MOSI 2025 Artists
Salverio Alfieri
Assistant Conductor, Le nozze di Figaro
New York-based Italian pianist and conductor Saverio Alfieri serves as a faculty member of the Bronx Conservatory of Music as a piano teacher, staff pianist at Manhattan School of Music, vocal coach, repetiteur, and assistant conductor of Teatro Grattacielo in New York. Saverio continues to improve himself by participating in several Masterclasses with prominent Masters, such as Riccardo Muti, Leonard Slatkin, Beatrice Rana, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center with Arnoud Sussmann. After completing two Master degrees in piano performance, he graduated in may 2025 in Orchestral conducting at Manhattan School of Music.
Flynn Allen
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Le nozze di Figaro
Soprano Flynn Allen has a B.M. from Berry College, a M.M. from Georgia State University, and is currently pursuing the Artist Certificate at GSU where they study with Professor Talise Trevigne. Most recently, they performed the Foreign Woman in Menotti’s The Consul (GSU ’25), Sarah Good/Ruth Putnam in Ward’s The Crucible (Harrower Summer Opera ’25), Adele in Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus (GSU ‘25), Voice on the Record/Assan/The Foreign Woman (cover) in Menotti’s The Consul (Chicago Summer Opera ‘24), Frasquita in Bizet’s Carmen (GSU ‘24), and Lauretta in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi (GSU ‘23).
Alexander Amick
Music Director, Opera Scenes Showcase
Pianist, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Alexander Amick is a MM student at the University of Oregon studying piano performance. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Music and Spanish from Western Washington University. During his undergraduate studies he was under the instruction of Dr. Kay Zavislak and Professor Jeffrey Gilliam. He currently serves as the music director at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Veneta. In addition, he is the accompanist for Eugene Concert Choir, directed by Dr. Diane Retallack. Alex is studying under Dr. Alexandre Dossin, Dr. David Riley, and Dr. Gustavo Castro.
Emily Anderson
Marcellina, Le nozze di Figaro
Praised for her musicality and stage presence, mezzo-soprano Emily Anderson has performed domestically and internationally in operatic and musical theatre roles. She has performed with prestigious ensembles such as the Colorado Bach Ensemble, the Boulder Bach Festival, and the Bach Society of Houston. She was an educational outreach artist with Central City Opera, Loveland Opera Theatre, and Opera Fort Collins. She recently debuted the Mother in the world premiere of Butch Cassidy Hops a Train and performed as Mercedes in Center Stage Opera’s production of Carmen. She can next be seen as La badessa in Art City Opera’s Suor Angelica.
Ashton Aranda
Hänsel (cover) & Ensemble, Hänsel und Gretel
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Originally from West Texas, Ashton M. Aranda is a mezzo soprano young artist. In the upcoming 2025-2026 season, she will be singing the role of Stephanie (The Waitress) in Micheal Ching’s Speed Dating Tonight! Previously at TTU, she has performed the role of La Voix in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, covered the role of Florence Pike in Albert Herring (2024), appeared in Suor Angelica as Suor Zelatrice (2022), and appeared in Street Scene as the Third Graduate (2021). She has performed the roles of Marcellina in Matador Opera Workshop’s production of Le Nozze Di Figaro (2022), and Suor Zelatrice and La Badessa in Varna International Music Academy’s production of Suor Angelica (2023). She has earned her bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance and is working through her Master’s in Vocal Performance at Texas Tech University.
Adrian Atonya
Violin, Strings Academy
A violinist from Kenya, he is currently pursuing his undergraduate degree in violin performance at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. As a musician, he enjoys employing an holistic approach towards all genres of music - classical, contemporary classical, jazz, pop, among others - whether in playing or listening. He also enjoys playing in numerous different ensemble groupings and settings, with his favorite being in solo settings. Adrian is also a music researcher, with his main areas of interest being in looking up and performing rarely performed violin repertoire by obscure and underrepresented composers.
Polly Ayala
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Hänsel und Gretel
Polly Ayala is a junior at Washburn University majoring in vocal performance. She is excited to make her debut with MOSI and looks forward to performing the role of Despina in Mozart's Così fan tutte this fall. Polly is grateful to her professors and parents for their continuous support and encouragement.
Samantha Balboa
Mother, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Samantha Balboa, soprano, is a dynamic performer and educator known for her work in opera, oratorio, art song, chamber music, and musical theatre. Recent roles include The Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors), Desirée Armfeldt (A Little Night Music), Dido (Dido and Aeneas), Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro), Erste and Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte), and Ottavia (L’incoronazione di Poppea). She frequently collaborates with her husband, violist Ruben Balboa, performing chamber music for voice, viola, and piano with Austin Chamber Music Center, Austin Camerata, and both the American and International Viola Festivals. Samantha serves on voice faculty at Wichita State University.
Jessie Bao
Music Director, Opera Scenes Showcase
Pianist, Hänsel und Gretel
Jessie Bao is a pianist from Ningbo, currently pursuing her studies in collaborative piano at the Cleveland Institute of Music under Anita Pontremoli’s guidance. She participated in the production of the opera Dark Sisters, performing the celesta part in the final performance. During her undergraduate studies at the Music School of Shanghai University, she served as a vocal coach for the opera class, organized the final opera concert, and worked as the pianist for the university choir as well as several major local choirs. She is active as both a soloist and chamber musician, bringing concerts to the community.
Allyson Bennett
Gertrud (Mutter), Hänsel und Gretel
Originating the role of Suzannah in the world premiere of Murder, Meth & Mayhem, Allyson sang at Providence Fringe Festival this summer. She made her Kennedy Center debut as a winner of the VSA International Musicians Award Program and won the Boston district of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition 3 years in a row. She’s sang Tosca (Tosca), First Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Eva (An American Dream), Madame Lidoine (Dialogues of the Carmelites), Mimì (La Bohème), Meg Page (Falstaff) and Valletto (L’incoronazione di Poppea). An avid new music performer, Allyson premiered Flora Sun’s “難波津に (Naniwa-zu ni)” and Elena Firsova's The Birth of a Smile.
Mackenzie Block
Cherubino (cover) & Ensemble, Le nozze di Figaro
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Mezzo-soprano Mackenzie Block is pursuing a BM in Vocal Performance at Baylor University, studying with Dr. Kimberly Monzón. Her recent stage credits include Pauline Viardot (Notes on Viardot), Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel), Armellinde (Viardot’s Cendrillon), Billie (Speed Dating Tonight!), and Cinderella (Into the Woods). She sings with the Baylor University A Cappella Choir, has performed in masterclasses with Christine Schneider of The Visceral Voice and internationally renowned tenor David Portillo, and co-presented a research poster at the 2025 NOA/NATS convention. Ms. Block is dedicated to pursuing a career that integrates performance, scholarship, and arts education.
Bryan Bolzenthal
Stage Director, Opera Scenes Showcase
Assistant Stage Director, Le nozze di Figaro
Dr. Bryan Bolzenthal, lyric baritone, is Assistant Professor of Voice at Kentucky State University where he directs the Opera and Musical Theater program. On the opera stage, he has performed most recently as Silvio in Pagliacci and as Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus with Pacific Lyric Association Opera. Prior engagements have included Opera Festival di Roma in Italy, Pensacola Opera, and the University of Texas Butler Opera Center. Notable opera roles include Marcello in La Boheme, Guglielmo in Cosi Fan Tutte, Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Vicar Gedge in Albert Herring, and Owen Hart in Dead Man Walking.
Allie Brault
Amahl, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Allie Brault is a versatile performer and teacher based in Hyattsville, Maryland. She made her Off-Broadway debut in 2021 in David Harrower’s play Blackbird. Operatic highlights include Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance and Wesley in the world premiere of Tom Cipullo's Mayo. Her concert repertoire spans from Baroque to 21st-century works, with a personal highlight being the U.S. premiere of Sacchini’s Giacchè mia sposa sei. As a teacher, she is best known for promoting accessibility to Jewish song (jewishartsong.com). Brault is currently a second-year D.M.A. student in Voice Pedagogy at the University of Maryland.
Jessica Broaddus
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Barbarina (cover) & Ensemble, Le nozze di Figaro
Jessica Broaddus is a Mexican American soprano celebrated for her expressive artistry in opera and musical theatre. She holds a degree in music education and theatre from the University of Texas at El Paso. She has performed with El Paso Opera, Varna International, Music On Site, the Gilbert & Sullivan Company of El Paso, and UTEP Opera. Notable roles include Gretel (Hansel und Gretel), Josephine (H.M.S. Pinafore), and Woman #1 (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change). Jessica currently serves as an Artist Ambassador for El Paso Opera’s 2025–2026 season, appearing in La Bohème and Bohemios.
Abbi Brundrett
Stage Director, Opera Scenes Showcase
Assistant Stage Director, Le nozze di Figaro
Abbi Brundrett is currently a second year Master’s student studying Vocal Performance at Colorado State University. She is originally from Omaha, NE and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2023 with her BM in Vocal Performance and BA in French. Brundrett recently began stage directing, with her first project being a director for CSU’s opera scenes program this fall. On stage, Brundrett has been seen in several productions with CSU, UNL, and Chicago Summer Opera. Some of her favorite roles include Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), and Annina (La Traviata).
Camille Bullard
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Countess (cover) & Ensemble, Le nozze di Figaro
Camille Bullard has experience in opera roles, musical theater roles, and as a concert soloist. Her current opera season with BOT includes Younger Pauline in Michael Ching’s Notes on Viardot and La Speranza in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo. Some noteworthy coaches that Camille has studied with include William Averill, Kathleen Kelly, and Jeffrey Peterson. She is a current voice student of Kimberly Monzón. Bullard holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Vocal Music Education from Harding University. She is presently in her second and final year of her Master’s of Music in Vocal Performance at Baylor University.
Alena Bunkers
Viola, Strings Academy
For the past 11 years, Alena has been performing and practicing viola with increased interest. In these years she has joined 15+ small ensembles and 5 symphonic orchestras including principal position in the South Dakota Youth Symphony Orchestra from 2020-2022, principal of the University of South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, and participation in the Fresno Orchestra Summer Festival of 2024 and 2025. Additionally, she plays both violin and viola in symphonic, chamber, quartet, and solo work while occasionally being hired for private events regionally. She currently studies with Professor Scott Lee, viola professor at University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory. Alena placed 1st in the 2024 Music Teachers National Association competition in the state of South Dakota under the Young Artist Performance Regional Division. She is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in music performance on viola at the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory.
Sarah Chase
Sandman (cover) & Ensemble, Hänsel und Gretel
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Sarah Chase (Soprano) is a senior in Vocal Performance at Kansas State University. This is her first time participating in Music on Site. Sarah previously attended Taos Opera Institute as a young artist in 2024. She has participated in 3 productions through Kansas State University including Cendrillon (Viardot), Amelia Goes to the Ball (Menotti), and Gallantry (Moore). Sarah is very grateful for the opportunity to perform with Music On Site!
Andrew Chen
Music Director, Opera Scenes Showcase
Pianist, Hänsel und Gretel
Taiwanese-American pianist Andrew Chen is currently pursuing his MM degree in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music at the Eastman School of Music, under the direction of Dr. Andrew Harley. He studied piano with Betty Woo and violin with Dan Flanagan at UC Berkeley, where he graduated with double degrees in Music and Statistics. Andrew has participated in the Collaborative Piano Institute at Louisiana State University, and has served as a collaborative piano fellow at the Eastern Music Festival and the Aspen Music Festival. He is excited to continue his journeys collaborating with singers in opera and art song repertoire.
Benjamin Chen
Count, Le nozze di Figaro
Benjamin Chen, baritone, is completing his undergraduate studies at Temple University. Pursuing his dual Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance and Music Education, Ben is under the instruction of Lawrence Indik. Most recently at the Brevard Music Center, Ben performed the role of Second Priest, covered Papageno (The Magic Flute), and covered the baritone solo in Vaughan William’s Sea Symphony. Last season, he appeared as the Surindendant des plaisirs (Cendrillon) and the title role of Don Giovanni. Ben also made his professional debut with Anchorage Opera as Prince Yamadori (Madama Butterfly). Additional past credits include King Melchior (Amahl & the Night Visitors) and Dandini (La Cenerentola). This season, Ben will return to Music On Site as Il Conte in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro.
Xijin Chen
Susanna, Le nozze di Figaro
Soprano Xijin Chen is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts in Opera Performance at the University of Texas at Austin, where she studies with Leah Crocetto. In 2024, she sang Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Chicago Summer Opera, and at UT Austin she has performed the title role in Cendrillon and the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro. She earned her Master of Music at the New England Conservatory, performing Giunone in La Calisto and scenes as Juliette, Suzel, Norina, and Nannetta. She received the 2024 Laffont Competition Encouragement Award (Florida District).
Gordon Cheung
Assistant Conductor, Le nozze di Figaro
Gordon Cheung serves as the assistant conductor to Sarah Ioannides at Boston University Symphony Orchestra. Recently, he was named the Finalist Honorable Mention of the American Prize in Conducting for his performance with The Orchestra Now (TÕN). Cheung was the Conducting Scholar at Eastern Music Festival from 2023 to 2024, where he received a close mentorship from Gerard Schwarz. He also participated in masterclasses held by the Spokane Symphony and Fort Wayne Philharmonic. His upcoming projects include assisting the BU Symphony Orchestra on Beethoven's 9th, and Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette with the BU Opera Institute.
Cade Chisham
Gertrud (cover) & Ensemble, Hänsel und Gretel
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Cade Chisham, soprano, is a recent graduate from the University of Cincinnati-Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and studied with Ms. Amy Johnson. They are originally from Wichita, Kansas and attended Derby High School. Cade has attended summer vocal intensive programs including the Brevard Vocal Institute, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, the Schmidt Institute, and Opera in Concert in Urbino, Italy. Recently, they performed the role of Gretel in CCM Opera d’arte’s production of Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel earlier this year, and was a part of the Chorus the cover of Blanche Noyes in Opera Kansas’ production of Staggerwing, which was performed this past May.
Jisoo Choi
Dew Fairy, Hänsel und Gretel
Coloratura soprano Jisoo Choi, from Seoul, South Korea, is pursuing her Master of Music at Indiana University. Choi previously earned a full scholarship and graduated with highest honors from Dankook University. Her operatic roles include Sister Constance (Dialogues des Carmélites), Le Feu (L’enfant et les sortilèges), Adele (Die Fledermaus), Despina (Così fan tutte), Romilda (Xerxes), and Paggio (Rigoletto) with the Seoul Metropolitan Opera at the Daegu International Opera Festival. A winner of the Seoul Orchestra Competition, Choi has sung as soprano soloist in Bach cantatas, Haydn’s Harmoniemesse, Schubert’s Mass in G, and Mozart’s Requiem. This summer, Choi debuted in Europe as Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte) at the Croatian National Theatre, earning acclaim for her brilliant vocal agility and dramatic intensity.
Karla Clemens
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
San Antonio native and mezzo-soprano Karla Clemens holds a Bachelor in Music Performance from Texas A&M University–Kingsville (TAMUK). With TAMUK’s Opera/Musical Theatre Workshop, she performed Ms. Dara in Dan Shore’s An Embarrassing Position, the title role in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Princess Ida, Third Lady in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and chorus in The Magic Flute with Opera San Antonio. A two-time TAMUK Concerto Competition winner, she has placed in multiple National Association of Teachers of Singing competitions. Ms. Clemens trained at the Taos Opera Institute and as a studio artist with Opera San Antonio–Classical Music Institute.
Caden Cole
Count, Le nozze di Figaro
Caden Cole is a singer, actor, and educator from Centralia, Illinois. His operatic repertoire includes Papageno (The Magic Flute), Il Conte (Le nozze di Figaro), Don Giovanni, and Sid (Albert Herring) to name a few. He holds a bachelor’s degree in vocal music education from Southern Illinois University and is a master’s candidate in classical voice at Roosevelt University. Cole teaches voice privately across Illinois and serves as adjunct instructor at Kaskaskia College. He is also General Director of Centralia Opera, which is dedicated to bringing classical singing to downstate Illinois through performance and education. More at cadencolevoice.com.
Bryce Comeaux
Kaspar, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Bryce Comeaux is a classically trained tenor based in Baytown, Texas. He is a senior Vocal Performance major studying under Professor of Voice, Dr. Morgan Manifacier. This is his second year a part of Baylor's Opera Theater under the direction of Dr. Jen Stephenson. He has experience in BOT's Opera scenes program of William Grant Still's "A Bayou Legend", Prince Charming in Pauline Vairdot's "Cendrillion", ensemble role in Engelbert Humperdinck's "Hansel und Gretel" and is currently preparing roles in Michael Ching's "Notes on Viardot" and Claudio Monteverdi's "L'Orfeo". He has professional experience with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and their production of Handel's "Messiah". He has, twice, competed and been a semi finalist in the Texoma NATS competition. He also has competed in the Classical Singers competition in Chicago earlier this year and looks forward to more competitions and performances this coming December as he prepares for Music On Site, Inc. in Wichita, Kansas.
Natacha Condor
Mother, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Natacha, originally from Ecuador, has recently performed La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica), Zita (Gianni Schicchi), Dido (Dido and Aeneas) with Lamont Opera Theatre, and Wowkle (La Fanciulla del West) with Central City Opera. Other roles include Hermia (A Midsummer Night's Dream), The Fox (The Little Prince), Third Lady (The Magic Flute of the Andes), Lupe (Crossing to the Other Side of the Moon), El Gato (El Gato con Botas), and Flora (La Traviata). She won the Marcia Ragonetti Exceptional Mezzo award and the 2025 Denver Lyric Opera Guild award.Central City Opera’s 2024 Outstanding Young Artist Award and first place in the Ann Logan Craft Competition. She will sing "Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World" in 2026 with the Central City Opera Education Department 2026. Currently, she is finishing her bachelor’s degree at the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music.
Avery Corder
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Hänsel und Gretel
Avery Corder is a first-year Master's student in Vocal Performance at Texas Tech University, also pursuing a Certificate in Music Theory Pedagogy. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from West Texas A&M, with emphasis in Percussion and Voice. Avery taught high school choir and band for three years, leading successful ensembles. She has earned numerous awards and scholarships and recently made her international opera debut in a principal role at the National Center of the Arts (CENART) in Mexico City.
Jack Cozad
Melchior, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Venezuelan-American baritone Jack Cozad is currently pursuing a Master’s of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Houston studying under Danny Belcher. In the 2025-2026 season, Jack has performed in the World Premiere of Hobson’s Choice as Fred Beenstock by Tom Cipullo at the Moores Opera Center. Later in the season, Jack will also perform Papageno in Die Zauberflöte at the Moores Opera Center. Previously, Jack has sung with Amarillo Opera as well as Opera in the Ozarks. Jack Cozad graduated with a Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance at Texas Tech University under Alice Anne Light.
Faylee Crawford
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Faylee Crawford is a soprano currently pursuing studies in vocal performance at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She has appeared in student productions, concert performances and young artist programs, with repertoire spanning opera, oratorio, and art song. She has performed the role of Mary Warren in Robert Ward’s “The Crucible”, performed in an opera scenes program at her university, and has sung in masterclasses. Her studies are under the guidance of Dr. Amalia Osuga. She has participated in the Harrower Summer Opera Young Artist Program and the ChorWorks Young Artist Program. Faylee is passionate about exploring both traditional and contemporary repertoire and is committed to developing her artistry as she prepares for a professional career in classical performance.
Guillermo de la Garza
Music Director, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Praised for “incendiary aplomb and technical control” (El Paso Inc.), Guillermo de la Garza is an active soloist and collaborator. A summa cum laude B.M. graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso, he recently completed a post-graduate certificate in Piano Performance and Pedagogy with an Emphasis on Injury-Preventive Technique at Salem College. Guillermo has served as principal pianist for El Paso Opera, worked as staff pianist at UTEP and served as music director for its opera program. In 2023, Materia Collective released his debut professional album, Piano Stories: Final Fantasy VI, featuring solo piano concert transcriptions of Nobuo Uematsu’s iconic score.
Nalani Defensor
Amahl, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Nalani Defensor is a soprano from Houston, Texas. Praised for her sparkling resonance and versatility across a wide range of repertoire, Nalani’s favorite roles include Amahl in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Sandmännchen in Hänsel und Gretel, and the title role in Viardot’s Cendrillon. Nalani has presented research at the National Opera Association Conference and is currently researching Filipino classical music. Upcoming performances include Maria Malibran and Claudie Viardot in Michael Ching’s Notes on Viardot and Euridice in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo. Nalani is an undergraduate student in Vocal Performance at Baylor University, where she studies with Dr. Jamie Van Eyck.
Filip Duda
Kaspar, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Chicago-based tenor Filip Duda is a versatile artist with a passion for opera, early music, and vocal chamber music. He has appeared at Chicago’s Landowska Harpsichord Society, the Five Cities Baroque Festival, also participating in Juilliard415’s St. John Passion workshop (2024) and Oberlin’s Baroque Performance Institute (2019). He has appeared as Young Ivan Turgenev (Notes on Viardot) and Dr. Blind (Die Fledermaus), both with Music On Site, as well as Mr. Upfold (Albert Herring), Telemaco (Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria), and Bardolfo (Falstaff) with DePaul Opera Theater. Filip is cantor at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Barrington, IL, where he also leads the choir.
James H. Eagle
Balthazar, Amahl and the Night Visitors
James Eagle is a 24 year old bass from Okemos, Michigan. Currently a Certificate of Performance student studying with Hector Vasquez at the University of Houston, James has completed most of his vocal training at Michigan State University under the guidance of tenor Richard Fracker. He has performed numerous roles with MSU Opera Theatre, and received his Masters of Music in Voice Performance from MSU in 2025. He hopes to someday be a self-sustained singer, traveling the world and jumping at new performance experiences wherever he can find them.
Lucy Enns
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Hänsel und Gretel
Lucy Enns is a Kansas-born and raised mezzo-soprano, and a recent 2025 graduate of Friends University with a Bachelor’s of Music in Voice Performance. Lucy performed as Mrs. Jenks in Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land and The Announcer in Douglas Moore’s Gallantry at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, and most recently sang the role of Annina and covered the role of Flora Bervoix in Verdi’s La Traviata at Spotlight on Opera at Tulsa Opera in 2025. Lucy has developed a deep love for studying Opera and is excited to continue learning in the future.
Elizabeth Fassler
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Hänsel und Gretel
Elizabeth Fassler is currently a 3rd-year Master's student in Vocal Performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, studying with Michelle DeYoung. She performed in the choruses of Carmen and Suor Angelica, as well as performing in opera workshop, at IU. In 2022, she graduated from East Tennessee State University with her Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance. She performed in several opera scenes there, including Roméo et Juliette, Les contes d’Hoffman, Hänsel und Gretel, and La Traviata. Additionally, she has also performed in several other opera choruses, including Madama Butterfly, Die Zauberflöte and Le nozze di Figaro.
Kirkland Fenerty
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Kirkland Fenerty is a baritone based in Richmond, Virginia. A graduate of James Madison University with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance, he has performed leading roles including Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), Marcello and Schaunard (La bohème), and Nick Shadow (The Rake’s Progress). He has also appeared in productions such as Faust, Carmen, and the world premiere of Loving v. Virginia. Fenerty has studied and performed internationally, including in Austria and Italy, and continues to appear with opera companies throughout Virginia and beyond.
Oliver Fiorello
Violin, Strings Academy
Oliver is a violin performance major at the University of Texas at Austin, where he studies with Brian Lewis. Throughout his undergraduate journey, Oliver has fallen in love with the prospect of becoming an opera orchestra musician through the UT Austin Butler Opera Orchestra as well as the Prague Summer Nights program, where he was honored to perform Don Giovanni in the Estates Theater. In his free time, Oliver is the lead electric violinist in the band Indigo Starbeam. After his studies, he plans to pursue a career in orchestral opera performance while continuing his commercial music endeavors.
Mykayla Fitzpatrick
Stage Director, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Mykayla Fitzpatrick graduated with her BM in Voice in 2023 from Colorado State University, where she performed Hansel and Gretel (Gretel), The Tender Land (Laurie), Cosi fan tutte (Despina), and The Old Maid and the Thief (Laetitia), and is currently pursuing her MM in Opera Performance at ASU. She has presented research on pedagogy for voices transitioning through hormone replacement therapy. Recently, she has performed with Loveland Opera Theater, performed and stage directed with Boulder Opera Company, and assistant stage directed at Quisisana Resort (Maine) and for Music on Site (Kansas). In her free time, she paints and bakes.
Arissa Ford
Production Assistant, Music On Site
Arissa Ford is a dedicated senior at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, pursuing a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Business. A Dean’s List and Honors student, she has gained global business experience through coursework at Hochschule Bremen in Germany and research on composer Timothy Amukele. Beyond academics, Arissa serves as a Resident Advisor at Oak Residential Hall and a Usher at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. A passionate performer, she has sung at Carnegie Hall and for the St. Louis County Council. Arissa hopes to pursue a career in music entrepreneurship and vocal performance.
Jayden Fraser
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Le nozze di Figaro
Jayden Fraser is a Canadian baritone from Winnipeg, Manitoba who is completing his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Manitoba with Monica Huisman and Mel Braun. Credits include Frog in A Year with Frog and Toad (MTYP); Harlekin in Ariadne auf Naxos (CSO); Sprecher and Papageno (cover) in Die Zauberflöte (UofM); Manitoba Opera chorus - La Bohème & Carmen. Additional training: Canadian Opera Company Summer Opera Intensive; Chicago Summer Opera; Orford Musique Academy. Jayden is the recipient of the 2025 Rose Bowl (Winnipeg Music Festival) and was two-time runner up of the Zita Bernstein German Lieder Competition.
Jiahao Fu
Bartolo, Le nozze di Figaro
Baritone Jiahao Fu, a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate, has appeared in a wide range of operatic productions. His roles include Masetto and the Commendatore in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Don Magnifico in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Peter in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, Achilla in Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Ping in Puccini’s Turandot, among others. He also toured nationally in the original Chinese opera Yue Fei with over twenty performances. Currently serving as a teaching assistant, he balances his work on stage with academic and instructional responsibilities.
Shontel Lena
Ensemble, Le nozze di Figaro
Shontel Lena is a music educator from Wichita, Kansas. She received her bachelor’s and a master’s degree in special music education with a vocal emphasis from Wichita State University. With Wichita State University operas, she has performed with the ensemble in Amahl and the Night Visitors, La Clemenza di Tito, and Beatrice et Benedict. In her free time, Shontel finds enjoyment through yoga, astrology, and video gaming! Shontel is excited to continue her opera journey with Music On Site, Inc!
Pete W. Garcia IV
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Pete William Garcia IV, Tenor, is from Nakaibito, New Mexico, on the Navajo Reservation. A Vocal Performance major in the studio of Dr. Robert Allen Saunders, he also studies secondary collaborative piano with Dr. Aimee Fincher. He has performed several roles with the NAU Lyric Theatre, including, “Don Ottavio” in Don Giovanni, “Little Bat” in Susannah!, and recently “Alfred” in Die Fledermaus. He has also performed “Tamino” in Die Zauberflöte and “Alfred” in Die Fledermaus with the Matador Opera Workshop. Currently, he is working on the Navajo Art Song Project which is set to premiere in Spring of 2026.
Kaitlyn George
Stage Director, Opera Scenes Showcase
Assistant Stage Director, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Kaitlyn George, native of Basehor, Kansas, earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Webster University under the direction of Martha Hart. As a participant in Webster University’s Opera Scenes program, she sang the roles of Frasquita in Carmen, Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, and Sophie in Werther. Currently, Kaitlyn is pursuing a Master of Music in Opera at the University of Kansas under the tutelage of Dr. Genaro Méndez. While at KU, Kaitlyn has sung roles in opera studio and assistant directed Dan Shore’s The Beautiful Bridegroom.
Alaina Hogan
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Hänsel und Gretel
University. With an extensive background in musical theatre, she is a seasoned performer who has recently begun exploring the world of opera. Her transition into operatic performance marks an exciting new chapter in her artistic journey. Past performances include the Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas, Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone, and Elsa in Frozen.
Stephan Gomez
Conductor, Hänsel und Gretel
Stephan Gomez currently serves as Teaching Assistant for Orchestras at the University of Kentucky. He previously held the Graduate Associate position in Orchestral Studies at Baylor University, studying under Miguel Harth-Bedoya. His repertoire spans symphonic and operatic masterworks, with a particular focus in 20th- and 21st-century music. Passionate about innovative programming, Stephan frequently leads cross-disciplinary projects that integrate multimedia, narration, and film to create engaging and immersive experiences for audiences. He has served as cover conductor with the Fort Worth and Dallas Symphony Orchestras and is on faculty with The Conducting Institute and the Texas Institute for Orchestral Studies.
Camden Gonda
Viola, Strings Academy
Camden Gonda is a viola student at the University of Wyoming. In his blossoming career, he brings collaboration, seriousness, and passion to all his work. Having played for over ten years, Camden has performed with the 2021-2024 All-State Orchestras and the 2023 All-Northwest Orchestra. He has also traveled internationally to perform chamber works by composers like Beethoven and Mozart. While he keeps his performances varied, Camden has a special emphasis on chamber music, which allows him to perform with his talented colleagues. Outside of music, he prioritizes physical health in the outdoors and service to his community.
Trayden Goodman
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Trayden Goodman is a talented vocalist and performer with a passion for music that’s earned him national recognition. He took first place in the Glenn Miller National Scholarship Competition and continues to grow his craft at the University of South Dakota. Known for his expressive voice and unique style, Trayden blends classical technique with modern flair. Whether on stage or in the studio, he brings energy, emotion, and authenticity to everything he does.
Rebekah Heller
Assistant Conductor, Le nozze di Figaro
Praised for her “turn-on-a-dime energy” (The New Yorker), conductor Rebekah Heller is an exciting force at the forefront of new music. Informed by her robust experience as “an impressive solo bassoonist” (The New Yorker), and long-held leadership roles in the renowned International Contemporary Ensemble, Heller’s conducting has been called “marvelous” (I Care if You Listen) and “crisp” (S. Florida Classical Review). She is a regular conductor of the International Contemporary Ensemble, and has led the New World Symphony, The Harlem Chamber Players, the Oberlin Sinfonietta and Contemporary Music Ensemble, The Helsinki Metropolitan Orchestra and others. Heller teaches at the Mannes School of Music where she Co-Chairs the Wind Department, leads a bassoon studio, and teaches workshops on improvisation for classical musicians.
Andrew Hebert
Figaro, Le nozze di Figaro
Originally from Summerville, SC, Andrew Hebert is currently a master’s student at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). Upcoming/recent engangements include Le Premier Ministre in Massenet’s Cendrillon with CCM Opera and Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro with Music on Site. In May 2025, Andrew graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BM in Vocal Performance. While at UofSC, he was frequently seen performing in Columbia, SC with Opera at UofSC and FBN Productions. Andrew was also a young artist with the Janiec Opera Company at Brevard Music Center the last two summers.
Desmond Henderson
Music Director, Opera Scenes Showcase
Pianist, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Desmond Henderson is a graduate of Mississippi State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree with concentrations in piano and voice. In the summer of 2022, he was a finalist in the PRCCP International Collaborative Piano Competition in San Germán, Puerto Rico, earning second place. He is passionate about performing and researching music by historically overlooked composers and has presented his research on Florence Price, the first African American woman composer to gain national recognition, at regional and national conferences. Desmond is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Collaborative Piano at the University of Arkansas with Dr. Tomoko Kashiwagi.
Jay Hendricks
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Hänsel und Gretel
Jonassia (Jay) Hendricks is a contralto currently studying voice at The University of Alabama in Huntsville, where she is developing a rich, expressive tone and deep interpretive skills. With a strong interest in ensemble singing, she has performed with various choral groups, gaining experience in both sacred and secular repertoire. Her passion for opera and classical music continues to grow through scene work, recitals, and collaborative projects. Under the guidance of Dr. Amalia Osuga, she is expanding her solo repertoire and refining her technique. Jonassia Hendricks is especially drawn to early music and dramatic roles that showcase the unique warmth and depth of the contralto voice.
Madison Hershberger
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Madison Hershberger is thrilled to be back this year with MOSI. She has had a great time with productions with McPherson college, Broadway RFD’s production of The Music Man, and Opera Kansas’s Production of Staggerwing in recent months. Madison is so thankful to everyone who has supported her and hopes you can feel the joy put into each production.
Maggie Hinchliffe
Principal Coach, Hänsel und Gretel
Maggie Hinchliffe is a pianist, vocal coach, and Staff Collaborative Pianist at Stephen F. Austin State University in vocal and instrumental areas. Maggie’s work in opera includes The Bartered Bride, Hänsel und Gretel, The Rake’s Progress, Il Trovatore, Le Nozze di Figaro, La Bohème, and L’enfant et les sortilèges. As an advocate for new music, Maggie has commissioned composers and poets with support from the Puffin Foundation, Texas Commission on the Arts, Composers Guild of New Jersey, and the Paul R. Judy Center for Innovation and Research. She studied at the Eastman School of Music (MM) and Vanderbilt University (BM).
Cheyenne Holland
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Hänsel und Gretel
Cheyenne is a soprano vocalist from Yukon Oklahoma. In 2025, she received her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Central Oklahoma under the direction of Dr. Kevin Eckard. Throughout her career, she has been lucky enough to receive opportunities to sing in Italy with the Music in the Marche program and participate in cultural exchanges in China with the music ambassador of Oklahoma. She also works as a performer with OkCity Opera and as an educational outreach artist with Painted Sky Opera. Her favorite roles include Gianetta in the “Gondoliers” and Amore in “Orfeo ed Euridice”.
Alan Hollinger
Melchior, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Alan Hollinger is a baritone from Killeen, Texas. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Church Music from Baylor University, where he is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Music Theory. His first involvement in opera was his Junior year when he sang Papa Bear in Goldie B. Locks and the Three Singing Bears. Recently, he has sung Vater in Hänsel und Gretel with Baylor Opera Theatre, Leporello with Music on Site, and the title role in Gianni Schicchi with Opera Atchley. He is a student of Dr. Kimberly Monzón.
Kailun Hu
Vater, Hänsel und Gretel
Baritone Kailun Hu comes from China. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in vocal performance at The University of Kansas under Dr. John Stephens, and previously earned a Master of Music from Miami University under Prof. Benjamin Smolder. He will take on the role of Peter in MOSI’s upcoming production of Hänsel und Gretel. Prior roles include Marco (Lawrence Opera Theater’s Gianni Schicchi, Dr. Falke (KU Opera’s Die Fledermaus) and Aeneas (KU & MU Opera). Honors: 2022 Great Lakes Regional NATS first place & Best Performance, 2017 Mianyang (China)-hosted Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory Int’l Competition vocal first prize.
Elaine Huang
Stage Director, Opera Scenes Showcase
Assistant Stage Director, Hänsel und Gretel
Dr. Zhengyingyue “Elaine” Huang is an accomplished soprano and stage director whose work bridges performance and leadership. She has directed operatic productions including Amahl and the Night Visitors and actively develops innovative staging that highlights clarity of storytelling and musical expression. Drawing on her extensive background as a performer, she brings a singer’s insight into her directing, fostering collaboration and artistry among cast members. Beyond her directing credits, she is recognized for her commitment to education and cross-cultural projects, creating opportunities for young artists and communities to experience opera in new and meaningful ways.
Haley Hunt
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Haley Hunt is a 20 Year-Old Mezzo currently in their sophomore year at University of Michigan studying with Freda Herseth. This past year, they won the NATS Michigan Division for the First-Year Level, and reached the Semi-Finals for the Lower Undergrad Division in the Schmidt Vocal Arts Competition. Recently, they performed as Hansel in Hansel and Gretel and covered Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro with SOO Opera Theater. Other past credits include Miles in Turn of the Screw and Opera Choruses at University of Michigan, as well as Chorus in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Guzal Isametdinova
Music Director, Opera Scenes Showcase
Pianist, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Uzbekistani pianist Guzal Isametdinova is a versatile artist whose work spans solo, chamber, operatic, and orchestral performance. She made her orchestral debut with the Chamber Orchestra of Uzbekistan and has served as an opera rehearsal pianist for productions among which are La Bohème, Le Nozze di Figaro, and Così fan tutte, also performing continuo and directing two newly commissioned chamber operas. As an orchestral pianist, she appears on a Naxos recording with the National Orchestra Institute. Her festival experience includes Aspen, Opera in the Ozarks, and Saluzzo Opera Academy. She is pursuing her Doctorate at the University of Maryland with Rita Sloan.
Sea Jeong Jang
Sandman, Hänsel und Gretel
Soprano Sea Jeong Jang, originally from South Korea, completed her Professional Studies certificate (2025) and Master of Music degree (2023) at the Manhattan School of Music. She has performed in productions of L’enfant et les sortilèges as Les Chiffres, and Katie - The Strongest of the Strong as PT Barnum, as well as in opera scenes including Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro and Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte. She also appears frequently in concert and recital.
Henry Jones
Cello, Strings Academy
Henry Jones is a cellist from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is currently pursuing a degree in Cello Performance under Dr. Sonja Kraus at the University of South Dakota. At USD, Henry performs with the USD Symphony Orchestra and is a member of Ensemble Zusammen, a cello ensemble led by Dr. Kraus. The group focuses on diverse repertoire, including works by local composers. Henry will appear on the ensemble’s upcoming CD. He is also an active member of a university piano trio. Henry served as the assistant principal cellist of the South Dakota Symphony Youth Orchestra from 2021-2024.
John Jovicich
Count (cover) & Ensemble, Le nozze di Figaro
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
John Jovicich is an aspiring baritone who one day hopes to fulfill his dream of becoming a full time professional opera singer. He decided upon opera as a career when he was just twelve years old after a tragic hip disease afflicted him and ended his passion for gymnastics. After being accepted into the Baylor School of Music and studying with Dr. Jamie Van Eyck and Dr. Robert Best, John fell evermore in love with music and the art of singing and has dedicated his being to connecting with audiences around the world through opera. His most recent roles include Massetto in Don Giovanni, Pictordu in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon, Ford in Falstaff, and Melisso in Alcina. John would like to thank his parents for being supportive throughout his career as well as his partner Hannah who has helped his dreams become a reality.
Jenna Justice
Sandman, Hänsel und Gretel
JENNA JUSTICE, soprano, is thrilled to join Music On Site this season as the Sandman in Hänsel und Gretel and as a featured artist in the Opera Scenes Showcase. She recently performed Julia DeWeert in The Cousin from Batavia and Sarah Millick in Bitter Sweet with Ohio Light Opera. She holds a Master of Music from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Kathryn Cowdrick, and a Bachelor of Music from Furman University, where she studied with Grant Knox. Previous roles include Soeur Constance in Dialogues des Carmélites, Nannetta in Falstaff, and Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance.
Zachary Bligh Kelly
Melchior (cover) & Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Zachary Kelly is a Baritone from rural Connecticut who is passionate about stagecraft and loves to create beautiful music. Zach has just recently graduated from Ithaca College with his Bachelors in Vocal Performance. He has done plenty of chamber music - most notably Einstein on Mercer Street by Kevin Putz - and performs art song and oratorio whenever given the chance. His Opera roles include Krakamiche in Le Dernier Sorcier by Viardot at Ithaca College Opera and Geronimo in the Secret Marriage by Cimarosa with Opera Seme.
Cameron Kidd
Dew Fairy, Hänsel und Gretel
Chicago soprano Cameron Kidd is an emerging artist with a passion for musical storytelling. Her previous roles from the standard operatic repertoire include the titular role in Massenet’s Cendrillon, and Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute. A dedicated ensemble singer, Cameron has also toured internationally as a soloist and chorister with the Illinois Wesleyan University Collegiate & Alumni Choir throughout Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, and South Africa. Her upcoming engagements include the role of Giulia in The Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company of Chicago’s production of The Gondoliers in the spring of 2026.
%20-%20Hayden%20Kiker.jpg)
Hayden Kiker
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
American Tenor Hayden Kiker is establishing an exciting career as a recitalist and Operatic performer. Hayden is a Colorado native and a senior at Tennessee Tech University. Recent performances include the Harrower Opera Festival in Atlanta as Second Priest in Die Zauberflöte and traveling to Vienna, Austria to perform as Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte, La Rainette in L'Enfant et les Sortilèges, and Mikael in the world premiere of Lilacs and Lilies. His recent concert performances include Uriel in Haydn’s The Creation with the Cookeville Mastersingers, and he performed as a voice fellow for Opernfest Prague.
Aerim Kim
Music Director, Opera Scenes Showcase
Pianist, Hänsel und Gretel
Aerim Kim is a Korean collaborative pianist and coach currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Coaching and Accompanying at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She recently completed her Master of Music in Collaborative Piano at Illinois State University. This past summer, she attended the Collaborative Piano Institute at the University of Michigan, where she performed in masterclasses with renowned collaborative pianists Martin Katz and Ana María Otamendi. She also participated in the Wintergreen Music Festival in Nellysford, Virginia, as a Collaborative Piano Fellow. Previously, Aerim joined the Trentino Music Festival in Italy as a répétiteur on full scholarship, working on Die Zauberflöte rehearsals and collaborating with singers and instrumentalists in recitals and chamber music.
Jace Kim
Assistant Conductor, Le nozze di Figaro
Jace Kim is a conductor, violist, violinist, and pianist from Fairfax, Virginia. She holds a Bachelor’s of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music in Professional Music with a concentration in contemporary conducting, and a Master’s of Music Degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Orchestral Conducting. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Viola Performance. Some highlights from her professional career are as Interim Director of Orchestras at Southern Illinois University, Assistant Principal Violist at Heartland Festival Orchestra, Music Director of First Presbyterian Church of Urbana, Assistant Conductor and Associate Pianist at Soo Opera, and Conducting Fellow at Pierre Monteux School and Festival.
Joohyun Kim
Cherubino, Le nozze di Figaro
Joohyun Kim is a second-year D.M.A. student in Opera Performance at The University of Texas at Austin. She earned both a Master of Music and a Professional Studies Diploma from the Mannes School of Music. At the Butler Opera Center, she has performed Madame de la Haltière in Cendrillon, Flora in La Traviata, Susanna in The Ghosts of Versailles, and Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro. Other credits include Orfeo in Orfeo ed Euridice, Dorabella in Così fan Tutte. In 2025, she received an Encouragement Award at the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition. This season, she will sing Cherubino with Music On Site.
Elliott Kovitz
Bartolo (cover) & Ensemble, Le nozze di Figaro
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Bass-Baritone Elliot Kovitz is a Senior at DePaul University School of Music, where he studies with Jeffrey Ray. He has made multiple appearances with DePaul Opera Theater, most recently as Simone in Gianni Schicchi, as well as in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice and Kurt Weill’s Street Scene. In competition, Elliot is a NATS prizewinner two years running. He also appeared in the title role of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro under the direction of DePaul faculty member Viktoria Vizin. This summer, Elliot made his role debut as Colline/La Boheme and premiered an updated version of Solari in Michael Polo’s new opera Pluto.
Max Kramer
Melchior, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Max Kramer, baritone, hails from Dayton, OH, and is a student at the Capital University Conservatory of Music. Recent productions include The Crucible (Thomas Putnam) and Falstaff (Robin/Chorus) with Harrower Summer Opera and Songs for a New World (Man 2) at Capital University. He is an active performer in many genres around Ohio and is the founding baritone of Luces Stellarum, a premier chamber vocal ensemble. Max is the recipient of the 2023 Agnes Fowler Award from the Ohio Federation of Music Club Awards and received an honorable mention in the 2025 Mirabell Competition in Salzburg, Austria.
Abigail Kreis
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Le nozze di Figaro
3-time winner of the NATS Regional Competition, Abigail Kreis is excited to be collaborating with Music On Site for her first professional opera production! She is also excited to graduate with her bachelors in vocal performance from Friends University this coming spring. Three of her favorite roles as an undergrad include Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, La fée in Viardot’s Cendrillon, and Beth Moss in Aaron Copeland’s The Tender Land. Looking forward to the future, Abigail is prayerfully considering her options and plans to start grad school in the fall.
Amy Krutsch
Gretel (cover) & Ensemble, Hänsel und Gretel
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Amy Pressman, soprano, is a returning artist at Music On Site, Inc. Last seen as Ida at MOSI in Die Fledermaus, she has also recently appeared as Second Woman in Eastman Opera Theatre’s production of Dido and Aeneas. Past roles include Gasparina in Haydn's La canterina and Valletto in L'incoronazione di Poppea and participated as a finalist in the 2023 Friends of Eastman Opera Vocal Competition.. Amy received a bachelor of music in Vocal Performance from Baylor University, where she was a student of Dr. Jamie Van Eyck. She has recently earned a master's degree in Vocal Performance and Literature, studying with Professor Robert Swensen at the Eastman School of Music.
Ting-An Lai
Music Director, Opera Scenes Showcase
Pianist, Le nozze di Figaro
Taiwanese pianist, Ting-An Lai, is currently based in Twin Cities, Minnesota. She is a doctoral candidate in Collaborative Piano and Coaching at University of Minnesota, where she studies with Timothy Lovelace. At UMN, she served as a collaborative piano graduate assistant and a rehearsal pianist for Opera Theatre.
Samuel Leopold
Vater, Hänsel und Gretel
Samuel Leopold is a Baritone from Wichita, Kansas, pursuing a Bachelor's of Music in Voice at KU under Dr. John A. Stephens. He has most recently appeared as ‘Herbert von Thaden’ in Opera Kansas’s production of Staggerwing. He also recently performed as ‘Frank’ in KU Opera’s Die Fledermaus. This is his second year being with Music on Site, last year he played ‘Masetto’ in Don Giovanni. This summer he travelled to Krakow, Poland with the KU Chamber Choir and won the Cracovia Cantans International Choir Competition. The choir plans to return next summer for the Grand Prix
Yuan Li
Music Director, Opera Scenes Showcase
Pianist, Le nozze di Figaro
Yuan Li is a Colorado-based music educator and collaborative pianist, currently serving as a piano instructor and collaborative pianist at Front Range Community College in Fort Collins, where she works with choirs and music majors. She has held faculty roles at University of Northern Colorado. Yuan holds a Doctor of Arts in Piano Performance from UNC and a Master of Music from University of California, Santa Barbara. She is excited to return to opera as rehearsal pianist for Le Nozze di Figaro and music director/pianist-coach for opera scenes at MOSI 2025. Beyond music, she enjoys nature, hiking, cooking, reading, and traveling.
Yuhua Li
Assistant Conductor, Le nozze di Figaro
Yuhua Li is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at Louisiana State University, where she serves as a Teaching Assistant for the Chamber Singers and Chorale. She holds a Master of Music and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Choral Conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Bachelor of Music from Central China Normal University. Yuhua has sung and performed with choirs at NCCO, Southern Region ACDA, LMEA, and in venues such as Christ Church Cathedral (Oxford), Qintai Grand Theatre, Voice of Phoenix Theatre and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in China.
Mark Lokkesmoe
Kaspar (cover) & Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Mark Lokkesmoe is a multifaceted artist who is native to Columbus, GA. Mark is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University and performs throughout the Southeastern United States. He performs a variety of musical styles including jazz, classical, funk, rock, metal, and the blues. Mark served in the United States Marine Corps as a percussionist while performing as a featured singer. After his military service, Mark earned a BA in Music as well as supplemental training in Audio Technology at Columbus State University. Mark Lokkesmoe is a Soultone Cymbals Artist.
Danielle Long
Marcellina, Le nozze di Figaro
Mezzo-soprano Danielle Long earned her Bachelors of Music at Saint Olaf College, MN. Following graduation, Danielle performed roles in Minnesotan theater, musical theater, and opera theater. After gaining proficiency in Italian and attending vocal programs in Austria and Germany, Danielle began her studies at Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, earning her Masters of Music in Voice Performance with a Graduate Certificate in Vocology. Highlights of her time at Jacobs include working with Michelle DeYoung, premiering multiple operatic roles, and performing as the alto soloist in several oratorios. When not singing, Danielle can be found on the Shakespearean stage, where she has recently made Chicago and St. Louis debuts. Danielle is also frequently engaged as a recitalist throughout the Midwest, and won first place in the Southern Illinois Young Arts Vocal Competition and the BTHVN Wien International Music Competition. She also loves pulling out all the stops as a performer and production manager for opera troupe, Re-imagining Opera for Kids. Danielle has recently appeared as a soloist with the Bridges Musical Arts Organization, the Columbus Philharmonic, the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, the Bloomington Jazz Orchestra, and she recently debuted as the Witch in Hansel and Gretel, and as Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro with Opera Lucca in Italy. Coming up, she will reprise her role as Marcellina with opera company, Music on Site.
Christopher Markgraf
Bartolo, Le nozze di Figaro
Christopher Markgraf, bass, recently performed as Angelotti and the Jailer in Tosca, and Dr. Grenville in La Traviata with Spotlight on Opera. Last year, he debuted with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra as Sparafucile in Rigoletto. He also appeared with Music on Site as Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni, and will be returning this year as Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro. Other roles Christopher has sung include Lindorf, Crespel, Coppelius (cover), from Les contes d’Hoffmann, Sarastro, from Die Zauberflöte, and Superintendent Budd from Albert Herring. Christopher has also sung Handel’s Messiah and Fauré’s Requiem in concert.
Joseph McBrayer
Basilio/Curzio, Le nozze di Figaro
Joseph McBrayer is a tenor excited to be returning to MOSI where you may have seen him last season as Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni). He most recently completed his time as a studio artist with Florida Grand Opera where he debuted roles such as Beppe (Pagliacci) and Gastone (La Traviata) on the mainstage while also performing many scenes and arias in numerous concerts across South Florida. He was born and raised in Dallas, GA where he was inspired to pursue performing at Kennesaw State University and then continuing studies at Indiana University, where he met his wife and frequent duet partner, Hayley. Today, they call Milwaukee home. When they are not out performing, the McBrayers can often be found out catching Pokémon together, and are both formidable trainers.
McKenzie McCowan
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
McKenzie McCowan is an accomplished musician, having been singing classically for nine years. She attended Baylor University beginning in 2020 on a full music scholarship and graduated with a BM in Vocal Performance in August of 2025. McKenzie has also achieved great success in vocal competitions, having won second place at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) in 2020, third place in 2021, and semi-finalist in 2023. She has been featured in many concerts at Baylor University, performing in multiple ensembles such as A Capella Choir, Bella Voce, Chamber Singers, and the Baylor Opera Theatre Program. In addition, she placed in the top five finalists at the Classical Music Competition held in Chicago this past Summer. Most recently, McKenzie is preparing to compete at NATS 2025 as well as graduate school auditions for the upcoming academic year. This December she will be joining the ensemble cast of Amahl and the Night Visitors, as well as being featured in the Opera Scenes Program at MOSI, Music on Site, Inc. McKenzie is under the tutelage of Dr. Manifacier.
Kimberly Milburn
Witch (cover) & Ensemble, Hänsel und Gretel
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Kimberly Milburn is a mezzo-soprano from the American South. She made her operatic debut in 2019 as Dritte Dame (Die Zauberflöte) at Weill Recital Hall and since has appeared as Ericlea (Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria), Leila (Iolanthe), Suzuki (Madama Butterfly), Second Witch (Dido and Aeneas), Mère Marie (cover/Dialogues of the Carmelites), and Rafaela (cover/East Coast premiere of Carla Lucero’s Juana), and has partially performed Carmen, Zita, Cornelia, and Lucretia. She has performed at Opera Atlantic, the Ridgewood Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Co., dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, Bronx Opera, the REACH, and Symphony Space. Find her on ig/yt @kimbermusik and kimberlymilburn.com
Neve Moore
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Neve Moore, mezzo-soprano, is a Vocal Performance senior at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Neve has performed in many UMD Opera Studio productions, portraying Zita in the studio’s fall 2025 performance of Gianni Schicchi. Past roles include Nursemaid #2 (Street Scene), Mimi (Guys and Dolls), and chorus in H.M.S. Pinafore. In April 2025, Neve performed in scenes as Carmen (Carmen) and the Third Lady (The Magic Flute). Neve will receive her BM in Vocal Performance from the University of Minnesota Duluth in the spring of 2026. She is thrilled for her MOSI debut!
Ramon Mosate Jr.
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Le nozze di Figaro
Ramon Mosate Jr. is an emerging Countertenor and Tenor based in Wichita. He studied Voice and Psychology Wichita State University (2023), performing in Susannah, The Scarlet Letter, and Rusalka. Ramon made his professional debut with Wichita Grand Opera as “Sultan Achmet” in Bernstein’s Candide, later taking on roles such as “Xerxes” in Serse, and “The Refugee” in Flight. Following this production, he’ll be performing in Wichita Grand Opera’s La Cenerentola. He recently has performed as “Oronte” in Handel’s Alcina with Opera Seme, in the Robert Owens Centenary Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska, West Side Story with Wichita Grand Opera, and the role of “Maurice” in All Is Calm with Wichita Grand Opera. He continues to grow as a dynamic presence in the opera world!
Whitney Myers
Mutter, Hänsel und Gretel
Whitney Myers, soprano, has been seen in the title roles in Rusalka and Carmen, Lady MacBeth in MacBeth, Helmwige and Ortlinde in Die Walküre, Chrysothemis in Elektra, Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, Elle in La Voix humaine, the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Giulietta in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Tsarevna in Kashchei the Immortal, Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica, and 1st Lady in Die Zauberflöte. Myers has also covered the title roles in Salome and Suor Angelica, as well as Freia in Das Rheingold and Brünnhilde in Der Ring des Nibelungen.
Arthi Nandakumar
Stage Director, Opera Scenes Showcase
Assistant Stage Director, Hänsel und Gretel
Arthi Nandakumar is an emerging opera director with a background in classical voice, having studied at the Manhattan School of Music. Passionate about enhancing vocal performance and dramatic storytelling, she aims to bring fresh perspectives to classic works. Arthi made her directorial debut in May 2024 with La Traviata at Snug Harbor and will direct Lucia di Lammermoor there this spring. She is also preparing to direct Prince Cnut, a new opera composed by Marco Catella, premiering in February 2026. Arthi looks forward to expanding her artistic voice through upcoming projects and collaborative exploration in opera.
Lily Negroponte
Amahl (cover) & Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Lily Negroponte (he/she) is a mezzo-soprano from Queens NY, who has just graduated from Queens College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance. In her time at QC she’s performed such roles as Hansel in Hansel und Gretel, Miss Todd in The Old Maid and the Thief, and most recently, Florence in Albert Herring. This past summer Lily performed the role of Cherubino at Saluzzo Opera Academy and was a participant at Respiro Opera. He is thrilled to be a part of Music On Site this winter.
Katie Noelker
Assistant Conductor, Le nozze di Figaro
Katie Noelker is a doctoral candidate in orchestral conducting at the University of Oklahoma, studying under Dr. Jonathan Shames. She has served as Music Director of the OU Civic Orchestra, Assistant Conductor for OU Opera Theatre, and Associate Conductor with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. A former Visiting Professor at Eastern Kentucky University, she conducted the symphony orchestra and taught music theory. Noelker has led a wide range of educational and youth ensembles and served as Assistant Conductor with the 2024 FIO Italia and as Program Administrator for the 2023 Aspen Opera Theater and Vocal Arts Program.
Elaina Noto
Hänsel, Hänsel und Gretel
Elaina Noto, mezzo-soprano, is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance at The Aaron Copland School of Music, where she studies with Dr. Sherry Overholt. She has performed a variety of operatic principal roles including Nancy in Britten’s Albert Herring, Second Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Bradamante in Handel’s Alcina, the Sandman in Humperdinck's Hänsel unt Gretel, Delfa in Giasone, and numerous opera scenes. This past Summer, she made her professional debut as the Little Prince, in Rachel Portman’s The Little Prince and Barbarina, in Mozart’s Le Nozze Di Figaro with Opera North New Hampshire. Miss Noto is excited to return to one of her favorite operas to sing “Hänsel” with Music On Site for their 2025 season.
Barbie Noyes
Principal Coach, Le nozze di Figaro
Pianist Barbara Noyes can be found collaborating with musicians in a variety of genres from chamber music to opera and musical theater. Alongside mezzo soprano Claire McCahan, Noyes formed Horizon Duo and has competed at the National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Awards, the Federation of Art Song, the Franz Schubert & Modern Music, and won Grand Prize in the Doug Davis Composition and Performance competition. Noyes holds graduate degrees in collaborative piano from the University of Colorado Boulder where she studied with Margaret McDonald and Alexandra Nguyen. She is currently Instructor of Collaboration at Vanderbilt University.
Oluwagbemiga David Oluwo
Bartolo, Le nozze di Figaro
Oluwagbemiga David Oluwo (Houston, TX), bass-baritone, is a first-year master’s student in the Maryland Opera Studio. He is a recent graduate of the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, earning a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, where he studied under Dr. Timothy Jones. Oluwo has trained with Houston Grand Opera’s Young Artist Vocal Academy, Opera Maine, and Lyric Opera Studio Weimar. He is known for his rich timbre and compelling stage presence. Recent performances include Principal (Paul's Case), Betto di Signa (Gianni Schicchi), Frank (Die Fledermaus), Il Commendatore (Don Giovanni), and José Tripaldi (Ainadamar). This fall, he joins the Maryland Opera Studio under the mentorship of Kevin Short.
Julia Pace
Mother, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, soprano Julia Pace holds a Master of Music in Opera Performance from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Tarleton State University. Her roles include Abigail Williams (The Crucible), Annina (La Traviata), and Hanna Glawari (The Merry Widow). She recently performed “Dich, teure Halle” with the AIMS Festival Orchestra in Austria. This is Julia’s third season with MOSI, previously appearing as La Conversa II in Suor Angelica (2022) and as a Featured Artist (2021). She has also performed with AIMS, Opera in the Ozarks, and OK City Opera.
Hannah Park
Hänsel, Hänsel und Gretel
Hannah Park, mezzo-soprano, recently completed her M.M. in Vocal Performance at Baylor University. She is currently a Resident Artist with Austin Opera, and will join Music On Site as Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel. Her recent stage credits include Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel and Armelinde in Viardot’s Cendrillon with Baylor Opera Theatre, and Flora in La traviata and Lola in Cavalleria rusticana with Spotlight on Opera at Tulsa Opera. Hannah has also choreographed in various styles for Cendrillon and Luisa Fernanda with Baylor Opera Theatre, and directed for the Opera Scenes Showcase with Music On Site’s 2024 festival season.
Michelle Pérez
Countess, Le nozze di Figaro
Mexican-American Soprano Michelle Pérez is prized for her technical mastery, stylistic versatility, and compelling characterization. Originally from the Rio Grande Valley, she recently performed at Arizona State University as Pauline Viardot in Notes on Viardot, La Contessa in Le nozze di Figaro, Anne Truelove in The Rakes Progress, Marie in La fille du régiment, and Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel. She is in demand as a recitalist and soloist for the Faure and Mozart Requiems and Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 as the 2023 ASU Concerto Competition winner. Michelle is pursuing a doctoral degree in voice at ASU and is thrilled to return to perform with Music On Site!!
Abigail Petersen
Music Director, Opera Scenes Showcase
Pianist, Le nozze di Figaro
Originally from Wisconsin, pianist Abigail Petersen has performed in collaborative settings across the midwestern United States and in Germany. She holds double baccalaureate degrees in music performance and Latin from Bowling Green State University, where she studied with Dr. Yevgeny Yontov, and she is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Collaborative Piano under Dr. Ana María Otamendi at the University of Michigan. In addition, Abigail has performed in masterclasses and festival seminars under Robert McDonald, Martin Katz, Howard Watkins, and Warren Jones. Her collaborative work with clarinetist Justin Brown is featured on the duo’s 2025 album Global Impressions.
Jackson Phillips
Balthazar, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Jackson Phillips is a bass from Montgomery, Texas, currently in his fourth year as a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance major at Baylor University, where he studies under Dr. Jamie Van Eyck. Jackson has participated in various opera productions in the Texas area, covering Il Commendatore in Music On Site, Inc.'s production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and performing scenes as Osmin in Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail and Simone in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. Jackson is continuing his involvement with Baylor Opera Theater and Music On Site, Inc. throughout the next several months, including the role of Louis Viardot in Michael Ching’s Notes on Viardot, and Cartone in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo.
Melody Prater
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Le nozze di Figaro
Melody Prater, soprano, recently graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Oberlin Conservatory of Music with a concentration in Pedagogy, Advocacy, and Community Engagement. She is dedicated to sharing classical music through education and outreach, and her favorite productions are those that inspire children. While Melody has studied several well-known roles, including Zerbinetta from Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss and the title role from Massenet’s Manon, she is also passionate about performing the music of underrepresented composers. She was recently a finalist in the Oberlin Conservatory Concerto Competition, singing "Heart on the Wall" by Robert Owens.
Toni M Rainey
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Le nozze di Figaro
Toni Rainey, a mezzo-soprano from Topeka, Kansas, earned her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Washburn University. She went on to complete a Master of Music in Voice Performance at Missouri State University, studying under Ann Marie Wilcox-Daehn. Currently, she is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance at the University of Kansas, where she studies with Courtney Fletcher. A two-time NATS finalist, Toni has also performed in masterclasses led by Joyce Castle and Alan Held. At KU, she has appeared as a soloist with the University of Kansas Wind Ensemble. Her operatic roles include Madame Kirsten in The Beautiful Bridegroom, Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, La Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica, and Prince Charming in Massenet’s Cinderella.
Athena Rajnai
Witch, Hänsel und Gretel
Athena Rajnai is a mezzo-soprano based in the Finger Lakes region of NY state and a graduate of Ithaca College under the tutelage of Patrice Pastore. Athena is a winner of the 2023 Ithaca College Concerto Competition. In 2025, Athena attended The Vocal Academy at The Collaborative Piano Institute at The University of Michigan. Recent engagements include soloist in Duruflé’s Requiem alongside the Cornell University Glee Club, and Athena’s time as a Studio Apprentice Artist at Opera Ithaca: Mrs. Grose (u/s) in Britten’s The Turn of The Screw, Second Wood Sprite in Dvořák’s Rusalka, and Molly Joyce’s song cycle YouSaidSheSaidHeSaid.
Justin Ramm-Damron
Figaro, Le nozze di Figaro
Justin Ramm-Damron is excited to return to MOSI to sing the title role in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. Last year with MOSI he performed the role of Il Commendatore in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Justin has been described as a “Poised and characterful bass-baritone” (Opera Today) and known to give “a menacing performance” (KDHX). He has performed roles with several reputable opera companies, including: Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Sarasota Opera, Central City Opera, Shreveport Opera, Teatro Grattacielo, Bronx Opera, Tundi Productions inc., Opera Magnifico, Shakespeare Opera Theatre, New Jersey Lyric Opera, and St Petersburg Opera.
Emmalynn Reilly
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
In her second year at Wichita State University, Emmalynn Reilly is a Soprano from Amarillo, Texas. She has most recently been in WSU’s performance of Menotti’s The Consul as Anna Gomez, and WSU’s Opera Scenes program as Beth from Little Women. Now, she is excited to make her MOSI debut. When not singing, she can be found travelling, cooking, and laughing with friends.
William Rhys
Balthazar, Amahl and the Night Visitors
William Rhys is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Louisiana State University, where he studies under Dr. Brandon Hendrickson. He has appeared multiple times with the Turner-Fischer Opera Center, performing in productions such as L’elisir d’amore, Die Fledermaus, and L’Étoile. This season, he is covering the role of Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro. William is excited to continue developing his craft as both a performer and student of opera.
Alexia Rivera
Marcellina, Le nozze di Figaro
Alexia Rivera is a Mexican-American mezzo-soprano from Houston, Texas. Some of her favorite roles performed are the Witch in Hänsel und Gretel, Talkative Girl in Speed Dating Tonight, and Barigoule in Viardot’s Cendrillon. Other roles include Fanny and Pauline Viardot in Michael Ching’s Notes on Viardot. She was a winner of the 2024 Baylor Symphony Orchestra Aria Competition, and also debuted at Carnegie Hall as a soloist in Baylor University’s “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand,” arranged by Reginal Wright. Alexia Rivera studies Vocal Performance at Baylor University under Dr. Jamie Van Eyck.
Preston Rogers
Count, Le nozze di Figaro
Preston Rogers, baritone, is earning his MM in Voice at Indiana University. He has performed a wide array of repertoire, from Baroque opera to world premieres. Notable roles performed include Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte, Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro, Somnus in Semele, Betto in Gianni Schicchi, and Argippo in L'Erismena. In the concert hall, he has performed various Bach cantatas, as well as the solos in Faure's Requiem and Ives' The Celestial Country. A passionate advocate for new music, Rogers has performed world premieres of contemporary opera, oratorio, choral works, and art songs.
Ryan Rogers
Assistant Conductor, Le nozze di Figaro
Ryan Rogers is thrilled to be joining the faculty at Radford University as Interim Director of Choral Activities in Fall 2025! A native Texan, he studied Piano Performance and Choral Music Education at the University of Houston, graduating summa cum laude in May 2018. After completing his undergraduate, he served as an Assistant Choir Director at North Shore High School in Galena Park ISD until Spring 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ryan began editing audio for virtual performances, assembling over two hundred songs for various organizations throughout the country. In Spring 2023, he graduated with a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, where he served as the Principal Assistant Conductor of the Yale Glee Club and Director of the Glee Club Chamber Singers. Currently, Ryan is completing a Doctor of Music at Indiana University and served as Music Director at First Presbyterian Church during his time in Bloomington.
Sofia Rohlman
Barbarina, Le nozze di Figaro
Susanna (cover), Le nozze di Figaro
Sofia Rohlman (soprano) from Charlotte, North Carolina, is currently attending Baylor University to get her Master’s degree in Vocal Performance. She’s performed as Belinda in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Anne in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music with Appalachian Opera Theater. In 2023, Sofia performed the role of Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica with Opera Seme in Arezzo, Italy. She performed as Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro with Trentino Music Festival in Primiero, Italy. Sofia will be performing with Baylor Opera Theatre this season, and is excited to be performing as Barbarina again and undertaking Susanna as a cover!
Kaitlyn Rongish
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Hänsel und Gretel
Kaitlyn is a soprano from Lenexa, Kansas. She is a sophomore at Wichita State University studying vocal performance under Michael Sylvester. Some of her recent performances include the role of "Vera Boronel" in Wichita State University's production of The Consul. In 2024, she received 1st place in the West Central NATS First-Year Post-High School Classical Treble Division. This is Kaitlyn’s first performance with Music On Site.
Rebekah Grande
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Hänsel und Gretel
Rebekah Grande is a Hungarian-American mezzo-soprano currently studying at Oberlin Conservatory under the tutelage of Mathilda Edge. Rebekah has been seen in operas such as: Handel’s Alcina (Ruggiero Cover, Assistant Director), Giddens’ Omar: In Concert (Chorus), and Massenet’s Cendrillon (Dorothée). She has also performed scenes from the operas: Handel’s Giulio Cesare (Sesto), Humperdick’s Hänsel und Gretel (Sandmann), Moore’s The Ballad of Baby Doe (Augusta), and Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (Marcellina) & Idomeneo (Idamante). Rebekah is so excited to be working with Music On Site, and wants to thank the whole team for their support!
Tim Sanchez
Music Director, Opera Scenes Showcase
Pianist, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Tim Sanchez is a freelance pianist based in the DFW metroplex. He serves as a studio pianist at the University of North Texas and is an accompanist for both the Dallas Women’s Chorus and the National Children’s Chorus. Additionally, he is the Director of Music Ministry at Westwind Church in Keller, Texas, and is a pianist for Opera Arlington's Outreach Program. Tim holds dual Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Theory and Music Education from the University of North Texas.
Victoria Schmidt
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Hänsel und Gretel
Victoria Schmidt is a soprano based in Kansas City, Missouri currently studying under Dr. Aidan Soder. Victoria’s upcoming engagements include performances with Music On Site, Inc. and the District Round in the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition. Most recently, Victoria was named a semifinalist in Tier I in the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition. Her most notable roles from operas and scenes include the Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro), Ilia (Idomeneo), Frasquita (Carmen) and La Fée (Cendrillon). Victoria received her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and studied under David Small and Patty Thom.
Jinni Shen
Gretel, Hänsel und Gretel
Dr. Jinni Shen, soprano from Nanjing, China, earned her Bachelor’s at the China Conservatory of Music and Master’s in Voice at the Mannes School of Music. In 2019, she joined the International Vocal Arts Institute, Savannah Voice Festival, and Pittsburgh Festival Opera as a studio artist. In 2021, she entered The University of Texas at Austin, performing principal roles with the Butler Opera Center: Rosina (The Ghosts of Versailles), Lisa (The Queen of Spades), Musetta (La Bohème), Giulietta (Les Contes d’Hoffmann), “Ma” Zegner (Proving Up), and Micaëla (Carmen). Additional credits include Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus, FAVA Opera) and an apprenticeship with OPERA San Antonio. She earned her D.M.A. in 2024 and now pursues her Artist Diploma, with upcoming roles as Giorgetta and Suor Angelica in Il trittico.
Amanda Simms
Susanna, Le nozze di Figaro
Amanda Simms, soprano, praised for her “ravishing lyric soprano” (theatrescene), is a graduate of the Peabody Institute for her Performance Diploma where she was a recipient of the George Castelle Memorial Award and the Artistic Excellence Scholarship. Last season, Amanda joined Opera Neo as a resident artist for their spring and summer seasons and will covered roles in Motezuma (Vivaldi) and Armida (Haydn). She attended the Castleton Festival as a resident artist for the Vocal Immersion Program performing in the lieder song recital and opera scenes program under the direction of Paul Groves and Michelle DeYoung.
Noelle Singleton
Assistant Conductor, Le nozze di Figaro
Noelle Singleton began her doctoral studies in orchestral conducting, pedagogy, and literature at James Madison University in August 2025. She conducts the JMU Chamber Orchestra, serves as assistant conductor of the JMU Symphony, and is music director for JMU Opera’s upcoming production of Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites. Prior to her doctoral work, Singleton held a one-year faculty appointment at Brigham Young University–Idaho, where she conducted the University Orchestra and taught violin. She holds MM and BM degrees in orchestral conducting and music education. An advocate for female composers, Singleton’s research and performances have highlighted the works of Augusta Holmès, Florence Price, and Gabriela Lena Frank.
Leah Alexandra Smith
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Leah Alexandra Smith is a Mezzo Soprano hailing from Hartsville, South Carolina. She is currently a junior at the College of Charleston receiving her B.A. in Music with two concentrations in Vocal Performance and Music History and Culture and a minor in Linguistics. At the College of Charleston she studies voice with Harold Meers and has gotten to perform roles including Orfeo in Glück’s Orfeo ed Euridice with the CofC Opera, and she looks forward to playing Hänsel in their 2026 mainstage production of Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel. She also recently participated in the Harrower Summer Opera at Georgia State University this past summer. In the coming years she plans on furthering her vocal technique, her artistry, and stagecraft, and hopes to continue her musicological and cultural studies of Russian liturgical music alongside performing.
Micaela Solari
Production Assistant, Music On Site
Micaela Solari (she/her) is excited to return to MOSI this year as a Production Assistant! Currently residing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Micaela spends her time coordinating recitals for faculty, esteemed guests, and musical departments as the Faculty Event Operations Coordinator within the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at the University of Michigan. When not assisting with recitals, Micaela can be found reading a good book, enjoying a cup of coffee, or causing mischief with Scraps the tortoiseshell cat.
Samantha Sosa
Susanna, Le nozze di Figaro
Samantha Sosa is a Venezuelan soprano with her Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music and her Bachelor of Music from Eastman School of Music. She has been a Resident Artist at the Glimmerglass Festival and will join Sarasota Opera as an Apprentice Artist this spring. Recent performances include the role of Princess in L’Enfant et les Sortilèges with Bel Cantanti Opera as well as the role of Oksana in Zaporozhets za Dunayem with Loudoun Lyric Opera. She has previously performed the role of Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with Vienna Summer Music Festival. Samantha has premiered new works by living composers like Derek Bermel and Mark Contreras Waiss, and she will premiere Nathan Felix’s new opera this spring as well as Suzanne Farrin’s Macabéa in fall 2026. Samantha placed 2nd place in the Pittsburgh Festival Opera Mildred Miller Competition and received the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Encouragement Award twice at the Pittsburgh District.
Benjamin South
Kaspar, Amahl and the Night Visitors
An Alabama native, Benjamin South is a versatile artist & teacher specializing in crossover performance & pedagogy. Most recently, he has performed as a Teaching & Touring Artist with Central City Opera and an Emerging Artist with the Seagle Festival. Recent roles include Teague (COLD MOUNTAIN), Charlie (BRIGADOON), Sam Polk (SUSANNAH), Eddie Birdlace (DOGFIGHT), and Theodore Lawrence (Adamo's LITTLE WOMEN). He is currently pursuing the Doctoral of Musical Arts in Performance & Pedagogy from the University of Colorado Boulder. Benjamin has completed studies at New York University, Ohio University, and the University of North Alabama.
Sarah Squires
Barbarina, Le nozze di Figaro
Sarah Squires is a soprano from Humble, TX. She is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.M. in Vocal Performance at Texas Christian University and studying under Dr. James Rodriguez. She currently performs with TCU Opera and TCU Concert Chorale, and she has previously performed with TCU Vocal Jazz. Her most notable roles include Monica in Menotti’s The Medium, Johanna in Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, and Gasparina in Haydn's La Canterina. She has also been named a semifinalist in the NATS National Student Auditions in both 2024 and 2025 in the Lower College Classical Treble division.
Nic Stark
Basilio/Curzio, Le nozze di Figaro
Nic Stark, tenor is currently based in central Pennsylvania. He currently functions as an adujunct instructor at Lycoming & Carl Albert State Colleges. He holds a Master’s degree of Music in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Penn State and a Bachelor’s of Musical Arts from Oklahoma Baptist University. On the stage, Nic has most recently been spotted performing alongside the Williamsport Symphony as the tenor soloist of Carmina Burana. His most recent operatic appearances include scenes from L’elisir d’amore and Candide, and the roles of Giles Corey from The Crucible, Bardolfo from Falstaff.
Elise Strain
Amahl, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Sparkling soprano, Elise Strain is a junior in pursuit of a Bachelor of Music degree in voice from Louisiana State University studying under tenors Robert Grayson and Paul groves. During her time at LSU she has performed four seasons with the Turner- Fischer Center for opera. Her most notable roles with the Turner - Fischer center include Adele in Strauss’s “Die Fledermaus, Carrie in Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s “Carousel” (Cover), Erster Knabe in Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte”, and the Kitchen Maid in Griffin Candey’s “La Casa De Bernarda Alba.” Outside of LSU she had the honor of participating in the Austrian American Mozart academy where she debuted Madame Silberklang in Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor. She is thrilled to return back to MOSI!
Daria Tereshchenko
Cherubino, Le nozze di Figaro
Daria Tereshchenko is a Russian-Canadian mezzo-soprano currently pursuing her graduate studies at the Mannes School of Music under the tutelage of Amy Burton. Upcoming roles include Silvia Lombardi in Korngold’s The Silent Serenade with Mannes Opera. Her recent engagements include her appearance as Beulah in Ricky Ian Gordon’s This House as part of the 2025 Works & Process Opera Series, the title role in Handel’s Silla with Chicago Summer Opera, and covering Ruggiero in Handel’s Alcina with Mannes Opera. Equally passionate about contemporary music, Daria made her Alice Tully Hall debut as the alto soloist in Luciano Berio’s Sinfonia with Mannes Orchestra, and has also appeared as the alto soloist in John Adams’s Grand Pianola Music with Mannes Wind Symphony.
Jonathan Thoma
Assistant Conductor, Le nozze di Figaro
Jonathan Thoma is a graduate student at Texas State University, earning his Masters in Orchestral Conducting with Dr. Jacob Harrison. A native Iowan, Jonathan earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Iowa State University. Upon graduation, he became a high school orchestra director in Muscatine, IA. During his 10 years in Muscatine, orchestras under his direction saw perpetual growth and consistently earned superior ratings at state festivals. At TXST, Jonathan directs the TXST Camerata Orchestra. and is a graduate assistant conductor with the TXST Symphony Orchestra. He has represented TXST at conducting workshops in Boulder, Colorado and Requena, Spain.
Jaiden Ursich
Cello, Strings Academy
Jaidan Ursich is currently attending Oklahoma City University for a Master’s in Cello Performance under the mentorship of Emily Stoops. She has experience performing in ensembles such as the Loveland Opera Theatre, the Longmont Symphony, the Brevard Summer Orchestral Institute Orchestras, the University of Northern Colorado and Oklahoma City University Early Music Ensembles, as well as the UNC and OCU Pit Orchestras. Previously, she studied under Dr. Sally Murphy, Dr. Gal Faganel, and Dr. Katarina Pliego. She finished her undergraduate degree in Cello Performance, graduating Suma Cum Laude with honors after completing her thesis on Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Golden Cockerel.
Luke Carmichael Valmadrid
Viola, Strings Academy
Luke Carmichael Valmadrid is a third-year medical student and PRIME-HEq Scholar at the University of California San Diego. He is the former violist of the Perlman Ensemble at UW-Madison, where he studied with Soh-Hyun Park Altino, Parry Karp, and Sally Chisholm. A former Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle Student Fellow and Mimir Chamber Music Festival Emerging Artist, he currently performs with the California Young Artists Symphony. He recently began studies with Chi-Yuan Chen of the San Diego Symphony and plays regularly with Room 264 at UCSD.
Ben Varner
Figaro (cover) & Ensemble, Le nozze di Figaro
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ben Varner is a dynamic up-and-coming baritone hailing from Savannah, GA and currently based in Atlanta, GA. His musical journey began at a young age with piano studies, and now has an intense focus on opera. He is currently pursuing an undergraduate vocal performance degree at Georgia State University, studying voice with Rick Clement. He is also a mainstay in the university opera, having played such roles as Frank in Die Fledermaus and Mr. Kofner in The Consul. Additionally, he has participated in The Atlanta Opera Chorus in TAO's production of Macbeth, and their upcoming productions of Turandot and Götterdämmerung.
Giang Vo
Assistant Conductor, Le nozze di Figaro
Giang Vo is a Vietnamese-American conductor based in Oklahoma City. He holds a Master’s in Orchestral Conducting from Northwestern University, studying with Donald Schleicher, and a Bachelor’s in Violin Performance from Oklahoma City University under Dr. Benjamin Shute and Dr. Sophia Ro. Vo began his operatic journey assisting Benjamin Manis in a production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte, which culminated in his operatic debut. Following the success of Così fan tutte, He was invited to lead productions of Britten’s Albert Herring and Montsalvatge’s El Gato con Botas. Recently, he assisted for the Berlin Opera Academy’s production of Cendrillon.
Rebecca Walsh
Barbarina, Le nozze di Figaro
An experienced improviser and versatile soprano, Rebecca Walsh splits her time between Houston and Waco, Texas. No stranger to the stage, Ms. Walsh has most recently performed as Patience in Patience, Duchess Carolina in Luisa Fernanda, and will soon be performing as Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel. Praised for her wonderful pianissimo high notes, Ms. Walsh received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Baylor University and is currently pursuing her Master of Music in Voice Performance at Baylor. She is a student of Dr. Deborah Williamson.
Ruyi Wan
Violin, Strings Academy
Ruyi Wan began her formal violin training in 2013 at the Affiliated Middle School of Wuhan Conservatory of Music. In 2019, she entered Wuhan Conservatory of Music, where she majored in violin performance and earned her Bachelor of Music degree in 2023. That same year, she joined the Nanchang Symphony Orchestra as a first violinist, performing with the ensemble until 2024. In 2025, she was awarded a full scholarship to pursue her Master’s degree in viola performance at Oklahoma City University.
Hunter Warnick
Figaro, Le nozze di Figaro
Hunter Warnick, bass-baritone, is a recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Northern Arizona University, where he studied under Dr. Robert Allen Saunders. Most recently at the Brevard Music Center, Hunter performed the role of Dr. Dulcamara in the Janiec Opera Company’s production of L’elisir d’amore. Originally from Kuna, Idaho, Hunter was the 2025 prize winner of the Idaho Federation of Music Clubs Collegiate Award in both the Men’s Voice category and overall, in addition to winning the National Federation of Music Clubs biannual Student/Collegiate Auditions Award. Other credits include Olin Blitch in Susannah, Friedrich Bhaer in Little Women, and Leporello in Don Giovanni.
Emily Warren
Cherubino, Le nozze di Figaro
Mezzo-soprano Emily Warren is known for her versatile vocal technique and dramatic capabilities. Notable performance credits include Stephano in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, Ramiro in Mozart’s La finta giardiniera, and Sesto in Handel’s Giulio Cesare with Indiana University Opera Theater as part of the American Handel Festival. She has performed roles with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Utah Valley Operafest, Valkyrie Ensemble, and New Voices Opera, and has performed as a concert soloist in works by J.S. Bach, Charpentier, and Ted Hearne. Ms. Warren holds a master’s degree and performer’s diploma from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
Jane Wee
Marcellina (cover) & Ensemble, Le nozze di Figaro
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Jane Wee is a Filipino-Chinese mezzo-soprano currently taking her dual master’s degree in music in Voice Performance under Heidi Melton and Musicology at the Lamont School of Music, University of Denver. She recently won 3rd place and audience award at the Art Song Colorado competition last April. In 2023, she did the role of Dorabella in Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte at Salzburg and premiered the chamber opera, “Citizen Penny” in Sacramento, California. In 2021, she won 3rd place at the National Music Competition for Young Artists held in the Philippines.
Brittany Rose Weinstock
Countess, Le nozze di Figaro
Soprano Brittany Rose Weinstock is a Performer’s Diploma student at Indiana University, where she sang Micaëla in Carmen and originated the role of Helen in The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, a co-production with the Metropolitan Opera. In Spring 2026, Weinstock will reprise Micaëla with the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra. Past apprenticeships include the Aspen Music Festival (Musetta cover, La Bohème), Central City Opera (Anna Maurrant cover, Street Scene) and the Savannah VOICE Festival. Other credits include H.M.S. Pinafore (Josephine), Into the Woods (Jack’s Mother), and Le nozze di Figaro (Countess). Recent awards include the Camille Coloratura Awards (Semi-Finalist), the Carolyn Bailey Argento and Loren L. Zachary Competitions (Finalist), and Laffont Competition (District Encouragement Award).
Marcus Wilkerson
Featured Artist, Opera Scenes Showcase
Ensemble, Amahl and the Night Visitors
Marcus Wilkerson, Lyric Baritone, is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. Wilkerson received his Bachelors in Music with an emphasis in voice from Kentucky State University. He is a singer songwriter, poet and multi-instrumentalist who currently performs within the Kentucky/Ohio/Tennessee region. As a singer-songwriter, Wilkerson has been on the Kentucky Arts Council Roster of Performing Artist as well as KAC’s Roster for Performing Teaching Artist for over 10 years, creating his own platform to tell stories through song. In addition to his own style of performing, Mr. Wilkerson is excited to be adding Bel Canto music into his skill set again.
Mary Wright
Witch, Hänsel und Gretel
Mary Wright (Blacksburg, VA), mezzo-soprano, a student at the Maryland Opera Studio and a graduate of Virginia Tech, is thrilled to be making her Music on Site debut as Knusperhexe this season. Wright was a Young Artist at Opera Roanoke (2022-2024) where she sang the roles of Witch (Hansel and Gretel) and Miss Todd (The Old Maid and the Thief). Her other opera credits include Mercédès (Carmen), Cupid (Venus and Adonis), Zita (Gianni Schicchi), Madam Terentia (Captain Lovelock), and Nancy Waters (Albert Herring). She is a student of Dr. Theresa Bickham.
Oliver Yan
Conductor, Hänsel und Gretel
Hong Kong's new generation of orchestral conductor and classical saxophonist; Chung Hoi YAN (Oliver) is active in musical activities worldwide. Oliver Yan is the current co-director of the University of Kansas Philharmonic Orchestra (KUPO) and the Assistant Conductor of the University of Kansas Symphony Orchestra (KUSO). He actively conducted wind ensembles, chamber orchestras, and symphony orchestras in the United States, Italy, Bulgaria, Korea, and Hong Kong.
Vakhtang Zaalishvili
Assistant Principal Coach, Le nozze di Figaro
Vakhtang Zaalishvili, born July 7, 1997, in Tbilisi, Georgia, is a pianist and opera coach. He trained at Tbilisi Zakaria Paliashvili Central Music School and earned a Bachelor’s in Performing Arts from Tbilisi State Conservatoire, later refining his coaching at Conservatorio Arrigo Boito in Parma, Italy. A laureate of international competitions, he has coached productions including Falstaff, Le Nozze Di Figaro, and Dido and Aeneas, and served as music director for Il Barbiere di Siviglia at the DWOC, PA, USA. He is currently pursuing an MM in Opera Coaching at the University of Texas and actively participates in Butler Opera Center productions.
Yihao Zhou
Assistant Principal Coach, Hänsel und Gretel
Driven by a deep belief in sincerity and companionship in his music-making, New York City-based pianist Yihao Zhou has distinguished himself as a refined collaborative artist and coach with extensive knowledge of languages and a wide range of song and operatic repertoire. Recent concert appearances have brought him to esteemed venues such as Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, and Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Lincoln Center. Beyond the concert stage, Yihao has also served on the music staff of Beth Morrison Projects, Chicago Summer Opera, New York City Lyric Opera, and Opera Company of Middlebury. Currently, Yihao is a member of the accompanying and coaching staff at The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music, from both of which he earned graduate degrees in collaborative piano. He received additional training at the Music Academy of the West and SongFest, and holds a bachelor’s degree in both music and mathematics from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Shira Ziv
Gretel, Hänsel und Gretel
Shira Ziv, has been praised for her “vocal prowess and acting acumen” (Cleveland Classical). In 2025 she performed Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro (Teatro Grattacielo), Zerlina in Don Giovanni and Zina in Muhly’s Dark Sisters (CIMOT). Shira debuted with the Jerusalem Lyric Opera in 2024 as Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare. Other highlighted credits include Adele, Morgana, Pamina, and Blanche. Passionate for new music, she has premiered several contemporary works and will play Florence in the 2026 film Showstopper as a guest artist with the Ringling College of Art and Design. In 2024 Shira won five first-place prizes in national and international competitions.
Liz Lee
Faculty, Strings Academy
Korean violinist, Haerim Elizabeth Lee captivates audiences by “leaving them breathless with impeccable phrasing and relevant musicality.” (El Norte, Mexico). Elizabeth has developed a playing style indicative of the very essence of her personality: passionate and deliberate and often witty. In 2015, Ms. Lee performed as the concertmaster with Yo-Yo Ma at the Kennedy Center Honors concert in Washington, D.C. to recognize Maestro Seiji Ozawa, which was attended by former President Barack Obama. Following her solo debut with orchestra at nine years old, she has been a guest soloist with the Winston-Salem Symphony, Symphony of the Mountains, New Amsterdam Symphony, Chelsea Symphony, Orquesta Sinfonica de la Unal, Seoul Virtuosi, Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Olimpia and Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinu. As a performing artist and scholar, Ms. Lee has established herself as a visionary and was the first recipient of the Tarisio Young Artist Grant as the Artistic Director of MoKo Musik for promotion and commission of Korean music. She is also the Co-Artistic Director of the Innsbrook Music Festival in Missouri and is a co-founder of Texas Chamber Music Institute.
Ruben Balboa
Faculty, Strings Academy
Dr. Ruben Balboa is a violist, conductor and educator recognized by the American Viola Society as both an Emerging Artist (2021) and Emerging Teacher (2022). He serves as assistant professor of viola/violin and string music education at Wichita State University, where he teaches applied lessons, string pedagogy and string rehearsal methods. He has taught at the University of Texas at Austin, Illinois State University, Texas State University and Southwestern University. At UT Austin, he served as lecturer of viola and assistant director of the UT String Project, overseeing curriculum design, faculty mentorship and pedagogy training from undergraduate to doctoral levels. Passionate about developing the next generation of musicians and teachers, Dr. Balboa emphasizes mentorship and hands-on experience across his teaching. He has contributed to programs with the Illinois State String Project, Austin Chamber Music Center, Austin Youth Orchestra and Longhorn String Camp, and has also worked with the Wichita Symphony Youth Orchestras. His students have earned graduate school placements, teaching positions, professional orchestral roles and honors such as All-State ensemble recognition. He has conducted university, youth and All-Region orchestras, and in 2025 was named a national finalist for The American Prize in Orchestral Conducting.
Benjamin Cline
Faculty, Strings Academy
Benjamin Cline is an American cellist who has performed in dozens of venues in the United States, Europe, Middle East, and the Far East. He has appeared as soloist with many orchestras, including the Kaohsuing City Symphony Orchestra in Taiwan, was featured in performance on Public Radio's WXXI "Live from Hochstein" in Rochester, and has collaborated with many noted musicians, including Yumi Hwang-Williams, Jun Iwasaki, Theodor Kuchar, Richard Fuchs, and Tali Morgulis. He is a highly versatile musician, performing as recitalist, soloist, orchestral principal, and chamber musician. His repertoire is equally diverse, spanning from the 17th century works of Gabrielli to 21st century electroacoustic works for cello.
Madeline Jansen
Faculty, Strings Academy
Versatile violinist Dr. Madeleine Jansen enjoys a multi-faceted career as a performer, arts advocate, and educator, and has been praised by the San Francisco Classical Voice for her interpretation of composers from Dvořák to Brubeck. As the newly appointed Instructor of Violin and Viola, Jansen teaches violin, viola, chamber music, and string pedagogy at K-State. As a soloist with orchestra, Jansen has performed in Carnegie Hall, the United Nations Headquarters (NYC), Capitol Hill’s performance hall, St. Peters Church (NYC) and Flushing Town Hall (NYC). Her solo and chamber music recital appearances have taken her around North America and Europe, and she has collaborated with many of today’s leading concert artists. Recent performance highlights include performing Ralph Vaughn Williams’ The Lark Ascending with orchestra in Baltimore, a solo recital at the Arts Club of Washington, and a world premiere of an unaccompanied work for violin which she commissioned from Kurdish-Canadian composer Rizgar Ismael. As an arts leader, Jansen co-founded Arco in 2021, an un-conducted orchestra project dedicated to forging creative connections with audiences through meaningful community engagement.
Dutch-American conductor ROBERT KAHN is known for his clarity, versatility, and command of both operatic and symphonic repertoire. A recipient of the Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award, he currently works closely with the singers and creative teams at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, where he recently led performances of Così fan tutte and prepared new productions for the 2024–2025 season. Kahn completed the Conducting Fellowship at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he was mentored by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Since then, he has built strong relationships with major orchestras across North America. Robert has collaborated with several of the world’s leading orchestras, serving as cover conductor for the Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, and the New York Philharmonic. In the summer of 2024, he joined the New York Philharmonic on tour in Vail and Asia, and was recently invited by the Rotterdam Philharmonic to assist Yannick Nézet-Séguin on a major European tour of Wagner’s Die Walküre. As a guest conductor, Robert conducted the Mannes School of Music’s (Un)Silent Film production featuring Metropolis in concert, as well as Music On Site’s production of Don Giovanni. In the 2024–2025 season, Robert returned to the Mannes School of Music to conduct a contemporary opera and led Così fan tutte with the Academy of Vocal Arts, made his subscription debut with the Marin Symphony in California, served as cover conductor for Opera Philadelphia’s production of Don Giovanni, and returned to cover several programs with the New York Philharmonic.
American conductor and coach J. BRADLEY BAKER enjoys a versatile career as a conductor, collaborative pianist and coach, educator, and music administrator. As a conductor and coach, Baker has led productions with Opera Naples, Opera Arlington, Chicago Summer Opera, Lawrence Opera Theatre, Opera Seme, Lyric Opera of Orange County, Landlocked Opera, Wichita Grand Opera, Natchez Festival of Music, Opera Birmingham, LOLA-Austin, Tabor College Opera, and University of Alabama Opera Theatre. Baker is the Director of the Maryland Opera Studio at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland; Principal Coach on the Music Staff of The Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, New York; and is Co-Founding Executive & Music Director of Music On Site. As a collaborative pianist and chamber musician, Baker has collaborated with many of the world's leading opera artists and has performed at many international and national conferences and festivals, including those of the International Double Reed Society, International Women’s Brass Conference, National Trumpet Competition, Hot Springs Music Festival, North American Viola Institute, Ad Astra Music Festival, National Opera Association, ClarinetFest, CollabFest, College Music Society, National Association of College Wind & Percussion Instructors, Music Teachers National Association, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing, among others.
Jen Stephenson enjoys a multifaceted career as stage director, producer, soprano, educator, and arts administrator. She has worked with the Baylor Opera Theatre, Wichita Grand Opera, Chicago Summer Opera, Opera Seme, Lawrence Opera Theatre, Harrower Summer Opera, Druid City Opera, Opéra du Perigord, Utah Lyric Opera, New Century Opera, The University of Alabama Opera Theatre, and Tabor College Opera, which she founded in 2015. Recent directing credits include productions of The Tender Land, Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, La finta giardiniera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Hansel and Gretel. Praised for her thoughtful characterization and impeccable comedic timing, she is currently chair of the awarding committee of the National Opera Association's JoElyn Wakefield Wright Stage Director Internship, of which she was the recipient of in 2015. For more information, please visit www.jenstephenson.com Kahn completed the Conducting Fellowship at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he was mentored by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Since then, he has built strong relationships with major orchestras across North America. Robert has collaborated with several of the world’s leading orchestras, serving as cover conductor for the Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, and the New York Philharmonic. In the summer of 2024, he joined the New York Philharmonic on tour in Vail and Asia, and was recently invited by the Rotterdam Philharmonic to assist Yannick Nézet-Séguin on a major European tour of Wagner’s Die Walküre. As a guest conductor, Robert conducted the Mannes School of Music’s (Un)Silent Film production featuring Metropolis in concert, as well as Music On Site’s production of Don Giovanni. In the 2024–2025 season, Robert returned to the Mannes School of Music to conduct a contemporary opera and led Così fan tutte with the Academy of Vocal Arts, made his subscription debut with the Marin Symphony in California, served as cover conductor for Opera Philadelphia’s production of Don Giovanni, and returned to cover several programs with the New York Philharmonic.
Jordan Roth is a bass-baritone and administrator based out of Wichita, KS. He currently serves as Director of Development for Music On Site, where he helps coordinate the operations of MOSI’s winter opera season and acts as the local liaison for MOSI artists. Recent stage credits include Balthazar (Amahl and the Night Visitors), Vater (Hänsel und Gretel), Vidal (Luisa Fernanda), Giuseppe (The Gondoliers), Nardo (La finta giardiniera), and Baron Pictordu (Cendrillon). Additionally, Roth serves as adjunct professor of voice at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas.