging Artist
Teachers: Stephen Robertson, Raymond Connell, Dolora Zajick, Darrell Babidge
Major Roles: Turridu (Cavalleria rusticana); Canio (Pagliacci); Cavaradossi (Tosca); Alfredo (La traviata); Sam Kaplan (Street Scene); Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly); Father Grenville (Dead Man Walking); Nadir (Pearl Fishers); Satyavan (Savitri)
Awards: Associated Board Royal Schools of Music Scholarship; Dewar Arts Award
Interests: Teaching, food/cooking, wine, weightlifting, gaming, board games, massage therapy, movies, hiking
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Natalie Lewis
Voice Type: Mezzo-Soprano
Hometown: Severna Park, MD
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Merola Roles: Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia)
Schools & Young Artist Programs: The Juilliard School; University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Aspen Music Festival; Houston Grand Opera Young Artists Vocal Academy; Opera Neo; American Institute of Musical Studies, Graz, Austria
Teachers: Kevin Short, Stephen King, Renée Fleming, Elizabeth Bishop, William Hite
Major Roles: Mistress Quickly (Falstaff); Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro); Third Lady (Die Zauberflöte)
Upcoming: Zita (Gianni Schicchi); La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica); Carnegie Hall Debut, Alto Soloist with the Cecilia Chorus of New York
Awards: New York District Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Winner; New England National Association of Teachers of Singing Regional Winner; James Toland Vocal Competition Director's Award; Kovner Fellowship; Howard Lebow Award
Interest: TV Shows, knitting and crocheting, going to Broadway shows, spending time with my little sisters
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Pei-Hsuan Tiana Lin
Artist Type: Pianist/Coach
Hometown: Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Merola Production: Metamorphosis Recital
Schools & Young Artist Programs: National Taiwan Normal University; Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University; University of Maryland; Aspen Music Festival and School
Teachers: Rita Sloan, Eileen Cornett, Craig Kier, Kathleen Kelly, Alexander Shtarkman
Major Productions: La bohème; Later the Same Evening; Die Zauberflöte; Così fan tutte; La rondine; The Hiding Tree; Pride and Prejudice
Upcoming: Proving Up, SongStudio, Don Giovanni
Awards: Sarah Zierler Prize in Accompanying and Clara Ascherfeld Award in Accompanying, Peabody Institute
Interests: Dance, scuba diving, cooking, eating, Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
James McCarthy
Voice Type: Bass-Baritone
Hometown: Pleasantville, New York
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Merola Roles: Collatinus (The Rape of Lucretia)
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Rice University; Eastman School of Music; Ohio Light Opera
Teachers: Dr. Robin Rice and Dr. Jonathan Retzlaff
Major Roles: Frank Maurrant (Street Scene); Il Commendatore (Don Giovanni); Thomas Brockwiller (The Mock Marriage); Lucas (The Student Prince); Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd); Maestro (Prima la musica e poi le parole); Masetto (Don Giovanni)
Upcoming: Seneca (L'incoronazione di Poppea)
Awards: Mary Jacobs Smith Singer of the Year Competition, First Place 2018; Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions West Tennessee, Encouragement Award 2017; Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon Scholarship for the Arts 2009
Interests: Hiking, libraries, new music, languages, time with friends and family
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Cecelia Steffen McKinley
Voice Type: Contralto
Hometown: Sterling, VA
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Merola Roles: Schwabacher Summer Concert
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Wolf Trap Opera Studio Artist; Rice University; Institute for Young Dramatic Voices; James Madison University
Teachers: Elizabeth Bishop, Laura Brooks Rice, Robin Rice, Dolora Zajick
Major Roles: Zweite Magde (Elektra), Narciso (Agrippina); L’Ècureuil (L’enfant et les sortilèges); Alto Soloist, Mahler 2nd Symphony, Beethoven Symphony #9, Handel’s Messiah
Upcoming: Fileno (Clori, Tirsi, e Fileno); Bubbe (Bubbe and the Demon); Sylvan (What the Spirits Show); Alto Soloist, Mendelssohn’s Elijah
Awards: National Association of Teachers of Singing 1st place, National Lower College Women
Interests: Yoga, cooking, thrifting
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Olivia Prendergast
Voice Type: Soprano
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
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Merola Roles: Lucia (The Rape of Lucretia)
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Merola Opera Program, Indiana University, Northwestern University, Savannah Voice Festival
Teachers: Heidi Grant Murphy, Timothy Noble, Karen Brunssen
Major Roles: First Spirit (Die Zauberflöte); Lisette (La rondine); Clorinda (A Royal Feast); Romilda (Xerxes); Adele (Die Fledermaus); Lisa (Dog Days); Flora (The Turn of the Screw)
Upcoming: Margarita (Ainadamar)
Awards: The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Tennessee District Winner; JTVA Competition Director’s Award; National Society of Arts and Letters (NSAL) Voice Competition Bloomington Chapter, Larry Davis Memorial Award; NSAL Shirley Rabb Winston Scholarship in Classical Voice Competition, Encouragement Award
Interests: British Murder Mysteries, tennis, musical theatre, exploring and traveling, church architecture, tea parties
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Deborah Robertson
Artist Type: Pianist/Coach
Hometown: Springfield, MO
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Merola Production: Metamorphosis Recital
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Merola Opera Program, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Louisiana State University; Brigham Young University; Sewanee OperaFest; Collaborative Piano Institute; Young Artist Vocal Academy at Houston Grand Opera
Teachers: Kathleen Kelly, Marie-France Lefebvre, Ana María Otamendi, Elena Lacheva, Scott Holden
Major Productions: Fellow Travelers; Dialogues of the Carmelites; Magic Flute; Le nozze di Figaro
Upcoming: Carmen
Interests: Community concerts, popularizing opera/classical music, long walks, hosting dinner parties
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Cameron Rolling
Voice Type: Baritone
Hometown: Waycross, GA
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Merola Roles: Metamorphosis Recital; Junius (The Rape of Lucretia)
Schools & Young Artist Programs: CUniversity of Missouri-Kansas City; Mercer University
Teacher: Weston Hurt, Marie Jarriel Roberts
Major Roles: Guglielmo (Così fan tutte)
Awards: Classical Singer Magazine National Voice Competition, 1st Place; National Association for Negro Musicians, Regional Competition, 2nd Place
Interests: Conducting choirs, Netflix, shopping
Merola Sponsor: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Finn Sagal
Voice Type: Bass-Baritone
Hometown: La Canada, CA
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Merola Roles: Metamorphosis Recital; Schwabacher Summer Concert
Schools & Young Artist Programs: University of California at Los Angeles; Yale School of Music
Teachers: Juliana Gondek, Stephen King, Gerald Martin Moore
Major Roles: Masetto (Don Giovanni); Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro); Nick Shadow (The Rake's Progress); Pluton (La descente d’Orphée aux enfers)
Upcoming: Junius (The Rape of Lucretia); Tudor (Le Comte Ory)
Awards: Opera Grand Rapids Competition, 2nd Place; John Alexander Vocal Competition, 3rd Place; Leiber and Stoller ASCAP 4-year Scholarship; Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, UCLA 4-year Scholarship; Michael Feinstein’s Songbook Academy, 1st Place
Interests: Horror movies, watching basketball, Domino's Pizza
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Sahel Salam
Voice Type: Tenor
Hometown: Houston, TX
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Merola Role: Schwabacher Summer Concert
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Merola Opera Program; Academy of Vocal Arts; Royal College of Music, London; University of Texas at Austin; Jerwood Young Artist, Glyndebourne Festival Opera; Music Academy of the West
Teachers: Bill Schuman, William L. Lewis
Major Roles: Ernesto (Don Pasquale); Alfredo (La traviata); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte); Rodolfo (La bohème); Duca di Mantua (Rigoletto); Fernand (La favorite); Vincent (Mireille); Der Italian Tenor (Der Rosenkavalier)
Upcoming: Arturo (Lucia di Lammermoor)
Awards: Mario Lanza Competition Winner; Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Illinois District; Giargiari Bel Canto Competition Audience Prize Winner
Interests: Professional soccer, frisbee, hiking, languages
Merola Sponsor: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
Demetrious Sampson, Jr.
Voice Type: Tenor
Hometown: Albany, GA
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Merola Roles: Song Recital; Schwabacher Summer Concert
Schools & Young Artist Programs: Georgia State University; Des Moines Metro Opera Apprentice Artist Program
Teachers: Kathryn Hartgrove
Major Roles: Crab Man (Porgy and Bess); Bostianello (Bostianello)
Upcoming: Soloist, Undine Smith Moore’s, Scenes from the Life of a Martyr; Exigence
Awards: Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Atlanta District Winner; Opera Index Emerging Artist Award; Schmidt Vocal Arts Undergraduate Competition, Encouragement Award
Interests: World music, biology, chemistry, anime
Merola Sponsors: Interested in sponsoring a Merola artist? View our sponsorship options.
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