SARAI COLE,
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR for WAGNER'S DAS RHEINGOLD
Sarai Cole, international Spinto Soprano and Actor, is taking her first steps into directing opera, with the Dramatic Voices Program Berlin. Ms. Cole’s start was in acting and directing with a BA in Theatre, where she learned the Meisner, Stanislavski, and Hagen(method) techniques of acting. Sarai then received an MM in Opera from Temple University, a program in which only two singers a year are admitted, on full scholarship.
Ms. Cole has learned from some great singers and directors including, Mignon Dunn, Debora Polaski, Linda Brovsky, Marc Verzatt, Leland Kimball, and Steven LaCosse. She has also sung in some of the most famous venues in the world including Carnegie Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Kimmel Center (Verizon Hall & Perelman Theater), Teatro Sodre (Montevideo, Uruguay), and many more. Some of her past roles include Lady Billows, Tosca, Aida, Leonora (Il Trovatore), Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana), Senta (Der fliegende Holländer), Suor Angelica, and Giorgetta (Il Tabarro), just to name a few of her favourites.
Ms. Cole is most excited to combine her operatic expertise and acting background to bring a unique perspective to the table.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR for WAGNER'S DAS RHEINGOLD
Sarai Cole, international Spinto Soprano and Actor, is taking her first steps into directing opera, with the Dramatic Voices Program Berlin. Ms. Cole’s start was in acting and directing with a BA in Theatre, where she learned the Meisner, Stanislavski, and Hagen(method) techniques of acting. Sarai then received an MM in Opera from Temple University, a program in which only two singers a year are admitted, on full scholarship.
Ms. Cole has learned from some great singers and directors including, Mignon Dunn, Debora Polaski, Linda Brovsky, Marc Verzatt, Leland Kimball, and Steven LaCosse. She has also sung in some of the most famous venues in the world including Carnegie Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Kimmel Center (Verizon Hall & Perelman Theater), Teatro Sodre (Montevideo, Uruguay), and many more. Some of her past roles include Lady Billows, Tosca, Aida, Leonora (Il Trovatore), Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana), Senta (Der fliegende Holländer), Suor Angelica, and Giorgetta (Il Tabarro), just to name a few of her favourites.
Ms. Cole is most excited to combine her operatic expertise and acting background to bring a unique perspective to the table.
ONDŘEJ SOUKUP,
MAESTRO SUGGERITORE & ASSISTANT to CORE MUSIC TEAM for WAGNER'S DAS RHEINGOLD
Conductor and composer Ondřej Soukup is a graduate of The University of Edinburgh and currently holds principal conductorship with Edinburgh University Music Society (EUMS) Sinfonia, a full-sized symphony orchestra. Most recently, he has been appointed musical director of Thomas Coats Memorial Choral Society, who regularly work with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Symphony Orchestra. Ondřej is also principal guest conductor of VoiceArc, an Edinburgh-based opera company, musical director of Edinburgh University Brass Band (EUBB), and founder of Unison Chamber Orchestra.
As assistant to conductor Lutz de Veer (Nürnberg) and director Marcin Lakomicki (Staatsoper Berlin), he performed Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel at the OpernFest in Berlin. Other conductors he has assisted include Will Conway (Chamber Orchestra of Europe) and Gregory Batsleer (SCO and RSNO Chorus). To the present day, he has been given several prizes and bursaries for conducting, most recently the Roderick Brydon memorial award; and has given concerts in Scotland, England, Spain, Latvia, Germany as well as his native Czech Republic. There, he also took EUMS for its 150th anniversary tour. Ondřej made his opera debut with VoiceArc performing Mozart’s Don Giovanni. His Edinburgh Fringe Festival debut featured R. Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos directed by Nell Drew in the festival’s 70th edition.
As composer, he was a finalist in the Maurice Ravel International Composition Competition with his Reverie for Solo Trumpet. With EUBB, he premiered and CD recorded his A Balkanic Eruption alongside other works. His Pitch Black was premiered at the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s Interconnect event. Ondřej is an avid supporter of new music written by fellow composers. He has been extensively involved in organising and conducting composition competitions for EUBB (4x) and EUSO (2x).
MAESTRO SUGGERITORE & ASSISTANT to CORE MUSIC TEAM for WAGNER'S DAS RHEINGOLD
Conductor and composer Ondřej Soukup is a graduate of The University of Edinburgh and currently holds principal conductorship with Edinburgh University Music Society (EUMS) Sinfonia, a full-sized symphony orchestra. Most recently, he has been appointed musical director of Thomas Coats Memorial Choral Society, who regularly work with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Symphony Orchestra. Ondřej is also principal guest conductor of VoiceArc, an Edinburgh-based opera company, musical director of Edinburgh University Brass Band (EUBB), and founder of Unison Chamber Orchestra.
As assistant to conductor Lutz de Veer (Nürnberg) and director Marcin Lakomicki (Staatsoper Berlin), he performed Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel at the OpernFest in Berlin. Other conductors he has assisted include Will Conway (Chamber Orchestra of Europe) and Gregory Batsleer (SCO and RSNO Chorus). To the present day, he has been given several prizes and bursaries for conducting, most recently the Roderick Brydon memorial award; and has given concerts in Scotland, England, Spain, Latvia, Germany as well as his native Czech Republic. There, he also took EUMS for its 150th anniversary tour. Ondřej made his opera debut with VoiceArc performing Mozart’s Don Giovanni. His Edinburgh Fringe Festival debut featured R. Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos directed by Nell Drew in the festival’s 70th edition.
As composer, he was a finalist in the Maurice Ravel International Composition Competition with his Reverie for Solo Trumpet. With EUBB, he premiered and CD recorded his A Balkanic Eruption alongside other works. His Pitch Black was premiered at the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s Interconnect event. Ondřej is an avid supporter of new music written by fellow composers. He has been extensively involved in organising and conducting composition competitions for EUBB (4x) and EUSO (2x).