2019 Fellows
Briana Sosenheimer
Assistant Director

Briana Sosenheimer has directed and assistant directed over 20 different productions with Indianapolis Opera, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Ball State University, Anderson University, Indiana Wesleyan University, and Georgia Southern University. Recently directed productions include Talk Opera by Milton Granger, the United States premiere of Choir Practice by Stephen Chatman, and Street Scene by Kurt Weill. With a passion for opera outreach, she has pastiche composed four operas for children which have been performed across the country. She has sung internationally in Austria, Canada, Italy, South Africa, and throughout the United States. This includes performing principle roles in full productions of Le nozze di Figaro, La Boheme, Werther, and Carmen. She has also appeared as a soprano soloist in oratorios including Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, and Coronation Mass. As a former member of In Sync Dance Theatre, Briana had the opportunity to perform with Chicago Tap Theatre. Recent choreographed productions include GREASE The Musical, The Little Mermaid, and South Pacific. She has served as the Stage Director for the Resident Artist Ensemble and the Resident Assistant Director at Indianapolis Opera. Dr. Sosenheimer is currently the Director of Opera at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia.
Alex Paul
Assistant Director

Alex Paul is a stage director based in New York. Paul was a young artist director at Brevard Music Center, and will be the resident director at North Shore Music Festival for 2019. Directorial credits include Cosi Fan Tutte (abridged)/ Florida State Opera, Patience/ Long Island Light Opera, The Very Best of Gilbert and Sullivan/ Brevard Music Center. Assistant directing credits include: Of Mice and Men (Matthew Lata, Director)/ Florida State Opera,, Don Pasquale (David Gately, Director), Le Nozze di Figaro and Street Scene (Dean Anthony, Director) /Brevard Music Center, The Fairy Queen/ Hofstra Opera Theater, Romeo et Juliette (Buck Ross, Director)/ Moores Opera Center. As a stage manager credits include Anna Karenina (David Carlson)/ Moores Opera Center and La Boheme/ Florida State OperaPaul is currently pursuing a masters in Opera Production (Stage Directing) from the Florida State University under the mentorship of Matthew Lata. Paul also holds degrees from The University of Houston and New England Conservatory. Paul joins the Chicago Summer Opera as a directing fellow for the summer of 2019 to direct Menotti’s The Medium.