Virginia Opera's 2012-13 Emerging Artists with Diana Soviero as part of the Master Teacher Series
The Virginia Opera Emerging Artist Program provides training, performance opportunities and access to industry connections and resources to a group of Opera’s talented rising stars. As one of the most competitive training programs in the nation, the Emerging Artist Program has over 650 applicants annually for an average of 12-20 artist contracts. Our Emerging Artists appear in Virginia Opera mainstage productions, touring educational productions and perform in recitals, donor events and our Master Teacher Series. Recent alumni of the Emerging Artist Program (formerly known as Spectrum Artists) include: David Pershall, Brian Jagde, Julia Ebner and Nathan Stark.
Virginia Opera's Emerging Artists perform leading and comprimario roles and/or cover leading roles in the company's mainstage productions. Additionally, some Emerging Artists perform leading roles in fully-staged Education and Community Outreach productions that tour schools throughout the state of Virginia. Community concerts and company promotional concerts offer artists the opportunity to perform standard arias and ensembles in concerts with piano. Emerging Artists are regularly re-engaged for main stage productions in future seasons.
Each participant receives regular coaching with members of Virginia Opera's Artistic Staff, which include Principal Coach Laura Friesen, Resident Conductor Adam Turner, Director of Artistic Administration Andrew Chugg and various guest conductors, directors, and singers. Master classes are held throughout the season covering topics such as resume preparation, auditioning techniques, stagecraft and foreign languages.
Our program provides exceptionally talented emerging artists with a seasonal residency program that offers an extensive schedule of performing opportunities in the context of a professional training program. Emerging Artists receive weekly compensation, plus housing and transportation to Virginia.
Virginia Opera is committed to finding and training the outstanding artists of tomorrow. Those selected to participate in the program will be challenged and supported by an outstanding staff.
Apprentice Coaches must serve as musical directors and pianists for Education and Community Outreach productions. They also serve as coaches for the resident young artists, preparing them for their mainstage roles, cover roles, and concerts. Coaches learn the basics of artistic administration and company management by serving as on-site tour managers, as well as, providing coaching for the young artists' personal repertoire. Apprentice coaches are adjunct members of the mainstage musical staff. They are scheduled to serve as pianists for cover rehearsals.
Apprentice coaches are adjunct members of the mainstage musical staff. They are scheduled to serve as rehearsal pianists in several mainstage productions and serve as pianists for cover rehearsals. Community concerts and company promotional concerts offer apprentice coaches the opportunity to perform for a variety of audiences.
Each participant receives coachings from Principal Coach Laura Friesen and Resident Conductor Adam Turner. Coaches will receive training and support from administrative staff to aid in tour management. The in-house artistic staff offers classes in resume preparation and auditioning techniques during the course of the season. Master classed are held with visiting stage directors and other distinguished guests throughout the season.
Apprentice coaches should have attained at least a Bachelor of Music degree in piano and have exceptional experience in vocal accompanying. Individuals should be capable of managing artists and overseeing non-artistic aspects of the Virginia Opera's Emerging Artists.
Please send your resume and a cover letter via e-mail to Andrew.Chugg@vaopera.org. We would also welcome an MP3 of your playing.
For the audition, please prepare a Mozart finale and a 10-minute excerpt from a standard opera by Puccini, Verdi, Strauss or other romantic composer. You will also be asked to sing vocal lines in order to demonstrate your understanding of the intergration between the vocal lines and the orchestra.
We are no longer accepting applications for our 2013-14 season. Information about our 2014-15 season application and audition process will be list here and at YAPtracker.com in July, 2013.
Check back in Summer 2013 for more information.
Hometown:
Cobden, Illinois
Where I studied:
Roosevelt University, Master of Music; Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Bachelor of Music
Performance History:
Trouble in Tahiti, Les Mamelles de Tirésias, Le Nozze di Figaro, and A Hand of Bridge at Roosevelt University; The Mikado and The Pirates of Penzance at Prairie Center for the Performing Arts
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
The Spring Educational Touring production of The Pirates of Penzance
Hometown:
Milford, Iowa
Where I studied:
Simpson College, Bachelor in Music; Chicago Opera Theater Young Artist Program; Des Moines Metro Opera Apprentice Program; Sarasota Opera Apprentice Program; Ash Lawn Opera Young Artist Program.
Performance History:
The Witch in Hansel and Gretal at Opera Omaha; A Messanger in Aida at Virginia Opera; Bill in A Hand of Bridge at Ash Lawn Opera; Goro in Madama Butterfly at Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus at Empire State Lyric Theatre; Don Curzio in The Marriage of Figaro at Des Moines Metro Opera.
Awards:
Central Region Finalist - Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions 2010.
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
Don Basilio in The Marriage of Figaro, A Young Collector/covering Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire, and Ivan/covering Alfred in Die Fledermaus.
Hometown:
Bristol, Virginia
Where I studied:
University of Southern Mississippi, Bachelor of Music; University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, Master of Music; Wolf Trap Opera Studio; Opera Saratoga Studio.
Performance History:
Zerlina in Don Giovanni and Pitti-Sing in The Mikado at the Natchez Festival of Music;
Jo in Little Women at Opera Fayetteville; 3rd Spirit in The Magic Flute at Cincinnati Opera;
Sesto in Giulio Cesare at CCM; Bobachino in The Inspector at Wolf Trap Opera;
Mustardseed in A Midsummer Night's Dream at Wolf Trap Opera; Sally in A Hand of Bridge, Ethel in Again, and A Sage in Hin und Zurück at Wolf Trap Opera Studio; Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana, La Maestra delle Novizie in Suor Angelica, Maddalena in Rigoletto, Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro, and covered the title role in Carmen at Mississippi Opera; 3rd Lady in The Magic Flute at Operafestival di Roma.
Awards:
Orpheus National Vocal Competition (semi-finalist 2011), University of Cincinnati, CCM (vocal scholarship 2009-2011), Opera Birmingham Vocal Competition (semi-finalist 2007),
Charles A. Lynam Vocal Competition (finalist 2006, semi-finalist 2007-2008).
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
Hansel in Hansel and Gretel (educational touring), Nurse and Eunice Hubble cover in A Streetcar Named Desire, 2nd Bridesmaid and Cherubino cover in The Marriage of Figaro.
Hometown:
Chicago, Illinois
Where I studied:
University of Michigan, Specialist in Music; University of Michigan, Master of Music; McGill University, Bachelor of Music.
Performance History:
Masetto in Don Giovanni at Des Moines Metro Opera; Zuniga (cover) in Carmen at The Glimmerglass Festival; Sid (cover) in The Girl of the Golden West at the Lyric Opera of Chicago; Pish-Tush in The Mikado, Sciarrone in Tosca and Armored Man in The Magic Flute at Michigan Opera Theatre; Harry Beaton in Brigadoon at Ash Lawn Opera; Sergeant of Police (cover) in The Pirates of Penzance at Chautauqua Opera.
Awards:
Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition National Semi-finalist (2010); Lyric Opera of Chicago Ryan Opera Center Finalist (2012); Bel Canto Foundation 3rd Place (2012); Chautauqua Opera Encouragement Award (2009)
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
Nourabad (cover) and chorus in The Pearl Fishers; Pablo Gonzales in A Streetcar Named Desire; Figaro (cover) and chorus in The Marriage of Figaro.
Hometown:
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Where I studied:
University of Michigan, Bachelor of Music; University of Maryland, Master of Music; apprenticed at Sarasota Opera, Opera North, Des Moines Metro Opera, and Aspen Opera Theater Center.
Performance History:
Currently a member of Sarasota Opera music staff; serves as rehearsal pianist with UrbanArias and other local companies in the Washington, D.C. area.
Awards:
The Gunther and Ilsa Kern Grant for Opera Artists, 2011
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
Rehearsal pianist for The Pearl Fishers and Die Fledermaus; pianist for fall outreach events/concerts.
Hometown:
Traverse City, Michigan
Where I studied:
New England Conservatory, Bachelor of Music; University of Maryland-Opera Studio, Master of Music; Young Artist, Glimmerglass Opera (upcoming 2013); Apprentice Artist, Central City Opera; Young Artist, Opera Iowa-Des Moines Metro Opera; Aspen Opera Theater Center; Opera Theater and Festival of Lucca.
Performance History:
Sarastro in The Magic Flute at Opera Iowa; Benoit/Alcindoro in Family Performance of La Bohème at Central City Opera; Jud Fry (cover) in Oklahoma! at Central City Opera; Osmin in Die Entführung aus dem Serail at Maryland Opera Studio; El Capitan in Florencia en al Amazonas at Maryland Opera Studio; Man with a Cornet Case in Postcard from Morocco at Maryland Opera Studio
Awards:
Award Winner, 2012 Di-Panni Bel Canto Competition, Providence, RI
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
2012-13 Season: Performing Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro, covering Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro; Chorus in The Pearl Fishers. 2013-14 Season: Performing Jim Lakens in The Girl of the Golden West, covering Jake Wallace in The Girl of the Golden West; covering Sarastro in The Magic Flute and chorus in The Magic Flute.
Hometown:
Brooklyn, New York
Where I studied:
Binghamton University/Tri-Cities Opera, Master of Music Opera/Resident Artist Training Program; Northwestern University, Bachelor of Music Voice Performance, Bachelor of Arts Drama
Performance History:
Dritte Dame in The Magic Flute at Tri-Cities Opera; Angelica in The Poisoned Kiss at Bronx Opera; Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro at Opera North; Nicklausse in The Tales of Hoffman at Tri-Cities Opera; recitals at the Grand Canyon Music Festival and Greenwood Music Festival.
Awards:
Finalist, Liederkranz Competition 2012; Ilene D. Kaplan Award, Connecticut Opera Guild 2011; Encouragement Grant, Schuyler Foundation for Career Bridges 2011; Full Scholarship and Teaching Assistantship, Binghamton University/Tri-Cities Opera 2009 - 2011.
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
Mexican Flower Seller cover, A Streetcar Named Desire; Marcellina cover and chorus, The Marriage of Figaro; Emerging Artist Art Song Recital, February 2013; Mother/Sandman/Witch, Education Tour of Hansel and Gretel.
www.JeremiahJohnsonBaritone.com
Twitter: @sinfoniaopera
Facebook: Facebook.com/JeremiahJohnsonBaritone
Hometown:
Corpus Christi, Texas
Where I studied:
Texas Tech University, Bachelor of Music; Indiana University, Master of Music; University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, Master of Music;
Young Artist, Opera Memphis.
Performance History:
Sacristan/Jailer in Tosca at Utah Opera Festival; Wagner in Faust at Utah Opera Festival; Carlino in Don Pasquale at Opera Memphis; Dr. Malatesta (cover) in Don Pasquale at Opera Memphis; Francis in Confession at University of Memphis; Angelotti/Sciarrone in Tosca at Opera Memphis; Fiorello in Il barbiere di Siviglia at Opera Memphis; Oberon/ Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (world premiere) at
Opera Memphis; Amonasro (cover) in Aida at Opera Memphis; John Proctor in The Crucible at University of Memphis.
Awards:
Metropolitan Opera District Winner 2011, Metropolitan Opera Regional Finalist 2011
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
I'll be covering the lead baritone roles and singing in the Virginia Opera chorus all season. Covers: Zurga in The Pearl Fishers, Falke in Die Fledermaus, Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire, and The Count in The Marriage of Figaro. I'm also singing an art song concert with other Emerging Artists.
Hometown:
Miami, Florida and Princeton, New Jersey
Where I studied:
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Bachelor and Master of Music; Boston University's Opera Institute; San Francisco Opera's Merola Program; Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program for singers; Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Gerdine Young Artist Program; Tanglewood Music Center Vocal Fellow.
Performance History:
The Cook in Alice in Wonderland; Micaela (cover) in Carmen, Fiordiligi (cover) in Così fan tutte all at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis; Tatiana in Eugene Onegin (the final scene) for the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Scenes Program; The Concert Singer in The Last Savage, First Lady (cover) in The Magic Flute at The Santa Fe Opera, as well as two seasons with The Santa Fe Opera Spring Tour; title role in Carlisle Floyd's Susannah at BU's Opera Institute; Susannah at Ash Lawn Opera, and Anne Egerman in Sondheim's A Little Night Music with the Boston Pops.
Awards:
Finalist in the Verismo Opera Competition (2012), Bel Canto Vocal Scholarship Angelo A. Saritelli Memorial Award (2010), Opera Institute Phyllis Curtin Artist (2009), Lotte Lenya Competition (finalist 2009), Eleanor McCollum Competition Semi-finalist (2007).
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
Sally & Rosalinde (cover) in Die Fledermaus, Blanche (cover) in A Streetcar Named Desire, and Barbarina and Susanna (cover) in The Marriage of Figaro.
www.meganmarino.com
www.cami.com/?webid=2323
Hometown:
Paoli, Pennsylvania
Where I studied:
Apprentice Singer, Santa Fe Opera; Bel Canto Young Artist, Caramoor International Music Festival; Opera Fellow, Aspen Music Festival and School; University of Colorado, Master of Music; University of Southern Maine, Bachelor of Music.
Performance History:
Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia at Opera Fort Collins; Ciro (cover) in Ciro in Babilonia at the Rossini Opera Festival and Caramoor International Music Festival; Pitti-sing in The Mikado at Virginia Opera; the title role in La Cenerentola at Baltimore Concert Opera; Tisbe in La Cenerentola at Opera Colorado; Anita in West Side Story at Aspen Music Festival.
Awards:
2nd place at Fort Worth Opera's McCammon Voice Competition 2012, 3rd Place at the Kurt Weill Foundation's Lotte Lenya Competition 2012, 2nd Place in the Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition in 2011, Regional Finalist at the Metropolitan National Council Auditions 2011, Allied Arts Career Advancement Grant 2011
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
Covering Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus
Hometown:
Overland Park, Kansas
Where I studied:
Pittsburg State University, Bachelor of Music; University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Master of Music.
Performance History:
Cavaradossi in Tosca at Owensboro Symphony; Rodolfo in La bohème at Central City Opera, Don Jose in Carmen at Orchestra Kentucky.
Awards:
Wes Blomster Award at Central City Opera, Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions Regional Finalist
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
Sir Lionel in Camelot, Doctor in A Streetcar Named Desire, Don Curzio in The Marriage of Figaro
Hometown:
Armonk, New York
Where I studied:
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Master of Music; Carnegie Mellon University, Bachelor of Fine Arts; Opera Saratoga Apprentice Artist; Kentucky Opera Resident Artist; Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Gerdine Young Artist.
Performance History:
Valencienne in The Merry Widow at Kentucky Opera; Frasquita in Carmen at Kentucky Opera; Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro at Kentucky Opera; Susanna (cover) in The Marriage of Figaro at Kentucky Opera; Blanche in Dialogues of the Carmelites at CCM; Ilia in Idomeneo at CCM; Johanna (cover) in Sweeney Todd at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis; Fiordiligi (cover) in Cosí fan tutte at Opera Saratoga; Sally in Die Fledermaus at Opera Saratoga; Mr. Swine in The Trial of B.B. Wolf at Opera Saratoga; Foreign Woman in The Consul at Carnegie Mellon; Claudia in Nine at Carnegie Mellon.
Awards:
2011 Winner of the National Orpheus Vocal Competition, 2011 National Semi-Finalist Houston Grand Opera Eleanor McCollum Competition, 2011 Metropolitan Opera National Council Encouragement Award, 2010 John Alexander Memorial Award CCM Corbett Competition.
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
Leila (cover) in The Pearl Fishers, Adele (cover) in Die Fledermaus, and Mabel in the Educational Tour of The Pirates of Penzance.
Hometown:
Quincy, Massachusetts
Where I studied:
Apprentice Artist, Santa Fe Opera; Apprentice Artist, Sarasota Opera; Studio Artist, Opera New Jersey; The Boston Conservatory, Master of Music in Vocal Performance; Northwestern University, Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with Honors.
Performance History:
Adina in L'elisir d'amore atLake Placid Sinfonietta; Musetta in La bohème at Green Mountain Opera Festival; Featured Soloist, Opera Gala, Vietnam National Academy of Music, Hanoi, Vietnam; Soprano Soloist, Bach Cantata No. 51 and Villa Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 withSanta Fe Symphony; Kitty Scattergood (cover) in The Last Savage at Santa Fe Opera; Marie (cover) in Wozzeck at Santa Fe Opera; Donna Anna in Don Giovanni at MetroWest Opera; The Girl in Rocket’s Red Blare (world premiere) at Intermezzo Chamber Opera; Isabella (cover) in A Place of Beauty (world premiere) at Intermezzo Chamber Opera; Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus at Riverside Theatre Works; Königin der Nacht (cover) in Die Zauberflöte atSarasota Opera; Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow at Cape Cod Opera; Soprano Soloist, Messiah at Commonwealth Opera; Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro atBoston Opera Collaborative; Nancy Shedman in Holy Ghosts (world premiere) at Berklee Performance Center; Konstanze (cover) in Die Entführung aus dem Serail at Opera New Jersey; Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte atCape Cod Opera Outreach; Adele in Die Fledermaus at Opera by the Bay; Violetta in La Traviata at Opera by the Bay; Königin der Nacht in The Magic Flute atIntermezzo Young Artist Program; Elettra in Idomeneo at OperaHub.
Awards:
Lillian Caroff Mayer Award, Santa Fe Opera, 2011; Special Artist Award, Sarasota Opera Guild, 2010; Semi-Finalist, New Hampshire Opera Idol Competition, 2009; Finalist, Peter Elvins Vocal Competition, 2009; Third Place Winner, Duxbury Music Festival Solo Competition, 2008.
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
Gretel, Hansel and Gretel touring education production; Stella (cover), A Streetcar Named Desire; Countess (cover), The Marriage of Figaro; First Bridesmaid, The Marriage of Figaro.
Hometown:
Detroit, Michigan
Where I studied:
University of Michigan, Master of Music; Rochester College, Bachelor of Arts.
Performance History:
Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Lyric Tenor (Argento’s Postcard from Morocco), Ferrando (Così fan tutte), Ruiz (Il trovatore), Principál komediantů (Smetana’s Prodaná nevěsta or The Bartered Bride), Kaspar (Amahl and the Night Visitors), Parpignol (La bohème), the Officer (Ariadne auf Naxos), and both Stuart and Charlie (Brigadoon). Companies include Sarasota Opera, Opera New Jersey, Ash Lawn Opera, Toledo Opera, and the Green Mountain Opera Festival.
Awards:
District winner in the Colorado/Wyoming District and Patron Award winner in the Rocky Mountain Region of the 2012 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions; Prize winner in the 2011 Nicholas Loren Vocal Competition
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
Gabriel von Eisenstein (cover) and chorus in Die Fledermaus; Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance (Education Tour)
Hometown:
Nunica, Michigan
Where I studied:
Principal Coach, Syracuse Opera; University of Michigan, Master of Music Collaborative Piano; Hope College, Bachelor of Music Piano Performance.
Performance History:
The Great Gatsby, Aspen Opera Theater Center; Madama Butterfly, Carmina Burana, La Traviata, Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Don Giovanni, The Mikado, Syracuse Opera; Armide, University of Michigan Opera Theatre.
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
Hansel and Gretel education touring production, apprentice coach for A Streetcar Named Desire and The Marriage of Figaro
Hometown:
Danville, California
Where I studied:
University of California – Los Angeles, Bachelor of Arts; The Juilliard School, Master of Music.
Performance History:
Eaglet/Executioner in Alice in Wonderland at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis; Escamillo in Carmen at North Carolina Opera; Le Directeur in Les Mammelles de Tiresias and Betto in Gianni Schicchi at Central City Opera; Duro in Die Rota Zora, Farfarello in The Love of Three Oranges, Count Ceprano in Rigoletto, Hermann/Schlemil in The Tales of Hoffman at Komische Oper Berlin; Figaro in The Ghosts of Versailles, Marcello in La bohème, Father in Hansel and Gretel at Aspen Opera Theater Center; Count in The Marriage of Figaro, Papageno in The Magic Flute, Patrocles in Iphigenie en Aulide, Testo in Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda at Juilliard Opera Theater; Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte, Don Profundo in Il Viaggio a Reims at Opera UCLA.
Awards:
Apprentice Artist Award, Central City Opera (2011); Career Grant, Schuyler Foundation for Career Bridges (2011); Regional Finalist, Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (2009, 2006); Finalist, Gerda Lissner Foundation (2009); Grant winner, Pasadena Opera Guild (2005); Grant winner, Los Angeles Opera Buffs (2005); Second Place, Palm Springs Opera Guild Competition (2004).
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
Franck (cover) in Die Fledermaus, Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance (educational tour)
