Meet the 2025 Artists

The Merola Opera Program has announced the 2025 season’s 28 emerging artists, selected from a pool of nearly 1,300 international applicants. This year’s cohort of participants hail from China, Malaysia, New Zealand, and South Korea, as well as across the United States and Canada. Explore the backgrounds of the 2025 Merola Opera Program participants below.

Meg Brilleslyper

Meg Brilleslyper

she/her/hers

Mezzo-Soprano

DETAILS
Meg Brilleslyper
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she/her/hers
Mezzo-Soprano
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Rice University; Music Academy of the West; Aspen Music Festival and School; Houston Grand Opera; Eastman School of Music
Cherubino (The Ghosts of Versailles); Bradamante (Alcina); Mercédès (Carmen); Bianca (The Rape of Lucretia); Ruggiero (Alcina); Pane (La Calisto); Nancy (Albert Herring); Foreign Singer (Postcard from Morocco)
Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Encouragement Award; Jessie Kneisel Competition, 1st Place; Schmidt Vocal Arts Competition, Upper Level Undergraduate Encouragement Award; Eastman School of Music Concerto Competition, 1 Place
Besides being an opera singer and performer, I am a true mountain girl at heart. Being raised in the Rocky Mountains, I love all things outdoors! I am happiest when hiking, running, adventuring, or spending any time I can in nature. When I am in places without a lot of nature to offer, I enjoy spending my time cooking, trying new restaurants, exploring the best coffee shops near me, and taking fun workout classes! Although, my biggest interest outside of opera is definitely traveling - which is part of why this is the career for me!
Elio Bucky

Elio Bucky

they/he

Director

DETAILS
Elio Bucky
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they/he
Director
San Francisco, California
Northwestern University; University of Texas at Austin; Chautauqua Institution; Music Academy of the West; Wolf Trap Opera; The Atlanta Opera
Wolf Trap Opera (The Seven Deadly Sins); Butler Opera Center (La bohème); Northwestern University (Trial by Jury, The Gonzales Cantata, Again)
National Opera Association Opera Production Competition, 3rd Place; Music Academy Fast Pitch Competition, Finalist
Food, cooking, baking, trying new bars and restaurants, long walks with a warm beverage, highly competitive games of Mario Party, my guilty pleasure reality tv shows (namely the "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City," "Potomac," and "New York City...")
Sadie Cheslak

Sadie Cheslak

she/her/hers

Mezzo-Soprano

DETAILS
Sadie Cheslak
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she/her/hers
Mezzo-Soprano
Duluth, Minnesota
DePaul University; University of Illinois; Concordia College; Lyric Opera of Chicago; Wolf Trap Opera; Pittsburgh Festival Opera
Olga Olsen (Street Scene); Florence Pike (Albert Herring); Lampito (Lysistrata); Stepmother/Fairy Godmother (Cinderella); Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia); Lumee (prism); The Surrogate (The Surrogate); Jane Doe (Black Square); Kate (The Pirates of Penzance)
Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Illinois District Winner; SAS Performing Arts Vocal Competition, 3rd Place; Donald Chen Young Artist Award Competition, 1st Place; Musicians Club of Women, Lynn Harvey Foundation Award; American Opera Society of Chicago, American Opera Society Award; NATS Artist Awards, 4th Place, Award for Most Promising Voice of the Competition; Evanston North Shore Musicians Club Scholarship Competition, 1st Place
I have over 50 house plants! Some may call that excessive but I love my little jungle apartment.
Brian Cho

Brian Cho

he/him/his

Pianist/Coach

DETAILS
Brian Cho
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he/him/his
Pianist/Coach
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
University of Western Ontario; Music Academy of the West; Magisterra Soloist; Canadian Opera Company
Canadian Opera Company: Faust, Don Pasquale, The Cunning Little Vixen, Fidelio, La bohème, Pomegranate, Macbeth, Le nozze di Figaro, Der fliegende Holländer, La finta giardiniera, Giulio Cesare
Marilyn Horne Song Competition, 1st Place; Patricia and Nicholas Weber Scholarship in Vocal Piano
I love to cook and try out new recipes that I find on social media. My latest attempt at Beef Wellington was almost successful. Whenever I am able, I love to go fishing with my father-in-law on Lake St. Clair. As he says on the rare occasion we come home empty handed, "it's called fishing not catching". Truer words have not been spoken.
Ariane Cossette

Ariane Cossette

she/her/hers

Soprano

DETAILS
Ariane Cossette
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she/her/hers
Soprano
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Internationale Meistersinger Akademie; Université de Montréal; Conservatorie de musique de Montréal; Canadian Opera Company Ensemble
Marguerite (Faust); Norina (Don Pasquale); Pepík/Woodpecker (The Cunning Little Vixen); Frasquita (Carmen); Micaëla (La tragédie de Carmen); Selene (Endymion’s Dream)
Canada Council of the Arts Professional Development for Artist Grant; National Capital Opera Competition, 1st Place; Christina and Louis Quilico Awards, 2nd Prize; Cedric Ferguson Scholarship; Festival-concours de musique de Sherbrooke, 3rd Place; Fond des Amis de l’Art Scholarship; Art Song Foundation of Canada Scholarship
I like to play video games, especially ones with interesting female characters or dealing with topics like mental health. I am also an avid reader. I am not a sports person but I really enjoy long walks and hikes in nature.
Ruby Dibble

Ruby Dibble

she/her/hers

Mezzo-Soprano

DETAILS
Ruby Dibble
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she/her/hers
Mezzo-Soprano
Kansas City, Missouri
The Juilliard School; Curtis Institute of Music; Oberlin Conservatory; Glimmerglass Festival; Carnegie Hall SongStudio; Aspen Music Festival; Wolf Trap Opera; Santa Fe Opera
Jane/Annie/Witness 2 (Elizabeth Cree); Sesto (La clemenza di Tito); Carmen (Carmen); Elle (La voix humaine); Flora (La traviata); Dorabella (Così fan tutte); Berta (Il barbiere di Siviglia)
Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, National Finalist; Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition, 1st Place; Marcella Sembrich International Voice Competition, Finalist; Cooper-Bing Competition, 2nd Place
I love to bake and hike when I can. I also enjoy reading tarot for myself and friends.
Benjamin Dickerson

Benjamin Dickerson

he/him/his/they/them/theirs

Baritone

DETAILS
Benjamin Dickerson
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Baritone
Milton, Vermont
Academy of Vocal Arts; Florida Grand Opera; Manhattan School of Music
Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Tarquinius (The Rape of Lucretia); Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni); Germont (La traviata); Marcello (La bohème); Onegin (Eugene Onegin); Man (The Extinctionist); Albert (Werther); Mr. Kahlo/J.D.R (Frida); Schaunard (La bohème); Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro); First Soldier (Salome)
The George and Nora London Foundation Competition, 1st Place; Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition, Finalist; Giargiari Bel Canto Competition, 2nd Place; Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition, 4th Place; Joan Taub Ades Vocal Competition, 1st Place; Marilyn Horne Song Competition, 1st Place
I’m an independent and foreign film enthusiast, home coffee barista/nerd, Buddhism/meditation, and fashion
Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono

Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono

he/him/his

Tenor

DETAILS
Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono
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he/him/his
Tenor
Oceania, New Zealand
The Aotearoa New Zealand Opera Studio; University of Waikato
Arturo (Lucia di Lammermoor); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte); Tupaia (Ihitai ‘Avei’a - Star Navigator); Malcolm (Macbeth); Gastone de Letorières (La traviata); Alfredo Germont (La traviata); Ernesto (Don Pasquale); Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann)
IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition, 1st Place; Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship Competition, 1st Place; University of Waikato Blues Awards, Creative Person of the Year; Nicholas Tarling Aria Competition, 1st Prize; New Zealand Lockwood Aria Competition, 1st Place; Lexus Song Quest, Finalist awarded the DKTK Award for Potential; Dame Malvina Major NZ Opera School Award; Guy and Susie Haddleton Emerging Artist Scholarship; Merle Higgie Award for Potential at NZ Opera School; DMMF Waikato Aria Competition
Eating, sleeping, spending time with family and friends, playing basketball, beating my brothers at 1v1 basketball, cooking, tasting and trying new recipes, making silly videos, watching anime, video games
Alexa Frankian

Alexa Frankian

she/her/hers

Soprano

DETAILS
Alexa Frankian
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she/her/hers
Soprano
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
The Royal Conservatory of Music; The University of Toronto; Merola Opera Program; The Academy of Vocal Arts; Institute For Young Dramatic Voices; COSA Canada; SongFest; Opera NUOVA Vocal Arts; Canadian Operatic Arts Academy
Madame Lidoine (Dialogues des carmélites); 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)
Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Encouragement Award; Mildred Miller International Competition, 3rd Place
I absolutely love vintage, art museums, shopping, movies, coffee, and fashion
Sofia Gotch

Sofia Gotch

she/her/hers

Soprano

DETAILS
Sofia Gotch
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she/her/hers
Soprano
Oakland, California
Manhattan School of Music; University of Puget Sound; Aspen Music Festival and School; Classic Lyric Arts
Juliette (Roméo et Juliette); La Fée (Cendrillon); Tytania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream); Sharp Ears (The Cunning Little Vixen); Polly Peachum (Threepenny Opera); Cinderella (Into the Woods)
Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, New York District Winner; Opera Index Vocal Competition, Encouragement Award; Valerie L. Andrews Music Scholarship; Inspirational Leadership Award; Barry Bauska Creative Writing Major Award
I love to hike, explore new places, bake, experiment with new DIY projects, and spend quality time with the people (and pets!) I love.
Wesley Harrison

Wesley Harrison

he/him/his

Tenor

DETAILS
Wesley Harrison
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he/him/his
Tenor
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
McGill University; Wilfred Laurier University; Canadian Opera Company Ensemble
Abdallo (Nabucco); Count Almaviva (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Ernesto (Don Pasquale); Mosquito/School Master (The Cunning Little Vixen); Parpignol (La bohème); Prisoner 1 (Fidelio) Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni); Valcour (L’amant anonyme); Le Doyen (Cendrillon)
COC Center Stage Competition, 3rd Place; NATS Ontario Vocal Competition, 1st Place; NATS Ontario Vocal Competition, Most Promising Singer; Wilfred Laurier University Concerto Competition, 1st Place
Rock climbing, cooking for friends, or tending to the mini jungle that has taken over my living room.
Song Hee Lee

Song Hee Lee

she/her/hers

Soprano

DETAILS
Song Hee Lee
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she/her/hers
Soprano
Seoul, South Korea
The Juilliard School
Aldimira (Erismena); Valentina Scarcella (Later the Same Evening); La princesse (L’enfant et les sortilèges); Suor Genovieffa (Suor Angelica); Vespina (L’infedeltà delusa); Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro)
I love reading, and I have a strong obsession with Legos! Building Lego sets is one of my favorite stress-relieving activities because it helps me relax and stay focused.
Wanchun Liang

Wanchun Liang

he/him/his

Bass-Baritone

DETAILS
Wanchun Liang
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he/him/his
Bass-Baritone
Shijazhuang, Hebei Province, China
Boston University; New England Conservatory; Xi'an Conservatory of Music
Prophet/King (Dark Sisters); Le fauteuil (L’enfant et les sortilèges); Zuniga (Carmen); Publio (La clemenza di Tito); Le Surintendant des plaisirs (Cendrillon); Bass (Hydrogen Jukebox) Speaker (The Magic Flute); Makoto Kobayashi (An American Dream); Don Pasquale (Don Pasquale)
Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Encouragement Award; 23rd "Pietro Argenlo" International Vocal Music Competition, 3rd Place; 5th Asian International Vocal Music Competition, 1st Place; 3rd Paulo Coni International Vocal Music Competition, Best New Artist; First Beniamino Gili Voice International Vocal Music Competition, 3rd Place
Soccer and swimming
Minghao Liu

Minghao Liu

he/him/his

Tenor

DETAILS
Minghao Liu
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he/him/his
Tenor
Qingdao, Shandong, China
S.S. Prokofiev Music Conservatory; University of Alberta; Sarasota Opera Company; University of Miami Frost School of Music
Almaviva (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Fernando (Così fan tutte); Rodrigo di Dhu (La donna del lago); Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore); Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni); Alfred (Die Fledermaus) Tancredi (The Leopard); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte)
SAS Performing Arts Competition, 1st Place; Camille Coloratura Competition, 1st Place; Tampa Straz Center Opera Competition, 1st Place; Vincero International Competition, Finalissima; Pesaro International Competition, 1st Place; Paolo Coni International Competition, Best Tenor; Urbania Opera Competition, 1st Place; Urbania Art Song Competition, 1st Place; Sesto Bruscantini Opera Competition, 3rd Place
I really enjoy cooking; it's one of my favorite ways to relax. While I cook, I love listening to hip-hop music—it gets me dancing and helps burn some extra calories at the same time!
Eva Rae Martinez

Eva Rae Martinez

she/her/hers

Soprano

DETAILS
Eva Rae Martinez
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she/her/hers
Soprano
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Yale School of Music; Manhattan School of Music; Ravinia Steans Institute; Georg Solti Accademia; Tanglewood Music Center; Houston Grand Opera Young Artist Vocal Academy
Anne Trulove (The Rake’s Progress); Nella (Gianni Schicchi); Poppea (L’incoronazione di Poppea); Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro)
Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Encouragement Award; Shoshana Foundation, Richard F. Gold Career Grant Winner; Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition, The Jessica’s Voice Award; Duncan Williams Vocal Competition, Finalist; YoungArts Foundation, National Finalist
I have many interests outside of opera, with some of them being travel, movies, history, different cuisines, and nature. Although these are my interests outside of opera, I like to think they inform my characters and how I approach a work. My perfect day would probably include a slow morning, giant breakfast (my favorite meal of the day), coffee with my friends and a LOT of talking, a super long walk in a beautiful park where I can people watch and meet new people, and quick dip in the ocean at the beach, and going to see a movie at night to finish it out.
Ariana Maubach

Ariana Maubach

she/her/hers

Mezzo-Soprano

DETAILS
Ariana Maubach
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she/her/hers
Mezzo-Soprano
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
University of Cincinnatti College Conservatory of Music; Glenn Gould School; Eastman School of Music; Des Moines Metro Opera; Music Academy of the West; Academy of Vocal Arts
Marthe (Faust); Berta (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Bianca (The Rape of Lucretia); Smeton (Anna Bolena); Linette (The Love for Three Oranges); Mère Marie (Dialogues des Carmélites); Dorothée (L’amant anonyme); Lucrezia (Lucrezia Borgia); The Abbess (Suor Angelica)
Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Competition, 1st Place and Audience Choice; Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Graduate Incentive Award Full Tuition Scholarship; Glenn Gould School Nancy Lockhart and Murray Frum Full Tuition Scholarship
I love going for long walks, pilates, spending time with my family, and friends, and baking. I’ve been known to bake a cake for all of my friends on their birthdays. Carrot cake is my best, if I do say so myself. If I could see one current artist perform live before I die, it would be Adele, hands down. My go-to pump up music is anything by Ariana Grande.
John Mburu

John Mburu

he/him/his

Bass-Baritone

DETAILS
John Mburu
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he/him/his
Bass-Baritone
Warwick, Rhode Island
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)
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’d like to think I’m the best basketball player in opera—and probably the best chess player too. I can juggle, which is a fun skill, and I deeply admire the work of Hayao Miyazaki. Visiting local art museums has become a habit of mine—not exactly a special skill, but something I genuinely enjoy. I once tried crocheting, but it turned out to be tough on my hands.
Brian McCann

Brian McCann

he/him/his

Pianist/Coach

DETAILS
Brian McCann
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Pianist/Coach
Freehold, New Jersey
University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music; Rutgers University
Ruinous Gods; Hildegard; The Righteous; Robeson; Agrippina; Fellow Travelers; Dialogues des Carmélites; Le nozze di Figaro; Albert Herring; Gianni Schicchi; Il Tabarro
Cooking, reading, and watching movies. I enjoy spending time with my family, especially my two little nephews. I studied German in Vienna last year and grew to love the language and the city.
Gabriel Natal-Baez

Gabriel Natal-Baez

he/him/his

Baritone

DETAILS
Gabriel Natal-Baez
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Baritone
Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
Rice University; University of Puerto Rico
The Explorer (So you may breathe in light); Aeneas (Dido and Aeneas); Captain Trifon Petrovich (Eugene Onegin); Le Podestat (Le docteur Miracle); Mr. Gobineau (The Medium); Customs Sergeant (La bohème); Police Sergeant (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Marullo (Rigoletto)
I’ve always had a deep passion for visual arts, particularly oil painting and drawing. I’m also fascinated by history and exploring different cultures, which align with my strong sense of humanism. Beyond that, I love cooking and experimenting with cuisine, as well as spending time outdoors. Back home in Puerto Rico, I frequently visit the beach, go hiking, and enjoy camping trips in nature. I’m also a big sports fan. I love basketball, which makes spending the summer in San Francisco all the more exciting since I've been a Steph Curry fan forever, and I'm a huge soccer fan as well.
Joeavian Rivera

Joeavian Rivera

he/him/his

Baritone

DETAILS
Joeavian Rivera
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he/him/his
Baritone
Orlando, Florida
University of Houston; University of North Florida; Toronto Summer Music Festival; Chautauqua Institution
Vittorio (I due Timidi); Freddy Beenstock (Hobson’s Choice); Guglielmo (Così fan tutte); Baron Mirko Zeta (Die lustige Witwe); Le fauteuil/L’arbre (L’enfant et les sortilèges); Maestro (Ainadamar); Le Père/L’Usurier (La Belle et la Bête); Achilla (Giulio Cesare); Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm (A Little Night Music); Ko-Ko (The Mikado); Papageno (Die Zauberflöte)
National John Alexander Vocal Competition, Semifinalist; Toronto Summer Music Festival, Weston Family Foundation Fellowship
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; Music Academy of the West; Cedar Rapids Opera; Tel-Aviv Summer Opera Program; Opera Lucca
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay; Carmen; Tosca; Eugene Onegin; Roméo et Juliette; Gianni Schicchi; The Diary of Anne Frank; Die Zauberflöte; Rigoletto
Cooking, hiking, and golf
Charlotte Siegel

Charlotte Siegel

she/her/hers

Soprano

DETAILS
Charlotte Siegel
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she/her/hers
Soprano
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
McGill University; University of Toronto; Canadian Opera Company; Chautauqua Institution; Bel Canto Munich
Musetta (La bohème); Anna (Nabucco); Charlie (The Journey); Handmaiden 1 (Médée); Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni); Dido (Dido Reimagined); Lady-in-waiting (Macbeth); Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte); Manon (Fantasma); Rose Maurrant (Street Scene); Nancy (Albert Herring); Mère Marie (Dialogues des Carmélites)
Toronto Life, Inaugural Toronto's 25 Rising Stars; Hynatyshyn Foundation Award, Developing Artist Grant; Ontario Arts Council, Chalmers Professional Development Project; Canadian Broadcasting Corp, 30 Under 30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians; Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Buffalo/Toronto District Winner; Canadian Opera Company Centre Stage Competition, 3rd Place
I love song-writing, baking, and I’m determined to find the best almond croissant in the world!
Tzu Kuang Tan

Tzu Kuang Tan

he/him/his

Pianist/Coach

DETAILS
Tzu Kuang Tan
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he/him/his
Pianist/Coach
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
University of Texas at Austin; University of Michigan; Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
Audition Fever; La traviata; Le nozze di Figaro; L’enfant les sortilèges; Ghost of Versailles; Tea: Mirror of Souls; La bohème; Queen of Spades; Carmen; Così fan tutte; Eugene Onegin; Highway 1, Rise up for Freedom; Don Pasquale
Briggs Chamber Music Competition, 2nd Place; Marilyn Horne Song Competition, 1st Place; Jacqueline Avent Concerto Competition, 1st Place; Yong Siew Toh Conservatory Competition, 1st Place
Cooking, pour over coffee, reading, singing, and going on walks
Tristan Tournaud

Tristan Tournaud

he/him/his

Tenor

DETAILS
Tristan Tournaud
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he/him/his
Tenor
Nashville, Tennessee
University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music; Vanderbilt University; The Glimmerglass Festival; Des Moines Metro Opera; Castleton Music Festival; Trention Music Festival; Utah Vocal Arts Academy
Priest/Librarian/Mr. Gerrard (Elizabeth Cree); Giovanni (Rappaccini’s Daughter); Roger Bevins III (Lincoln in the Bardo); Reporter 2/Deacon 3/Young Aide (The Righteous); Le premier commissaire (Dialogues des Carmélites); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte); Chorus (Rigoletto); Jupiter (Semele); Ferrando (Così fan tutte)
Gerda Lissner Foundation Art Song/Lieder Competition, Finalist; Orpheus National Vocal Competition, 2nd Place; MIOpera International Vocal Competition, Finalist; The Lotte Lenya Competition, Finalist; Corbetts Competition, Finalist
Making and learning about coffee and food, any kind of outdoor or nature related venture, spending time with my golden doodle. I love playing other instruments at home for my own enjoyment as well.
Anna Maria Vacca

Anna Maria Vacca

she/her/hers

Mezzo-Soprano

DETAILS
Anna Maria Vacca
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she/her/hers
Mezzo-Soprano
Providence, Rhode Island
Manhattan School of Music; Tanglewood Music Center
Carmen (Carmen); Cendrillon (Cendrillon); Cavalier Ramiro (La finta giardiniera); L’Enfant (L’enfant et les sortilèges); Jean de Moncerf (Le portrait de Manon); Ljubicia (Svadba); Dritte Dame (Die Zauberflöte)
Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Encouragement Award; Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades Vocal Competition, 3rd Place
I love to host dinner parties and cook for my friends and family. I also love yoga, animals, and playing tennis. I have a kitten who lives with me in New York that I adopted during Covid and she is the best girl ever.
Justice Yates

Justice Yates

he/him/his

Bass-Baritone

DETAILS
Justice Yates
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Bass-Baritone
Leesburg, Florida
Yale School of Music; Stetson University; Merola Opera Program; SongFest Young Artist; Houston Grand Opera Young Artist Vocal Academy; American Institute of Musical Studies Opera Program; Vienna Summer Music Festival
Masetto (Don Giovanni); Simone (Gianni Schicchi); Father Trulove (The Rake’s Progress); Forester (The Cunning Little Vixen); Aeneas (Dido and Aeneas); Betto di Signa (Gianni Schicchi)
National Association of Negro Musicians Scholarship Competition for Voice, Finalist; National Opera Association, 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; National Association of Teachers of Singing National Lower Division Tenors, Baritones, and Basses, 1st Place
I love to thrift and style outfits. I'm also really interested in furniture and room design. I take a lot of pride of my space in New Haven.
Dain Yule Yoon

Dain Yule Yoon

she/her/hers

Pianist/Coach

DETAILS
Dain Yule Yoon
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she/her/hers
Pianist/Coach
Seoul, South Korea
The Juilliard School; Northern Illinois University
Bach Matthäus Passion BWV 244; Dekalb Radio Station Recording; Concert with TransArt Orchestra
Juilliard Bori Grant; David Garney Scholarship; Wurlitzer Music Scholarship; Smith Creative Music Scholarship; Baker Memorial Scholarship; Lovering Scholarship; UG Music Waiver; Constance Aagesen Scholarship; Koehler Piano Scholarship; Institutional Waiver; YMCA Competition, 2nd Place
I love 90s hip-hop and R&B music, and I also enjoy watching films while exploring the filmographies of various directors.
Jin Yu

Jin Yu

he/him/his

Tenor

DETAILS
Jin Yu
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he/him/his
Tenor
Jiangsu, China
The Juilliard School; New England Conservatory; Georg Solti Accademia
Silvio (L’arbore di Diana); Tamino (The Magic Flute)
Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Boston District Winner; The Asia-Japan International Vocal Competition, 3rd Place; The Singapore Raffles Festival, 1st Place; The Chuncheon International Voice Competition (aria group), 1st Place; The Chuncheon International Voice Competition (arts song group), 1st Place; The Wei-Nian International Voice Competition, 1st Place
Basketball and cooking are two of my favorite pastimes. After rehearsals, I love visiting the supermarket to pick up my favorite ingredients and then quietly preparing a delicious meal at home, often inspired by Chinese cuisine. Additionally, I have a unique skill set—I trained in martial arts for eight years.