Originally from the Chicago area, Soprano Lauren Lester is thrilled to finally make her role debut of Fiordiligi with Chicago Summer Opera. Lauren was originally cast as Donna Anna with Chicago Summer Opera for the impacted 2020 season and could not take part in the production during 2021 as she had her son Charlie that June. Most recently, Lauren was a featured soloist in the Park Avenue Concert Series presented by the Eurasia Festival. Lauren’s 2018-19 season included a company and role debut with Manhattan Opera Studio as Ortlinde in Die Walküre, a Carnegie Hall debut as a featured solo artist, and performing as the soprano soloist in Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis at Advent Lutheran Church in New York City. Lauren sings a diverse repertoire, ranging from Mozart to Wagner. Performances of partial roles includes Beatrice in Beatrice di Tenda, Juliette in Roméo et Juliette, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Venere in Egisto, and Elisetta in Il Matrimonio Segreto. Lauren also served as a regular soloist at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Lauren holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Voice Performance from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and a Master’s of Music in Voice Performance from Mannes School of Music. Ms Lester studies with Bonnie Hamilton and lives with her husband Ian, son Charlie, and basset hound Hamish in New York City.

Soprano Hayun Lee was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea and she earned her BM in Voice at Ewha Women’s University. She currently holds her Master’s degree at Mannes School of Music in New York under Soprano Diana Soviero and Coach Bryan Wagorn.

During her undergraduate and graduate studies, she has had several performance opportunities including German Lied Concert, French Mélodies Concert, SEAC Modern Art Song Festival and Opera Scenework. Also, she has performed several opera roles including Ilia in <Idomeneo>, Susanna in <Le Nozze di Figaro>, First Lady in <Die Zauberflöte>.

In addition, she got 2nd prize of Vocal Competition at Ewha Womans University, La Pace Voice Competition, Music Competition of the Suwon University.

This season, Ms. Lee will be performing Despina from Opera <Cosi Fan Tutte> at the Chicago Summer Opera.

Krista Benesch is a Nebraska native currently residing in Dallas, where she is pursing her master's degree in vocal performance at Southern Methodist University. Recent roles performed include Rebecca Nurse in The Crucible, Ma in The Tender Land, and Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors.

Jason Gonzalez (Ferrando) is happy to be returning to Chicago Summer Opera. A graduate of Oklahoma City University, Jason Gonzalez finished school with a double major in Music Theater and Vocal Performance. While attending Oklahoma City University, he had the pleasure of studying with professors Jeffrey Picón, Jan McDaniel, and Joe Fitzgerald. Since graduating, he has been coaching with pianist Joy Schreier. After performing the role of Albert Herring in Chicago Summer Opera’s production of Albert Herring, he had the great opportunity to perform in the chorus of Annapolis Opera’s production of La Cenerentola. His other past credits include “Cosi Fan Tutte" (Ferrando, Oklahoma City University), “Gianni Schicchi” (Rinuccio), and “The Pirates of Penzance” (Frederick). Jason would love to thank Claudia, Peter, and Nick Slaughter, Marian and Radu Azdril, and his mom for all their love and support.

Devon Desmond is a young professional singer who has a Bachelors of Music from The

University of Toledo. Devon has been in many UT opera productions, appearing as Toby from

Menotti&#39;s The Medium, Top from Copland&#39;s The Tender Land, Bob from Menotti&#39;s The Old

Maid and the Thief, Tom/John from Mollicone&#39;s The Face on the Barroom Floor, Gianni

Schicchi in Puccini&#39;s Gianni Schicchi, Danilo Danilovich in Leher’s The Merry Widow and Bottom

from Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.. Additionally, Devon performed a junior and

senior recital and in many opera galas and choir concerts at The University of Toledo. Devon

made his first professional appearance in Toledo Opera’s production of Madame Butterfly as

Prince Yamadori and performed a solo chorus role as L’Ufficiale in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. In 2015

he was accepted into Toledo Opera’s Young Artists Program and their outreach program.

Through the outreach program Devon performed as Figaro in a condensed version of Il

Barbiere di Siviglia for thousands of children in the NW Ohio region. During his residency at

Toledo Opera he performed as Marullo in Rigoletto. He also participated in the Toledo Opera

Chorus from 2015 until 2019. He just moved to Chicago in Fall 2021 to pursue a career in

singing and loves living in such a vibrant city. Since moving here he has started working in an

all professional church choir at Fourth Presbyterian and was cast as the Sargent of Poilice in

the Gilbert and Sullivan Company’s production of The Pirates of Penzance. In his free time he

likes to work on other musical projects including learning banjo, guitar, ukulele, and piano.

However, Devon considers himself a vocalist through and through and is very excited to be

honing his craft with Chicago Summer Opera.

Justin Ramm-Damron, Bass-Baritone, has performed operatic roles throughout the United States and Europe. Last summer with Chicago Summer Opera, he performed the roles of Leporello in Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Superintendent Budd in Britten’s Albert Herring. This year with Chicago Summer Opera he will be performing the roles of Don Alfonso in Mozart’s Così fan tutte and Sprecher in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Most recently, he performed the role of Le Caporal in La fille du régiment, as an Apprentice Artist with Sarasota Opera. In the summer of 2019 he made his European opera debut performing as Bartolo in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro and Betto di Signa in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi with La Musica Lirica.

He earned his Master’s degree from Northwestern University in Voice and Opera Performance studying under W. Stephen Smith. Justin performed the role of Caronte in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo and Don Alfonso from Mozart’s Cosí fan tutte with Northwestern Opera Theatre. He previously received his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Sacramento State School of Music. He has performed many lead roles with the Sacramento State Opera Theatre, most notably Orgon in Mechem’s Tartuffe and Don Annibale in Donizetti’s Il Campanello.

Bethany Jargstorf, Soprano, holds a BM from Northeastern Illinois University where she graduated With Highest Distinction and is currently pursuing her MM in Voice Performance at the University of Arizona. Recent credits include: Soprano Soloist (Psalm 42, Mendelssohn), The Monitress (Suor Angelica), Dance Teacher (Unmasked, premiere), First Calavera (Frida), La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi), Grushinskaya (Grand Hotel), Agathe (Der Freischütz, scenes), Countess Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro, scenes), and Norma (Norma, scenes). Ms. Jargstorf previously sang in the Opera Steamboat Opera Artist Institute (2019) and the Orvieto Musica Art of Song Festival (2018). Additionally, she was recognized for Excellence In Performance with a grant from the Opera Guild of Southern Arizona (2022) and was the winner of the Elyse Mach Concerto Competition among all instrument categories (2019). Ms. Jargstorf maintains a private studio and collaborates regularly with her colleagues to premiere new music.

Chloe Jane Reyes is a Southern California based mezzo-soprano. She has studied with Dr. Katharin Rundus and Aram Barsamian.

She is a recent prize winner of the 2021 National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS-LA) Collegiate Auditions.

Some of her operatic credits include, Mallika in “Lakmé” (Delibes), "Suzanna" in The “Marriage of Figaro” (Mozart), “Carmen” (Bizet) as “Carmen,” and “La Boheme” (Leoncavallo) as “Musette.”

In addition, Reyes often performs live at various venues throughout Southern California. As a current band member of the Night Owl cover band and the Blue Note jazz big band, she showcases her ability to maneuver through different genres ranging from Pop, RnB, Rock to Jazz.

Jaeyeon Kim is a lyric soprano from South Korea. Ms. She received the most favorable review from the famous critic who said about Ms. Kim: “... In a world in which sopranos sound so much alike, it was a special experience for us to hear a unique instrument…”

Miss Kim received her bachelor’s degree from Ewha Woman’s University and her master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music. Recently, she won the 3rd Prize in the Castle Music Voice Competition and the Outstanding Performance Award in the 8th Metropolitan International Competition and the 2nd Prize in the NJ Sinfonietta Competition. She also won the Grand Prize in East Coast International Competition and the Best Vocal Technique Award in Forte International Competition.

Miss Kim recently played a role as Mimi with NJ Camerata and joined the project “Prayer and Blessing” which was virtually performed for Buick car advertisement in China with maestro Tan Dun, Oscar and Grammy Winner. She has worked as a soloist for various symphony musics in America and Europe. Jaeyeon Kim has sung the role of Desdemona from Rossini’s Otello, Mimi from Puccini’s La bohème, Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro.

Hanbyeol Min is a lyric coloratura soprano from Seoul, South Korea. She graduated with Master degree at Manhattan School of Music in New York under the instruction of tenor, Neil Rosenshein. She also graduated with her Bachelor degree from Seoul National University in South Korea under the instruction of soprano, Hana Park. She performed Hamlet scene (Ophelie) with Manhattan School of Music in 2021. Also, she performed La Traviata (choir) and Cendrillion scenes (Sylphes, Lutins and Un Esprit) with Manhattan School of Music in 2019, Die Zauberflöte (Erste Dame) with Seoul History Museum Opera in 2018, and Die Zauberflöte (Erste Knabe) with Seoul National University in 2015. Concert soloist credits include Coronation Mass No.15 in CM, k.317 by Mozart and Gloria by Vivaldi in 2022, June. She was a soloist of Bach’s Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV 63, and Magnificat in E-flat Major, BWV 243a, with the Chantez a Dieu Choir in Seoul, South Korea. She is a Finalist of Ades competition(2022), a 2nd prize winner of American Virtuoso International Music Competition(2021), a Finalist of Coloratura Awards(2021) and a grand prize winner of the Pavarotti Competition in Korea(2018). Korean Internet news reporter of Shinailbo, Jeong-geun Kang predicts she will be onstage as a world-class singer in just a few years.

Mezzo-Soprano Joohyun Kim, based New york and hailing from Gwang-ju, South Korea. She graduated Master degree in Voice performance major at Mannes School of Music, Studying with Amy Burton. And she is continuing Professional Studies Diploma course at Mannes School of Music. She got her Bachelor degree from Gachon University. Her most recent appearances have included the role ‘Secrecy’ in the Purcell’s opera <The Fairy Queen> and ‘Dryad’ in the Strauss’s opera <Ariadne auf Naxos> at Mannes Opera, ‘erste dame’ in the Mozart’s opera <Die Zauberflöte> in Seoul. Performing at various art song concert in Seoul. She will perform as Bach soloist in the Baroque Ensemble produced by Mannes Sounds.

In 2022 season, she will have her debut in role of ‘Dorabella’ from <Cosi fan tutte> in Chicago summer opera.

Tenor Ho jung Choi, from South Korea, is a second-year Master’s degree candidate at Manhattan School of Music, under the tutelage of Neil Rosenshein. I have performed Alfredo and Giuseppe (La Traviata) at Manhattan School of Music. I have performed in master classes for Anthony Roth Costanzo.

Baritone Bo Wang is a first-year Master’s degree candidate at Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Neil Rosenshein. Mr. Wang won Gold Award of “National art students Evaluation ”in China in 2016 and Second Class Award of “2020 The 8th International Vocal Competition ”in Malaysia in 2020. Previous credits include Le nozze di Figaro (Count)in Shenzhen and Le nozze di Figaro (Antonio )in Manhattan School of Music . Scene work includes Don Giovanni(Leporello)and Hérodiade(Hérode). As a young performer at the Shenzhen Opera Center, Mr. Wang has also participated in the production and performance of several Chinese operas as an assistant. And he successfully held his own recital at Shenzhen University last year.

Augustine Ahn is a young bass from Lincolnwood, Illinois, a small suburb located above Chicago. Augustine started taking private voice lessons in his junior year of highschool. These lessons would lead him to the discovery of classical music and eventually opera. Augustine is a graduate from DePaul University’s vocal performance program, and will be pursuing his Masters in Voice and Opera at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Augustine has had a fulfilling experience at DePaul Opera Theater, his past roles include Pistola from Verdi’s Falstaff, Antonio from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, and Captain/Tsar Ivan from Bernstein’s Candide. This will be his first summer at Chicago Summer Opera where he will be Don Alfonso in Mozart’s Così fan tutte.

Justine Boonstra is a Boston-based Soprano, who is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Vocal Performance at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. She studies under Karen Holvik. Justine graduated from Gordon College in Wenham, MA with her B.M. in Music Education in May of 2021 and studied under Katherine Whyte.

During her undergraduate and graduate studies, Justine has had several performance opportunities. Most notably, with NEC Opera, Justine has played the role of Angelica in Handel’s Orlando and Semele in Handel’s Semele in NEC’s scenes programs. Also with NEC Opera, Justine was a Soprano in the Chorus of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. Justine was a part of Gordon College’s Women’s Choir and College Choir, where she was a featured soloist on “Benedictus” from Schubert’s Mass in G. With the Gordon College Music Department, she played the role of Serpetta in Mozart’s La finta giardiniera in the scenes program. Justine received the Dean’s Scholarship at New England Conservatory and won several honors and accolades while at Gordon. Most notably, she was honored as a Presser Scholar in 2020.

Justine hopes to have a versatile professional career performing opera, musical theatre, and other genres as well as teaching voice. Above all, she hopes that she can use her career in music to bring joy and hope to others and give back to the community.

British baritone Joshua Lane finished his masters in Vocal Studies and Opera at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of Matthew Best. This year he has sung the roles of Olin Blitch in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah and Edmund Bertram in Jonathon Dove’s Mansfield park for RNCM Opera scenes and looks forward to singing Benoit and Alcindoro in La Boheme for Outreach Opera. In 2021 Josh took part in two Opera North residential weekends working with Antony Hermus and Annabel Arden, sung as a young artist for Southwell Music Festival as well as the role of Le Dancaïre in Carmen for RNCM opera scenes.

Joshua is excited to be singing Elviro in Handel’s Serse and covering Guglielmo in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte with Chicago Summer Opera, before starting a Postgraduate Diploma at the RNCM in September 2022.

Joshua graduated from Newcastle University in 2015 with a 2:1 BA(Hons) in Music. At Newcastle he made his vocal debut as Count Henri de Bouvray in Victor Herbert’s MMLE. Modiste with Newcastle University Opera and was also elected President of the university Jazz Orchestra.

After graduating from Newcastle Joshua worked in corporate fundraising for major arts organisation in London, including the London Symphony Orchestra. He has also sung with award winning chamber choir Coro, directed by Mark Griffiths, where he has been featured as the baritone soloist. Whilst working in London he studied with Mark Wildman and Marcus Farnsworth.

Joshua is extremely grateful for the generous support of the Headley Trust and the Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust during his studies.