Dr. CHRISTOPHER WHITE
MUSICAL DIRECTOR, WAGNER'S DIE WALKÜRE
MUSIC COACH
MASTERCLASS
Dr Christopher White is Studienleiter (Head of Music) at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, a position he has held since 2017, after joining the Company in 2014. Prior to that, he held Music Staff positions at English National Opera and Opernhaus Zürich. He studied piano and piano accompaniment, and completed his Doctoral work on the music of Gustav Mahler, at the Royal Academy of Music, London, from which institution he holds the title of Associate (ARAM).
Christopher’s current work involves short- and long-term coordination of rehearsals and coachings at one of the busiest opera houses in Europe, as well as advising on casting, hearing auditions and liaising with conductors and directors. He works daily with the thirty-eight ensemble members at Deutsche Oper in role preparation, ensemble rehearsals and staging rehearsals, as well as advising young singers on career development.
Guest engagements as a musical assistant have taken him to, amongst others, the Munich Opera Festival, Glyndebourne, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the Bayreuth Festival, the latter for Parsifal and the Ring of the Nibelung.
In addition to this work, Christopher is also an active solo and chamber pianist. He played Saint-Saens’ Second Piano Concerto at the Philharmonie in Berlin in November 2016, and his recording of a solo piano arrangement of Mahler’s Tenth Symphony remains available on the Divine Arts label.
MUSICAL DIRECTOR, WAGNER'S DIE WALKÜRE
MUSIC COACH
MASTERCLASS
Dr Christopher White is Studienleiter (Head of Music) at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, a position he has held since 2017, after joining the Company in 2014. Prior to that, he held Music Staff positions at English National Opera and Opernhaus Zürich. He studied piano and piano accompaniment, and completed his Doctoral work on the music of Gustav Mahler, at the Royal Academy of Music, London, from which institution he holds the title of Associate (ARAM).
Christopher’s current work involves short- and long-term coordination of rehearsals and coachings at one of the busiest opera houses in Europe, as well as advising on casting, hearing auditions and liaising with conductors and directors. He works daily with the thirty-eight ensemble members at Deutsche Oper in role preparation, ensemble rehearsals and staging rehearsals, as well as advising young singers on career development.
Guest engagements as a musical assistant have taken him to, amongst others, the Munich Opera Festival, Glyndebourne, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the Bayreuth Festival, the latter for Parsifal and the Ring of the Nibelung.
In addition to this work, Christopher is also an active solo and chamber pianist. He played Saint-Saens’ Second Piano Concerto at the Philharmonie in Berlin in November 2016, and his recording of a solo piano arrangement of Mahler’s Tenth Symphony remains available on the Divine Arts label.
JENNIFER WILLIAMS
STAGE DIRECTOR, WAGNER'S DIE WALKÜRE
CHARACTER ANALYSIS & DEVELOPMENT COACH
Acclaimed as a director of “particular ingenuity,” Jennifer Williams has created innovative productions worldwide. Praise for her multi-media approach to opera has been effusive, and her extraordinary vision yields indelible results.
Site-specific and immersive productions have been a recent hallmark of her work, making Williams particularly sought-after during this difficult time of pandemic. Where others have been unwilling or unable to work without customary theatrical infrastructure, Williams thrives on the unexpected. Her unique presentations have taken her to prestigious venues in New York, Berlin, Houston, Miami, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Washington, DC, with upcoming engagements in Hong Kong, New York, Austin, and Sacramento, CA.
With an eye toward enlarging the scope of vocal performance, Williams has received two coveted grants from the Brooklyn Arts Council as well as a NYSCA Restart NY grant for the creation of an interdisciplinary work. With the partnership of the International Contemporary Ensemble, she will devise an immersive environmental installation that challenges the very concept of opera and our perception of it.
Traditional repertoire such as Rigoletto, La bohème and Les contes d’Hoffmann have figured prominently in her career at theaters such as Washington National Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and Theatro Municipal de São Paulo, among others, but Williams is also a passionate advocate of contemporary opera. Her direction of such works as Ainadamar, Dark Sisters, Sumeida’s Song, and Backwards from Winter have been described as “extraordinarily beautiful” and “consistently imaginative.” In addition, she has created installations for concert repertoire including Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder, and Schubert’s Goethe-Lieder.
Williams has served as a drama coach for the Houston Grand Opera Studio as well as the young artist programs of the San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Glimmerglass, and Wolf Trap Operas. Her apprenticeship as a Regiehospitantin at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Komische Oper Berlin, Oper Frankfurt, and Staatsoper Stuttgart forged the foundation of her unusually broad operatic and theatrical experience.
As intellectually outstanding as she is original, Williams is a Fulbright Scholar and holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University and an A.B. with honors from the University of Chicago. She is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and American Guild of Musical Artists. A champion of cultural diplomacy, she was recently appointed an Arts Envoy by the U.S. Department of State.
STAGE DIRECTOR, WAGNER'S DIE WALKÜRE
CHARACTER ANALYSIS & DEVELOPMENT COACH
Acclaimed as a director of “particular ingenuity,” Jennifer Williams has created innovative productions worldwide. Praise for her multi-media approach to opera has been effusive, and her extraordinary vision yields indelible results.
Site-specific and immersive productions have been a recent hallmark of her work, making Williams particularly sought-after during this difficult time of pandemic. Where others have been unwilling or unable to work without customary theatrical infrastructure, Williams thrives on the unexpected. Her unique presentations have taken her to prestigious venues in New York, Berlin, Houston, Miami, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Washington, DC, with upcoming engagements in Hong Kong, New York, Austin, and Sacramento, CA.
With an eye toward enlarging the scope of vocal performance, Williams has received two coveted grants from the Brooklyn Arts Council as well as a NYSCA Restart NY grant for the creation of an interdisciplinary work. With the partnership of the International Contemporary Ensemble, she will devise an immersive environmental installation that challenges the very concept of opera and our perception of it.
Traditional repertoire such as Rigoletto, La bohème and Les contes d’Hoffmann have figured prominently in her career at theaters such as Washington National Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and Theatro Municipal de São Paulo, among others, but Williams is also a passionate advocate of contemporary opera. Her direction of such works as Ainadamar, Dark Sisters, Sumeida’s Song, and Backwards from Winter have been described as “extraordinarily beautiful” and “consistently imaginative.” In addition, she has created installations for concert repertoire including Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder, and Schubert’s Goethe-Lieder.
Williams has served as a drama coach for the Houston Grand Opera Studio as well as the young artist programs of the San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Glimmerglass, and Wolf Trap Operas. Her apprenticeship as a Regiehospitantin at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Komische Oper Berlin, Oper Frankfurt, and Staatsoper Stuttgart forged the foundation of her unusually broad operatic and theatrical experience.
As intellectually outstanding as she is original, Williams is a Fulbright Scholar and holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University and an A.B. with honors from the University of Chicago. She is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and American Guild of Musical Artists. A champion of cultural diplomacy, she was recently appointed an Arts Envoy by the U.S. Department of State.
Dr. LIBOR DUDAS
MUSIC COACH
"I strongly believe that a complete artist must have a comprehensive knowledge of not only the music, but also the accompanying artistic, philosophic and historic context in which each composer lived and worked."
Conductor and pianist Dr. Libor Dudas is a native of Croatia. He began his musical studies at the age of 8, studying piano, organ, harpsichord, and fortepiano. Completing his high school studies at age 14, he was awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst Vienna (Austria) where he completed his bachelor’s degree under the tutelage of Rudolph Scholz. While a student in Vienna he performed recitals throughout Austria, Germany, and Italy.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree with Distinction, Dr. Dudas earned his master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana (USA), and his Doctorate of Musical Arts from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts (USA) with the doctoral thesis Verdi’s Un giorno di regno and the end of the opera buffa tradition in Italy. While still a doctoral student he joined the faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music.
Dr. Dudas was a long-term faculty member of the opera department of the Boston Conservatory (USA), before being recruited by the Longy School of Music of Bard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA). At Longy, he serves as the Music Director of Longy’s Opera Experience, works as a vocal coach, and teaches classes in music history, opera, and early music.
Dr. Dudas has a particular passion for and focus on the works of Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss, particularly on introducing, coaching, and conducting young dramatic voices in that repertoire. Furthermore, Dr. Dudas’ research focuses on operas of neglected and rarely-performed composers.
In addition to his work as an educator, Dr. Dudas is active as a recitalist, collaborative pianist, and conductor throughout the United States and Europe. He serves as the Music Director of Boston’s historic Old North Church (USA), where he has conducted numerous large oratorio works.
MUSIC COACH
"I strongly believe that a complete artist must have a comprehensive knowledge of not only the music, but also the accompanying artistic, philosophic and historic context in which each composer lived and worked."
Conductor and pianist Dr. Libor Dudas is a native of Croatia. He began his musical studies at the age of 8, studying piano, organ, harpsichord, and fortepiano. Completing his high school studies at age 14, he was awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst Vienna (Austria) where he completed his bachelor’s degree under the tutelage of Rudolph Scholz. While a student in Vienna he performed recitals throughout Austria, Germany, and Italy.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree with Distinction, Dr. Dudas earned his master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana (USA), and his Doctorate of Musical Arts from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts (USA) with the doctoral thesis Verdi’s Un giorno di regno and the end of the opera buffa tradition in Italy. While still a doctoral student he joined the faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music.
Dr. Dudas was a long-term faculty member of the opera department of the Boston Conservatory (USA), before being recruited by the Longy School of Music of Bard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA). At Longy, he serves as the Music Director of Longy’s Opera Experience, works as a vocal coach, and teaches classes in music history, opera, and early music.
Dr. Dudas has a particular passion for and focus on the works of Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss, particularly on introducing, coaching, and conducting young dramatic voices in that repertoire. Furthermore, Dr. Dudas’ research focuses on operas of neglected and rarely-performed composers.
In addition to his work as an educator, Dr. Dudas is active as a recitalist, collaborative pianist, and conductor throughout the United States and Europe. He serves as the Music Director of Boston’s historic Old North Church (USA), where he has conducted numerous large oratorio works.
LIANNE ARNOLD
VIDEO DESIGNER, WAGNER'S DIE WALKÜRE
Lianne is a video & scenic designer and inter-disciplinary artist working in theater, opera, music, dance, film, art installation, & experimental performance hybrids of all kinds. A “dramaturg” designer, she prides herself on her versatility of medium and form, keeping a nimble and sensitive approach to every project’s unique structure & challenges. Her performance work has been seen in New York at The Kitchen, BAM, NYTW, HERE, La Mama, 3LD, Ars Nova, National Sawdust, Roulette, The Joyce, Baruch, 59E59, Abrons Art Center among others and in venues around the country and internationally. She was a production designer on the short film Toru premiering at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Along with Anna Rabinowitz, Kristin Marting & Matt Marks, she is the co-creator and video designer on the music-theater piece Words on the Street premiering at Baruch in October 2018. She is also a co-creator along with Zoey Martinson & Jon Martin of Smoke & Mirrors Collaborative, theater artist Brina Stinehelfer, and interactive technology artist Xinyao Wang on #HashtagProject (workshops on Governor’s Island, NYC and at Delphi Theater, Berlin). Lianne has collaborated with and designed for many groundbreaking and seminal dance, movement, new music, & opera companies, as well as composers, music groups, & visual artists including Lil Buck & Jon Boogz’ Movement Art Is, Sozo Artists, Jane Comfort & Company, Blue Man Productions, Beth Morrison Projects, American Opera Projects, Prospect Theater Company, Invisible Anatomy, Joseph Keckler, Earl Maneein of Seven Suns, Robin Cox’s Hourglass, and composer John King. Her installation and video art has been exhibited in galleries in New York and New Jersey including The Actors’ Fund and BRIC. Her collaborators in the visual arts have included Leslie Kerby (Counterpointe/Brooklyn Ballet/BRIC and more), Natalia Margolis, Fariba Alam & Urban Matter Design Firm (Bare Branches – Shrine Empire Gallery, New Delhi). Selections of Lianne’s many associate design credits include The Lehman Trilogy on Broadway (Luke Halls designer), My Name is Lucy Barton on Broadway (Luke Halls designer), A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Julie Taymor at Theatre For a New Audience(Sven Ortel designer), Universes’ Party People at The Public Theatre (Liesl Tommy dir./Sven Ortel designer) and Marvel Universe Live! with designer Bob Bonniol of MODE Studios. She was named a "Young Designer to Watch" by Live Design Magazine in 2015. Lianne teaches Video Design/Creative Technologies at The New School, is a member of Wingspace Design Collective, and proudly earned her MFA from CalArts.
VIDEO DESIGNER, WAGNER'S DIE WALKÜRE
Lianne is a video & scenic designer and inter-disciplinary artist working in theater, opera, music, dance, film, art installation, & experimental performance hybrids of all kinds. A “dramaturg” designer, she prides herself on her versatility of medium and form, keeping a nimble and sensitive approach to every project’s unique structure & challenges. Her performance work has been seen in New York at The Kitchen, BAM, NYTW, HERE, La Mama, 3LD, Ars Nova, National Sawdust, Roulette, The Joyce, Baruch, 59E59, Abrons Art Center among others and in venues around the country and internationally. She was a production designer on the short film Toru premiering at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Along with Anna Rabinowitz, Kristin Marting & Matt Marks, she is the co-creator and video designer on the music-theater piece Words on the Street premiering at Baruch in October 2018. She is also a co-creator along with Zoey Martinson & Jon Martin of Smoke & Mirrors Collaborative, theater artist Brina Stinehelfer, and interactive technology artist Xinyao Wang on #HashtagProject (workshops on Governor’s Island, NYC and at Delphi Theater, Berlin). Lianne has collaborated with and designed for many groundbreaking and seminal dance, movement, new music, & opera companies, as well as composers, music groups, & visual artists including Lil Buck & Jon Boogz’ Movement Art Is, Sozo Artists, Jane Comfort & Company, Blue Man Productions, Beth Morrison Projects, American Opera Projects, Prospect Theater Company, Invisible Anatomy, Joseph Keckler, Earl Maneein of Seven Suns, Robin Cox’s Hourglass, and composer John King. Her installation and video art has been exhibited in galleries in New York and New Jersey including The Actors’ Fund and BRIC. Her collaborators in the visual arts have included Leslie Kerby (Counterpointe/Brooklyn Ballet/BRIC and more), Natalia Margolis, Fariba Alam & Urban Matter Design Firm (Bare Branches – Shrine Empire Gallery, New Delhi). Selections of Lianne’s many associate design credits include The Lehman Trilogy on Broadway (Luke Halls designer), My Name is Lucy Barton on Broadway (Luke Halls designer), A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Julie Taymor at Theatre For a New Audience(Sven Ortel designer), Universes’ Party People at The Public Theatre (Liesl Tommy dir./Sven Ortel designer) and Marvel Universe Live! with designer Bob Bonniol of MODE Studios. She was named a "Young Designer to Watch" by Live Design Magazine in 2015. Lianne teaches Video Design/Creative Technologies at The New School, is a member of Wingspace Design Collective, and proudly earned her MFA from CalArts.
MARIELLA BAIER
GERMAN LIBRETTO & DICTION COACH
As German diction coach, German language teacher and vocal pedagogue Mariella Baier specialises in practical usage of the German language as it relates to singing.
Ms. Baier received her vocal training at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, and graduated with high distinction.
As a jugendlicher dramatischer sopran, she has worked with coaches and conductors from the world’s greatest opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Berlin Staatsoper and Opernhaus Zürich, among others.
Her specialised training has led her to a passion for helping singers achieve precise German diction without sacrificing a healthy vocal technique. Ms. Baier is in high demand as a coach for professional singers and was the diction coach at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Brussels.
In her German language teaching Mariella Baier puts great emphasis on creating a good learning atmosphere both directly in class and on-line. She encourages her students to overcome the fear of speaking in a foreign language to enable successful learning results.
She received her teacher’s degree from Otto-Friedrich Universität Bamberg and worked for DIE NEUE SCHULE, Berlin. Presently she’s teaching at CASA- internationale Sprachschule, Bremen and at San Francisco Opera Center and Merola.
GERMAN LIBRETTO & DICTION COACH
As German diction coach, German language teacher and vocal pedagogue Mariella Baier specialises in practical usage of the German language as it relates to singing.
Ms. Baier received her vocal training at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, and graduated with high distinction.
As a jugendlicher dramatischer sopran, she has worked with coaches and conductors from the world’s greatest opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Berlin Staatsoper and Opernhaus Zürich, among others.
Her specialised training has led her to a passion for helping singers achieve precise German diction without sacrificing a healthy vocal technique. Ms. Baier is in high demand as a coach for professional singers and was the diction coach at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Brussels.
In her German language teaching Mariella Baier puts great emphasis on creating a good learning atmosphere both directly in class and on-line. She encourages her students to overcome the fear of speaking in a foreign language to enable successful learning results.
She received her teacher’s degree from Otto-Friedrich Universität Bamberg and worked for DIE NEUE SCHULE, Berlin. Presently she’s teaching at CASA- internationale Sprachschule, Bremen and at San Francisco Opera Center and Merola.
RAEHANN BRYCE-DAVIS
MASTERCLASS
Raehann Bryce-Davis has been hailed by The New York Times as a “striking mezzo soprano” and by the San Francisco Chronicle for her “electrifying sense of fearlessness.” In the 2021-2022 season, Ms. Bryce-Davis makes notable house debuts at the Metropolitan Opera in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, at La Monnaie de Munt, Brussels, as La Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica, and at the Glimmerglass Festival singing Azucena in Il trovatore. Additionally, she returns to both Los Angeles Opera and the Staatstheater Nürnberg as Azucena in Il trovatore, and to Opera Ballet Vlaanderen as Der Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos. On the concert stage, she joins Chineke! for a BBC Proms performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony conducted by Kevin John Edusei, and sings solo recitals at both the Tuesday Musical Club in San Antonio, TX, with pianist Heeyoung Choi, and for the Merola Opera Program with pianist Jeanne-Minette Cilliers.
Additional credits include Leonora in Donizetti’s La Favorite at the Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Marguerite in Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust conducted by Maestro John Nelson with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica, Ms. Alexander in Satyagraha at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Kristina in The Makropulos Affair at the Janáček Brno Festival, Wellgunde in Wagner’s Die Ring-Trilogie at Theater an der Wien, Madeline Mitchell in Heggie’s Three Decembers at Opera Maine, and Nezhata in Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sadko at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen.
Ms. Bryce-Davis’ Concert highlights include the world premiere of Paul Moravec’s Sanctuary Road at Carnegie Hall; which won a Grammy Nomination, Verdi’s Requiem with conductor Kent Nagano and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal at the Olympic Stadium, Elgar’s Sea Pictures at the Musikverein in Vienna with the Tonkünstler Orchestra, Verdi's Requiem with the Oratorio Society of New York at Carnegie Hall, the world premiere of Anthony Davis's We Call the Roll with The Lied Society, Martinů’s Julietta with the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, Corigliano’s Of Rage and Remembrance at the Aspen Music Festival, the world premiere of Come, My Tan-Faced Children by Melissa Dunphy at Lyric Fest, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky with Maestro Philippe Entremont at Manhattan School of Music, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra.
As a producer/performer Bryce-Davis has released "To the Afflicted," her first music video, which received much critical acclaim and was chosen as an official video for World Opera Day. Her second digital short, “Brown Sounds,” was co-produced with LA Opera and Aural Compass Projects, and won Best Music Video at film festivals around the globe including the New York International Film Awards, New York Cinematography Awards, Hollywood Boulevard Film Awards, the Anatolian Short Film Festival, and the Silk Road Film Awards - Cannes.
Bryce-Davis is a 2018 recipient of the prestigious George London Award at the George London Competition, the 2017 1st Place and Audience Prize-winner of the Concorso Lirico Internazionale di Portofino competition; chaired by Dominique Meyer, Winner of the 2016 Richard F. Gold Career Grant at the Merola Opera Program, Winner of the 2015 Hilde Zadek Competition at the Musikverein in Vienna, and the 2015 Sedat Gürel - Güzin Gürel International Voice Competition in Istanbul. She holds a Master of Music and Professional Studies certificate from the Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Raehann Bryce-Davis is a co-founder of the Black Opera Alliance and is an advocate for social justice in opera.
MASTERCLASS
Raehann Bryce-Davis has been hailed by The New York Times as a “striking mezzo soprano” and by the San Francisco Chronicle for her “electrifying sense of fearlessness.” In the 2021-2022 season, Ms. Bryce-Davis makes notable house debuts at the Metropolitan Opera in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, at La Monnaie de Munt, Brussels, as La Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica, and at the Glimmerglass Festival singing Azucena in Il trovatore. Additionally, she returns to both Los Angeles Opera and the Staatstheater Nürnberg as Azucena in Il trovatore, and to Opera Ballet Vlaanderen as Der Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos. On the concert stage, she joins Chineke! for a BBC Proms performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony conducted by Kevin John Edusei, and sings solo recitals at both the Tuesday Musical Club in San Antonio, TX, with pianist Heeyoung Choi, and for the Merola Opera Program with pianist Jeanne-Minette Cilliers.
Additional credits include Leonora in Donizetti’s La Favorite at the Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Marguerite in Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust conducted by Maestro John Nelson with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica, Ms. Alexander in Satyagraha at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Kristina in The Makropulos Affair at the Janáček Brno Festival, Wellgunde in Wagner’s Die Ring-Trilogie at Theater an der Wien, Madeline Mitchell in Heggie’s Three Decembers at Opera Maine, and Nezhata in Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sadko at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen.
Ms. Bryce-Davis’ Concert highlights include the world premiere of Paul Moravec’s Sanctuary Road at Carnegie Hall; which won a Grammy Nomination, Verdi’s Requiem with conductor Kent Nagano and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal at the Olympic Stadium, Elgar’s Sea Pictures at the Musikverein in Vienna with the Tonkünstler Orchestra, Verdi's Requiem with the Oratorio Society of New York at Carnegie Hall, the world premiere of Anthony Davis's We Call the Roll with The Lied Society, Martinů’s Julietta with the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, Corigliano’s Of Rage and Remembrance at the Aspen Music Festival, the world premiere of Come, My Tan-Faced Children by Melissa Dunphy at Lyric Fest, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky with Maestro Philippe Entremont at Manhattan School of Music, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra.
As a producer/performer Bryce-Davis has released "To the Afflicted," her first music video, which received much critical acclaim and was chosen as an official video for World Opera Day. Her second digital short, “Brown Sounds,” was co-produced with LA Opera and Aural Compass Projects, and won Best Music Video at film festivals around the globe including the New York International Film Awards, New York Cinematography Awards, Hollywood Boulevard Film Awards, the Anatolian Short Film Festival, and the Silk Road Film Awards - Cannes.
Bryce-Davis is a 2018 recipient of the prestigious George London Award at the George London Competition, the 2017 1st Place and Audience Prize-winner of the Concorso Lirico Internazionale di Portofino competition; chaired by Dominique Meyer, Winner of the 2016 Richard F. Gold Career Grant at the Merola Opera Program, Winner of the 2015 Hilde Zadek Competition at the Musikverein in Vienna, and the 2015 Sedat Gürel - Güzin Gürel International Voice Competition in Istanbul. She holds a Master of Music and Professional Studies certificate from the Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Raehann Bryce-Davis is a co-founder of the Black Opera Alliance and is an advocate for social justice in opera.
CAROLINE DOWDLE
MASTERCLASS
Caroline Dowdle was born in South Africa and studied music at the University of Cape Town, where she was taught by the eminent chamber musician Lamar Crowson. There she qualified with a Masters in Music before moving to England to study at the Royal Northern College of Music as a solo pianist, under Renna Kellaway. She was awarded a fellowship in accompaniment at the college, a post which she held for 2 years, before moving to London to begin her career as a freelance pianist. For many years she was a staff pianist at the Britten Pears School in Aldeburgh, where she worked alongside many of the most eminent singers and instrumentalists of their generation, and studied many of the Britten operas.
Since then she has performed widely in Britain and in Europe, giving recitals with singers and instrumentalists at the South Bank and Wigmore Hall, London, in Paris for Radio France, in Vienna and in Moscow.
Since the summer of 2008 she has run the Opera Academy at the Verbier International Music Festival. She has also performed in the Festival itself.
Recently she has appeared in numerous recitals with the esteemed baritone, Sir Thomas Allen.
She has worked for Opera de Rouen in 2009 and 2011 as “chef de chant” and as pianist in performances of Britten’s The Turn of the Screw and Albert Herring, both in Rouen and at the Theatre Comique, in Paris.
She works regularly as a coach with the singers on the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and was appointed as a professor to the faculty of the Royal College of Music in 2015. She is the Musical Director of both the Samling Academy for young singers in the North-east of England, and the Academy of French Song and Opera, a course run in France each summer.
In 2016 Caroline worked as a vocal coach in Beijing with students from the Central Conservatoire there, and was also appointed as a regular guest.
MASTERCLASS
Caroline Dowdle was born in South Africa and studied music at the University of Cape Town, where she was taught by the eminent chamber musician Lamar Crowson. There she qualified with a Masters in Music before moving to England to study at the Royal Northern College of Music as a solo pianist, under Renna Kellaway. She was awarded a fellowship in accompaniment at the college, a post which she held for 2 years, before moving to London to begin her career as a freelance pianist. For many years she was a staff pianist at the Britten Pears School in Aldeburgh, where she worked alongside many of the most eminent singers and instrumentalists of their generation, and studied many of the Britten operas.
Since then she has performed widely in Britain and in Europe, giving recitals with singers and instrumentalists at the South Bank and Wigmore Hall, London, in Paris for Radio France, in Vienna and in Moscow.
Since the summer of 2008 she has run the Opera Academy at the Verbier International Music Festival. She has also performed in the Festival itself.
Recently she has appeared in numerous recitals with the esteemed baritone, Sir Thomas Allen.
She has worked for Opera de Rouen in 2009 and 2011 as “chef de chant” and as pianist in performances of Britten’s The Turn of the Screw and Albert Herring, both in Rouen and at the Theatre Comique, in Paris.
She works regularly as a coach with the singers on the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and was appointed as a professor to the faculty of the Royal College of Music in 2015. She is the Musical Director of both the Samling Academy for young singers in the North-east of England, and the Academy of French Song and Opera, a course run in France each summer.
In 2016 Caroline worked as a vocal coach in Beijing with students from the Central Conservatoire there, and was also appointed as a regular guest.
PROF. BYRON KNUTSON
MASTERCLASS
Byron Knutson studied piano, conducting, composition and acting in his hometown of Winnipeg, Canada, and in the United States. After completing the Artist Diploma in Opera Coaching at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, he was appointed Visiting Professor of Song Interpretation at Albion College in Michigan.
In 1999, Mr. Knutson moved to Germany, where until 2010 he worked in the opera houses in Kiel, Halle and Augsburg, conducting operatic repertoire from baroque to contemporary, including operetta, musicals and ballet.
In 2010, Mr. Knutson took over the musical direction of the young artist program at the Komische Oper Berlin. While at the KOB, Mr. Knutson conducted works by Handel, Mozart, Weill, Ginastera and a critically acclaimed production of Phlip Glass’ Les enfants terribles directed by Felix Seiler.
Mr. Knutson’s has worked with conductors such as Paolo Arrivabeni (Bellini’s La Straniera; Theater an der Wien), Friedemann Layer (Der Rosenkavalier) Johannes Kalitzke (World Premiere, Olga Neuwirth’s American Lulu), Patrick Lange (Rigoletto), Carl St. Clair (Aribert Reimann’s Lear), Sebastian Lang-Lessing (Der Rosenkavalier, National Center for the Performing Arts, Beijing), Christian Curnyn (Castor et Pollux), Lü Jia (Tannhäuser, Beijing). Mr. Knutson has also prepared the casts of Reimann’s Lear and Die Gespenstersonate for productions at Theater an der Wien and in Tokyo.
Mr. Knutson frequently gives Masterclasses in North America, Europe and China.
In 2015 Mr. Knutson was appointed Professor of Operatic Studies at the Hanns Eisler Conservatory in Berlin. He is also currently music director of the Berliner Wagner Gruppe.
MASTERCLASS
Byron Knutson studied piano, conducting, composition and acting in his hometown of Winnipeg, Canada, and in the United States. After completing the Artist Diploma in Opera Coaching at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, he was appointed Visiting Professor of Song Interpretation at Albion College in Michigan.
In 1999, Mr. Knutson moved to Germany, where until 2010 he worked in the opera houses in Kiel, Halle and Augsburg, conducting operatic repertoire from baroque to contemporary, including operetta, musicals and ballet.
In 2010, Mr. Knutson took over the musical direction of the young artist program at the Komische Oper Berlin. While at the KOB, Mr. Knutson conducted works by Handel, Mozart, Weill, Ginastera and a critically acclaimed production of Phlip Glass’ Les enfants terribles directed by Felix Seiler.
Mr. Knutson’s has worked with conductors such as Paolo Arrivabeni (Bellini’s La Straniera; Theater an der Wien), Friedemann Layer (Der Rosenkavalier) Johannes Kalitzke (World Premiere, Olga Neuwirth’s American Lulu), Patrick Lange (Rigoletto), Carl St. Clair (Aribert Reimann’s Lear), Sebastian Lang-Lessing (Der Rosenkavalier, National Center for the Performing Arts, Beijing), Christian Curnyn (Castor et Pollux), Lü Jia (Tannhäuser, Beijing). Mr. Knutson has also prepared the casts of Reimann’s Lear and Die Gespenstersonate for productions at Theater an der Wien and in Tokyo.
Mr. Knutson frequently gives Masterclasses in North America, Europe and China.
In 2015 Mr. Knutson was appointed Professor of Operatic Studies at the Hanns Eisler Conservatory in Berlin. He is also currently music director of the Berliner Wagner Gruppe.
SARAH WHITTEN
MOVEMENT & ALIGNMENT
Voice and movement expert, Sarah Whitten focuses on whole body wellness and function for singers. Her work is built on the concept of Vocal Interdependence, recognizing that the voice is influenced by every other system of the body and acknowledging that vocal technique alone cannot solve every issue. She pulls from her background as a professional singer and voice teacher as well as certifications and studies in a variety of movement modalities including yoga, yoga as therapy and restorative exercise. Using principles of biomechanics, research-backed movement and pain science, as well as a hefty dose of intuition, she works with singers’ bodies to resolve physical issues and find their optimal sound. She holds an MA in Vocal Pedagogy, and MM in Vocal Performance both from The Ohio State University. She has presented and worked with singers and voice teachers at National and Regional NATS conferences, New England Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, Walnut Hill School, and numerous other schools and colleges in addition to public workshops and courses both in person and online. To connect and learn more about her work visit www.sarahwhitten.com
MOVEMENT & ALIGNMENT
Voice and movement expert, Sarah Whitten focuses on whole body wellness and function for singers. Her work is built on the concept of Vocal Interdependence, recognizing that the voice is influenced by every other system of the body and acknowledging that vocal technique alone cannot solve every issue. She pulls from her background as a professional singer and voice teacher as well as certifications and studies in a variety of movement modalities including yoga, yoga as therapy and restorative exercise. Using principles of biomechanics, research-backed movement and pain science, as well as a hefty dose of intuition, she works with singers’ bodies to resolve physical issues and find their optimal sound. She holds an MA in Vocal Pedagogy, and MM in Vocal Performance both from The Ohio State University. She has presented and worked with singers and voice teachers at National and Regional NATS conferences, New England Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, Walnut Hill School, and numerous other schools and colleges in addition to public workshops and courses both in person and online. To connect and learn more about her work visit www.sarahwhitten.com
KS TICHINA VAUGHN
MASTERCLASS
Tichina Vaughn is an outstanding American mezzo-soprano, celebrated for her luxuriously rich voice as well as her electrifying stagecraft. She began her career as a member of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and made her European debut as Mistress Quickly in Falstaff at Staatstheater Stuttgart where she was awarded the title Kammersängerin. Recent successes include her Staatstheater Hannover debut as Begonia in The Young Lord, Filipyevna in Eugene Onegin at Spoleto Festival USA, her Teatro alla Scala debut as Maria in Porgy and Bess, as well as Clytemnestra in Elektra, Witch in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel and The King’s Children, and Ice Queen in Schwanda the Bagpiper at Semperoper Dresden.
Upcoming appearances include Herodias in Salome, the Mother in Il prigioniero and Brigitta in Die tote Stadt at Semperoper Dresden, her role debut as First Maid in Elektra at the Metropolitan Opera and debuts with English National Opera and Dutch National Opera as Mariah in Porgy and Bess. Vaughn is a recipient of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Award, Opera Index Vocal Award, Robert M. Jacobson Study Grant, Birgit Nilsson Foundatin Award, Living Heritage Foundation Award, and the Consul General’s Award for Cultural Diplomacy from the Consulate General Milan.
In previous seasons, Tichina Vaughn was AMNERIS in Aida at Arena di Verona,Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, National Opera Hong Kong,Teatro Rome alla Caracalla, Teatro Padova, Detroit Opera, Seattle Opera, Tulsa Opera, and Michigan Opera; AZUCENA in Il Trovatore at Arena di Verona, Teatro Verdi di Trieste, Festival Arturo Toscanini Bussetto, Teatro Carlo Felice Genoa, Greek National Opera, Budhapest National Opera and the Sacramento Opera; and ULRICA in Un Ballo in Maschera with San Francisco, Hamburg Opera, Opera Graz, Salerno Opera, Verona Opera, Palermo, Ancona, and at the Semper Opera Dresden. Further guest engagements have taken her to the opera houses of Los Angeles, („Il Trittico“) as well as the Finnish National Opera, Augsburg Opera, Opera Kassel, ( Erda „The Ring Cycle“), Frankfurt National Opera, („Don Carlo“) („Il Trittico“), the Bregenz Festival („Porgy and Bess“), and Las Palmas Opera, („Salome“), among others. From 1998 to 2006 Tichina Vaughn was a principal artist at the State Opera of Stuttgart and was awarded the title Kammersängerin for her successes in such roles as as Eboli ("Don Carlo"), Azucena ( "Il Trovatore"), Widow Begbick ( "Mahagonny"), Venus („Tannhauser“), Arnalta ( Poppea), Herodias ( "Salome"), Fricka ( "The Walküre"), Waltraute ("Götterdämmerung ") and Erda (" Siegfried "and" Das Rheingold ").
In crossover she was a guest at SWR Big Band, SWR 4 Band, Tango 5, and in numerous crossover concerts and festivals, as well as the 50th anniversary of the State of Baden-Württemberg. Her discography includes the Stuttgart Ring Cycle with appearances as Fricka in („Die Walküre“) and Waltraute in („Die Götterdämmerung“), which was filmed for the Euro Arts distributed DVD and recorded on the Naxos label as well as her solo portrait CD entitled "Christmas At My House". Additionally she appears on the NEW RELEASE Live from the Semperoper 2012: Schwanda the Bagpiper. Since the 2010/11 season Tichina Vaughn is a principal artist at the Semper Opera Dresden, where she has been heard as Azucena ( "Il Trovatore"), Venus ("Tannhauser" ), Ulrica ( "Un Ballo in Maschera "), Ortrud ( "Lohengrin"), Eboli ( "Don Carlo"), Prince Orlofsky ( "The Bat"), Isabella ( "L'italiana in Algeri"), Suzuki ( "Madama Butterfly"), High Priestess ( "La Vestale"), Ursula ("Feuersnot"), Herodias ( "Salome"), The Witch ( "Hansel and Gretel"), Ice Queen ( "Švanda dudák! /! Schwanda the Bagpiper"), Cornelia ("Giulio Cesare in Egitto"), and Filipjewna ("Eugene Onegin") to name a few. Recent Crossover and Jazz engagements have included appearances at the Jazz Festival Dresden and in a Germany wide tour with Klazz Brothers & Cuba Percussion.
In addition to her many operatic engagements, Tichina Vaughn performs symphonic concerts, chamber concerts and recitals in many prestigious concert halls around the world. Featured works include („Verdi Requiem“), („Beethoveen’s 9th“), Bernstein’s („Jerimiah Symphony“), and the symphonies of Mahler. Orchestra and conductors include the Berlin Philharmonic, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Jerusalem Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, the Taipei Symphony, the Dublin National Symphony, and the Stuttgart Philharmonic in collaboration with Maestros Placido Domingo, Sir Simon Rattle, James Conlon, Fabio Luisi, James Levine, Nello Santi, Mislahv Rostropovich, Nicola Luisotti, Daniel Oren, Bobby McFerrin, Lorin Maazel and Yves Abel to name a few.
Tichina Vaughn completed her studies at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Georgia State University, and the American Institue of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.American mezzo soprano Tichina Vaughn has established an important presence among the world’s leading opera houses, concert halls and theaters. As an outstanding singing-actress versatile in opera, operetta, musical theater, and jazz, Vaughn continues to garner both popular and critical acclaim. This versatile artist began her operatic career as a member of the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Program and made her European operatic debut as Mistress Quickly in FALSTAFF at the Stuttgart State Theater where she was a member of the ensemble from 1996-2006 and was awarded the title of Kammersängerin.
In season 2021-2022, Ms. Vaughn makes her role debut as the Innkeeper in BORIS GUDONOV at the Metropolitan Opera as well as reprises roles in ELEKTRA and PORGY AND BESS. Additionally, she is scheduled to make her Boston Lyric debut as Emelda Griffith in Terence Blanchard’s CHAMPION.
Engagements for season 2020-2021 included Maria in PORGY AND BESS at Theater an der Wien, Mary in THE FLYING DUTCHMAN at Royal Opera, Covent Garden, and Maria in PORGY AND BESS at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg conducted by Alan Gilbert.
Ms. Vaughn’s 2019-2020 season opened with a return to the Metropolitan Opera for performances of PORGY AND BESS, the Fortune Teller in Prokofiev’s FIERY ANGEL at Theater an der Wien(cancelled), Jezibaba in RUSALKA at Cincinnati Opera (cancelled), and Mama Lucia in performances of CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA at Seattle Opera (cancelled).
Season 2018-2019 included debuts at English National Opera and Dutch National Opera as Maria in a new production of PORGY AND BESS followed by a return to the Metropolitan Opera for performances in DIALOGUES DES CARMELITES with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Additionally Vaughn was the High Priestess/Mother in the world premiere of CARUSO A CUBA with Dutch National Opera and appeared with the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in performances of Juliette by Martinu.
Highlights from season 2017/18 season included critical success in her role debut as The Mother in Dallapiccola's IL PRIGIONIERO under Erik Nielsen, as Herodias SALOME under Omer Meir Welber and as Brigitta DIE TOTE STADT under Dimitri Jurowski at the Semper Opera Dresden. She returned to the Metropolitan Opera for Elektra with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and made her house debut with the State Opera Hannover as Begonia in Henze’s DER JUNGE.
Ms. Vaughn's 2016/17 season included her Teatro alla Scala debut as Maria PORGY AND BESS, reprisals of Klytemnestra in ELEKTRA, the Witch in Humperdinck KÖNIGSKINDER and HÄNSEL UND GRETEL, as well as the Ice Queen in Weinbergers SCHWANDA THE BAGPIPER at the Semperoper Dresden. Further appearances included her return to Spoleto Festival USA as Filipyevna EUGENE ONEGIN and performances of her solo jazz program BILLIE, ELLA, SARAH AND ME.
In previous seasons, in North America Ms. Vaughn has appeared as Azucena IL TROVATORE with Sacramento Opera, Amneris AIDA with Michigan Opera Theater, Tulsa Opera, Seattle Opera, and Orange County Opera, Ulrica BALLO IN MASCHERA at San Francisco Opera, and La Frugola IL TABARRO with Los Angeles Opera.
Internationally, Ms. Vaughn made her Italian debut as Azucena IL TROVATORE under the baton of Nicola Luisotti at the Teatro Verdi Trieste where she was later heard as Ulrica BALLO IN MASCHERA opposite Marco Berti. She became a regular guest at the Arena di Verona where she performed more than fifty performances of Amneris AIDA as well as Azucena IL TROVATORE. Additional successes in Italy include Amneris and Ulrica at the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, Azucena and The Old Lady CANDIDE at the Teatro Carlo Felice Genova, Azucena at the Festival Arturo Toscanini Busseto, Ulrica at the Teatro Massimo Palermo, Teatro Verdi Salerno, Teatro delle Muse Ancona and the Teatro Filarmonico Verona, as well as Amneris at the Baths of Caracalla for Teatro dell' Opera di Roma and at the Festival Veneto. Further international engagements have included Azucena IL TROVATORE at the Budapest National Opera and the Greek National Opera, Amneris AIDA at Opera Hong Kong, Herodias SALOME at Las Palmas Opera, Erda DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN at the Finnish National Opera, Augsburg Opera, and the State Opera Kassel, Ulrica BALLO IN MASCHERA and Venus TANNHÄUSER at the Hamburg State Opera, Maria PORGY AND BESS at the Bregenz Festival, as well as Klytemnestra ELEKTRA, La Zia Principessa SUOR ANGELICA, and Princess Eboli DON CARLO with Oper Frankfurt.
From 1998 to 2006 Tichina Vaughn was a principal artist at the State Theater Stuttgart where she was awarded the title of Kammersängerin for her successes in such roles as Eboli DON CARLO, Azucena IL TROVATORE, Widow Begbick MAHAGONNY, Venus TANNHÄUSER, Giulietta TALES OF HOFFMAN, Arnalta L'INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA, Herodias SALOME, Fricka DIE WALKÜRE, Waltraute GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG, and Erda SIEGFRIED and DAS RHEINGOLD.
From 2010 to 2018 Ms. Vaughn has been a principal artist with Dresden Semper Opera where she was heard as Azucena IL TROVATORE, Venus TANNHAUSER, Ortrud LOHENGRIN, Klytemnestra ELEKTRA, Eboli DON CARLO, Prince Orloffsky DIE FLEDERMAUS, Isabella L'ITALIANA IN ALGERI, Suzuki MADAME BUTTERFLY, Grand Vestale LA VESTALE, Herodias SALOME, Cornelia GIULIO CESARE, and Filipyevna EUGENE ONEGIN among others.
In addition to her many operatic successes, Tichina Vaughn has performed symphonic concerts, chamber concerts, and recitals in many prestigious concert halls around the world. Featured works include Verdi Requiem, Beethoven 9th Symphony and Bernstein Jeremiah Symphony. Orchestras and conductors include the Berlin Philharmonic, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra Kennedy Center, the Jerusalem Symphony, and the National Symphony of Ireland in collaboration with maestros Fabio Luisi, Lorin Maazel, Bobby McFerrin, Sir Simon Rattle, Nello Santi, Roberto Abbado, and Mstislav Rostropovich to name a few.
Her discography includes the Grammy nominated Metropolitan Opera recording of the Gershwins: Porgy and Bess, Stuttgart State Theater DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN which include her acclaimed appearances as Fricka DIE WALKÜRE and Waltraute DIE GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG, filmed by Euro Arts for DVD and recorded for Naxos. In 2005 Tichina released her solo portrait CD entitled "Christmas at My House". Additionally she appears on the release SCHWANDA THE BAGPIPER - LIVE FROM THE SEMPEROPER.
In addition to her title as Kammersängerin, Tichina Vaugh has received many awards and honors during her distinguished career including the Metropolitan Opera National Council Award, the Richard Tucker Foundation Study Grant Award, the Opera Index Vocal Competition Award, a Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation Award, and a Birgit Nilsson Foundation Award. Most recently she was presented the Consul General's Award for Cultural Diplomacy from the Consulate General in Milan. Tichina Vaughn completed her studies at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Georgia State University, and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.
MASTERCLASS
Tichina Vaughn is an outstanding American mezzo-soprano, celebrated for her luxuriously rich voice as well as her electrifying stagecraft. She began her career as a member of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and made her European debut as Mistress Quickly in Falstaff at Staatstheater Stuttgart where she was awarded the title Kammersängerin. Recent successes include her Staatstheater Hannover debut as Begonia in The Young Lord, Filipyevna in Eugene Onegin at Spoleto Festival USA, her Teatro alla Scala debut as Maria in Porgy and Bess, as well as Clytemnestra in Elektra, Witch in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel and The King’s Children, and Ice Queen in Schwanda the Bagpiper at Semperoper Dresden.
Upcoming appearances include Herodias in Salome, the Mother in Il prigioniero and Brigitta in Die tote Stadt at Semperoper Dresden, her role debut as First Maid in Elektra at the Metropolitan Opera and debuts with English National Opera and Dutch National Opera as Mariah in Porgy and Bess. Vaughn is a recipient of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Award, Opera Index Vocal Award, Robert M. Jacobson Study Grant, Birgit Nilsson Foundatin Award, Living Heritage Foundation Award, and the Consul General’s Award for Cultural Diplomacy from the Consulate General Milan.
In previous seasons, Tichina Vaughn was AMNERIS in Aida at Arena di Verona,Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, National Opera Hong Kong,Teatro Rome alla Caracalla, Teatro Padova, Detroit Opera, Seattle Opera, Tulsa Opera, and Michigan Opera; AZUCENA in Il Trovatore at Arena di Verona, Teatro Verdi di Trieste, Festival Arturo Toscanini Bussetto, Teatro Carlo Felice Genoa, Greek National Opera, Budhapest National Opera and the Sacramento Opera; and ULRICA in Un Ballo in Maschera with San Francisco, Hamburg Opera, Opera Graz, Salerno Opera, Verona Opera, Palermo, Ancona, and at the Semper Opera Dresden. Further guest engagements have taken her to the opera houses of Los Angeles, („Il Trittico“) as well as the Finnish National Opera, Augsburg Opera, Opera Kassel, ( Erda „The Ring Cycle“), Frankfurt National Opera, („Don Carlo“) („Il Trittico“), the Bregenz Festival („Porgy and Bess“), and Las Palmas Opera, („Salome“), among others. From 1998 to 2006 Tichina Vaughn was a principal artist at the State Opera of Stuttgart and was awarded the title Kammersängerin for her successes in such roles as as Eboli ("Don Carlo"), Azucena ( "Il Trovatore"), Widow Begbick ( "Mahagonny"), Venus („Tannhauser“), Arnalta ( Poppea), Herodias ( "Salome"), Fricka ( "The Walküre"), Waltraute ("Götterdämmerung ") and Erda (" Siegfried "and" Das Rheingold ").
In crossover she was a guest at SWR Big Band, SWR 4 Band, Tango 5, and in numerous crossover concerts and festivals, as well as the 50th anniversary of the State of Baden-Württemberg. Her discography includes the Stuttgart Ring Cycle with appearances as Fricka in („Die Walküre“) and Waltraute in („Die Götterdämmerung“), which was filmed for the Euro Arts distributed DVD and recorded on the Naxos label as well as her solo portrait CD entitled "Christmas At My House". Additionally she appears on the NEW RELEASE Live from the Semperoper 2012: Schwanda the Bagpiper. Since the 2010/11 season Tichina Vaughn is a principal artist at the Semper Opera Dresden, where she has been heard as Azucena ( "Il Trovatore"), Venus ("Tannhauser" ), Ulrica ( "Un Ballo in Maschera "), Ortrud ( "Lohengrin"), Eboli ( "Don Carlo"), Prince Orlofsky ( "The Bat"), Isabella ( "L'italiana in Algeri"), Suzuki ( "Madama Butterfly"), High Priestess ( "La Vestale"), Ursula ("Feuersnot"), Herodias ( "Salome"), The Witch ( "Hansel and Gretel"), Ice Queen ( "Švanda dudák! /! Schwanda the Bagpiper"), Cornelia ("Giulio Cesare in Egitto"), and Filipjewna ("Eugene Onegin") to name a few. Recent Crossover and Jazz engagements have included appearances at the Jazz Festival Dresden and in a Germany wide tour with Klazz Brothers & Cuba Percussion.
In addition to her many operatic engagements, Tichina Vaughn performs symphonic concerts, chamber concerts and recitals in many prestigious concert halls around the world. Featured works include („Verdi Requiem“), („Beethoveen’s 9th“), Bernstein’s („Jerimiah Symphony“), and the symphonies of Mahler. Orchestra and conductors include the Berlin Philharmonic, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Jerusalem Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, the Taipei Symphony, the Dublin National Symphony, and the Stuttgart Philharmonic in collaboration with Maestros Placido Domingo, Sir Simon Rattle, James Conlon, Fabio Luisi, James Levine, Nello Santi, Mislahv Rostropovich, Nicola Luisotti, Daniel Oren, Bobby McFerrin, Lorin Maazel and Yves Abel to name a few.
Tichina Vaughn completed her studies at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Georgia State University, and the American Institue of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.American mezzo soprano Tichina Vaughn has established an important presence among the world’s leading opera houses, concert halls and theaters. As an outstanding singing-actress versatile in opera, operetta, musical theater, and jazz, Vaughn continues to garner both popular and critical acclaim. This versatile artist began her operatic career as a member of the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Program and made her European operatic debut as Mistress Quickly in FALSTAFF at the Stuttgart State Theater where she was a member of the ensemble from 1996-2006 and was awarded the title of Kammersängerin.
In season 2021-2022, Ms. Vaughn makes her role debut as the Innkeeper in BORIS GUDONOV at the Metropolitan Opera as well as reprises roles in ELEKTRA and PORGY AND BESS. Additionally, she is scheduled to make her Boston Lyric debut as Emelda Griffith in Terence Blanchard’s CHAMPION.
Engagements for season 2020-2021 included Maria in PORGY AND BESS at Theater an der Wien, Mary in THE FLYING DUTCHMAN at Royal Opera, Covent Garden, and Maria in PORGY AND BESS at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg conducted by Alan Gilbert.
Ms. Vaughn’s 2019-2020 season opened with a return to the Metropolitan Opera for performances of PORGY AND BESS, the Fortune Teller in Prokofiev’s FIERY ANGEL at Theater an der Wien(cancelled), Jezibaba in RUSALKA at Cincinnati Opera (cancelled), and Mama Lucia in performances of CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA at Seattle Opera (cancelled).
Season 2018-2019 included debuts at English National Opera and Dutch National Opera as Maria in a new production of PORGY AND BESS followed by a return to the Metropolitan Opera for performances in DIALOGUES DES CARMELITES with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Additionally Vaughn was the High Priestess/Mother in the world premiere of CARUSO A CUBA with Dutch National Opera and appeared with the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in performances of Juliette by Martinu.
Highlights from season 2017/18 season included critical success in her role debut as The Mother in Dallapiccola's IL PRIGIONIERO under Erik Nielsen, as Herodias SALOME under Omer Meir Welber and as Brigitta DIE TOTE STADT under Dimitri Jurowski at the Semper Opera Dresden. She returned to the Metropolitan Opera for Elektra with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and made her house debut with the State Opera Hannover as Begonia in Henze’s DER JUNGE.
Ms. Vaughn's 2016/17 season included her Teatro alla Scala debut as Maria PORGY AND BESS, reprisals of Klytemnestra in ELEKTRA, the Witch in Humperdinck KÖNIGSKINDER and HÄNSEL UND GRETEL, as well as the Ice Queen in Weinbergers SCHWANDA THE BAGPIPER at the Semperoper Dresden. Further appearances included her return to Spoleto Festival USA as Filipyevna EUGENE ONEGIN and performances of her solo jazz program BILLIE, ELLA, SARAH AND ME.
In previous seasons, in North America Ms. Vaughn has appeared as Azucena IL TROVATORE with Sacramento Opera, Amneris AIDA with Michigan Opera Theater, Tulsa Opera, Seattle Opera, and Orange County Opera, Ulrica BALLO IN MASCHERA at San Francisco Opera, and La Frugola IL TABARRO with Los Angeles Opera.
Internationally, Ms. Vaughn made her Italian debut as Azucena IL TROVATORE under the baton of Nicola Luisotti at the Teatro Verdi Trieste where she was later heard as Ulrica BALLO IN MASCHERA opposite Marco Berti. She became a regular guest at the Arena di Verona where she performed more than fifty performances of Amneris AIDA as well as Azucena IL TROVATORE. Additional successes in Italy include Amneris and Ulrica at the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, Azucena and The Old Lady CANDIDE at the Teatro Carlo Felice Genova, Azucena at the Festival Arturo Toscanini Busseto, Ulrica at the Teatro Massimo Palermo, Teatro Verdi Salerno, Teatro delle Muse Ancona and the Teatro Filarmonico Verona, as well as Amneris at the Baths of Caracalla for Teatro dell' Opera di Roma and at the Festival Veneto. Further international engagements have included Azucena IL TROVATORE at the Budapest National Opera and the Greek National Opera, Amneris AIDA at Opera Hong Kong, Herodias SALOME at Las Palmas Opera, Erda DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN at the Finnish National Opera, Augsburg Opera, and the State Opera Kassel, Ulrica BALLO IN MASCHERA and Venus TANNHÄUSER at the Hamburg State Opera, Maria PORGY AND BESS at the Bregenz Festival, as well as Klytemnestra ELEKTRA, La Zia Principessa SUOR ANGELICA, and Princess Eboli DON CARLO with Oper Frankfurt.
From 1998 to 2006 Tichina Vaughn was a principal artist at the State Theater Stuttgart where she was awarded the title of Kammersängerin for her successes in such roles as Eboli DON CARLO, Azucena IL TROVATORE, Widow Begbick MAHAGONNY, Venus TANNHÄUSER, Giulietta TALES OF HOFFMAN, Arnalta L'INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA, Herodias SALOME, Fricka DIE WALKÜRE, Waltraute GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG, and Erda SIEGFRIED and DAS RHEINGOLD.
From 2010 to 2018 Ms. Vaughn has been a principal artist with Dresden Semper Opera where she was heard as Azucena IL TROVATORE, Venus TANNHAUSER, Ortrud LOHENGRIN, Klytemnestra ELEKTRA, Eboli DON CARLO, Prince Orloffsky DIE FLEDERMAUS, Isabella L'ITALIANA IN ALGERI, Suzuki MADAME BUTTERFLY, Grand Vestale LA VESTALE, Herodias SALOME, Cornelia GIULIO CESARE, and Filipyevna EUGENE ONEGIN among others.
In addition to her many operatic successes, Tichina Vaughn has performed symphonic concerts, chamber concerts, and recitals in many prestigious concert halls around the world. Featured works include Verdi Requiem, Beethoven 9th Symphony and Bernstein Jeremiah Symphony. Orchestras and conductors include the Berlin Philharmonic, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra Kennedy Center, the Jerusalem Symphony, and the National Symphony of Ireland in collaboration with maestros Fabio Luisi, Lorin Maazel, Bobby McFerrin, Sir Simon Rattle, Nello Santi, Roberto Abbado, and Mstislav Rostropovich to name a few.
Her discography includes the Grammy nominated Metropolitan Opera recording of the Gershwins: Porgy and Bess, Stuttgart State Theater DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN which include her acclaimed appearances as Fricka DIE WALKÜRE and Waltraute DIE GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG, filmed by Euro Arts for DVD and recorded for Naxos. In 2005 Tichina released her solo portrait CD entitled "Christmas at My House". Additionally she appears on the release SCHWANDA THE BAGPIPER - LIVE FROM THE SEMPEROPER.
In addition to her title as Kammersängerin, Tichina Vaugh has received many awards and honors during her distinguished career including the Metropolitan Opera National Council Award, the Richard Tucker Foundation Study Grant Award, the Opera Index Vocal Competition Award, a Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation Award, and a Birgit Nilsson Foundation Award. Most recently she was presented the Consul General's Award for Cultural Diplomacy from the Consulate General in Milan. Tichina Vaughn completed her studies at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Georgia State University, and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.
CLAY HILLEY
MASTERCLASS
Praised in The New York Times for his “vocal heft, clarion sound and stamina,” heldentenor Clay Hilley has appeared on many international stages in the most demanding operatic repertoire. At age 39 he sang the title role of Wagner’s Siegfried in Stefan Herheim’s new production at Deutsche Oper Berlin, under the baton of Sir Donald Runnicles. He returns in Fall 2021 for debut performances of Siegfried in Götterdämmerung, and for his first complete Ring Cycles as the young hero. The 2021-2022 season features Clay Hilley in two other prominent debuts: with Dutch National Opera as the title role of Zemlinsky’s Der Zwerg in a new production by Nanouk Leopold, which heralds the arrival of the company’s new Music Director, Lorenzo Viotti; and at the Tiroler Festspiele Erl as Siegmund in a new production of Die Walküre directed by KS Brigitte Fassbaender. He sings the title role of Samson et Dalila in a fully-staged presentation at Bob Jones University. A vibrant concert schedule includes Aida Act 3 with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nicola Luisotti, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with John DeMain and the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and Siegfried Act 3 with the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra led by Chief Conductor Erik Nielsen. Highlights of last season include Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde with the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano, a concert presentation of Tristan und Isolde (Act 2) with Edward Gardner leading the Orchestra of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the role of Phoebus in Schmidt’s Notre Dame at Theatre St. Gallen. Clay Hilley joined Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2019-20 for performances of Dead Man Walking and to cover Siegfried in Der Ring des Nibelungen. Other engagements that season included the Drum Major in the Metropolitan Opera’s new production by William Kentridge of Wozzeck, and a semi-staged presentation of Die Tote Stadt at Bard SummerFest. Clay Hilley has performed the title role of Dvořák’s Dimitrij in a new production by Anne Bogart for the Bard Music Festival conducted by Leon Botstein, the title role of Mozart’s Idomeneo both in a new production by Arila Siegert at the Salzburger Landestheater under the baton of Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla and at the Theater Würzburg in a production by Stefan Suschke conducted by Enrico Calesso, Radamès in Aida with Opera Southwest and Baltimore Concert Opera, Canio in Pagliacci with Virginia Opera, and Erik in Der fliegende Holländer with Austin Lyric Opera. Concert experience includes performances of Beethoven’s Fidelio with Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Mahler’s Eighth Symphony with Marin Alsop and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival, with John DeMain and the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and with Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra, as well as Das Lied von der Erde with The Apollo Orchestra of Washington, D.C. Emerging as a world class Straussian tenor, he has sung Menelaus in Die ägyptische Helena with Gil Rose and Odyssey Opera and Gundelfingen in Feuersnot with Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. The tenor received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education at the University of Georgia, a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Georgia State University, a Professional Studies Certificate from the Manhattan School of Music, and a Performer’s Certificate from the Opera Institute at Boston University.
MASTERCLASS
Praised in The New York Times for his “vocal heft, clarion sound and stamina,” heldentenor Clay Hilley has appeared on many international stages in the most demanding operatic repertoire. At age 39 he sang the title role of Wagner’s Siegfried in Stefan Herheim’s new production at Deutsche Oper Berlin, under the baton of Sir Donald Runnicles. He returns in Fall 2021 for debut performances of Siegfried in Götterdämmerung, and for his first complete Ring Cycles as the young hero. The 2021-2022 season features Clay Hilley in two other prominent debuts: with Dutch National Opera as the title role of Zemlinsky’s Der Zwerg in a new production by Nanouk Leopold, which heralds the arrival of the company’s new Music Director, Lorenzo Viotti; and at the Tiroler Festspiele Erl as Siegmund in a new production of Die Walküre directed by KS Brigitte Fassbaender. He sings the title role of Samson et Dalila in a fully-staged presentation at Bob Jones University. A vibrant concert schedule includes Aida Act 3 with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nicola Luisotti, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with John DeMain and the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and Siegfried Act 3 with the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra led by Chief Conductor Erik Nielsen. Highlights of last season include Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde with the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano, a concert presentation of Tristan und Isolde (Act 2) with Edward Gardner leading the Orchestra of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the role of Phoebus in Schmidt’s Notre Dame at Theatre St. Gallen. Clay Hilley joined Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2019-20 for performances of Dead Man Walking and to cover Siegfried in Der Ring des Nibelungen. Other engagements that season included the Drum Major in the Metropolitan Opera’s new production by William Kentridge of Wozzeck, and a semi-staged presentation of Die Tote Stadt at Bard SummerFest. Clay Hilley has performed the title role of Dvořák’s Dimitrij in a new production by Anne Bogart for the Bard Music Festival conducted by Leon Botstein, the title role of Mozart’s Idomeneo both in a new production by Arila Siegert at the Salzburger Landestheater under the baton of Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla and at the Theater Würzburg in a production by Stefan Suschke conducted by Enrico Calesso, Radamès in Aida with Opera Southwest and Baltimore Concert Opera, Canio in Pagliacci with Virginia Opera, and Erik in Der fliegende Holländer with Austin Lyric Opera. Concert experience includes performances of Beethoven’s Fidelio with Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Mahler’s Eighth Symphony with Marin Alsop and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival, with John DeMain and the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and with Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra, as well as Das Lied von der Erde with The Apollo Orchestra of Washington, D.C. Emerging as a world class Straussian tenor, he has sung Menelaus in Die ägyptische Helena with Gil Rose and Odyssey Opera and Gundelfingen in Feuersnot with Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. The tenor received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education at the University of Georgia, a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Georgia State University, a Professional Studies Certificate from the Manhattan School of Music, and a Performer’s Certificate from the Opera Institute at Boston University.
GUNDULA HINTZ
MASTERCLASS
Born in Berlin, Gundula Hintz studied at the Hochschule der Künste Berlin with professors such as Aribert Reimann and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. She has appeared as an opera and concert singer at numerous German and international venues (Berlin, Leipzig, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Naples, Venice, St. Gallen, London, Toronto), at the Festival de Radio France et Montpellier, the Venice Biennale and the Berlin Festival Weeks.
Gundula Hintz has worked with conductors such as Constantin Trinks, Gerd Albrecht, Ralf Weikert, Anna Skryleva, Karl-Heinz Steffens, Ulf Schirmer, Anthony Bramall, Josep Caballé Domenech, Patrick Lange and Jessica Cottis.
After first engagements with jugendlich-dramatisch roles (among others the Baroness Liddy in the highly acclaimed world premiere of Detlev Glanert's opera "Scherz, Satire, Ironie und tiefere Bedeutung"), the Sieglinde in the "Walküre" marked the entrance into the Wagner Fach.
In 2011 she made her debut as Fricka in Wagner's "Ring" at the Staatstheater Darmstadt. There she also performed as Herodias in Strauss' opera "Salome" in 2013. In the same year she sang the 1st alto part in Mahler's 8th Symphony in the Berliner Philharmonie.
From 2012 to 2015 Gundula Hintz could be heard as Fricka ("Rheingold" and "Walküre"), Waltraute/2nd Norn ("Götterdämmerung") in the Ring tetralogy of the Theater Halle and Ludwigshafen.
The Royal Opera House Covent Garden engaged her in August 2014 for Turnage’s opera "Anna Nicole" in London. In the same season she made her Halle debut as Adelaide in Strauss' "Arabella".
In January 2015 she made her debut at Leipzig Opera House as Fricka in "Rheingold", where in December 2015 she performed Dämonia in Humperdinck's fairytale opera "Sleeping Beauty".
Gundula Hintz played Fräulein Schneider in Kander’s musical "Cabaret" at the Staatstheater Augsburg on the open-air stage Freilichtbühne am Roten Tor in summer 2016.
In March 2017 she sang Mahler's "Lied von der Erde" in the Berliner Philharmonie. The mezzo-soprano made her North American debut in Toronto in autumn 2017. The Canadian Opera Company engaged her as Adelaide in Tim Albery's production of Strauss' "Arabella".
At the Royal Opera House Covent Garden London in June 2018 she performed the leading role of Esther in the world premiere of Na'ama Zisser's opera "Mamzer/Bastard". In the 2018/19 season she made her debut as Zita in "Gianni Schicchi" at the Staatsoperette Dresden. The role of Kabanicha in Lydia Steier's new production of "Katia Kabanowa" brought her to the Staatstheater Mainz in January 2019.
Numerous radio and television recordings document her successful work. With Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and the woodwind instrumentalists of the Berliner Philharmoniker she made a CD recording of Mozart terzets. In addition to her solo engagements, her voice studio in Berlin, in which she coaches numerous professional opera singers and provides technical support for them, as well as international master classes in Bayreuth, Düsseldorf, Tallinn, London and New York are further focal points of her activities.
MASTERCLASS
Born in Berlin, Gundula Hintz studied at the Hochschule der Künste Berlin with professors such as Aribert Reimann and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. She has appeared as an opera and concert singer at numerous German and international venues (Berlin, Leipzig, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Naples, Venice, St. Gallen, London, Toronto), at the Festival de Radio France et Montpellier, the Venice Biennale and the Berlin Festival Weeks.
Gundula Hintz has worked with conductors such as Constantin Trinks, Gerd Albrecht, Ralf Weikert, Anna Skryleva, Karl-Heinz Steffens, Ulf Schirmer, Anthony Bramall, Josep Caballé Domenech, Patrick Lange and Jessica Cottis.
After first engagements with jugendlich-dramatisch roles (among others the Baroness Liddy in the highly acclaimed world premiere of Detlev Glanert's opera "Scherz, Satire, Ironie und tiefere Bedeutung"), the Sieglinde in the "Walküre" marked the entrance into the Wagner Fach.
In 2011 she made her debut as Fricka in Wagner's "Ring" at the Staatstheater Darmstadt. There she also performed as Herodias in Strauss' opera "Salome" in 2013. In the same year she sang the 1st alto part in Mahler's 8th Symphony in the Berliner Philharmonie.
From 2012 to 2015 Gundula Hintz could be heard as Fricka ("Rheingold" and "Walküre"), Waltraute/2nd Norn ("Götterdämmerung") in the Ring tetralogy of the Theater Halle and Ludwigshafen.
The Royal Opera House Covent Garden engaged her in August 2014 for Turnage’s opera "Anna Nicole" in London. In the same season she made her Halle debut as Adelaide in Strauss' "Arabella".
In January 2015 she made her debut at Leipzig Opera House as Fricka in "Rheingold", where in December 2015 she performed Dämonia in Humperdinck's fairytale opera "Sleeping Beauty".
Gundula Hintz played Fräulein Schneider in Kander’s musical "Cabaret" at the Staatstheater Augsburg on the open-air stage Freilichtbühne am Roten Tor in summer 2016.
In March 2017 she sang Mahler's "Lied von der Erde" in the Berliner Philharmonie. The mezzo-soprano made her North American debut in Toronto in autumn 2017. The Canadian Opera Company engaged her as Adelaide in Tim Albery's production of Strauss' "Arabella".
At the Royal Opera House Covent Garden London in June 2018 she performed the leading role of Esther in the world premiere of Na'ama Zisser's opera "Mamzer/Bastard". In the 2018/19 season she made her debut as Zita in "Gianni Schicchi" at the Staatsoperette Dresden. The role of Kabanicha in Lydia Steier's new production of "Katia Kabanowa" brought her to the Staatstheater Mainz in January 2019.
Numerous radio and television recordings document her successful work. With Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and the woodwind instrumentalists of the Berliner Philharmoniker she made a CD recording of Mozart terzets. In addition to her solo engagements, her voice studio in Berlin, in which she coaches numerous professional opera singers and provides technical support for them, as well as international master classes in Bayreuth, Düsseldorf, Tallinn, London and New York are further focal points of her activities.
STEPHANIE WEISS
MASTERCLASS
Stephanie Weiss, mezzo-soprano, was a Regional Finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and recipient of a Richard F. Gold Career Grant from the Shoshana Foundation from Mannes College of Music. As the winner of the American Berlin Opera Foundation Competition, she became a member of Deutsche Oper Berlin as a Stipendiatin, where in her first season, while still a soprano, she sang Frasquita (Carmen), Musetta, Erste Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Gerhilde (Die Walküre), and Schlafittchen in the Berlin premiere of Das Traumfresserchen.
Ms. Weiss continues to be a regular guest at Deutsche Oper Berlin, where she has sung Marianne Leitmetzerin (Der Rosenkavalier), Aufseherin (Elektra), Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Grimgerde (Die Walküre), Johanna [cover] (Szenen aus dem Leben der Heiligen Johanna), and Venus [cover] (Tannhäuser) in the company’s tour to Beijing. Other appearances include Opera Orchestra of New York under Eve Queler at Carnegie Hall as Rose (Lakmé), Berlin’s Staatsoper Unter den Linden as Erste Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro) and Marthe (Faust), at Oper Frankfurt as Musetta, and at Stadttheater Bern, San Diego Opera, Oper Dortmund, and Oper Köln as Marianne Leitmetzerin. She debuted with the Berlin Philharmonic as the Cook in Le Rossignol under the baton of Pierre Boulez. Other notable performances have included Venus (Tannhäuser) with Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater Schwerin, Berta (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) and Suzuki (Madama Butterfly) with Opera Las Vegas, and a return to the San Diego Opera as Giannetta (L´elisir d´amore). Concerts include Wesendonck Lieder with the Henderson Symphony Orchestra, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen and Symphony No. 4 with the L’viv Philharmonic (Ukraine), and Santuzza (Cavalleria rusticana) with Singakademie Potsdam. Recent appearances include Grimgerde (Die Walküre) at Oper Leipzig, Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas) with Opera Company of Middlebury, a return to Deutsche Oper Berlin to sing Zweite Dienerin (Die Ägyptische Helena) and Aufseherin (Elektra), and the title role of Johanna (Szenen aus dem Leben der Heiligen Johanna) by Walter Braunfels at Oper Köln. In the 2017/2018 season, she sang Aksinja in Lady Macbeth of Mzensk at Deutsche Oper Berlin, and returned to Oper Leipzig to sing Grimgerde in Die Walküre.
Along with operatic and orchestral concert repertoire, Ms. Weiss is an avid performer of art song and new music. She has performed recitals in the US, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia, singing the music of award-winning American and German living composers. With pianist Christina Wright-Ivanova, she has sung the world premieres of several song cycles, including Jonathan Stark’s “Passageway”, and Daron Hagen’s “Jaik’s Songs”. In 2018, the duo will release their debut CD of the songs of Daron Hagen.
In addition to her singing, Ms. Weiss is Assistant Professor of Voice at Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts School of Music. She holds degrees from New England Conservatory (B.M. voice), Tufts University (B.S. biology and drama), University of Missouri-Kansas City (M.M), Mannes College of Music (Prof. Studies Dipl.), and University of Nevada, Las Vegas (D.M.A.). Previously, she was Assistant Professor of Voice at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, a Teaching Fellow with the Metropolitan Opera Education Department, and serves on the faculties of COSI (Centre for Opera Studies in Italy) in Sulmona, Italy and AIMS in Graz.
MASTERCLASS
Stephanie Weiss, mezzo-soprano, was a Regional Finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and recipient of a Richard F. Gold Career Grant from the Shoshana Foundation from Mannes College of Music. As the winner of the American Berlin Opera Foundation Competition, she became a member of Deutsche Oper Berlin as a Stipendiatin, where in her first season, while still a soprano, she sang Frasquita (Carmen), Musetta, Erste Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Gerhilde (Die Walküre), and Schlafittchen in the Berlin premiere of Das Traumfresserchen.
Ms. Weiss continues to be a regular guest at Deutsche Oper Berlin, where she has sung Marianne Leitmetzerin (Der Rosenkavalier), Aufseherin (Elektra), Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Grimgerde (Die Walküre), Johanna [cover] (Szenen aus dem Leben der Heiligen Johanna), and Venus [cover] (Tannhäuser) in the company’s tour to Beijing. Other appearances include Opera Orchestra of New York under Eve Queler at Carnegie Hall as Rose (Lakmé), Berlin’s Staatsoper Unter den Linden as Erste Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro) and Marthe (Faust), at Oper Frankfurt as Musetta, and at Stadttheater Bern, San Diego Opera, Oper Dortmund, and Oper Köln as Marianne Leitmetzerin. She debuted with the Berlin Philharmonic as the Cook in Le Rossignol under the baton of Pierre Boulez. Other notable performances have included Venus (Tannhäuser) with Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater Schwerin, Berta (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) and Suzuki (Madama Butterfly) with Opera Las Vegas, and a return to the San Diego Opera as Giannetta (L´elisir d´amore). Concerts include Wesendonck Lieder with the Henderson Symphony Orchestra, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen and Symphony No. 4 with the L’viv Philharmonic (Ukraine), and Santuzza (Cavalleria rusticana) with Singakademie Potsdam. Recent appearances include Grimgerde (Die Walküre) at Oper Leipzig, Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas) with Opera Company of Middlebury, a return to Deutsche Oper Berlin to sing Zweite Dienerin (Die Ägyptische Helena) and Aufseherin (Elektra), and the title role of Johanna (Szenen aus dem Leben der Heiligen Johanna) by Walter Braunfels at Oper Köln. In the 2017/2018 season, she sang Aksinja in Lady Macbeth of Mzensk at Deutsche Oper Berlin, and returned to Oper Leipzig to sing Grimgerde in Die Walküre.
Along with operatic and orchestral concert repertoire, Ms. Weiss is an avid performer of art song and new music. She has performed recitals in the US, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia, singing the music of award-winning American and German living composers. With pianist Christina Wright-Ivanova, she has sung the world premieres of several song cycles, including Jonathan Stark’s “Passageway”, and Daron Hagen’s “Jaik’s Songs”. In 2018, the duo will release their debut CD of the songs of Daron Hagen.
In addition to her singing, Ms. Weiss is Assistant Professor of Voice at Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts School of Music. She holds degrees from New England Conservatory (B.M. voice), Tufts University (B.S. biology and drama), University of Missouri-Kansas City (M.M), Mannes College of Music (Prof. Studies Dipl.), and University of Nevada, Las Vegas (D.M.A.). Previously, she was Assistant Professor of Voice at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, a Teaching Fellow with the Metropolitan Opera Education Department, and serves on the faculties of COSI (Centre for Opera Studies in Italy) in Sulmona, Italy and AIMS in Graz.
ANNIE GILL
ONLINE VIDEO/AUDITION TECHNIQUES & EQUIPMENT SET-UP
Soprano Annie Gill is a professional singer, actress, and voice over actor who continues to gain recognition as a distinctive and versatile artist.
Particularly excelling in the repertoire of Mozart and Puccini in her classical career, Ms. Gill has been commended for "a glorious voice - opulent from top to bottom,” and “astounding technical vocal ability, solid song interpretation and stage presence.”
Most recently, Ms. Gill appeared as the Soprano Soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Landon Symphonette, in a solo holiday cabaret with pianist Andrew Stewart at the Engineer’s Club in Baltimore, and as a narrator and soloist in a virtual multi-media production of The Little Match Girl with Bel Cantanti Opera. Other virtual performances in 2020 include a role debut as La Zelatrice in a filmed production of Suor Angelica with The Art Factory; and as a Soprano Soloist in virtual performances with the Baltimore Musicales and Annapolis Shakespeare Company.
Earlier in the 2019-2020 season, Ms. Gill performed the role of Musetta in La Bohème with Opera Camerata of Washington, appeared as the Soprano Soloist in Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ from the Cross with the Maryland Choral Society, and performed a reprise of the recital “Písně Lásky a Naděje” – “Songs of Love and Hope” with pianist Andrew Stewart for the Women’s Club of Roland Park. In concert, she appeared as Soprano Soloist in the Verdi Defiant Requiem (Defiant Requiem Foundation/Indiana University of Pennsylvania Chorale/Penn State Altoona), and as Soprano Soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Landon Symphonette. Other concert performances during the 2019 season included “An American Musical Journey: From Art Song to Musical Theater” – an All-American recital, “In Moonlight and Dreaming” with the Baltimore Musicales, and Soprano Soloist in the chamber music concert Tona Brown and Friends: An Afternoon of Schumann, Schubert, and Song.
Recent opera and theater performances include the roles of The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors with The New Moon Theater, Fräulein Schneider in Cabaret with the Annapolis Shakespeare Company (company debut), Serpina in La Serva Padrona with Loudoun Lyric Opera, and premieres of three leading roles in The Lives Left Behind with The Silver Finch Arts Collective as part of the 2018 Washington, DC Capitol Fringe Festival. Other recent concert appearances include Soprano Soloist in composer Keith Kramer’s Jasmine at the College Music Society (Mid-Atlantic Conference) in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Soprano Soloist for the Baltimore Composers’ Forum 25th Anniversary Concert and Fall 2018 Concert; a CD release concert for composer Garth Baxter’s album Ask the Moon; Soprano Soloist for the Opera NOVA Gala, and recital performances with the Baltimore Musicales concert series.
Earlier in the 2017-2018 season, Ms. Gill performed the role of The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Opera AACC and the Maryland Concert Society, and Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance with Opera Camerata of Washington at the Ambassador of the United Kingdom’s Residence in Washington, DC. Also in 2017, Ms. Gill made her debut with the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra as the Soprano Soloist in their concert – “PSO in Tinseltown” – at the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival. In March of 2017, Ms. Gill performed a recital of Czech and Slovak art songs and arias, “Písně Lásky a Naděje” – “Songs of Love and Hope” - in Baltimore, MD. Ms. Gill recorded the music of composers Keith Kramer (Jasmine) and Garth Baxter (album debut - Ask the Moon), performing Two Last Songs and April Twilight, which the composer wrote for her.
In 2016, Ms. Gill sang the roles of Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi with Opera Camerata of Washington, and Serpina (Serpinia) in The In Series’ production of La Serva Padrona, receiving enthusiastic reviews for handling “the rollercoaster range from high to low of Pergolesi’s score with aplomb.” Ms. Gill made her debut with the Cathedral Choral Society as a Soprano Soloist in the Fantastic Beethoven concert under the baton of esteemed conductor J. Reilly Lewis. Also in 2016, Ms. Gill performed as the soprano soloist in the Baltimore Composers’ Forum concert, where she premiered works by composers Anna Rubin, Keith Kramer, Janice Macaulay, Garth Baxter, and Harriet Katz.
During the 2015-2016 season, Ms. Gill added the roles of Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly and Marzelline in Beethoven’s Fidelio to her extensive list of operatic repertoire, and returned for her fourth production of Don Giovanni to perform the role of Donna Anna (Opera AACC). In recital, Ms. Gill performed the world premiere of composer Garth Baxter’s song cycle Three Poems from Edna St. Vincent Millay.
In the 2014-2015 season, Ms. Gill sang the roles of Micaëla in Carmen with Opera Camerata of Washington (Gregory Buchalter of the Metropolitan Opera conducting), Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte with Opera NOVA, Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Opera Camerata of Washington, and covered renowned soprano Asako Tamura in the title role of Cio-Cio San. As Mimì/Pamina/Despina in The In Series production of Fatal Song, Ms. Gill received excellent reviews for her “nuanced performance” and “bell-clear rendition” of arias by Puccini and Mozart.
With over thirty roles from opera, operetta, and musical theater in her repertoire, Ms. Gill continues to garner acclaim for her commanding interpretations, detailed characterizations, and dramatic performances. Other past roles include the title roles in Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Massenet’s Manon, Nedda (I Pagliacci), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus), Mimì and Musetta (La Bohème), The Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors), La Contessa (Le Nozze di Figaro), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), and Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) with companies including The Singers’ Theatre of Washington, Baltimore Opera Theatre, Aurora Opera Theatre, and Opera in the Ozarks.
Ms. Gill is the Grand Prize Winner of the 2017 Alpha Corinne Mayfield Award in Opera Performance from the National Federation of Music Clubs. A First Prize Winner in the 2013 Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition, Ms. Gill made her Carnegie Hall debut in the competition Winners’ Recital on January 27th, 2013. Also in 2013, Ms. Gill won 3rd Prize in the National Federation of Music Clubs Biennial Young Artist Awards, and 3rd Prize in the Russell C. Wonderlic Voice Competition. In 2012, Ms. Gill was the Grand Prize Winner in the 2012 Singer Recital Competition for the Art Song Festival of Toledo, OH and performed a full solo recital program for the first evening of the festival. Ms. Gill has also received awards from the Orpheus Vocal Competition (Puccini Award), Coeur d’Alene Symphony Young Artist Competition, Kentucky Opera Idol Competition (Grand Prize Winner), and the Opera New Hampshire Competition, and has been a Finalist in the ACPC Marcella Kochańska Sembrich Vocal Competition, Howard County Arts Council Rising Star Competition, Hawaii Public Radio Art Song Competition, MetroWest Opera Competition, and the Rochester Oratorio Society Classical Idol Competition.
Together with pianist Andrew Stewart, Ms. Gill will debut in a recorded album for the Orpheus Classical label - “Písně Lásky a Naděje – Songs of Love and Hope” which features the selections from their acclaimed recital of Czech and Slovak music.
In addition to her classical singing career, Ms. Gill acts in commercials and television, notably appearing as the “Opera Singer” in the Season 2 Finale of House of Cards. Past credits include principal roles in industrial films for Pepperdine University, Simmons College, and the American Nurses Association. Commercial credits include principal roles in ads for Visit Frederickburg, Arlington Transportation Partners, Long Roofing, MASN, and Walden University. Highlights from print work include UMBC Global Campus, Walden University, and the Maryland Department of Transportation. Commended for a voice that is warm, inviting, and knowledgeable, Ms. Gill’s voice over talents have appeared in commercials for the Maryland Food Bank, Easton Plaza Shopping Center (Talbot County), and educational online program introductions for Chesapeake College. Currently, Ms. Gill’s voice serves as the after-hours operator for the Winner Automotive Group in Wilmington, Delaware.
A teacher of voice and piano for over fourteen years, Ms. Gill is also a sought-after presenter and educator. She created several unique presentations, including “From the Stage to the Office: Vocal Health for the Professional”, and “On-Camera Techniques for Musicians”, the later of which she presented over thirty times throughout the past year.
For more information and links to social media pages, you may visit her artist website at www.AnnieGill.com.
ONLINE VIDEO/AUDITION TECHNIQUES & EQUIPMENT SET-UP
Soprano Annie Gill is a professional singer, actress, and voice over actor who continues to gain recognition as a distinctive and versatile artist.
Particularly excelling in the repertoire of Mozart and Puccini in her classical career, Ms. Gill has been commended for "a glorious voice - opulent from top to bottom,” and “astounding technical vocal ability, solid song interpretation and stage presence.”
Most recently, Ms. Gill appeared as the Soprano Soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Landon Symphonette, in a solo holiday cabaret with pianist Andrew Stewart at the Engineer’s Club in Baltimore, and as a narrator and soloist in a virtual multi-media production of The Little Match Girl with Bel Cantanti Opera. Other virtual performances in 2020 include a role debut as La Zelatrice in a filmed production of Suor Angelica with The Art Factory; and as a Soprano Soloist in virtual performances with the Baltimore Musicales and Annapolis Shakespeare Company.
Earlier in the 2019-2020 season, Ms. Gill performed the role of Musetta in La Bohème with Opera Camerata of Washington, appeared as the Soprano Soloist in Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ from the Cross with the Maryland Choral Society, and performed a reprise of the recital “Písně Lásky a Naděje” – “Songs of Love and Hope” with pianist Andrew Stewart for the Women’s Club of Roland Park. In concert, she appeared as Soprano Soloist in the Verdi Defiant Requiem (Defiant Requiem Foundation/Indiana University of Pennsylvania Chorale/Penn State Altoona), and as Soprano Soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Landon Symphonette. Other concert performances during the 2019 season included “An American Musical Journey: From Art Song to Musical Theater” – an All-American recital, “In Moonlight and Dreaming” with the Baltimore Musicales, and Soprano Soloist in the chamber music concert Tona Brown and Friends: An Afternoon of Schumann, Schubert, and Song.
Recent opera and theater performances include the roles of The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors with The New Moon Theater, Fräulein Schneider in Cabaret with the Annapolis Shakespeare Company (company debut), Serpina in La Serva Padrona with Loudoun Lyric Opera, and premieres of three leading roles in The Lives Left Behind with The Silver Finch Arts Collective as part of the 2018 Washington, DC Capitol Fringe Festival. Other recent concert appearances include Soprano Soloist in composer Keith Kramer’s Jasmine at the College Music Society (Mid-Atlantic Conference) in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Soprano Soloist for the Baltimore Composers’ Forum 25th Anniversary Concert and Fall 2018 Concert; a CD release concert for composer Garth Baxter’s album Ask the Moon; Soprano Soloist for the Opera NOVA Gala, and recital performances with the Baltimore Musicales concert series.
Earlier in the 2017-2018 season, Ms. Gill performed the role of The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Opera AACC and the Maryland Concert Society, and Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance with Opera Camerata of Washington at the Ambassador of the United Kingdom’s Residence in Washington, DC. Also in 2017, Ms. Gill made her debut with the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra as the Soprano Soloist in their concert – “PSO in Tinseltown” – at the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival. In March of 2017, Ms. Gill performed a recital of Czech and Slovak art songs and arias, “Písně Lásky a Naděje” – “Songs of Love and Hope” - in Baltimore, MD. Ms. Gill recorded the music of composers Keith Kramer (Jasmine) and Garth Baxter (album debut - Ask the Moon), performing Two Last Songs and April Twilight, which the composer wrote for her.
In 2016, Ms. Gill sang the roles of Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi with Opera Camerata of Washington, and Serpina (Serpinia) in The In Series’ production of La Serva Padrona, receiving enthusiastic reviews for handling “the rollercoaster range from high to low of Pergolesi’s score with aplomb.” Ms. Gill made her debut with the Cathedral Choral Society as a Soprano Soloist in the Fantastic Beethoven concert under the baton of esteemed conductor J. Reilly Lewis. Also in 2016, Ms. Gill performed as the soprano soloist in the Baltimore Composers’ Forum concert, where she premiered works by composers Anna Rubin, Keith Kramer, Janice Macaulay, Garth Baxter, and Harriet Katz.
During the 2015-2016 season, Ms. Gill added the roles of Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly and Marzelline in Beethoven’s Fidelio to her extensive list of operatic repertoire, and returned for her fourth production of Don Giovanni to perform the role of Donna Anna (Opera AACC). In recital, Ms. Gill performed the world premiere of composer Garth Baxter’s song cycle Three Poems from Edna St. Vincent Millay.
In the 2014-2015 season, Ms. Gill sang the roles of Micaëla in Carmen with Opera Camerata of Washington (Gregory Buchalter of the Metropolitan Opera conducting), Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte with Opera NOVA, Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Opera Camerata of Washington, and covered renowned soprano Asako Tamura in the title role of Cio-Cio San. As Mimì/Pamina/Despina in The In Series production of Fatal Song, Ms. Gill received excellent reviews for her “nuanced performance” and “bell-clear rendition” of arias by Puccini and Mozart.
With over thirty roles from opera, operetta, and musical theater in her repertoire, Ms. Gill continues to garner acclaim for her commanding interpretations, detailed characterizations, and dramatic performances. Other past roles include the title roles in Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Massenet’s Manon, Nedda (I Pagliacci), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus), Mimì and Musetta (La Bohème), The Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors), La Contessa (Le Nozze di Figaro), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), and Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) with companies including The Singers’ Theatre of Washington, Baltimore Opera Theatre, Aurora Opera Theatre, and Opera in the Ozarks.
Ms. Gill is the Grand Prize Winner of the 2017 Alpha Corinne Mayfield Award in Opera Performance from the National Federation of Music Clubs. A First Prize Winner in the 2013 Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition, Ms. Gill made her Carnegie Hall debut in the competition Winners’ Recital on January 27th, 2013. Also in 2013, Ms. Gill won 3rd Prize in the National Federation of Music Clubs Biennial Young Artist Awards, and 3rd Prize in the Russell C. Wonderlic Voice Competition. In 2012, Ms. Gill was the Grand Prize Winner in the 2012 Singer Recital Competition for the Art Song Festival of Toledo, OH and performed a full solo recital program for the first evening of the festival. Ms. Gill has also received awards from the Orpheus Vocal Competition (Puccini Award), Coeur d’Alene Symphony Young Artist Competition, Kentucky Opera Idol Competition (Grand Prize Winner), and the Opera New Hampshire Competition, and has been a Finalist in the ACPC Marcella Kochańska Sembrich Vocal Competition, Howard County Arts Council Rising Star Competition, Hawaii Public Radio Art Song Competition, MetroWest Opera Competition, and the Rochester Oratorio Society Classical Idol Competition.
Together with pianist Andrew Stewart, Ms. Gill will debut in a recorded album for the Orpheus Classical label - “Písně Lásky a Naděje – Songs of Love and Hope” which features the selections from their acclaimed recital of Czech and Slovak music.
In addition to her classical singing career, Ms. Gill acts in commercials and television, notably appearing as the “Opera Singer” in the Season 2 Finale of House of Cards. Past credits include principal roles in industrial films for Pepperdine University, Simmons College, and the American Nurses Association. Commercial credits include principal roles in ads for Visit Frederickburg, Arlington Transportation Partners, Long Roofing, MASN, and Walden University. Highlights from print work include UMBC Global Campus, Walden University, and the Maryland Department of Transportation. Commended for a voice that is warm, inviting, and knowledgeable, Ms. Gill’s voice over talents have appeared in commercials for the Maryland Food Bank, Easton Plaza Shopping Center (Talbot County), and educational online program introductions for Chesapeake College. Currently, Ms. Gill’s voice serves as the after-hours operator for the Winner Automotive Group in Wilmington, Delaware.
A teacher of voice and piano for over fourteen years, Ms. Gill is also a sought-after presenter and educator. She created several unique presentations, including “From the Stage to the Office: Vocal Health for the Professional”, and “On-Camera Techniques for Musicians”, the later of which she presented over thirty times throughout the past year.
For more information and links to social media pages, you may visit her artist website at www.AnnieGill.com.
CHRISTINA HAGER, OVATIONS DIGITAL
BUILDING & DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY
Christina Hager is the President and Founder of Ovations Digital, a social media & digital marketing consultancy, as well as a member of the 2021 Forbes Communication Council, and a published writer for Forbes.com. Her insights and ideas regarding social media marketing have appeared in Inc.com, People Maven Magazine, National Jewelry, Social Media Today, and numerous podcasts, and she is a highly sought after executive speaker on social media and digital tactics and strategy. With a long-standing reputation as a master communicator due to her former career as a professional opera singer, Ms. Christina Hager has leveraged her innate gift for messaging and storytelling into becoming an adroit digital marketing strategist, helping companies enhance their market position through digital and social media communication.
She holds consultant positions with numerous businesses and individual projects in the B2B and B2C industries, including health and wellness, executive and change advisory, beauty, skincare, construction, SaSS, business consulting and career services, e-commerce, restaurants, luxury goods, not-for-profits, and the performing arts.
Ms. Hager also assists corporate leaders and entrepreneurs, from small-business owners to Fortune 500 executives, and excels at developing thought leadership credentials for her clients through her ability to promote their insights in top industry outlets like Forbes, Inc.com, U.S. News and World Report, Business.com, and Thrive Global.
Ms. Hager is a proud champion of the arts, as well as an active board member and volunteer. After spending 10 years in NYC as a professional opera singer, she is happy to call Kansas City home.
BUILDING & DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY
Christina Hager is the President and Founder of Ovations Digital, a social media & digital marketing consultancy, as well as a member of the 2021 Forbes Communication Council, and a published writer for Forbes.com. Her insights and ideas regarding social media marketing have appeared in Inc.com, People Maven Magazine, National Jewelry, Social Media Today, and numerous podcasts, and she is a highly sought after executive speaker on social media and digital tactics and strategy. With a long-standing reputation as a master communicator due to her former career as a professional opera singer, Ms. Christina Hager has leveraged her innate gift for messaging and storytelling into becoming an adroit digital marketing strategist, helping companies enhance their market position through digital and social media communication.
She holds consultant positions with numerous businesses and individual projects in the B2B and B2C industries, including health and wellness, executive and change advisory, beauty, skincare, construction, SaSS, business consulting and career services, e-commerce, restaurants, luxury goods, not-for-profits, and the performing arts.
Ms. Hager also assists corporate leaders and entrepreneurs, from small-business owners to Fortune 500 executives, and excels at developing thought leadership credentials for her clients through her ability to promote their insights in top industry outlets like Forbes, Inc.com, U.S. News and World Report, Business.com, and Thrive Global.
Ms. Hager is a proud champion of the arts, as well as an active board member and volunteer. After spending 10 years in NYC as a professional opera singer, she is happy to call Kansas City home.
ANASTASIA INNISS,
PROGRAM CO-FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
CO-CASTING DIRECTOR & CO-PRODUCER, WAGNER'S DIE WALKÜRE
CAREER CONSULTATIONS
Ms. Inniss commenced her vocal training in Bulgaria and continued it at the Longy School of Music at Bard College (Cambridge, Massachusetts) as a recipient of the Janet Irving Scholarship for Vocal Studies. She was a member of the Central Florida Lyric Opera Young Artists Program and was later invited to return as a main stage Resident Artist with the company.
Opera roles include: Woglinde in Das Rheingold (Berliner Wagner Gruppe); Elsa in Lohengrin (Berliner Wagner Gruppe); Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Violetta in La Traviata (Central Florida Lyric Opera; New London Opera Players, Fine Arts Chorale & Orchestra) Governess in Turn of the Screw (Opera Seria), Donna Anna in Don Giovanni (Opera Seria, Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Nedda in Pagliacci (Central Florida Lyric Opera), Micaëla and Frasquita in Carmen, under the directorship of late legendary soprano Licia Albanese (Central Florida Lyric Opera); Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro (Central Florida Lyric Opera), Serpina in La serva padrona (Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal, concertante).
Ms. Inniss is a champion of new music. She has premiered works by prominent American and British composers such as Vartan Aghababian, Michael Djupstrom, Victoria Ellis, Heather Gilligan and Eric Sawyer; some of these works were written and dedicated to her. In addition to numerous song cycles and solo concert works with orchestra, she also created the role of Anna von Mildenburg in the new theater piece Geboren Alma Schindler (Berliner Opern Verein); the role of Member of the Chamber in the premiere performance of Eric Sawyer's Our American Cousin (Composers in Red Sneakers); and the title role in the world premiere of Victoria Ellis' opera Darling (One of Us Foundation).
Solo concert engagements include J.S. Bach Jauchzet Gott in alles Landen (Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal), Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut (Old North Concert Series), Magnificat in D (Fine Arts Chorale), Missa brevis in A (Fine Arts Chorale); Mozart's Requiem (Fine Arts Chorale), Missa Brevis in F (Sommerville Choir), Exultate Jubilate (Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal), Vesperae solennes de confessore (Somerville Choir); Händel's Messiah (College Park Players), L'Allego, il Pensieroso, ed il Moderato (Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal); Pergolesi Stabat mater (Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal); Schubert Mass in G (Highnam Choir and Orchestra); Dubois Seven Last Words of Christ (College Park Players); Vivaldi Gloria (Old North Concert Series); Vaughan Williams Dona nobis pacem (Tufts University Orchestra, cover); Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream (Longy Chamber Orchestra); Berg Sieben frühe Lieder (Kirchberg Chamber Music Festival); Mahler Rückert-Lieder (Berlin Song Festival); Strauss Vier letzte Lieder (Berlin Song Festival, Kirchberg Chamber Music Festival, Walbrook Music Trust, Galerieforum am Meer); Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasilieras No.5 (Kirchberg Chamber Music Festival) among others.
As a concert artist, Ms. Inniss has also given numerous concert and solo recitals in the United States and in Europe.
Ms. Inniss is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Opera Programs Berlin and Dramatic Voices Program Berlin. Previously, she was the Artistic Director of the Berlin Song Festival and an Artistic Consultant for The Opera Stage (now folded into Classical Singer Magazine). She has worked as an educator in higher education as well as in leadership positions in the arts for the last 15 years, both in the United States and in Europe.
Her directing credits include: Purcell's Dido & Aeneas, Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years and scenes from the operatic and musical theatre repertoire. She has served as a casting director and producer for Wagner's Das Rheingold, Wagner's Lohengrin, Strauss' Elektra, Wagner's Die Walküre and Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years. She also designed costumes for Purcell's Dido & Aeneas and Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years.
Ms. Inniss is a leader in the classical music industry. She has co-produced and hosted roundtable panel discussions on patterns of discrimination in the classical music industry - Singing While Black In Germany, Race in Opera and Ageism in Opera. In addition, she has spear-headed, co-designed, co-produced and hosted Trans*Voices - a series of masterclasses for transgender and non-binary artists. She often does charity work raising money for such organisations as Save the Children, Berliner Aids-Hilfe, Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler CoronaCare, Black Lives Matter, Chineke! Foundation, Artist Relief Tree.
She currently resides in Berlin, Germany and Lanzarote, Canary Island with her fiancé. In her free time, she enjoys long swims, cooking without recipes, spontaneous travel and pretty much anything to do with the ocean.
PROGRAM CO-FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
CO-CASTING DIRECTOR & CO-PRODUCER, WAGNER'S DIE WALKÜRE
CAREER CONSULTATIONS
Ms. Inniss commenced her vocal training in Bulgaria and continued it at the Longy School of Music at Bard College (Cambridge, Massachusetts) as a recipient of the Janet Irving Scholarship for Vocal Studies. She was a member of the Central Florida Lyric Opera Young Artists Program and was later invited to return as a main stage Resident Artist with the company.
Opera roles include: Woglinde in Das Rheingold (Berliner Wagner Gruppe); Elsa in Lohengrin (Berliner Wagner Gruppe); Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Violetta in La Traviata (Central Florida Lyric Opera; New London Opera Players, Fine Arts Chorale & Orchestra) Governess in Turn of the Screw (Opera Seria), Donna Anna in Don Giovanni (Opera Seria, Edinburgh Fringe Festival), Nedda in Pagliacci (Central Florida Lyric Opera), Micaëla and Frasquita in Carmen, under the directorship of late legendary soprano Licia Albanese (Central Florida Lyric Opera); Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro (Central Florida Lyric Opera), Serpina in La serva padrona (Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal, concertante).
Ms. Inniss is a champion of new music. She has premiered works by prominent American and British composers such as Vartan Aghababian, Michael Djupstrom, Victoria Ellis, Heather Gilligan and Eric Sawyer; some of these works were written and dedicated to her. In addition to numerous song cycles and solo concert works with orchestra, she also created the role of Anna von Mildenburg in the new theater piece Geboren Alma Schindler (Berliner Opern Verein); the role of Member of the Chamber in the premiere performance of Eric Sawyer's Our American Cousin (Composers in Red Sneakers); and the title role in the world premiere of Victoria Ellis' opera Darling (One of Us Foundation).
Solo concert engagements include J.S. Bach Jauchzet Gott in alles Landen (Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal), Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut (Old North Concert Series), Magnificat in D (Fine Arts Chorale), Missa brevis in A (Fine Arts Chorale); Mozart's Requiem (Fine Arts Chorale), Missa Brevis in F (Sommerville Choir), Exultate Jubilate (Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal), Vesperae solennes de confessore (Somerville Choir); Händel's Messiah (College Park Players), L'Allego, il Pensieroso, ed il Moderato (Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal); Pergolesi Stabat mater (Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal); Schubert Mass in G (Highnam Choir and Orchestra); Dubois Seven Last Words of Christ (College Park Players); Vivaldi Gloria (Old North Concert Series); Vaughan Williams Dona nobis pacem (Tufts University Orchestra, cover); Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream (Longy Chamber Orchestra); Berg Sieben frühe Lieder (Kirchberg Chamber Music Festival); Mahler Rückert-Lieder (Berlin Song Festival); Strauss Vier letzte Lieder (Berlin Song Festival, Kirchberg Chamber Music Festival, Walbrook Music Trust, Galerieforum am Meer); Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasilieras No.5 (Kirchberg Chamber Music Festival) among others.
As a concert artist, Ms. Inniss has also given numerous concert and solo recitals in the United States and in Europe.
Ms. Inniss is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Opera Programs Berlin and Dramatic Voices Program Berlin. Previously, she was the Artistic Director of the Berlin Song Festival and an Artistic Consultant for The Opera Stage (now folded into Classical Singer Magazine). She has worked as an educator in higher education as well as in leadership positions in the arts for the last 15 years, both in the United States and in Europe.
Her directing credits include: Purcell's Dido & Aeneas, Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years and scenes from the operatic and musical theatre repertoire. She has served as a casting director and producer for Wagner's Das Rheingold, Wagner's Lohengrin, Strauss' Elektra, Wagner's Die Walküre and Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years. She also designed costumes for Purcell's Dido & Aeneas and Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years.
Ms. Inniss is a leader in the classical music industry. She has co-produced and hosted roundtable panel discussions on patterns of discrimination in the classical music industry - Singing While Black In Germany, Race in Opera and Ageism in Opera. In addition, she has spear-headed, co-designed, co-produced and hosted Trans*Voices - a series of masterclasses for transgender and non-binary artists. She often does charity work raising money for such organisations as Save the Children, Berliner Aids-Hilfe, Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler CoronaCare, Black Lives Matter, Chineke! Foundation, Artist Relief Tree.
She currently resides in Berlin, Germany and Lanzarote, Canary Island with her fiancé. In her free time, she enjoys long swims, cooking without recipes, spontaneous travel and pretty much anything to do with the ocean.
STEPHAN REINEKE, AGENT, TACT INTERNATIONAL
VISITING FACULTY
Stephan studied law, musicology and cultural administration at the universities in Bayreuth, Mainz, Cologne and Berlin. After early lessons in piano, he became a member of a chorus working with conductors such as Sergiu Celibidache, Sylvain Cambreling and Michael Gielen and orchestras such as the Munich Philharmonic, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London and the SWR Symphonieorchester.
He gained valuable experience working in the artistic administration of Komische Oper Berlin, as Assistant to the Director of the Radio Chorus Berlin and as Personal Assistant to the Intendant of Dortmund Opera.
In 2004 he embarked on his career as an Artist Manager for singers and conductors and during the subsequent years worked for different agencies before joining the team of TACT International Art Management in 2012. For many years, he was also Managing President of a non-profit foundation in Berlin supporting young and talented artists.
In addition, Stephan was a member of the jury of the International Singing Competition Debut and the Jerusalem International Opera Competition. He gives lectures at the Berlin Summer University of the Arts and works in audition trainings with students at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin, at the Dutch National Opera Academy Amsterdam, and for further vocal academies and programs.
http://www.tact4art.com/
VISITING FACULTY
Stephan studied law, musicology and cultural administration at the universities in Bayreuth, Mainz, Cologne and Berlin. After early lessons in piano, he became a member of a chorus working with conductors such as Sergiu Celibidache, Sylvain Cambreling and Michael Gielen and orchestras such as the Munich Philharmonic, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London and the SWR Symphonieorchester.
He gained valuable experience working in the artistic administration of Komische Oper Berlin, as Assistant to the Director of the Radio Chorus Berlin and as Personal Assistant to the Intendant of Dortmund Opera.
In 2004 he embarked on his career as an Artist Manager for singers and conductors and during the subsequent years worked for different agencies before joining the team of TACT International Art Management in 2012. For many years, he was also Managing President of a non-profit foundation in Berlin supporting young and talented artists.
In addition, Stephan was a member of the jury of the International Singing Competition Debut and the Jerusalem International Opera Competition. He gives lectures at the Berlin Summer University of the Arts and works in audition trainings with students at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin, at the Dutch National Opera Academy Amsterdam, and for further vocal academies and programs.
http://www.tact4art.com/
JULIE WYMA,
CO-FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CO-CASTING DIRECTOR & CO-PRODUCER, WAGNER'S DIE WALKÜRE
CAREER CONSULTATIONS
Julie Wyma has been described as a Renaissance Woman of opera, having worked in both Europe and the United States as a singer, director, stage manager, wig/makeup artist, costume designer, producer, and educator.
As a soprano she has appeared in more than 20 roles, including die Königin der Nacht and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Gilda in Rigoletto, Marie in Die Verkaufte Braut, Musetta in La Bohème, Sophie in Werther, Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel, and Norina in Don Pasquale. Of her Norina, the Kansas City Metropolis said: “soprano Julie Wyma sparkled with a self-confident air and a strong, beautiful voice.”
Recent performances have included the roles of Marie in Die verkaufte Braut, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte and Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto with the Brandenburgisches Konzertorchester Eberswalde at Kloster Chorin, Germany; Musetta in La Bohème and Belinda in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas with Puccini's Toaster in Berlin; the Soprano solos in Mozart's Requiem, Händel’s Messiah, and Fauré's Requiem, all in Berlin; a concert of music by the American expatriate author and composer Paul Bowles in Magdeburg and Berlin, Germany with tenor Laurent Martin; Lovers’ Quarrels, a concert of operatic duets and arias with her husband, Peter Furlong, in Concord, New Hampshire and Niemegk, Germany; Three Tenors and a Soprano concerts in Cornish and New London, New Hampshire; and Viva Divas!, a concert of operatic arias, duets, and trios in Cornish, New Hampshire, Phoenix, Arizona and Berlin, Germany. She recently produced a concert of The AIDS Quilt Songbook as a benefit concert for the Berliner Aids-Hilfe e.V.
Ms. Wyma has produced and directed operas including Wagner’s Lohengrin, Das Rheingold and Die Walküre (Berlin Wagner Gruppe), Massenet’s Werther (Irrational Entertainment), Händel’s Semele (Midwest Early Opera Works), Jonathan Stinson’s The Three Bears and Ryan Oldham’s The Emperor’s Madness (University of Missouri-Kansas City), as well as Jason Robert Brown’s musical The Last Five Years (Voci Inglesi) and numerous opera scenes programs. She has assistant directed Albert Herring and Giulio Cesare at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, La Traviata at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and Carmen at Opera North, and she assistant stage managed La Rondine at Indiana University.
As a costume designer Ms. Wyma worked for Dicapo Opera Theatre in New York for the 2011-2012 Season, which included Tosca, The Consul, Iolanta, The Most Happy Fella, La Cenerentola, Beauty and the Beast, and La Traviata. She has also worked as a bridal alterations specialist in Bloomington, Indiana and New York City. As a student she worked as a costume assistant/stitcher for the University of Arizona on Le nozze di Figaro and The Merry Wives of Windsor, and for Indiana University on Die Zauberflöte, The Nutcracker, and La Rondine. Ms. Wyma has worked as a Wig and Makeup Assistant for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, in operas including Giulio Cesare, La Bohème, and John Brown, at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in productions including La Bohème, Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi, and The Man of La Mancha, and for a national tour of Hairspray. As a young artist, she was a set construction assistant at Opera in the Ozarks in 2004.
As an educator, Ms. Wyma’s passion lies in helping singers make the transition from student to professional, and in guiding talented people to the places where they are needed. She has served as a vocal coach, preparing singers for auditions and talent competitions, as well as an audition panelist and advisor. With organizations such as Irrational Entertainment, Midwest Early Opera Works, Voci Inglesi, Berlin Wagner Gruppe and Berliner Opernverein, she has facilitated performance opportunities for singers seeking additional stage experience and the chance to hone their craft in a supportive, professional environment.
CO-FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CO-CASTING DIRECTOR & CO-PRODUCER, WAGNER'S DIE WALKÜRE
CAREER CONSULTATIONS
Julie Wyma has been described as a Renaissance Woman of opera, having worked in both Europe and the United States as a singer, director, stage manager, wig/makeup artist, costume designer, producer, and educator.
As a soprano she has appeared in more than 20 roles, including die Königin der Nacht and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Gilda in Rigoletto, Marie in Die Verkaufte Braut, Musetta in La Bohème, Sophie in Werther, Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel, and Norina in Don Pasquale. Of her Norina, the Kansas City Metropolis said: “soprano Julie Wyma sparkled with a self-confident air and a strong, beautiful voice.”
Recent performances have included the roles of Marie in Die verkaufte Braut, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte and Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto with the Brandenburgisches Konzertorchester Eberswalde at Kloster Chorin, Germany; Musetta in La Bohème and Belinda in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas with Puccini's Toaster in Berlin; the Soprano solos in Mozart's Requiem, Händel’s Messiah, and Fauré's Requiem, all in Berlin; a concert of music by the American expatriate author and composer Paul Bowles in Magdeburg and Berlin, Germany with tenor Laurent Martin; Lovers’ Quarrels, a concert of operatic duets and arias with her husband, Peter Furlong, in Concord, New Hampshire and Niemegk, Germany; Three Tenors and a Soprano concerts in Cornish and New London, New Hampshire; and Viva Divas!, a concert of operatic arias, duets, and trios in Cornish, New Hampshire, Phoenix, Arizona and Berlin, Germany. She recently produced a concert of The AIDS Quilt Songbook as a benefit concert for the Berliner Aids-Hilfe e.V.
Ms. Wyma has produced and directed operas including Wagner’s Lohengrin, Das Rheingold and Die Walküre (Berlin Wagner Gruppe), Massenet’s Werther (Irrational Entertainment), Händel’s Semele (Midwest Early Opera Works), Jonathan Stinson’s The Three Bears and Ryan Oldham’s The Emperor’s Madness (University of Missouri-Kansas City), as well as Jason Robert Brown’s musical The Last Five Years (Voci Inglesi) and numerous opera scenes programs. She has assistant directed Albert Herring and Giulio Cesare at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, La Traviata at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and Carmen at Opera North, and she assistant stage managed La Rondine at Indiana University.
As a costume designer Ms. Wyma worked for Dicapo Opera Theatre in New York for the 2011-2012 Season, which included Tosca, The Consul, Iolanta, The Most Happy Fella, La Cenerentola, Beauty and the Beast, and La Traviata. She has also worked as a bridal alterations specialist in Bloomington, Indiana and New York City. As a student she worked as a costume assistant/stitcher for the University of Arizona on Le nozze di Figaro and The Merry Wives of Windsor, and for Indiana University on Die Zauberflöte, The Nutcracker, and La Rondine. Ms. Wyma has worked as a Wig and Makeup Assistant for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, in operas including Giulio Cesare, La Bohème, and John Brown, at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in productions including La Bohème, Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi, and The Man of La Mancha, and for a national tour of Hairspray. As a young artist, she was a set construction assistant at Opera in the Ozarks in 2004.
As an educator, Ms. Wyma’s passion lies in helping singers make the transition from student to professional, and in guiding talented people to the places where they are needed. She has served as a vocal coach, preparing singers for auditions and talent competitions, as well as an audition panelist and advisor. With organizations such as Irrational Entertainment, Midwest Early Opera Works, Voci Inglesi, Berlin Wagner Gruppe and Berliner Opernverein, she has facilitated performance opportunities for singers seeking additional stage experience and the chance to hone their craft in a supportive, professional environment.
THERE IS NO FEE TO APPLY
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THE PROGRAM HAS NO AGE LIMIT
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ALL ACCEPTED ARTISTS WILL RECEIVE A PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP
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The Harriet T. Bartlett Scholarship
⚬
THE PROGRAM HAS NO AGE LIMIT
⚬
ALL ACCEPTED ARTISTS WILL RECEIVE A PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP
⚬
The Harriet T. Bartlett Scholarship