
Back Home: Through the Stage Door
Back Home: Through the Stage Door
Back Home: Through the Stage Door is a celebration of the joy of making and performing music together — a joy so many of us have been deprived of during these challenging times. Filmed at San Francisco’s magnificent Herbst Theatre and using classics and lesser known gems of the vocal repertoire as its words and music, the film seeks to capture the many moments, small and large, that comprise opera artists’ lives as they return to creating music together for the stage. Back Home will feature all 2021 Merola young artists as they, too, celebrate a return ‘home’ to the theater and the many precious joys that come with it.
Back Home: Through the Stage Door
Stream on demand now!
Back Home: Through the Stage Door is a celebration of the joy of making and performing music together — a joy so many of us have been deprived of during these challenging times. Filmed at San Francisco’s magnificent Herbst Theatre and using classics and lesser known gems of the vocal repertoire as its words and music, the film seeks to capture the many moments, small and large, that comprise opera artists’ lives as they return to creating music together for the stage. Back Home will feature all 2021 Merola young artists as they, too, celebrate a return ‘home’ to the theater and the many precious joys that come with it.
ProgramProgram
Scene 1
Vorfrühling
Composer: Anton Webern
Text: Ferdinand Avenarius
Johanna Will, soprano
Shiyu Tan, piano
Scene 2
"Avec vous, vieux Lacouf"
from Les mamelles de Tirésias
Composer/Librettist: Francis Poulenc
Presto: Andrew Dwan
Lacouf: Gabriel Hernandez
Pianist: Anna Smigelskaya
Scene 3
"Un soave non so che"
from La Cenerentola
Composer: Gioachino Rossini
Librettist: Jacopo Ferretti
Angelina: Gabrielle Barkidjija
Ramiro: Philippe L'Esperance
Pianist: Marika Yasuda
Scene 4
"Ah! Quel trouble m’agite"
from L'Amant Anonyme
Composer: Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Librettist: François-Georges Fouques Deshayes
Léontine: Ashley Marie Robillard
Valcour: Tianchi Zhang
Ophémon: Andrew Dwan
Pianist: Shiyu Tan
Scene 5
"E voi ridete?"
from Così fan tutte
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist: Lorenzo Da Ponte
Don Alfonso: Ben Brady
Ferrando: Gabriel Hernandez
Guglielmo: Samson McCrady
Pianist: Shiyu Tan
Scene 6
"Son nata a lagrimar"
from Giulio Cesare
Composer: Georg Friedrich Händel
Librettist: Nicola Francesco Haym
Cornelia: Jesse Mashburn
Sesto: Nikola Printz
Pianist: Marika Yasuda
Scene 7
"Komm mit mir zum Souper"
from Die Fledermaus
Composer: Johann Strauss II
Librettists: Carl Haffner and Richard Genée
Falke: Laureano Quant
Eisenstein: Philippe L'Esperance
Pianist: Bryan Banowetz
Scene 8
"Ah, perdona al primo affetto"
from La clemenza di Tito
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettists: Pietro Mestasio & Caterino Mazzolà
Annio: Nikola Printz
Serviglia: Magdalena Kuźma
Pianist: Erica Xiaoyan Guo
Scene 9
"Je cherche un Millionaire"
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Marc-Cab & de Lima
Ben Brady, bass-baritone
Bryan Banowetz, piano
Scene 10
"Esci omai garzon malnato..."
from Le nozze di Figaro
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist: Lorenzo Da Ponte
Conte Almaviva: Samson McCrady
Contessa Almaviva: Emily Blair
Pianist: Bryan Banowetz
Scene 11
"Pria di partir, oh Dio!"
from Idomeneo
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist: Giambattista Varesco
Idamante: Nikola Printz
Elettra: Emily Blair
Idomeneo: Edward Graves
Pianist: Anna Smigelskaya
Scene 12
“I never travel without one...a hand mirror”
from Postcard from Morocco
Composer: Dominick Argento
Librettist: John Donahue
Lady with a Hand Mirror: Catherine Goode
Pianist: Marika Yasuda
Scene 13
"Hold fast to dreams"
Composer: Florence B. Price
Text: Langston Hughes
Celeste Morales, soprano
Erica Xiaoyan Guo, piano
Scene 14
Montage “Vorfrühling”
Composer: Anton Webern
Shiyu Tan, pianist
Scene 15
"An' we'll live off the fat of the land"
from Of Mice and Men
Composer/Librettist: Carlisle Floyd
George Milton: Thomas Lynch
Lennie Small: Victor Cardamone
Pianist: Anna Smigelskaya
Scene 16
"Sì, fino all'ore estreme"
from Norma
Composer: Vincenzo Bellini
Librettist: Felice Romani
Norma: Mikayla Sager
Adalgisa: Gabrielle Beteag
Pianist: Erica Xiaoyan Guo
Scene 17
"Contessa perdono... Questo giorno di tormenti"
from Le nozze di Figaro
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist: Lorenzo Da Ponte
Conte Almaviva: Laureano Quant
Contessa Almaviva: Mikayla Sager
Susanna: Ashley Marie Robillard
Cherubino: Gabrielle Barkidjija
Figaro: Benjamin Brady
Pianist: Marika Yasuda
Back Home: Through the Stage Door is sponsored by William and Edie Dwan.
David Paul is sponsored by Darla and Richard Bastoni.

David Paul, Director
David Paul is an award-winning director for opera, theater, and film. Born in Germany and based in Brooklyn, his work spans material from five centuries and all genres, and strives to make performance a medium for direct, human communication, regardless of the platform. His work has been praised by the New York Times and Washington Post for its energy, humor, and emotional depth, and has been seen across four continents in five languages.
As a director for opera, Paul is in high demand across the world. Recent credits include productions for LA Opera, the Metropolitan Opera / Juilliard, Washington National Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Arizona Opera, North Carolina Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Opera Saratoga, and Music Academy of the West. On the theatrical stage, he has directed at Washington’s Shakespeare Theatre Company, Alaska’s Perseverance Theatre, Columbia University, and served as Assistant Director on the Broadway production of Terrence McNally’s Master Class.
Driving innovation in the arts, Paul has been involved in several major genre-bending ventures. He developed, wrote, and directed the film Dichterliebe: POETLOVE, a cinematic adaptation of classical songs from the 19th Century by Robert Schumann, winning awards from the Hong Kong Art House Film Festival, Geneva Film Festival, and IndieFest, and screening at festivals around the world.
afterWARds, his 80-minute, 4-character reinvention of Mozart’s Idomeneo, celebrated its world premiere at Pittsburgh Opera in 2019. He also co-curated The Romeo and Juliet Project, a new retelling of the classic story through words, music, and dance, based on the various classic adaptations in different genres, which celebrated its triumphant premiere at the Chautauqua Institution during the 2013 season. Ongoing ventures include Opera in VR, a set of short films featuring operatic scenes shot in 360-degree virtual reality; The Baron, an adaptation of the life story of tennis legend Gottfried von Cramm; as well as various music and video related projects.
Equally passionate about training the next generation of singing actors, Paul has rapidly gained recognition as one of his generation’s most dynamic directors and acting teachers for young singers. He is on faculty at the Metropolitan Opera’s Young Artist Development Program, the Adler Fellowship Program, and the Juilliard School, and has directed projects with emerging artists at the Santa Fe Opera, Lyric Opera Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Arizona Opera, Boston University’s Opera Institute, Rice University, Juilliard, Berlin Opera Academy, the Tel Aviv Summer Opera Festival, and Westminster Choir College. He has also given master classes in Japan, China, Israel, and throughout the United States. In 2020, Paul founded Top 10 Role Study, an online learning platform focused on role study projects and audition preparation.
David Paul studied acting and directing at Columbia University, and apprenticed with directors Robert Falls, Michael Kahn, Rebecca Guy, and Stephen Wadsworth. Highlights of the 2019/20 season included new productions of Die Zauberflöte for North Carolina Opera and Cosi fan tutte for the Juilliard School, as well as his return to Arizona Opera for Puccini’s La bohème and Wolf Trap Opera for The Orpheus Project.
CAST
Bryan Banowetz, piano
Gabrielle Barkidjija, mezzo-soprano
Gabrielle Beteag, mezzo-soprano
Emily Blair, soprano
Ben Brady, bass-baritone
Victor Cardamone, tenor
Andrew Dwan, bass-baritone
Catherine Goode, soprano
Edward Graves, tenor
Erica Xiaoyan Guo, piano
Gabriel Hernandez, tenor
Magdalena Kuźma, soprano
Philippe L'Esperance, tenor
Thomas Lynch, baritone
Jesse Mashburn, mezzo-soprano
Samson McCrady, baritone
Celeste Morales, soprano
Nikola Printz, mezzo-soprano
Laureano Quant, baritone
Ashley Marie Robillard, soprano
Mikayla Sager, soprano
Anna Smigelskaya, piano
Shiyu Tan, piano
Johanna Will, soprano
Marika Yasuda, piano
Tianchi Zhang, tenor
Creative Team
David Paul
Director
HEATH ORCHARD
Director of Photography
CARRIE-ANN MATHESON
Music Director
DAVID BOWLES
Audio Recording Producer
AMBARISH MANEPALLI
Film Editor
MAGGIE WHITAKER
Costume Designer
ERIC JOHNSON
Art Director
Maurisa Rondeau
Hair & Make-Up
AUDREY CHAIT
Assistant Stage Director
Kathy Rose
Production Manager
Cathy Fazio
Stage Manager
Alina Novotny
Assistant Stage Manager
MARA BERTON
Health and Safety Coordinator
MASAE AITOKU
Herbst Theatre Technical Coordinator
Back Home: Through the Stage Door Trailer
Back Home: Through the Stage Door is a celebration of the joy of making and performing music together — a joy so many of us have been deprived of during these challenging times. Filmed at San Francisco’s magnificent Herbst Theater and using classics and lesser known gems of the vocal repertoire as its words and music, the film seeks to capture the many moments, small and large, that comprise opera artists’ lives as they return to creating music together for the stage. Back Home will feature all 2021 Merola young artists as they, too, celebrate a return ‘home’ to the theater and the many precious joys that come with it.
YOUNG ARTISTS
Bryan Banowetz
Pianist/Coach
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: University of Cincinnati, College–Conservatory of Music; Luther CollegeTeachers: Kenneth Griffiths, Donna Loewy, Andy Villemez, Dr. John F. Strauss, Nicholas Shaneyfelt
Coaching Experience: The Sound of Music; Hand of Bridge
Awards: Luther College Distinction in Accompanying and Collaborative Piano (2015, 2016); Luther College Concerto Competition, Winner 2015
Merola Sponsors: Donna Lee Grassman Memorial Fund, Patricia Yakutis Endowment Fund, Charles Rolle, M.D. Endowment Fund
Gabrielle Barkidjija
Mezzo-Soprano
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Boston University Opera Institute; Northwestern University; Central City Opera; Aspen Music Festival and SchoolTeachers: Penelope Bitzas, W. Stephen Smith, Karen Brunssen, Elizabeth Hynes
Major Roles: Proserpina (L’Orfeo); Fanny Price (Mansfield Park); Captain (Dog Days); Béatrice (Béatrice et Bénédict); Mrs. Grose (The Turn of the Screw); Zerlina (Don Giovanni); Mère Marie (Dialogues des Carmélites); Estelle (Later the Same Evening)
Awards: National Opera Association Carolyn Bailey and Dominick Argento Competition, Finalist 2021; Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions - Boston District, Encouragement Award 2020; Orpheus Vocal Competition, Second Place 2021; Classical Singer Music Vocal Competition, Second Place 2017
Merola Sponsors: A. Barlow Ferguson Endowment Fund, James Heagy in memory of Janey Heagy
Gabrielle Beteag
Mezzo-Soprano
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Chautauqua Opera; Georgia State University; University of West GeorgiaTeacher: Kay Paschal
Major Roles: Woman in a Hat, Duchess (The Ghosts of Versailles); Augusta Tabor (The Ballad of Baby Doe); Lady Billows (Albert Herring); Madame de Croissy (Dialogues des Carmélites); Katisha (The Mikado); Secretary (The Consul)
Upcoming: The Michael O'Neal Singers Atlanta Choir: Alto Soloist (Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass)
Awards: The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Winner 2020; Opera Birmingham Vocal Competition, Finalist 2019; Kristin Lewis Foundation Vocal Scholarship Auditions, Grand Prize Winner 2018; Georgia State University Brumby Concerto/Aria Competition, Winner 2018; Opera Guild for Atlanta Vocal Scholarship Competition, Graduate Division Winner 2017
Merola Sponsors: Amici di Merola Fund, Zheng Cao Opera Fund, Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund, Dr. David D. Stein and Dr. Phyllis A. Kempner
Emily Blair
Soprano
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Indiana University; Mannes School of Music; Palm Beach Opera Benenson Young Artist; CoOPERAtive Program; Opera on the AvalonTeachers: Nova Thomas, Amy Burton, Timothy Cheung, Ksenia Lelëtkina
Major Roles: Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus); Liù (Turandot); Tatyana (Eugene Onegin); Donna Anna (Don Giovanni); Pat Nixon (Nixon in China)
Awards: The Young Patronesses of the Opera/Florida Grand Opera Voice Competition, Semi-Finalist 2017; Opera Birmingham Vocal Competition, Semi-Finalist 2017; The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions New York District, Encouragement Award 2014
Merola Sponsors: The Sidney and Phyllis Blair Fund, Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund, C. Bradford Jeffries
Ben Brady
Bass-Baritone
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: University of MichiganTeachers: James Toland, Julia Nielsen, Stephen West
Major Roles: Zaccaria (Nabucco); Banquo (Macbeth); The Page (Roberto Devereux)
Upcoming: James Toland Vocal Arts Tier I Vocal Competition, Finalist 2021
Awards: James Toland Vocal Arts Tier II Vocal Competition, First Place, Audience Favorite 2018; The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Semi-Finalist 2020; The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions San Francisco District, Finalist 2018; The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Los Angeles District, Finalist 2019
Merola Sponsors: Nicholas and Mary Ann Gannam Endowment Fund, Querita Eybel Endowment Fund, Stephen and Connie Zilles
Victor Cardamone
Tenor
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Wolf Trap Opera Studio; University of Cincinnati, College–Conservatory of Music; Brevard Music Center; Ball State University; Asheville Lyric Opera; Opera Western Reserve; Youngstown State UniversityTeachers: Tom Baresel, Jon Truitt, Misook Yun
Major Roles: Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni); La théière, Le petit vieillard, La rainette (L'enfant et les sortilèges); Jeník (The Bartered Bride); Scaramuccio (Ariadne auf Naxos); Soldier (Der Kaiser von Atlantis); Larry Renault (Dinner at Eight); Don Ramiro (La Cenerentola); Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi); Ralph Rackstraw (H.M.S. Pinafore); Lippo (Street Scene); Ferrando (Così fan tutte); Alfred (Die Fledermaus)
Awards: University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory Opera Scholarship Competition, Andrew White Memorial Award 2021; Washington National Opera, Finalist 2020; The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Central Region, Finalist 2019; University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory Opera Scholarship Competition, Ralph Corbett Award 2019; University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory Opera Scholarship Competition, Seybold-Russell Award 2018; The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Central Region, Encouragement Award 2017
Merola Sponsors: Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund, Jean and Lindsay MacDermid, Faye Wilson
Audrey Chait
Stage Director
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Faculty, Northern Kentucky University, 2019-presen; Brown University; University of Cincinnati, College–Conservatory of Music; Des Moines Metro Opera; Santa Fe Opera; The Glimmerglass FestivalTeachers: Erik Ehn, Robin Guarino
Directing Experience: Gallantry; Marie Begins (world premiere); The Telephone; L'inganno Felice; Don Pasquale; The Bartered Bride; La fille du régiment; St. John Passion; Dinner at Eight; La Cenerentola; L'elisir d'amore; Scalia/Ginsburg; Die Zauberflöte; Monsieur Choufleuri restera chez lui; The Turn of the Screw; Die Fledermaus
Awards: National Opera Association JoElyn Wakefield-Wright Stage Director Fellowship, 2019; St. Louis Theater Critics Circle Award, Nominee for Best Opera 2019; University of Cincinnati, College–Conservatory of Music Opera Scholarship Competition, Ralph Corbett Award 2018-2020
Merola Sponsors: Lotfi Mansouri Apprentice Stage Director Endowment, Jean Donnell Fund, Barbara Bruser and Richard Clark
Andrew Dwan
Bass-Baritone
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Merola Opera Program; University of Southern California; University of the Pacific; Music Academy of the West; Aspen Music Festival and SchoolTeachers: Mark Schnaible, Fred Carama, Elizabeth Hynes, Daniel Ebbers
Major Roles: Dulcamara (L'elisir d'amore); Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro); Fortunato (Fortunato); Collatinus (The Rape of Lucretia); Kecal (The Bartered Bride); Seneca (L'incoronazione di Poppea); Arnold (The English Cat); Aldous Huxley (LSD: The Opera)
Awards: The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions New York District Winner, 2019
Merola Sponsors: Al Garren Fund, Janet Cluff
Catherine Goode
Soprano
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: University of Houston; Michigan State University; Kentucky Opera; RISE Camp at Cresed Butte Music Festival; Opera Columbus; Des Moines Metro Opera; Virginia Opera; Seagle FestivalTeachers: Cynthia Clayton, Melanie Helton, Dr. Chad Payton
Major Roles: Lucia (Lucia de Lammermoor); Drusilla (L'incoronazione di Poppea); Cunegonde (Candide); Controller (Flight); Adina L'elisir d'amore); Königin der Nacht (Die Zauberflöte); Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro); Olympia (Les contes d'Hoffmann); Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance)
Upcoming: Kentucky Opera: Amor (Orfeo ed Euridice)
Awards: Harold Haugh Light Opera Vocal Competition, First Place 2020; The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Great Lakes Region, Finalist 2020; Opera Birmingham Vocal Competition, Semi-Finalist 2019; Young Texas Artists Music Competition, Silver Medal, Audience Choice Award 2018
Merola Sponsors: David Miller, Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund, Dorothy Schimke
Edward Graves
Tenor
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Towson University; Indiana University; The Glimmerglass Festival; Florentine Opera; Michigan Opera TheatreTeachers: Aaron Sheehan, Patricia Havranek, Connie Haas, Gran Wilson
Major Roles: Bastien (Bastien und Bastienne); Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi); Policeman 2/Congregant 2 (Blue); Robbins (Porgy and Bess); 1st Armored Man (Die Zauberflöte); Grimoaldo (Rodelinda)
Upcoming: InSeries: Tamino (Black Flute)
Awards: The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Wisconsin & Michigan District, Encouragement Award, 2017 and 2019
Merola Sponsors: Al Garren Fund, Bernice Lindstrom, San Francisco Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Erica Xiaoyan Guo
Pianist/Coach
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: University of Maryland; New England Conservatory of Music; Hochschule für Musik und Theater München; Manhattan School of Music; Aspen Music Festival and School; Pittsburgh Festival OperaTeachers: Rita Sloan, Kathleen Kelly, Cameron Stowe, Jonathan Feldman, Antti Siirala, Solomon Mikowsky
Coaching Experience: La finta giardiniera, Owen Wingrave, Die Zauberflöte, Falstaff, Partenope, The Bartered Bride, Proving Up, Le nozze di Figaro, La bohème
Merola Sponsors: Rusty and Mike Rolland Fund, Diana C. Yee
Gabriel Hernandez
Tenor
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Bel Canto at Caramoor; Fargo Moorhead Opera; dell'Arte Opera; Florida State University; University of South FloridaTeachers: Jeremy Silver, Chuck Chandler, Brad Diamond
Major Roles: Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni); Tom Rakewell (The Rake's Progress); Alfredo (La traviata); Mozart (Mozart and Salieri); John Adams (The Mother of Us All)
Upcoming: No Dominion Theatre Co.: Leopold (Hindsight: A New True Crime Opera world premiere); Opera on the James: Spoletta (Tosca); Fargo Moorhead Opera: Turiddu cover (Cavalleria rusticana)
Awards: Career Bridges Grant Award, 2019; Florida State University Hannah J. Beaulieu Award, 2017; Florida Federation of Music Clubs, Stephen Foster Award 2016; Florida State University Carlisle Floyd Opera Endowment, 2015
Merola Sponsors: A. Barlow Ferguson Endowment Fund, James R. Meehan, L. Henry Garland Memorial Fund
Magdalena Kuźma
Soprano
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Yale School of Music; Oberlin College and Conservatory; Music Academy of the West; SongStudio at Carnegie Hall; Chautauqua Institution; The Bach Institute at Emmanuel Music; The Juilliard School Pre-College Division; Académie Internationale d'Eté de NiceTeachers: Gerald Martin Moore, Lorraine Nubar, Marlene Rosen, John Churchwell, Howard Watkins
Major Roles: Lila (Cold Mountain); Blanche (Dialogues des Carmélites); Giannetta (L'elisir d'amore); Anna (Die sieben Todsünden); Miles (The Turn of the Screw); Drusilla (L'incoronazione di Poppea); Hélène (La belle Hélène)
Upcoming: Ravina Steans Music Institute Vocal Fellow 2021
Awards: National Opera Association Competition, 3rd Place Winner & Audience Favorite 2021; The Margot Bos Stambler '84 Professional Development Award, 2019; Oberlin College and Conservatory Concerto Competition, Finalist 2019; International Festival Foundation Grant, 2016; George London Foundation Scholarship, 2014; Arlene Shrut New Triad for Collaborative Arts Competition, Winner 2014
Merola Sponsors: Drs. Phyllis A. Kempner and David D. Stein Fund, Drs. John and Lois Crowe, Jean E. Bennett, Jr. Fund, Greer and Thayer Hopkins
Philippe L'Esperance
Tenor
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: New England Conservatory; The Hartt School, University of Hartford; Manhattan School of Music; Chautauqua Institution Voice Program; Opera Theatre of Saint Louis; Palm Beach Opera Bailey Apprentice ArtistTeachers: Bradley Williams, Craig Rutenberg, Steven Blier
Major Roles: Alessandro (Il re pastore); Lucano (L’incoronazione di Poppea); Ferrando (Così fan tutte); Tito (La clemenza di Tito); Peter Quint (The Turn of the Screw); Don Ramiro (La Cenerentola); Nemorino (L'elisir d'amore); Karl Franz (The Student Prince); Sándor Barinkay (Der Zigeunerbaron); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte); Sam Kaplan (Street Scene); Alfred (Die Fledermaus)
Upcoming: New England Conservatory: Alessandro (Il re pastore); Palm Beach Opera: Prince of Persia (Turandot)
Awards: Chautauqua Institution Sigma Alpha Iota Voice Competition, Winner 2018; The Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades Vocal Competition, Third Prize 2018
Merola Sponsors: Susan York, Nicholas and Mary Ann Gannam Endowment Fund
Thomas Lynch
Baritone
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Westminster Choir College, Rider University; Boston Conservatory at Berklee; Bel Canto at Caramoor; Seagle Music Colony; Opera Colorado; Hawaii Opera TheatreTeachers: Elem Eley, Dr. Rebecca Folsom
Major Roles: Monkey King (Monkey and Francine in the City of Tigers); Sergeant Raymond Shaw (The Manchurian Candidate); John Sorel (The Consul); Le Marquis de la Force (Dialogues des Carmélites); Beau (Service Provider); Nick (The Great Gatsby); Captain (Candide); Company Commander, Eugene Onegin (Eugene Onegin); Guglielmo (Così fan tutte); Don Fernando (Fidelio); Gran Sacerdote (Aureliano in Palmira); Falstaff (Falstaff); Jephté (Jephté); Judas (St. Matthew Passion); Buonafede (Il mondo della luna)
Award: The Gerda Lissner Foundation Lieder/Song Competition, Encouragement Award 2017
Merola Sponsors: San Jose Opera Guild, Shenson Family Fund, Opera Standees Association
Jesse Mashburn
Mezzo-Soprano
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: University of Maryland, Maryland Opera Studio; Oberlin College and Conservatory; Central City OperaTeachers: Delores Ziegler, Lorraine Manz
Major Roles: Forester's Wife, Owl (The Cunning Little Vixen); Polinesso (Ariodante); Bradamante (Alcina); Madame Flora (The Medium); Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro); Nicklausse (Les contes d'Hoffmann); Madame de la Haltière (Cendrillon); Bianca (The Rape of Lucretia)
Awards: Marilyn Horne Rubin Scholarship, 2017
Merola Sponsors: Mary and Tom Foote, A. Barlow Ferguson Endowment Fund, Yermack Family Fund
Samson McCrady
Baritone
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: University of Cincinnati, College–Conservatory of Music; Roberts Wesleyan College; Cafritz Young Artists of Washington National Opera; Opera Theatre of Saint Louis; Aspen Opera Theater and VocalARTS ProgramTeachers: Laura Brooks Rice, Neil Shicoff, William McGraw, Constance Fee
Major Roles: Papageno (Die Zauberflöte); Mr. Johannes “Pa” Zegner (Proving Up); Gianni Schicchi (Gianni Schicchi); Jesus (St. Matthew Passion); Belcore (L'elisir d'amore)
Awards: Classical Singer Music Vocal Competition, First Place 2016; The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Capitol District, First Place 2020
Merola Sponsors: Gerald B. Rosenstein Fund, James A. Noe III
Celeste Morales
Soprano
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Living Music Institute; Texas State University; Manhattan School of Music; Opera San Antonio Resident Artist; Musiktheater Bavaria; Spotlight on OperaTeachers: Bill Schuman, Shirley Close, Oliver Worthington, Annalisa Mendiola
Major Roles: Claire (SIX); Mimì (La bohème); Mrs. Grose (The Turn of the Screw); Gertrude (Hänsel und Gretel); Madame Lidoine (Dialogues of the Carmelites); Donna Anna (Don Giovanni)
Awards: Living Music Institute, Aria Competition Winner 2020; Vienna Summer Music Festival Competition, Winner 2019; Margaret Howell van Der Marck Scholarship in Opera, 2016-18; Texas State Aria Concerto, Winner 2015; South Texas NATS Aspiring Artist Grant, 2015; Tuesday Music Club Young Artists Competition, 2015; Teresa Gordon Opera, Excellence Award 2014
Merola Sponsors: Susan York, Merola Members Fund, Leona Gordon Lowin Memorial Fund
Nikola Printz
Mezzo-Soprano
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Banff Centre: Opera in the 21st Century program for 2020/2021; San Francisco Conservatory of Music; Opera Memphis; Green Mountain Opera Festival; I SING International Young Artists FestivalTeachers: Patricia Craig, Sheri Greenawald
Major Roles: Carmen (Carmen); Aldonza (Man of La Mancha); Elle (La voix humaine); Orfeo (Orfeo ed Euridice); Old Lady (Candide); Isabella (L'italiana in Algeri); Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro); Dorabella (Così fan tutte); The Fox (The Cunning Little Vixen); Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia); Dinah (Trouble in Tahiti)
Awards: Mary Jacobs Smith Singer of the Year Competition, First Place 2018; The Metropolitan National Council Auditions Gulf Coast Region, Finalist 2019; Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon Scholarship For The Arts, 2009
Merola Sponsors: Bruce and Fran Walker, In Honor of Leontyne Price Fund
Laureano Quant
Baritone
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Merola Opera Program; SongStudio; SongFest; Manhattan School of Music; Pontificia Universidad JaverianaTeachers: James Morris, Carolina Plata
Major Roles: Figaro (I due Figaro); Mr. Maguire (Emmeline); Zurga (Les pêcheurs de perles); Prince Ragotsky, Captain (Candide); Demetrius (A Midsummer Night's Dream)
Awards: The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Middle/East Tennessee District Winner, 2020; Mae Zenke Orvis Opera Scholarship, 2018-2020; Concurso de Canto Ciudad de Bogotá, First Prize 2018; ICETEX Jóvenes Talentos, Winner 2018; Jóvenes Talentos of Banco de la República de Colombia, Winner 2018; Concurso Nacional de Canto OFB, Second Prize 2016
Merola Sponsors: Maureen Clarke, Albert L. Mosher and John E. McCormick AIDS Memorial Fund, Querita Eybel Endowment Fund, Barbara J. Ross
Ashley Marie Robillard
Soprano
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Opera Philadelphia Emerging Artist; Wolf Trap Opera Studio Artist; Curtis Institute of Music, B.M. and M.M.Teachers: Julia Faulkner, Mikael Eliasen
Major Roles: Musetta (La bohème); Papagena (Die Zauberflöte); Echo (Ariadne auf Naxos); Bubikopf (Der Kaiser von Atlantis); Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni); Tatyana (Eugene Onegin); Sandrina (la finta giarginiera); Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro); Poussette (Manon); Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi); Jessie ( ein Songspiel)
Awards: Opera Index Vocal Competition, Encouragement Award 2019
Merola Sponsors: David Hugle, Haggai Niv, Helen B. Breck, Kirby Wilcox
Mikayla Sager
Soprano
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Manhattan School of Music; Teatro Nuovo; Highlands Opera Studio; SongFest; Canadian Vocal Arts InstituteTeachers: Darrel Babidge, Rachel Willis-Sorensen, Carol Vaness, Jonathan Kelly, Joan Dornemann, Deborah Birnbaum
Major Roles: Anna Bolena (Anna Bolena); Vitellia (La clemenza di Tito); Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte); Violetta (La traviata); Micaëla (Carmen); Donna Anna, Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni); Norina (Don Pasquale); Mimì (Leoncavallo’s La bohème); The Fox (The Cunning Little Vixen)
Upcoming: Jensen Foundation Finalist; Loren E. Zachary Competition; Manetti Shrem Prize Recipient, nominated by Nadine Sierra (Festival Napa Valley, 2022)
Awards: Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, 2021; National Opera Association Competition, Finalist 2021; Vienna Int' Music Competition, Second Place 2021; Opera Index Competition, Finalist 2019; Tenor Viñas Competition, Final Round participant (postponed to 2022); Mildred Miller Int' Voice Competition, Finalist 2018; Annapolis Vocal Competition, Semi-Finalist 2021; James Toland Competition, Semi-Finalist 2020; Ryan Opera Center Ensemble Auditions, Finalist 2019
Merola Sponsors: Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund, James Heagy in memory of Janey Heagy
Anna Smigelskaya
Pianist/Coach
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Manhattan School of Music; Music Academy of the West; University of Houston, Moores School of Music; Sam Houston State University; Musical College N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov of Saint PetersburgTeachers: Warren Jones, Ana María Otamendi, Nancy Weems, Ilonka Rus, Sergio Ruiz, Svetlana Karzina, Olga Vinogradskaya
Coaching Experience: Cold Mountain; Emmeline; Suor Angelica; Così fan tutte
Awards: Texas Music Teachers Association Piano Performance Contest, First Place 2014
Merola Sponsors: Amy Roth and Robert Epstein
Shiyu Tan
Pianist/Coach
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Manhattan School of Music; Shanghai Conservatory of Music; Aspen Music Festival and SchoolTeachers: Warren Jones, Cristina Stanescu, Kenneth Merrill
Coaching Experience: Il barbiere di Siviglia, The Turn of the Screw, The Cunning Little Vixen
Merola Sponsors: Otto Guth Fund, Patricia Yakutis Endowment Fund, Gropper Memorial Fund
Johanna Will
Soprano
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Mannes School of Music; Hochschule für Musik und Theater HamburgTeachers: Ruth Falcon, Arthur Levy, Kamal Khan, Carolyn Grace James, Kurt Widmer, Glenn Morton, Neal Goren, Ted Taylor
Major Roles: Suor Angelica (Suor Angelica); Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte); Mimì (La bohème); Colombina (Die Feuersbrunst); Bridesmaid (Der Freischütz); Annika (Brundibár)
Awards: Bel Canto Rolex Scholarship, 2012; Elise Meyer International Vocal Competition, First Prize 2018; Gustav Mahler Competition, First Prize 2016; Mozart Competition, Second Prize 2016; Maritim Competition, Third Prize 2016; International Richard Strauss Competition, Third Prize 2014; Classic Lyric Arts France Thierer Family Foundation Grant, 2019; Saxony State Scholarship for Classical Voice, 2009
Merola Sponsor: Vivienne E. Miller Scholarship Fund
Marika Yasuda
Pianist/Coach
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Indiana University; Oberlin College and Conservatory; Ravinia's Steans Music Institute; Tanglewood Music Center; SongFestTeachers: Kevin Murphy, Anne Epperson, Alvin Chow, Philip Highfill
Coaching Experience: Il barbiere di Siviglia, La bohème, Gianni Schicchi; The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs; West Side Story; In America (world premiere)
Awards: Indiana University Associate Instructorship (2015-present); Oberlin College and Conservatory Dean Talent Award (2011-2015); Oberlin College and Conservatory Senior Concerto Competition, Winner 2015; Oberlin College and Conservatory Piano Accompaniment Prize, 2015
Merola Sponsors: Jacobs Family Trust, Patricia Yakutis Endowment Fund, Alma Brooks Walker Fund
Tianchi Zhang
Tenor
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Schools & Young Artist Programs: Shandong University of Arts; Mannes School of Music; NY Summer Opera Scenes; Pittsburgh Festival OperaTeachers: Arthur Levy, Joshua Greene
Major Roles: Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi); Nadir (Les pêcheurs de perles); Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor); Ernesto (Don Pasquale); Alfredo (La traviata)
Awards: Career Bridges Grant Award, 2019; Verismo Opera Vocal Competition, Third Prize 2019; The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Eastern Region, Encouragement Award 2019
Merola Sponsors: Zheng Cao Opera Fund, Diana C. Yee