Hansel und Gretel

Coloratura soprano Cassie Dixon aims to present opera and musical theater repertoire in a text-motivated fashion, and is delighted to perform the role of Gretel in Chicago Summer Opera’s Hänsel und Gretel.

Cassie performed Ma Zegner in Proving Up at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Chicago Summer Opera in 2023. Their other roles include Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring, the Dew Fairy in Hansel and Gretel, Mrs. Nordstrom and Fredrika Armfeldt in A Little Night Music, Snake in The Apple Tree, and Ella Peterson in Bells are Ringing, as well as roles in opera scenes, including Gilda in Rigoletto.

Awarded several honors for their work, Cassie was a Semi-Finalist in the 2023 Classical Singer Vocal Competition. They also received Artistic Excellence Awards from the Peabody Institute and scholarships from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In 2018, Cassie was selected to be a participant at the “The Jimmy Awards,” after being awarded Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role by The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards Program in Seattle, Washington.

Invited to perform as a soloist with the Walla Walla Symphony Orchestra in 2021, Cassie also attended and performed at Opera in the Ozarks and the Bel Canto Institute in Florence, Italy, among other esteemed institutions.

Cassie will graduate in May 2024 with a M.M. in Voice Performance at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where they study with Elizabeth Futral. They received their B.M. in Vocal Performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying with Susanne Mentzer. Cassie will start a Graduate Diploma in Performance program at the Cleveland Institute of Music in January 2025 where they will study with Dina Kuznetsova.

Tajda J. Turner is a Slovenian operatic soprano and singing actress who has been praised for her “fireworks” and “commanding stage presence” (OperaWire). She has performed as a soprano soloist working with world-renowned orchestras, among the most notable being Teatro alla Scala Philharmonic Orchestra, Russian Philharmonic-Moscow City Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra of Slovene National Theatre Opera. She has taken on the roles of Natasha in War and Peace, Petra in The Unfortunate Lover, Pamina in The Magic Flute, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Governess in The Turn of the Screw, Marta in Ada, Susanna and Marcelina in Marriage of Figaro, Dienerin der Aithra in Die ägyptische Helena among others.

Reagan Hinze is a Vocal Performance major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has been Amahl in "Amahl and the Night Visitors", has covered as Marie Shabata in "O Pioneers!" by Tyler White, was in the chorus in "El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego" at opera Omaha, and was in the world premiere of the SALT micro-opera project. She is very grateful for this opportunity and would like to thank everyone for supporting her!

Colleen Allard-Smith is a rising senior, majoring in Vocal Performance at Furman University and studies with Dr. Grant Knox. Colleen's musical journey began as a member of several choral ensembles, where she cultivated her talents and nurtured a profound love for performance. From her formative years with the Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts at Pebblebrook High School to her time currently as member of the Furman Singers, the Furman Jazz Ensemble, and the Sarah Reese Lyric Theatre, she remains steadfast in her commitment to musical excellence.

Colleen has demonstrated her versatility as a performer in an array of productions. From portraying the influential character of Public Opinion in Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld (Sarah Reese Lyric Theatre), to the soulful embodiment of an Urchin in Little Shop of Horrors (Furman University Pauper Players), and New Ofglen in The Handmaids Tale (Glow Lyric Theater), Colleen embraces every role, whether as a lead or an ensemble member. She also showcased her talent as a soloist in the Nashville premiere of Songs in Flight by Shawn E. Okpebhalo and was an ensemble member of the production of "Stinney: An American Execution" by Frances Pollock at the Glow Lyric Theatre, which garnered critical

acclaim and won The American Prize in Opera Performance—professional division, 2023.

Colleen's artistic pursuits transcend the stage, as she fulfills the role of Herring Choral Scholar at the First Baptist Church in Greenville where she not only contributes her voice to the choir but also as an occasional soloist. Colleen has also served as a soloist for various other congregations in the southeast.

Colleen earned many awards prior to attending Furman University most notably she is an alumnus of the Georgia Governors Honors program in vocal performance. While attending Furman University Colleen's artistic achievements have not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by her numerous accolades and

honors. Colleen was a Mid-Atlantic Regional Semi-Finalist for the National Association of Teachers of Singing, a semi-finalist in the Undergraduate Lower Division of the Schmidt Vocal Competition, and the recipient of the Schmidt Encouragement Award. Colleen is also grateful to be the recipient of the Bell Tower Academic Scholarship, the Furman Grant, the Presidential Music Scholarship, and the St. Cecelia’s Scholarship which was awarded by Sigma Alpha Iota.

Colleen is looking forward to participating in a study away program in New York City and being in Hansel and Gretel with the Chicago Summer Opera this summer.

Christine is thrilled to be making her debut as Mother in Chicago Summer Opera's production of Hansel and Gretel. Recently, she mesmerized audiences as First Lady in QSVI's Die Zauberflöte and portrayed La Sorella Infermiera in Bel Canto in Tuscany's Suor Angelica. Christine's journey began at Hofstra University, where she showcased her talent in diverse roles including Marcellina in The Marriage of Figaro, Fairy Queen in The Fairy Queen, Lucy Locket in The Beggar’s Opera, and La Baronne in La Vie Parisienne. With The Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island, she shone in roles like Patience in Patience, Fiametta in The Gondoliers, and as lead soprano in Very Truly Yours. Christine has honed her craft through young artists programs including Queens Summer Vocal Institute, Bel Canto in Tuscany, WSVI, UArtists Music Workshops, and Music in the Alps.

Soprano Faith Kopecky is a versatile emerging artist from Leawood, KS with a Master of Music in Voice from the Jacobs School of Music, under the tutelage of Timothy Noble. Faith debuted The Beggar Woman in IU Opera Theatre’s Sweeney Todd this past Spring. Recently, she sang in IU Opera Workshop as Giovanna in Anna Boleyn and was seen in IU Opera choruses of Roméo et Juliette, Don Giovanni, and Candide. She was Helena (cover) & Mustardseed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Miami Music Festival and has performed overseas with the Interharmony International Music Festival. Faith graduated from The University of Tampa with a BM in Vocal Performance and BA in Theatre. She placed with TBNATS & SERNATS in the Classical and Musical Theatre Divisions. UT Opera scenes include: Zaide (Zaide), Hanna (The Merry Widow), Violetta (La Traviata), Mimi (La Boheme), Giulietta (The Tales of Hoffman), Norma (Norma), and Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance). Faith performed solos with Florida Masterworks in Concert and was broadcasted with WEDU PBS in the Let Heaven and Nature Sing concert. Faith has also performed in UT Theatre productions as Marmee (Little Women), Philamante (The Learned Ladies), and Babette (The Arsonists).

Emily Lee is in her first year Master’s at Jacobs School of Music in Indiana University studying vocal performance. She has been taking professional singing lessons and has been in musicals since she was five. She played Barbarina from The Marriage of Figaro at her undergraduate university and played the role of Third Spirit and Second Lady from The Magic Flute during the summer. She was also picked as Honorable Mention for the Central Region National Association of Teachers of Singing among thousands of students. She has even won scholarships in multiple competitions to help continue her career. All her experience has led her here, today, in the pursuit of a career in opera.

Natalie is a Junior Vocal Performance major at the University of Kentucky, studying with Dr. Angelique Clay. Most recently she was the cover of Donna Anna in UK Opera’s Don Giovanni. Other roles include Monica in The Medium, Second Spirit in Magic Flute, and as a featured soloist in Stars of Tomorrow Opera Gala. She has also served as Assistant Stage Manager for La Boheme, and Dance Captain in Susannah.

Natalie is a graduate of the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, Kentucky. She is excited to be part of this production, and thanks her family and friends for their love and support.

Jenny Perry studied at the British Opera Academy in 2023 after graduating from the University of Manchester studying Music (Vocal Studies) in 2022. In March of 2024, Jenny completed an advanced intensive course at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in Acting, wanting to cement her skills in acting through song.

After her appearance in the Chicago Summer Opera as The Dew Fairy from June until July of 2024, she will be studying at the Berlin Opera Academy in August of this year, through the generosity of the Vladimir Pointkovsky Scholarship. Jenny is on track to achieve her FLCM Masters Recital Diploma with the London College of Music by the end of the year.

Soprano Tatiana Mills, from New York City, is a master’s student at Indiana University under the tutelage of Michelle DeYoung. She earned her undergraduate degree from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, where she covered the role of Énone (La descente d’Orphée aux enfers) and made her stage debut as Barbarina in Opera UCLA’s production of Le Nozze di Figaro. Mills continued her studies in France at L’École Normale de Musique de Paris, where she earned a Diplôme d’Exécution Supérieur. In concert, she has performed the partial roles of Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) and the soprano solo of the Mozart Requiem with L’École Normale de Musique de Paris, as well as Gilda (Rigoletto) with the International Vocal Artists Academy of Payerbach. Mills has most recently performed the role of Olga (Die Lustige Witwe) with IU Opera and Ballet Theater. She has also been featured as a recording artist on the 2018 Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin Honorary Mention Film, Dressage, as well as the soundtrack for the short film When There Was a Tree.

Born in an ethnic minority family in China, tenor Wesley Haotian Yu is in his first year of Master of Music (Opera Performance) degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under the tutelage of Maree Ryan AM.

Wesley’s roles include Septimius in Handel’s Theodora, Tempo in Händel’s Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, Drunken Sailor in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Villager in Purcell’s Fairy Queen, and Apollo in Handel’s Semele.

Wesley has featured as a tenor soloist in Händel’s Messiah at the Sydney Town Hall, Haydn’s Nelson Mass, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Vivaldi’s Magnificat, Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Poulenc’s Cocardes. Additionally, Wesley has sung as both tenor soloist and baritone soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana with Sydney Conservatorium Big Choir.

Wesley has been selected as a finalist in 2022 Elizabeth Todd Lieder Prize in Memory of Geoffrey and 2023 Demant Dreikurs Scholarship Song Competition. He has participated in masterclasses include that by Professor Lynne Dawson, Dr. Graham Johnson OBE, Dr. Nico de Villiers, and David Miller AM.

Hailing from Syracuse, New York, Anneke Van Slyke is a senior soprano pursuing a B.M in Vocal Performance at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, under the teaching of Dr. Marc Weagraff. Anneke was most recently seen as Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow at Baldwin Wallace, as well as Cornelia in Handel’s Giulio Cesare. In the summer of 2023, she had the privilege of portraying Almirena in the Chicago Summer Opera production of Handel’s Rinaldo. Previously, she has played Ruth in Pirates of Penzance at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, as well Amore in Monteverdi’s L'incoronazione di Poppea, in the BW Playhouse Square debut. She has also played Public Opinion in Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld (2022) at the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival. Previously at BW, she has been seen as Bradamante in Handel’s Alcina (2021), as well as Amelia in the world premiere of La Casa de Bernarda Alba (2022). In addition to opera, Anneke is involved with the Bach Festival and is a scholar for the Riemenschneider Bach Institute at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory.

Jiahao Fu is a baritone native to Shandong, China, currently pursuing his doctoral degree at Michigan State University, where he also serves as a teaching assistant. His passion for vocal artistry began at the age of 15, and since then he has distinguished himself through his performances in opera and received recognitions. Since came to MSU, He studies under the tutelage of renowned baritone, Mark Rucker. His belief in the power of music as the most beautiful language in the world fuels his desire to share his talent and energy with a wider audience, hoping to bring positivity and inspiration to all who hear his voice.