Meet the 2026 Artists

The Merola Opera Program has announced the 2026 season’s 28 emerging artists, selected from a pool of over 1,500 international applicants. This year’s cohort of participants hail from Australia, China, South Korea, France, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom, as well as across North America including United States, Mexico, and Canada. Explore the backgrounds of the 2026 Merola Opera Program participants below.

Sakurako Jayne Abe

Sakurako Jayne Abe

she/her/hers

Pianist/Coach

DETAILS
Sakurako Jayne Abe
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she/her/hers
Pianist/Coach
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
University of Toronto; Manhattan School of Music; Aspen Music Festival; Orford Music Festival
Così fan tutte; L'elisir d'amore; An American Dream
Pacific International Piano Competition, Gold Prize; Fay Hethrington Scholarship; Ontario Music Festival Association Provincial, 3rd Place
I am interested in activities related to my Japanese heritage. For example, I have a certificate for Japanese tea ceremony, I have volunteered to teach Japanese in my hometown, and I have a second-degree black belt in a martial art called Aikido.
Ryan Bryce Johnson

Ryan Bryce Johnson

he/him/his

Tenor

DETAILS
Ryan Bryce Johnson
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he/him/his
Tenor
Muleshoe, Texas
Texas Tech University; University of Illinois; Opera Theatre of St. Louis; Opera Saratoga; The Glimmerglass Festival; The Santa Fe Opera
Faust (La Damnation de Faust); Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi); Lt. Joseph Cable (South Pacific); Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance)
Santa Fe Opera Award of Excellence; Lotte Lenya Competition, 1st Prize Winner; George London Foundation Competition, Finalist; The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, District Winner
A few of my hobbies include reading, exercising and baking. A new interest of mine has been Brazilian jiu-jitsu which has both been meditative and good for exercise.
Claire Choquette

Claire Choquette

she/her/hers

Director

DETAILS
Claire Choquette
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she/her/hers
Director
Edmond, Oklahoma
Louisiana State University; University of North Texas; Opera Theatre of St. Louis; Wolf Trap Opera; Dallas Opera Outreach
Don Pasquale; Pelléas et Mélisande; Alcina; Handmaid's Tale; Lucia di Lammermoor; La bohème; L'incoronazione di Poppea; Rodelinda
Opera America's Robert L.B. Tobin Director-Designer Prize, Winner; Joelyn Wakefield Wright Stage Director Fellowship - NOA, Winner
I love camping, hiking, backpacking, cycling, and painting (acrylic on canvas). I am an avid consumer of art museums, theatre, and opera wherever I go.
Theo Claveles

Theo Claveles

they/them/theirs

Mezzo-Soprano

DETAILS
Theo Claveles
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they/them/theirs
Mezzo-Soprano
Lebanon, Connecticut
University of Connecticut; The Juilliard School; Chautauqua Opera
L'Enfant (L'enfant et les sortilèges); Despina (Così fan tutte); Mercédès (Carmen)
NATS National Competition, 1st Place; SAI Soloist Competition Chautauqua, 1st Place; Denver Lyric Opera Guild, 2nd Place
I love being in silence. Whether that is walking in a park, sitting on my fire escape with a cup of coffee, or laying on the floor and quietly reflecting. Silence is golden. I also love to cook, watch horror movies, walk my dogs with my wife, and sleep.
Shannon Crowley

Shannon Crowley

she/her/hers

Soprano

DETAILS
Shannon Crowley
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she/her/hers
Soprano
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Michigan State University; Rice University; Opera Saratoga; Des Moines Metro Opera; Pittsburgh Opera
Nannetta (Falstaff); Servilia (La clemenza di Tito); Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring); Drusilla (L'incoronazione di Poppea)
The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, District Winner; Mildred Miller Vocal Competition, 3rd Place; Annapolis Vocal Competition, Semifinalist
I have so many hobbies! Although I love singing (of course), I think having interests outside of the industry is so important. I love to do yoga, go thrifting, read, knit, and journal. I used to flip old furniture for profit which was a very fun business venture/hobby. I also love being outside and playing beach volleyball. I come from a family of intense beach volleyball players so it is a family reunion non-negotiable.
Katherine Dobbs

Katherine Dobbs

she/her/hers

Mezzo-Soprano

DETAILS
Katherine Dobbs
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she/her/hers
Mezzo-Soprano
Appleton, Wisconsin
DePauw University; Rice University; Academy of Vocal Arts; Music Academy of the West; Des Moines Metro Opera
Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro); Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia); Mrs. Jones (Street Scene); Orfeo (Orfeo ed Euridice); Ottavia (L'incoronazione di Poppea)
The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, District Winner; Houston Gilbert & Sullivan Society Competition, 2nd Place Winner; Miller Family Music Education Scholarship, Scholarship Winner
In my free time, I love participating in arts and crafts such as cross-stitching, needle felting, crocheting, and embroidering. My apartment walls in Philadelphia are covered with many hoops showcasing past projects, and I have recently begun cross-stitching on clothing as a way to further express my artistic identity. Outside of crafting, I enjoy playing video games with friends, especially fellow opera singers! It’s a wonderful way to stay connected despite the distances our careers often require.
Adia Evans

Adia Evans

she/her/hers

Soprano

DETAILS
Adia Evans
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Soprano
Baltimore, Maryland
University of Maryland; University of Tennessee; Opera Columbus; Fort Worth Opera; Santa Fe Opera; Britten Pears Programme; Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago
Ariadne (Ariadne auf Naxos); Mimi (La bohème); First Lady (Die Zauberflöte); High Priestess (Aida)
Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Region Winner; George and Nora London Foundation Competition, Encouragement Award; Elizabeth Greenfield Award - James Toland Vocal Arts, Finalist; Ryan Opera Center Final Auditions, Audience Choice
Reading, writing, anime, visiting museums, playing video games, dancing, biking.
Stella FitzGerald

Stella FitzGerald

she/her/hers

Mezzo-Soprano

DETAILS
Stella FitzGerald
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she/her/hers
Mezzo-Soprano
Austin, Texas
Boston University; University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Music Academy of the West
Lucrezia (Lucrezia); Hansel (Hansel and Gretel); Nancy (Albert Herring)
The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, District Winner; The Corbett Opera Scholarship Competition, Italo Tajo/Newburger Memorial Award
I love yoga and have a dedicated practice that really helps nourish all facets of my life as an artist. I also love reading, walking, making playlists, and trying new restaurants in Cincinnati. When I'm not singing, I am a nanny to the best family and am so grateful for my time with them!
Chester Seungyup Han

Chester Seungyup Han

he/him/his

Tenor

DETAILS
Chester Seungyup Han
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Tenor
Seoul, South Korea
Yonsei University College of Music; The Juilliard School; Daegu Opera House; The Bel Canto Course for Singers in Seoul
Rodolfo (La bohème)
The 4th Aulus International Music Concours, 3rd Prize; The Music Association of Korea Competition, Finalist; KEPCO Music Competition, Finalist
Outside of opera, I really enjoy singing in different styles like pop and rock. I used to sing in a band, and even though the technique is different, I still love expressing myself through different kinds of music. I also like learning about modern music gear and technology—I’m not afraid of using microphones or new equipment. Before coming to the U.S., I started practicing jiu-jitsu and really enjoyed it, but I had to pause when I moved here. I like physical activities, especially ones I can do with other people. It helps me relax and feel balanced outside of singing.
Theo Harrah

Theo Harrah

he/him/his

Bass

DETAILS
Theo Harrah
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Bass
Louisville, Kentucky
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music; The Santa Fe Opera; Cedar Rapids Opera; American Institute of Musical Studies Graz
Colline (La bohème); Zuniga (Carmen); Judge Turpin (Sweeney Todd); Simone (Gianni Schicchi)
Meistersinger AIMS, Finalist; Lyric Opera of Chicago Ryan Center Auditions, Finalist
Outside of singing, I love reading. I really enjoy what you might call “literary Fiction” or “classics” (though I am not particularly fond of that term). I am a big fan of Joyce, Foster-Wallace and Pynchon. I also like reading philosophy, history and fantasy. I also enjoy writing, poetry, short stories and maybe, one day, a novel. I also like learning languages, yes for opera, but I’m also really interested in reading literature and philosophy in their original language. My main focuses in language learning right now are German, Chinese and Russian.
Eric Head

Eric Head

he/him/his

Pianist/Coach

DETAILS
Eric Head
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Pianist/Coach
Fairmont, Minnesota
Luther College; University of Michigan; Music Academy of the West; Palm Beach Opera
Rigoletto; Les pêcheurs des perles; La bohème; Don Giovanni; Hänsel und Gretel; Carmen; L'enfant et les sortilèges; Gianni Schicchi; Die Fledermaus; Dido and Aeneas;
Marilyn Horne Song Competition, Winner; Rosholt Distinction in Accompanying Award, Winner
I love to knit and bake! I'm currently working on a sweater (which will probably take much longer than I'm hoping, with the rate at which I work) and my favorite things to bake are cakes and tarts. I also enjoy hiking and running. In my spare time I like to study Swedish (I began learning as a child).
Paul Jang

Paul Jang

he/him/his

Baritone

DETAILS
Paul Jang
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Baritone
Seoul, South Korea
Han Yang University; Yale School of Music; Music Academy of the West; Des Moines Metro Opera
Marcello (La bohème); Escamillo (Carmen); Gianni Schicchi (Gianni Schicchi); Nick Shadow (The Rake's Progress)
Lyric Opera of Chicago Ryan Center Auditions, Finalist; Belvedere Competition, Region Winner; Zachary National Competition, 4th Place
I love to play soccer, basketball, and ping pong. I also love to cook, I would always post my food photos on Instagram.
Emilie Kealani

Emilie Kealani

she/her/hers

Soprano

DETAILS
Emilie Kealani
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Soprano
San Francisco, California
Manhattan School of Music; Curtis Institute of Music; The Santa Fe Opera; Glimmerglass Festival; Opera Theatre of St. Louis; Chautauqua Opera Institution
Corinna (Il viaggio a Reims); Rapunzel (Into the Woods); Cunegonde (Candide); Calisto (La Calisto); Musetta (La bohème); Adina (L'elisir d'amore)
Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, District Winner; Opera Philadelphia, Emerging Artist Career Grant; Opera Mississippi John Alexander Vocal, First Place Winner
I enjoy visual arts, specifically drawing and oil painting—which I once thought would be my career path before pursuing my performing career. Cooking and baking are other passions of mine and I loved working at Butterlove Bakeshop in the Outer Richmond district. I’m self-taught on both the traditional Hawaiian ukulele and acoustic guitar, which helped inspire me to create the Kapwa Passion Project, an AAPI community initiative. Lately, I’ve been challenging myself in a completely new direction and have started training in boxing!
Charlotte Kelso

Charlotte Kelso

she/her/hers

Soprano

DETAILS
Charlotte Kelso
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she/her/hers
Soprano
Adelaide, South Australia
Elder Conservatorium of Music; Royal College of London; American Wagner Project; State Opera South Australia
Carmen (Carmen); Stéphano (Roméo et Juliette); Donna Anna (Don Giovanni); Musetta (La bohème); Contessa (Le nozze di Figaro)
Duetsche Oper Berlin Award, Finalist; Michael Byrne Vienna State Opera Award, Finalist
In my spare time, I love going for walks around SF, thrifting, baking, sewing and crafting, and drinking boba (my order: mango pomelo sago with extra tapioca pearls)! I love to make clothes, either by sewing from scratch or by thrift-flipping existing pieces! I also really love helping my friends learn to sew, and making gifts for people :-)
Ariana Maubach

Ariana Maubach

she/her/hers

Mezzo-Soprano

DETAILS
Ariana Maubach
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Mezzo-Soprano
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Canadian Opera Company; Academy of Vocal Arts; University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music; Glenn Gould School; Eastman School of Music; Des Moines Metro Opera; Music Academy of the West
Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Berta (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Bianca (The Rape of Lucretia); Smeton (Anna Bolena); Linette (The Love for Three Oranges); Mère Marie (Dialogues des Carmélites)
Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, National Semifinalist; Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Competition, 1st Place and Audience Choice
I love reality television, a good ol' box of non perishable mac and cheese, desserts with cream cheese frosting, a beach vacation, epic walks and traveling, especially with friends.
John Mburu

John Mburu

he/him/his

Bass

DETAILS
John Mburu
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Bass
Atlanta, Georgia
University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music; Lee University; Minnesota Opera; The Glimmerglass Festival
Capulet (Roméo et Juliette); Curio (Giulio Cesare); Sciarrone (Tosca); Ezra (Unbroken); Parson (The Cunning Little Vixen); Collatinus (The Rape of Lucretia); Pallas (Agrippina); Deacon 2 (The Righteous) Paul Jr. (Robeson in Moscow); Pope Urban VIII (Galileo Galilei); Bartolo (Le nozze di Figaro); Bob (The Old Maid and the Thief); Martin Avdeitch (What Men Live By)
The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, District Winner; Opera Tampa D'Angelo Competition, Second Place; Sullivan Foundation Career Development Grant, 1st Place; NATS Mid-South Regional Competition, 1st Place; National Student Auditions, 2nd Place; NATS Mid-South Regional Competition, 1st Place
I like playing chess, basketball, running, reading, and writing subpar movie-reviews on Letterboxd!
Cole McIlquham

Cole McIlquham

he/him/his

Tenor

DETAILS
Cole McIlquham
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Tenor
Osseo, Wisconsin
University of Minnesota Twin Cities; Wichita State University; Music Academy of the West; Des Moines Metro Opera; Academy of Vocal Arts
Tebaldo (I Capuleti e i Montecchi); Ferrando (Così fan tutte); Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi); Acis (Acis and Galatea)
Naftzger Concerto Competition, Voice Winner; Gerda Lissner Foundation Art Song, Grant; Meadows Concerto Competition, Winner
I enjoy spending time with my friends and my family. Having conversations ranging from ‘what’s the meaning of life?’ to ‘which Philly cheesesteak is the best?’ (it’s Angelo’s btw.) I love to cook and bake. My tres leches is requested at every AVA party.
Raúl Morales Velazco

Raúl Morales Velazco

he/him/his

Bass

DETAILS
Raúl Morales Velazco
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Bass
Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico
Academy of Vocal Arts; Opera Estudio del Noroeste; Mexico Opera Studio
Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte); Bartolo (Le nozze di Figaro); Colline (La bohème); Dulcamara (L'elisir d'amore); Mefistofeles (Faust)
Giagiari Competition, 1st Place; Maria Callas Competition (Brazil), 2nd Prize; The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Region Encouragement Award
I like dancing salsa for fun, cooking (of course Mexican food), playing son jarocho (traditional music from Veracruz, Mexico. I play jarana and tambourine.
Enes Pektaş

Enes Pektaş

he/him/his

Baritone

DETAILS
Enes Pektaş
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Baritone
Mersin, Türkiye
Istanbul State Conservatory; Mannes School of Music; Classical Lyric Arts Vocal Academy
Caretto (Die Stumme Serenade); Barak (Turandot (F. Busoni)); Michele (Il Tabarro); Le Fauteuil (L'enfant et les sortilèges)
The Gerda Lissner Foundation International Vocal Competition, Encouragement Award; The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, District Encouragement Award; Istanbul Baroque Singing Competition, 1st Prize
Outside of opera, I enjoy binge-watching shows, working out at the gym, and bird watching.
Abigail Raiford

Abigail Raiford

she/her/hers

Soprano

DETAILS
Abigail Raiford
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Soprano
Tulsa, Oklahoma
The University of Tulsa; Mannes School of Music; SongFest; Sarasota Opera; Central City Opera; Tulsa Opera
Nanetta (Falstaff); Elvira (L'Italiana in Algeri); Despina (Così fan tutte); Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte)
Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, National Finalist; D'Angelo Young Artist Vocal Competition, First Place & Audience Favorite; Opera Index Vocal Competition, Opera Index Award; Artist Division of the Camille Coloratura Awards, First Place
I'm a huge video game fan, and have always had a Nintendo system on hand since I was a kid! "Fire Emblem", "Persona", "Pokémon", and "The Legend of Zelda" are series that have stuck with me over the course of my life. I also love taking long walks around NYC, dancing in street jazz and hip-hop classes, finding new anime to watch, and wandering around metaphysical stores when I go to a new town.
Jennifer Robinson

Jennifer Robinson

she/her/hers

Soprano

DETAILS
Jennifer Robinson
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Soprano
Lakeland, Florida
Manhattan School of Music; Curtis Institute of Music; Aspen Summer Music Festival; Chautauqua Institution
Helena (A Midsummer Night's Dream); Proserpina (L'Orfeo); Argentine (L'ile du Merlin); La Principesse (L'enfant et les sortilèges)
The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Region Encouragement Award; The Bagby Foundation, Recipient; Opera Index, Emerging Artist Award; Richard F. Gold Career Grant, Recipient
Outside of opera, I absolutely love experimenting with different coffees! I buy beans from every new place I visit. I also really enjoy history, trying new cuisines, and baking!
Deven Shah

Deven Shah

he/him/his

Pianist/Coach

DETAILS
Deven Shah
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he/him/his
Pianist/Coach
Erie, Pennsylvania
Indiana University; Washington National Opera; Music Academy of the West; Cedar Rapids Opera; Tel-Aviv Summer Opera Program; Opera Lucca
Le nozze di Figaro; Le Comte Ory; Alcina; The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay; Carmen; Tosca; Eugene Onegin; Roméo et Juliette; Gianni Schicchi; The Diary of Anne Frank; Die Zauberflöte; Rigoletto
I love cooking, especially breakfast, and exploring new restaurants in cities. It's always fun to try new places in a city, and see if the local recommendations hold up. I also love hiking and visiting parks, and California has such amazing nature.
Matthew Sink

Matthew Sink

he/him/his

Tenor

DETAILS
Matthew Sink
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Tenor
Las Vegas, Nevada
University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Northwestern University; Academy of Vocal Arts; Institute for Young Dramatic Voices
Ferrando (Così fan tutte); Don José (Carmen); Flamand (Capriccio)
Opera Index, Emerging Artist Award; Luminarts, Finalist
I LOVE SPORTS. My dad was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin so I am a huge Green Bay Packer fan. I also love playing pickleball. I served a mission for my church in Rome, Italy. I lived there for two years so I speak pretty good Italian. I love spending time with my wife and children. My family is so fun. They mean everything to me.
Tony Stauffer

Tony Stauffer

he/him/his

Pianist/Coach

DETAILS
Tony Stauffer
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Pianist/Coach
Bayonne, France
University of Montréal; McGill University; Atelier Lyrique Opéra de Montréal; Music Academy of the West; Schubert Institute; Orford Music Festival; Lachine International Vocal Academy
Jenůfa; Don Giovanni; Lucrezia; L'enfant et les sortilèges; Carmen; Cendrillon; La Vie parisienne;
Marilyn Horne Song Competition, 1st Prize
Outside of music, I love boxing, which helps me clear my mind and stay in shape. I also take singing lessons just for the joy of it, and I’m passionate about cooking, I’m always experimenting with new recipes!
Charles Styles

Charles Styles

he/him/his

Tenor

DETAILS
Charles Styles
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he/him/his
Tenor
Tamworth, United Kingdom
University of Oxford; Yale School of Music; Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Rodolfo (La bohème); Vaudemont (Iolanta); Idomeneo (Idomeno); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte); Alfredo (La traviata)
The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, District Winner
I'm an unapologetic nerd. I love literature, history, languages, film, and theatre in all its forms. I worked as a journalist for Five Books for a few years, interviewing scholars on topics such as Shakespeare's sources, Kafka, the relationship between science and religion, Napoleon, Verdi, and Voltaire.
Anna Thompson

Anna Thompson

she/her/hers

Soprano

DETAILS
Anna Thompson
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Soprano
Rochester, Michigan
Eastman School of Music; Rice University; Academy of Vocal Arts; Aspen Music Festival; The Santa Fe Opera; Opera Theatre of St. Louis
Countess Madeleine (Capriccio); Countess Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro); Marie Antoinette (The Ghosts of Versailles); Alcina (Alcina); Suor Angelica (Suor Angelica)
The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, District Winner; Gerda Lissner Foundation Art Song Competition, Judges' Special Prize; Sullivan Foundation Award, Winner; Lyric Opera of Chicago Ryan Center Auditions, Finalist
I'm a press-on nail expert, and I know how to cut hair! I also have a degree in Linguistics from the University of Rochester.
Logan Wagner

Logan Wagner

he/him/his

Tenor

DETAILS
Logan Wagner
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Tenor
Villa Hills, Kentucky
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Des Moines Metro Opera; Wolf Trap Opera; The Santa Fe Opera; Pittsburgh Opera
Lysander (A Midsummer Night's Dream); Don José (Carmen); Brother (Seven Deadly Sins); Timothy Laughlin (Fellow Travelers)
The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, District Winner; Lotte Lenya Competition, Finalist; CCM Corbett Competition, 1st Place
I am a huge fan of running and any kind of out door activity! I also have an encyclopedic knowledge of the Real Housewives...I gotta turn my brain off after rehearsal somehow!
Yue Qi Zhang

Yue Qi Zhang

he/him/his

Pianist/Coach

DETAILS
Yue Qi Zhang
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he/him/his
Pianist/Coach
Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Nanjing University of the Arts; Manhattan School of Music; University of Texas at Austin; The Glimmerglass Festival; Aspen Festival and School; Music Academy of the West
Il Trittico; Cendrillon; Don Giovanni; Le nozze di Figaro; L'enfant et les sortilèges; La traviata; Hänsel und Gretel; Rinaldo; La bohème;
Outside of music, I enjoy reading and watching mystery and detective stories, which sharpen my curiosity and attention to detail. I also love cooking and experimenting in the kitchen, as well as hiking, which allows me to connect with nature and recharge creatively.