Faculty Bios
Codrut Birsan
Music Director
Born in Brasov, Romania, Codrut Birsan began piano lessons at age 6.By age 17, he was one of the accompanists for Opera Brasov.Birsan began voice lessons at Brasov Conservatory as a teenager, then transferred to Bucharest University of Music where he studied with distinguished professor Georgeta Stoleriu. While a voice student at the Academy of Music in Bucharest, Birsan was also a piano accompanist for the Academy’s opera class.Birsan moved to the United States in 2005. He obtained a Master of Music degree in Voice at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, while also collaborating as a vocal accompanist in that setting. Birsan has served as a piano accompanist/opera coach with the San Francisco Lyric Opera, the Livermoore Opera, BASOTI, and for the Opera Academy of California while also appearing as an improvisational classical pianist. In Madison, Birsan played for voice students at the University of Wisconsin and founded Candid Concert Opera (CCO). The mission of CCO is to broaden access to opera by removing both admission cost barriers and the “stuffiness” too often associated with the genre. In addition, this project gives young singers the opportunity to perform entire operatic roles. Birsan has continued to develop this company and works as musical director in the troupe’s performances, which to date include: “Die Fledermaus,” “Cosi fan Tutte,” “Elixir of Love,” “Don Pasquale,” “The Barber of Seville” etc.For the past few years, Birsan has focused on composition as well as performance. He was honored in 2010 with an International Emmy Award for his role in composing the score for The World According to Ion B., a documentary that originally aired on Romanian HBO. Birsan is a regular collaborator with the Chicago Lyric Opera. He has been the Music Director for the Lyric’s program “Opera in the Neighborhood” program, and most recently was the accompanist for Lyric Creative Consultant and world-renowned soprano Renee Fleming’s master class. Birsan also wears a number of hats as a musical instructor, ranging from “opera coach” to “piano teacher”
Emanuele Andrizzi
Master Coach
Educated in the rich musical tradition of the Rome's Conservatory as a conductor, composer, and pianist, Mo Andrizzi has become a versatile musician with a vast experience in the symphonic and operatic repertoires and a passion for the many areas of the musical arts. As a conductor, he has worked with various symphonic and operatic companies. In the past several years, he has conducted at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Diego Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Orchestra della Città di Ravenna, and Chicago Philharmonic, among others. He has also collaborated with important music festivals, including the Millennium Park and the Ravinia Festivals. Many international artists, including Ferruccio Furlanetto, Frederica Von Stade, Frank Almond, James Pellerite, and Joyce Castle have performed as soloists with Mo Andrizzi in concertos, operas, recitals, and recordings.
An active teacher and performer, Mo Andrizzi has worked since 2013 as the Conductor and Head of the Orchestral Program at the prestigious Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Mo Andrizzi is very passionate about his work with young musicians and has often collaborated with international artist programs, including the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, La Musica Lirica, and the Chicago Opera Theater Young Artist Program. In addition, he has guest conducted in various university music programs, such as at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, his Alma Mater, where he has conducted several operas, including a recent production of Poulenc’s The Dialogues of the Carmelites, starring the celebrated American mezzo-soprano Joyce Castle. Mo Andrizzi has clinic-ed and worked with music programs both in the US and in Europe, and has conducted the Illinois All-State Orchestra. Previous positions include Music Director and Conductor of the Cervantes Orchestra, Assistant/Cover Conductor at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Assistant Conductor at the Los Angeles and Dallas Operas.
Mo Andrizzi is a recipient of the Honorable Mention Award at the International Competition for Conductors of Contemporary Music “4X4 Prize” and a winner of the “P. Barrasso” International Competition for Chamber Music. He has recorded for Albany Records.
Born in Rome, Italy, Mo Andrizzi received a Diploma in piano performance from the A. Casella Conservatory, graduated in both conducting and composition at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory, and earned a DMA in Conducting Performance at Northwestern University. After leaving his native country, he lived and worked in both Portugal and Spain, before moving to Chicago, where he currently resides with his wife and kids.
An active teacher and performer, Mo Andrizzi has worked since 2013 as the Conductor and Head of the Orchestral Program at the prestigious Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Mo Andrizzi is very passionate about his work with young musicians and has often collaborated with international artist programs, including the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, La Musica Lirica, and the Chicago Opera Theater Young Artist Program. In addition, he has guest conducted in various university music programs, such as at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, his Alma Mater, where he has conducted several operas, including a recent production of Poulenc’s The Dialogues of the Carmelites, starring the celebrated American mezzo-soprano Joyce Castle. Mo Andrizzi has clinic-ed and worked with music programs both in the US and in Europe, and has conducted the Illinois All-State Orchestra. Previous positions include Music Director and Conductor of the Cervantes Orchestra, Assistant/Cover Conductor at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Assistant Conductor at the Los Angeles and Dallas Operas.
Mo Andrizzi is a recipient of the Honorable Mention Award at the International Competition for Conductors of Contemporary Music “4X4 Prize” and a winner of the “P. Barrasso” International Competition for Chamber Music. He has recorded for Albany Records.
Born in Rome, Italy, Mo Andrizzi received a Diploma in piano performance from the A. Casella Conservatory, graduated in both conducting and composition at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory, and earned a DMA in Conducting Performance at Northwestern University. After leaving his native country, he lived and worked in both Portugal and Spain, before moving to Chicago, where he currently resides with his wife and kids.
Yasuko Oura
Master Coach
Pianist Yasuko Oura has been praised for her sensibility and passion for collaborating with others. She has maintained a busy schedule of performing concerts and working for various opera companies while keeping an active teaching schedule. She is currently a lecturer of collaborative piano at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music where she enjoys working with talented pianists as well as coaching chamber music. Also in demand as a vocal coach, she is on the music staff for Des Moines Metro Opera and will be returning for her eighth season this summer. She also regularly works for Lyric Opera of Chicago and Chicago Opera Theater. She has played under many prominent conductors such as Sir Andrew Davis, Stephen Lord, and Jane Glover. Additionally, she was the principal production pianist and coach for Florentine Opera for seven years. Her other past affiliations include companies such as Fort Worth Opera, Kentucky Opera, Madison Opera, Toledo Opera, and AIMS in Graz, Austria.
Her 2017-2018 season begins with recitals with Susanna Phillips and Myles Mykkanen at Twickenham Festival. She will return as the official pianist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Wisconsin District and the McCammon Vocal Competition in Fort Worth, TX, which will be followed by a recital with bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen. On the opera front, she will be working for Chicago Opera Theater’s production of Il Pigmalione/Rita by Donizetti and returns to Des Moines Metro Opera for Rusalka.
An avid chamber musician, Ms. Oura has performed in such venues as Carnegie Hall’s Weil Recital Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Merkin Hall. She is also the co-artistic director of Chamber Music at Bethany concert series where members of Chicago Symphony Orchestra, four-time Grammy award winning group Eighth Blackbird, and other prominent musicians come together to perform chamber music. She has also been seen in performances for the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series, the Bel Canto Foundation, WFMT, and WTTW’s Chicago Tonight. She resides in Chicago, where she works with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Grant Park Orchestra Chorus, Music of the Baroque, Chicago Opera Theater, Light Opera Works, and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Wisconsin District. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and master’s and doctoral degrees from the Juilliard School, where she was a C.V. Starr Doctoral Fellow.
Her 2017-2018 season begins with recitals with Susanna Phillips and Myles Mykkanen at Twickenham Festival. She will return as the official pianist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Wisconsin District and the McCammon Vocal Competition in Fort Worth, TX, which will be followed by a recital with bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen. On the opera front, she will be working for Chicago Opera Theater’s production of Il Pigmalione/Rita by Donizetti and returns to Des Moines Metro Opera for Rusalka.
An avid chamber musician, Ms. Oura has performed in such venues as Carnegie Hall’s Weil Recital Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Merkin Hall. She is also the co-artistic director of Chamber Music at Bethany concert series where members of Chicago Symphony Orchestra, four-time Grammy award winning group Eighth Blackbird, and other prominent musicians come together to perform chamber music. She has also been seen in performances for the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series, the Bel Canto Foundation, WFMT, and WTTW’s Chicago Tonight. She resides in Chicago, where she works with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Grant Park Orchestra Chorus, Music of the Baroque, Chicago Opera Theater, Light Opera Works, and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Wisconsin District. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and master’s and doctoral degrees from the Juilliard School, where she was a C.V. Starr Doctoral Fellow.
Elizabeth Byrne
Voice Teacher
Elizabeth Byrne has been seen as Senta in Der fliegende Hollander with Portland Opera, Arizona Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro James Levine. In operas from Wagner's Ring Cycle she has been seen as Brünnhilde in Siegfried with the Staatstheater Stuttgart, Brünnhilde in Die Walkre at the Austin Lyric Opera, Sieglinde Die Walkre in concert with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, as well as Gutrune and Gerhilde in the Lyric Opera of Chicago's first complete Ring Cycle conducted by Zubin Mehta.
Ms. Byrne has also covered the roles of both Brnnhilde in Die Walkre and Leonora in Fidelio at the Metropolitan Opera, as well as Isolde in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde for San Francisco Opera. At the Metropolitan Opera she has been seen as The Duchess of Parma in Busoni's Doktor Faust and the Fourth Maid in Elektra and at the Lyric Opera of Chicago she performed the role of the Overseer in the Gtz Friedrich production of Elektra. Most recently Ms. Byrne was seen as the Witch in Hansel and Gretel with Indianapolis Opera, after previously having sung the Mother with the Phoenix Symphony.
An excellent musician, Ms. Byrne is noted for her performances of contemporary operas having sung the world premiere performances of the role of Blanca in James MacMillan's opera Ins de Castro at the Edinburgh Festival. The work was also performed in Glasgow and in Oporto, Portugal. Jonathan Moore directed the Scottish Opera production, which was broadcast on BBC-TV. In concert, Ms. Byrne has performed Mahler's Symphony No.8 at Royal Albert Hall and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 14 at Canada's National Arts Centre. She made her Avery Fisher Hall debut performing Zemlinsky's rarely-heard Lyric Symphony with Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra. She has performed the Verdi Requiem with the Alabama Symphony and the Greensboro Symphony, Beethoven's Symphony No.9 with the symphony orchestras of Utah, Seattle, Richmond, and South Bend Symphony.
Ms. Byrne has also covered the roles of both Brnnhilde in Die Walkre and Leonora in Fidelio at the Metropolitan Opera, as well as Isolde in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde for San Francisco Opera. At the Metropolitan Opera she has been seen as The Duchess of Parma in Busoni's Doktor Faust and the Fourth Maid in Elektra and at the Lyric Opera of Chicago she performed the role of the Overseer in the Gtz Friedrich production of Elektra. Most recently Ms. Byrne was seen as the Witch in Hansel and Gretel with Indianapolis Opera, after previously having sung the Mother with the Phoenix Symphony.
An excellent musician, Ms. Byrne is noted for her performances of contemporary operas having sung the world premiere performances of the role of Blanca in James MacMillan's opera Ins de Castro at the Edinburgh Festival. The work was also performed in Glasgow and in Oporto, Portugal. Jonathan Moore directed the Scottish Opera production, which was broadcast on BBC-TV. In concert, Ms. Byrne has performed Mahler's Symphony No.8 at Royal Albert Hall and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 14 at Canada's National Arts Centre. She made her Avery Fisher Hall debut performing Zemlinsky's rarely-heard Lyric Symphony with Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra. She has performed the Verdi Requiem with the Alabama Symphony and the Greensboro Symphony, Beethoven's Symphony No.9 with the symphony orchestras of Utah, Seattle, Richmond, and South Bend Symphony.
Allan Glassman
Voice Teacher
Tenor Allan Glassman has thrilled audiences throughout America and Europe for decades with his vibrant timbre and committed interpretations of roles. Critics exclaim “his very presence on stage made those around him sound better.” A regular at The Metropolitan Opera, Mr. Glassman triumphed as Herod in a production of Salome and has since been heard in The Met’s production of Billy Budd as Red Whiskers; Die Frau ohne Schatten as The Hunchback Brother; Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District as The Shabby Peasant; and in productions of Boris Godunov, The Great Gatsby, Carmen, Elektra, Káťa Kabanová, The Ghost of Versailles, Mussorgsky’s Khovanshchina, and Wozzeck.
Alexandra LoBianco
Voice Teacher
American Soprano Alexandra LoBianco is a consummate singing actress whom Opera Newsmpraised for possessing a “wonderful voice that should be heard in major houses.” She recently made her European stage debut in 2016 as Leonore in Fidelio with Wiener Staatsoper, and met with success as Turandot with Des Moines Metro Opera in the summer of 2017. Of her performance, Opera Today wrote, “Alexandra LoBianco is well remembered here for her feisty Minnie in a recent season. If Fanciulla is a Big Sing for the soprano, Princess Turandot is a Big Sing on Steroids… Ms. Lobianco is short of physical stature, but makes up for it with potent spinto vocalizing that has its own towering presence. As she kept pouring out laser-focused riddles, rising in pitch as well as intensity, we sat wondering: ‘Where is all that glorious voice coming from?’”
Ms. LoBianco returns to Europe in the summer of 2018 to make her Bayerische Staatsoper debut as Gerhilde in Die Walküre under the baton of Kirill Petrenko. In the 2017-18 season, Ms. LoBianco makes her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Helmwige in Die Walküre, returns to Seattle Opera as Aida, and makes her title role debut in Ariadne auf Naxos with Austin Opera. Her engagements in the 2016-17 season included a tour of Japan with Wiener Staatsoper as Helmwige, and she debuted with Florida Grand Opera as Amelia in Un ballo in maschera, as well as with Dallas Opera as Miss Jessel in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw.
In addition to performances of Fidelio with Wiener Staatsoper in the 2015-16 season, Ms. LoBianco sang Aida with Opera Colorado, Tosca with Minnesota Opera, and joined the roster of the Metropolitan Opera for its production of Il trovatore, as well as the roster of Santa Fe Opera for La fanciulla del West in the summer of 2016. Alexandra LoBianco has also sung Leonore and Amelia in Un ballo in maschera with Madison Opera, Minnie in La fanciulla del West with Des Moines Metro Opera, Tosca with PORTopera Maine and Grand Rapids, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Seattle Opera, and Magda Sorel in Menotti’s The Consul with Opera Santa Barbara. With Union Avenue Opera she has performed Brünnhilde in Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung.
Ms. LoBianco has sung in recital in Zürich, Columbia College (SC), and performed as soloist in Rachmaninoff’s The Bells with Madison Symphony, as well as for Madison Opera’s summer concert series Opera in the Park. An advocate of music education, Ms. LoBianco is a respected vocal instructor who has mentored numerous students.
Ms. LoBianco returns to Europe in the summer of 2018 to make her Bayerische Staatsoper debut as Gerhilde in Die Walküre under the baton of Kirill Petrenko. In the 2017-18 season, Ms. LoBianco makes her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Helmwige in Die Walküre, returns to Seattle Opera as Aida, and makes her title role debut in Ariadne auf Naxos with Austin Opera. Her engagements in the 2016-17 season included a tour of Japan with Wiener Staatsoper as Helmwige, and she debuted with Florida Grand Opera as Amelia in Un ballo in maschera, as well as with Dallas Opera as Miss Jessel in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw.
In addition to performances of Fidelio with Wiener Staatsoper in the 2015-16 season, Ms. LoBianco sang Aida with Opera Colorado, Tosca with Minnesota Opera, and joined the roster of the Metropolitan Opera for its production of Il trovatore, as well as the roster of Santa Fe Opera for La fanciulla del West in the summer of 2016. Alexandra LoBianco has also sung Leonore and Amelia in Un ballo in maschera with Madison Opera, Minnie in La fanciulla del West with Des Moines Metro Opera, Tosca with PORTopera Maine and Grand Rapids, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Seattle Opera, and Magda Sorel in Menotti’s The Consul with Opera Santa Barbara. With Union Avenue Opera she has performed Brünnhilde in Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung.
Ms. LoBianco has sung in recital in Zürich, Columbia College (SC), and performed as soloist in Rachmaninoff’s The Bells with Madison Symphony, as well as for Madison Opera’s summer concert series Opera in the Park. An advocate of music education, Ms. LoBianco is a respected vocal instructor who has mentored numerous students.
Alexandra Loutsion
Voice Teacher
Hailed as "fearless" (Opera News) and “masterful” (Tulsa World) with a “powerful…and gorgeous voice" (MinnPost), Alexandra Loutsion continues to be recognized for her passionate performances and vocal versatility as a rising star on the operatic stage. Ms. Loutsion’s 2019-2020 season includes her role and company debut with Minnesota Opera singing the title role in Strauss’ Elektra, a return to Pittsburgh Opera singing the title role in Daniel Catan’s Florencia en el Amazonas, a debut with Austin Opera and return to Palm Beach Opera singing the title role in Puccini’s Turandot, and a debut with the Chicago Philharmonic performing excerpts from Kamala Sankaram’s Taking Up Serpents. Last season she made her international debut with Canadian Opera Company singing the Overseer and covering the title role of Strauss’ Elektra, offered a “career-defining interpretation” of Leonora in Verdi’s Il Trovatore with Central City Opera, and debuted as Turandot with New Orleans Opera. She also debuted with San Francisco Opera singing the Overseer in Elektra and covering Turandot.
Puccini has become a staple of Ms. Loutsion’s repertoire. In addition to singing Turandot with Pittsburgh Opera, Tulsa Opera, and New Orleans Opera , she has also brought her Tosca to Palm Beach Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and Central City Opera, and her Cio-Cio San/Madama Butterfly to Palm Beach Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, and Opera on the James. Other role highlights include the Foreign Princess/Rusalka with Arizona Opera, Florencia/Florencia en el Amazonas with Arizona Opera, Donna Anna/Don Giovanni with North Carolina Opera, Lady Macbeth/Macbeth with Raylynmor Opera, Gertrude/Hansel and Gretel with Dayton Opera, and the leading role of Isabella in Wagner's Das Liebesverbot as part of the Ring Festival LA. She also covered the Lady-in-Waiting in Verdi’s Macbeth with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Riccardo Muti.
On the concert stage, Ms. Loutsion has sung the soprano solo in Verdi’s Messa da Requiem with the Santa Fe Symphony and the Academy Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh, as well as Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the Cathedral Choral Society, West Virginia Symphony, Syracuse Symphoria, Erie Philharmonic and as a guest soloist with the Ithaca College Chamber Orchestra. She recently debuted the soprano solo in Hadyn's Mass in Time of War with the Cathedral Choral Society of Washington D.C. An advocate for living composers and contemporary works, Ms. Loutsion has also given performances of Almera in Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters with Pittsburgh Opera, Euridice in Ricky Ian Gordon's Orpheus and Euridice at the Boston Court Performing Arts Center, Witch 3 in Krausas' The Mortal Thoughts of Lady Macbeth with Vera Ikon Productions, and Fay Doyle in the West Coast Premier of Lowell Liebermann's Miss Lonelyhearts. She can be heard as the soprano soloist on the soundtrack of the film Lucir Y Sombra.
Ms. Loutsion spent two summers as an Apprentice Artist with the Santa Fe Opera, most recently to cover Leonore/Fidelio. She also covered Tosca and the leading role of Anna in Rossini’s Maometto II. Ms. Loutsion also spent two seasons as a Resident Artist with Pittsburgh Opera where she was seen as Armida/Rinaldo and Gertrude and the Witch/Hänsel und Gretel, among others. As an Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera, she was heard as Cio-Cio San/Madama Butterfly and as Melissa in Handel's Amadigi di Gaula.
Ms. Loutsion recently represented the United States as a quarterfinalist in the Francisco Viñas International Singing Contest in Barcelona, Spain. She was a winner of the Metropolitan National Council District Auditions and the Long Beach Mozart Competition, as well as a finalist in the Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation Competition, McCammon Voice Competition, and Dallas Opera Competition. She is the recipient of the Catherine Filene Shouse Education Fund Career Grant from Wolf Trap Opera, Santa Fe Opera’s Donald Gramm Memorial Award and Anna Case MacKay Award, the Shoshana Foundation Richard F. Gold Career Grant, the Central City Opera John Moriarty Award, and the Aspen Music Festival New Horizon Fellowship. She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Arts from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Ithaca College. Ms. Loutsion was also recently awarded a place in the Greek America Foundation's "Forty under 40" Class of 2018, which celebrates the professional excellence and philanthropic endeavors of North Americans of Greek descent
Puccini has become a staple of Ms. Loutsion’s repertoire. In addition to singing Turandot with Pittsburgh Opera, Tulsa Opera, and New Orleans Opera , she has also brought her Tosca to Palm Beach Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and Central City Opera, and her Cio-Cio San/Madama Butterfly to Palm Beach Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, and Opera on the James. Other role highlights include the Foreign Princess/Rusalka with Arizona Opera, Florencia/Florencia en el Amazonas with Arizona Opera, Donna Anna/Don Giovanni with North Carolina Opera, Lady Macbeth/Macbeth with Raylynmor Opera, Gertrude/Hansel and Gretel with Dayton Opera, and the leading role of Isabella in Wagner's Das Liebesverbot as part of the Ring Festival LA. She also covered the Lady-in-Waiting in Verdi’s Macbeth with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Riccardo Muti.
On the concert stage, Ms. Loutsion has sung the soprano solo in Verdi’s Messa da Requiem with the Santa Fe Symphony and the Academy Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh, as well as Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the Cathedral Choral Society, West Virginia Symphony, Syracuse Symphoria, Erie Philharmonic and as a guest soloist with the Ithaca College Chamber Orchestra. She recently debuted the soprano solo in Hadyn's Mass in Time of War with the Cathedral Choral Society of Washington D.C. An advocate for living composers and contemporary works, Ms. Loutsion has also given performances of Almera in Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters with Pittsburgh Opera, Euridice in Ricky Ian Gordon's Orpheus and Euridice at the Boston Court Performing Arts Center, Witch 3 in Krausas' The Mortal Thoughts of Lady Macbeth with Vera Ikon Productions, and Fay Doyle in the West Coast Premier of Lowell Liebermann's Miss Lonelyhearts. She can be heard as the soprano soloist on the soundtrack of the film Lucir Y Sombra.
Ms. Loutsion spent two summers as an Apprentice Artist with the Santa Fe Opera, most recently to cover Leonore/Fidelio. She also covered Tosca and the leading role of Anna in Rossini’s Maometto II. Ms. Loutsion also spent two seasons as a Resident Artist with Pittsburgh Opera where she was seen as Armida/Rinaldo and Gertrude and the Witch/Hänsel und Gretel, among others. As an Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera, she was heard as Cio-Cio San/Madama Butterfly and as Melissa in Handel's Amadigi di Gaula.
Ms. Loutsion recently represented the United States as a quarterfinalist in the Francisco Viñas International Singing Contest in Barcelona, Spain. She was a winner of the Metropolitan National Council District Auditions and the Long Beach Mozart Competition, as well as a finalist in the Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation Competition, McCammon Voice Competition, and Dallas Opera Competition. She is the recipient of the Catherine Filene Shouse Education Fund Career Grant from Wolf Trap Opera, Santa Fe Opera’s Donald Gramm Memorial Award and Anna Case MacKay Award, the Shoshana Foundation Richard F. Gold Career Grant, the Central City Opera John Moriarty Award, and the Aspen Music Festival New Horizon Fellowship. She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Arts from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Ithaca College. Ms. Loutsion was also recently awarded a place in the Greek America Foundation's "Forty under 40" Class of 2018, which celebrates the professional excellence and philanthropic endeavors of North Americans of Greek descent
Viktoria Vizin
Voice Teacher
Passion is guaranteed when it comes to Viktoria Vizin, the internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano whose name is often seen in the world’s most prestigious houses such as the Metropolitan Opera, Hungarian State Opera House, Chicago Lyric or Royal Opera House Covent Garden.
Ms. Vizin has embarked on an exciting dramatic mezzo-soprano repertory in her past seasons. This includes Charlotte in Werther (Scottish Opera debut 2013), The Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos (Budapest 2013, 2015), Phedre in Rameau’s Hypolite et Aricie, Dejanira in Handel’s Hercules (Budapest 2013 and 2012), the Wagner Ring Cycle at the Luzerne Festival conducted by Jonathan Nott (2013). Ms. Vizin sang the highly acclaimed supporting roles Flosshilde (Das Rheingold, Gotterdammerung), 1st Norn (Gotterdammerung) and Schwertleite (Die Walkure) and Waltraute in Götterdämmerung (Palermo) directed by Graham Vick. In addition to her new repertory, she completed her 100th Carmen performance (2012) at the Budapest State Opera House, performed Judit in Bluebeard’s Castle in the Miskolc International Opera Festival (2013), with the Oregon Symphony (2016) and with the Budapest Festival Orchestra conducted by Ivan Fischer (2019), made her appearance at the Grand Theatre du Luxembourg as Preziosilla (2013) and had her Danish debut at Den Jyske Opera, Aarhus as Dulcinee (2014). She debuted as Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni in an innovative production at BartokPlusz Festival (2018).
Ms. Vizin had a role debut of Hannah Glavary in The Merry Widow at the BartokPlusz Opera Festival in Hungary (2014, 2015) and sang the title role of Tosca in Hungary (2015-16). She debuted as Nerone in Monteverdi’s Incoronazione di Poppea at Palace of Arts, Budapest (2016).
Ms. Vizin has a passion for contemporary performing arts. She debuted as Nina in Senza Sangue written and conducted by Peter Eötvös in which she was claimed to have had an outstanding success.
In addition to her operatic performances Ms. Vizin has appeared as the alto solo of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (Krannert Center for Performing Arts – Champaign, IL), the alto solo of Handel’s Messiah (Palace of the Arts MUPA, Hungary), a Verdi Gala where she performed the aria: O don fatale and appeared in Den Jyske Opera’s 2014/2015 operatic season’s Opera gala in Opera i Rebild performing various arias and duets such as Alza!, Smanie implacabili, Habanera and the Barcarole and she sang at the Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto and was part of the Opening Gala of Opera of the Nature Opera Festival (2017 Lake Tisza, Hungary). She starred the Advent Series at the BartokPlusz Opera Festival featuring Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Faure, Saint-Saens (2018). She is continuously seen participating in the Chicago area concert events.
Ms. Vizin was engaged as the soloist of a 30s classical jazz concert at Palace of Arts followed by the World Chorus Champion “Ars Nova” at the International Spring Festival (2015). She continued to feature the 40s classical jazz at the BartokPlusz Festival in 2016.
Ms. Vizin performed in a 3 hour solo opera gala celebrating her 20th anniversary on stage in her hometown (2016). Her repertory included Richard Strauss, Mozart, Handel, Purcell, Bizet, Massenet, Berlioz and contemporary pieces.
In addition to her operatic performances Ms. Vizin starred in the theatrical play Carmen Disruption by the Tony Award winner playwright Simon Stephens at Almeida Theatre, in Londons East End (2015) and featured in an audiovisual performance “1956” both in Budapest and New York (2016).
Ms. Vizin received critical acclaim for a successful world premier of her contemporary opera piece – The Witch – where she not only debuted as a singer, but also as a co-writer of the operatic piece. (International Kodaly Festival, Hungary 2013).
Ms. Vizin’s current season includes the world premier of the contemporary composer Peter Zombola’s opera “…and Echo” where she partook in the making of the libretto.
Ms. Vizin’s previous season highlights are:
Carmen: Essen (2000-2003), Dusseldorf – Duisburg (2003-2004), Pittsburgh (2004), ROH Covent Garden (2007 simulcast in U.K., DVD release), Hungarian State Opera (2007-2012), Los Angeles (2008) Taipei (2009), Metropolitan Opera (2010), Chicago Lyric Opera (2006 stereo simulcast) (Beijing) (2011), Vlaamse Opera (2012 – broadcast in Gent/Television)
Judit –had an acclaimed world debut of Bartok’s mesmerizing drama with Ms. Vizin performing the role twice/each night conducted by Adam Fischer (2009 Budapest), Novi Sad (2010 simulcast in Serbia), Miskolc International Opera Festival (2013), Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (2016), Palace of Arts (2019).
Preziosilla: Vlaamse Opera (2012), Grand Theatre du Luxembourg (2013)
Maddalena: Miskolc (2001), Dusseldorf (2004-2005), Covent Garden (2005), Metropolitan Opera (2009 simulcast Sirius XM Radio)
Dejanira: Budapest MUPA (2012 – broadcast on Hungarian Television)
Margherite : Budapest MUPA (2010 – broadcast on Hungarian Television)
Phèdre : Hungarian State Opera (2013)
Nerone: Budapest MUPA (2015)
Isabella: Central City Opera Festival (2003)
Rosina: Cluj-Napoca (1996)
Marchese Melibea: Toronto (2002)
Adalgisa: Thessaloniki (2000), Essen (2002), Dusseldorf (2004)
Pauline: Covent Garden (2001), Toronto (2002), Dallas (2003)
Donna Elvira: BartokPlusz Opera festival (2018)
Nina: Budapest MUPA (2018)
Earlier lyric mezzo repertoire includes: Zerlina(Miskolc 2000, Dusseldorf 2000), Idamante (Cluj-Napoca 1998, Budapest, 1999), Cherubino ( Wiener StaadtsOper 1999), Dorabella (Budapest 1999 – broadcast on Hungarian Television), Rossweise (Geneva 2000), Mrs. Meg Page (Verona 1997).
Viktoria Vizin , a Kecskemet (Hungary) native, studied at the Franz Liszt Conservatory in Szeged. She won the International Singing Competition 'Nicolae Bretan' in Cluj-Napoca , Romania in 1996 and the Belvedere Competition, Austria in 2000. In 2001 she completed her Master’s and Ph.D in Romania. She resides in the greater Chicagoland area and is on the Voice Faculty at DePaul University School of Music.
Ms. Vizin has embarked on an exciting dramatic mezzo-soprano repertory in her past seasons. This includes Charlotte in Werther (Scottish Opera debut 2013), The Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos (Budapest 2013, 2015), Phedre in Rameau’s Hypolite et Aricie, Dejanira in Handel’s Hercules (Budapest 2013 and 2012), the Wagner Ring Cycle at the Luzerne Festival conducted by Jonathan Nott (2013). Ms. Vizin sang the highly acclaimed supporting roles Flosshilde (Das Rheingold, Gotterdammerung), 1st Norn (Gotterdammerung) and Schwertleite (Die Walkure) and Waltraute in Götterdämmerung (Palermo) directed by Graham Vick. In addition to her new repertory, she completed her 100th Carmen performance (2012) at the Budapest State Opera House, performed Judit in Bluebeard’s Castle in the Miskolc International Opera Festival (2013), with the Oregon Symphony (2016) and with the Budapest Festival Orchestra conducted by Ivan Fischer (2019), made her appearance at the Grand Theatre du Luxembourg as Preziosilla (2013) and had her Danish debut at Den Jyske Opera, Aarhus as Dulcinee (2014). She debuted as Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni in an innovative production at BartokPlusz Festival (2018).
Ms. Vizin had a role debut of Hannah Glavary in The Merry Widow at the BartokPlusz Opera Festival in Hungary (2014, 2015) and sang the title role of Tosca in Hungary (2015-16). She debuted as Nerone in Monteverdi’s Incoronazione di Poppea at Palace of Arts, Budapest (2016).
Ms. Vizin has a passion for contemporary performing arts. She debuted as Nina in Senza Sangue written and conducted by Peter Eötvös in which she was claimed to have had an outstanding success.
In addition to her operatic performances Ms. Vizin has appeared as the alto solo of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (Krannert Center for Performing Arts – Champaign, IL), the alto solo of Handel’s Messiah (Palace of the Arts MUPA, Hungary), a Verdi Gala where she performed the aria: O don fatale and appeared in Den Jyske Opera’s 2014/2015 operatic season’s Opera gala in Opera i Rebild performing various arias and duets such as Alza!, Smanie implacabili, Habanera and the Barcarole and she sang at the Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto and was part of the Opening Gala of Opera of the Nature Opera Festival (2017 Lake Tisza, Hungary). She starred the Advent Series at the BartokPlusz Opera Festival featuring Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Faure, Saint-Saens (2018). She is continuously seen participating in the Chicago area concert events.
Ms. Vizin was engaged as the soloist of a 30s classical jazz concert at Palace of Arts followed by the World Chorus Champion “Ars Nova” at the International Spring Festival (2015). She continued to feature the 40s classical jazz at the BartokPlusz Festival in 2016.
Ms. Vizin performed in a 3 hour solo opera gala celebrating her 20th anniversary on stage in her hometown (2016). Her repertory included Richard Strauss, Mozart, Handel, Purcell, Bizet, Massenet, Berlioz and contemporary pieces.
In addition to her operatic performances Ms. Vizin starred in the theatrical play Carmen Disruption by the Tony Award winner playwright Simon Stephens at Almeida Theatre, in Londons East End (2015) and featured in an audiovisual performance “1956” both in Budapest and New York (2016).
Ms. Vizin received critical acclaim for a successful world premier of her contemporary opera piece – The Witch – where she not only debuted as a singer, but also as a co-writer of the operatic piece. (International Kodaly Festival, Hungary 2013).
Ms. Vizin’s current season includes the world premier of the contemporary composer Peter Zombola’s opera “…and Echo” where she partook in the making of the libretto.
Ms. Vizin’s previous season highlights are:
Carmen: Essen (2000-2003), Dusseldorf – Duisburg (2003-2004), Pittsburgh (2004), ROH Covent Garden (2007 simulcast in U.K., DVD release), Hungarian State Opera (2007-2012), Los Angeles (2008) Taipei (2009), Metropolitan Opera (2010), Chicago Lyric Opera (2006 stereo simulcast) (Beijing) (2011), Vlaamse Opera (2012 – broadcast in Gent/Television)
Judit –had an acclaimed world debut of Bartok’s mesmerizing drama with Ms. Vizin performing the role twice/each night conducted by Adam Fischer (2009 Budapest), Novi Sad (2010 simulcast in Serbia), Miskolc International Opera Festival (2013), Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (2016), Palace of Arts (2019).
Preziosilla: Vlaamse Opera (2012), Grand Theatre du Luxembourg (2013)
Maddalena: Miskolc (2001), Dusseldorf (2004-2005), Covent Garden (2005), Metropolitan Opera (2009 simulcast Sirius XM Radio)
Dejanira: Budapest MUPA (2012 – broadcast on Hungarian Television)
Margherite : Budapest MUPA (2010 – broadcast on Hungarian Television)
Phèdre : Hungarian State Opera (2013)
Nerone: Budapest MUPA (2015)
Isabella: Central City Opera Festival (2003)
Rosina: Cluj-Napoca (1996)
Marchese Melibea: Toronto (2002)
Adalgisa: Thessaloniki (2000), Essen (2002), Dusseldorf (2004)
Pauline: Covent Garden (2001), Toronto (2002), Dallas (2003)
Donna Elvira: BartokPlusz Opera festival (2018)
Nina: Budapest MUPA (2018)
Earlier lyric mezzo repertoire includes: Zerlina(Miskolc 2000, Dusseldorf 2000), Idamante (Cluj-Napoca 1998, Budapest, 1999), Cherubino ( Wiener StaadtsOper 1999), Dorabella (Budapest 1999 – broadcast on Hungarian Television), Rossweise (Geneva 2000), Mrs. Meg Page (Verona 1997).
Viktoria Vizin , a Kecskemet (Hungary) native, studied at the Franz Liszt Conservatory in Szeged. She won the International Singing Competition 'Nicolae Bretan' in Cluj-Napoca , Romania in 1996 and the Belvedere Competition, Austria in 2000. In 2001 she completed her Master’s and Ph.D in Romania. She resides in the greater Chicagoland area and is on the Voice Faculty at DePaul University School of Music.
Kalle Kanttilla
Voice Teacher & Bavarian Opera Academy Workshop
Kalle Kanttila is the founder and director of IOA Management. International Opera Artists was established in 2012 and is an agency for opera singers and conductors. It is based in Germany, Italy, France, Russia and Helsinki and provides worldwide services in the field of opera. IOA has rapidly become one of the largest and most significant opera agencies in Europe and it marks itself off from typical European opera agencies thanks to its strong presence also in the USA.
Kalle Kanttila was born in Oulu, Finland. He began his music studies at the Helsinki Conservatory of Music and furthered them at the Zürich Conservatory and the Music Department of University Karlsruhe, Germany.
Before founding IOA, Kalle Kanttila had a career as an opera singer appearing as a soloist at many important opera houses such as the Komische Oper Berlin, National Theater Mannheim, State Opera Wiesbaden, State Opera Darmstadt, State Opera Meiningen, State Opera Nürnberg, State Opera Karlsruhe, Alexander Theater Helsinki, Opera Wuppertal, Schwetzingen Music Festival as well as at the Savonlinna Opera Festival, among many others.
Kalle Kanttila is a jury member at many important singing competitions including the International "Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition", International "Panco Vladigerov" Singing Competiton in Bulgaria, International Concorso Lirico "Salice d'Oro in Italy, International "Lions Singing Competition" at the Opera Festival “Immling” in Germany, International "Zinka Milanov" Singing Competition in Croatia and International "Salvatore Licitra" Competition in Milano. He is also a founder of International "Nuovo Canto" Singing Competition in Milano.
Furthermore, Mr. Kanttila is a much sought-after lecturer at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and at many master-classes and seminars in Germany and abroad.
IOA Management
"IOA Management" is one of the most influential opera agencies in Europe with offices in Munich & Helsinki. IOA Management does not only work with all German Opera houses but also with important international opera houses such as the Royal Opera Stockholm, Danish Royal Opera, London Covent Garden, Paris National Opera, Finnish National Opera, Maggio Musicale di Firenze, Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Glyndebourne Festival, Mariinsky Theater, Opera Tenerife, Teatro Real Madrid, Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona, Opera Lyon, just to name a few. Besides their strong presence in Europe, IOA Management is one of the very few European opera agencies to collaborate also with almost all American opera houses including the New York Metropolitan Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Seattle Opera, Philadelphia, among many others.
Further information on IOA Management
Bavarian Opera Academy
The Bavarian Opera Academy is a training centre which was established in Germany by Finnish opera agent Kalle Kanttila. The Bavarian Opera Academy organises monthly workshops for young singing talents. The purpose of these workshops is to build bridges between singers and opera houses, and to assist young singers with their breakthrough in their international opera careers.
BOA workshop participants have had so far the opportunity to audition for directors of the following opera houses: Vienna State Opera, Opera Cologne, Opera Dortmund, Opera Leipzig, Danish Royal Opera, Volksoper Wien, Weimar National Theater, Semperoper Dresden, State Opera Hamburg, State Opera Hannover, State Opera Stuttgart, Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, State Opera Nuremberg and the opera houses of Essen, Heidelberg, Bonn and Basel.
Kalle Kanttila was born in Oulu, Finland. He began his music studies at the Helsinki Conservatory of Music and furthered them at the Zürich Conservatory and the Music Department of University Karlsruhe, Germany.
Before founding IOA, Kalle Kanttila had a career as an opera singer appearing as a soloist at many important opera houses such as the Komische Oper Berlin, National Theater Mannheim, State Opera Wiesbaden, State Opera Darmstadt, State Opera Meiningen, State Opera Nürnberg, State Opera Karlsruhe, Alexander Theater Helsinki, Opera Wuppertal, Schwetzingen Music Festival as well as at the Savonlinna Opera Festival, among many others.
Kalle Kanttila is a jury member at many important singing competitions including the International "Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition", International "Panco Vladigerov" Singing Competiton in Bulgaria, International Concorso Lirico "Salice d'Oro in Italy, International "Lions Singing Competition" at the Opera Festival “Immling” in Germany, International "Zinka Milanov" Singing Competition in Croatia and International "Salvatore Licitra" Competition in Milano. He is also a founder of International "Nuovo Canto" Singing Competition in Milano.
Furthermore, Mr. Kanttila is a much sought-after lecturer at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and at many master-classes and seminars in Germany and abroad.
IOA Management
"IOA Management" is one of the most influential opera agencies in Europe with offices in Munich & Helsinki. IOA Management does not only work with all German Opera houses but also with important international opera houses such as the Royal Opera Stockholm, Danish Royal Opera, London Covent Garden, Paris National Opera, Finnish National Opera, Maggio Musicale di Firenze, Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Glyndebourne Festival, Mariinsky Theater, Opera Tenerife, Teatro Real Madrid, Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona, Opera Lyon, just to name a few. Besides their strong presence in Europe, IOA Management is one of the very few European opera agencies to collaborate also with almost all American opera houses including the New York Metropolitan Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Seattle Opera, Philadelphia, among many others.
Further information on IOA Management
Bavarian Opera Academy
The Bavarian Opera Academy is a training centre which was established in Germany by Finnish opera agent Kalle Kanttila. The Bavarian Opera Academy organises monthly workshops for young singing talents. The purpose of these workshops is to build bridges between singers and opera houses, and to assist young singers with their breakthrough in their international opera careers.
BOA workshop participants have had so far the opportunity to audition for directors of the following opera houses: Vienna State Opera, Opera Cologne, Opera Dortmund, Opera Leipzig, Danish Royal Opera, Volksoper Wien, Weimar National Theater, Semperoper Dresden, State Opera Hamburg, State Opera Hannover, State Opera Stuttgart, Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, State Opera Nuremberg and the opera houses of Essen, Heidelberg, Bonn and Basel.
Joshua Horsch
Conductor
Praised for conducting with "steady acumen and considerable aplomb" and "awesome control” (Opera Today), Joshua Horsch is an extremely versatile operatic and symphonic conductor. A two-time winner of the American Prize in Opera Conducting, Joshua’s recent and upcoming conducting engagements include appearances with Atlanta Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera Orlando, Mobile Opera, Pacific Opera Project, Opera Las Vegas, Tri-Cities Opera, and Chicago Summer Opera. With a diverse repertoire of over forty operas and a broad spectrum of orchestral and choral works, Joshua has recently held positions as a conductor/coach/chorus master on the music staff of Michigan Opera Theatre, Florida Grand Opera, North Carolina Opera, Opera Saratoga, Pensacola Opera, the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Newport Music Festival. Joshua’s guest and workshop conducting includes work with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Omaha Symphony, the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra and Chorus, the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, and the Boulder Bach Festival.
Conductor Daniel Alfred Wachsemerged on the international scene following his debut with the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg in November 2010, leading a world première by Toshio Hosokawa at the Grosses Festspielhaus. The Austrian press praised: “Engaging, rhythmically inspired, precise in its execution, the “Mambo” was equal to a performance by Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra!”Wachs has guest conducted Orange County’s Pacific Symphony, the Auckland Philharmonia, the National Symphony Orchestra (as part of the National Conducting Institute), the Sarasota Orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, the Oakland Symphony, the Monterey Symphony, the Spartanburg Philharmonic, and New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center. Wachs has also served as assistant conductor at the Cincinnati Opera and for the French première of Bernstein’s Candide at the Théâtre du Châtelet, a Robert Carsen co-production with La Scala and the English National Opera. In 2015, Wachs made his debut on the acclaimed new music series Jacaranda: Music at the Edge in Santa Monica, conducting works by Weill and Stravinsky.
A pianist as well as a conductor, Wachs’ performance with the Minnesota Orchestra “proved a revelation, delivering a technically impeccable, emotionally powerful performance of two Mozart piano concertos and a pair of solo works,” raved the St. Paul Pioneer Press. With the encouragement of Zubin Mehta, Wachs began his studies with Enrique Barenboim in Tel Aviv before pursuing studies at the Zürich Academy and graduating from The Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School. He has also participated at such festivals at Aspen, Tanglewood and Verbier. Wachs has also been entrusted with preparing orchestras for Valery Gergiev and Vladimir Spivakov, and has served as Assistant Conductor to Osmo Vänskä at the Minnesota Orchestra and at the National Orchestra of France under Kurt Masur. Additionally, he has served as cover conductor for the Houston Symphony and for the Rotterdam Philharmonic on tour.
Committed to the cause of music education, Wachs will conclude his ten-year tenure in 2019 as Music Director & Conductor of The Philharmonic Society’s Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra in Southern California. He is also Music Director of The Chapman Orchestra at Chapman University. Of a recent OCYSO performance, The Los Angeles Times states, “The performance was smashing thanks in no small part to the exceptionally well-practiced pre-professionals.” Both the OCYSO and The Chapman Orchestra were finalists for the 2012 American Prize in Orchestral Performance and OCYSO was the 2012 winner in the youth category. In May 2014, OCYSO was presented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County to a sold-out Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in a performance that included Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and the West Coast Premiere of Mark Anthony Turnage’s “Frieze”. This concert was selected by both the Orange County Register and Los Angeles Times as top picks during the 2013-2014 season and was later broadcast on PBS SoCal. The Orange County Register exclaimed: “Wachs guided the ensemble with energy, precision, and a welcome sense of clarity and poise. The performance wasn’t just good by standards for younger performers, but forceful and exuberant by any standard: genuinely inspiring, technically proficient, structurally sound. The combined choruses were a powerhouse.”During the 2015-16 Season, Wachs and OCYSO joined forces with the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra of Los Angeles, presenting the United States Premiere of Turnage’s “Passchendaele”, an OCYSO co-commission on the LA Phil’s Sounds About Town series on the stage of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The concert received ecstatic reviews from Musical America, the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register. Wachs also led a joint concert with members of OCYSO and YMF at the acclaimed Sundays Live Series at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He then took OCYSO on its second international tour with concerts throughout Spain in summer 2016.
Under Wachs’ leadership, The Chapman Orchestra completed a survey of Mahler song cycles with baritone Vladimir Chernov and initiated a partnership with LA Opera’s Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program. The Chapman Orchestra’s annual Holiday Wassail Concert continues to be distributed nationally on PBS. In Orange County, Wachs was featured in the January 2016 edition of Modern Luxury and selected as one of OC Metro’s 2014 “40 Under Forty” most impressive young professionals. Wachs’ expertise and experience in developing and infusing new life into education concerts has led to repeat engagements with the Monterey and Palm Beach Symphonies.
An accomplished opera conductor and collaborative pianist, Wachs has led Albert Herring, Suor Angelicaand Gianni SchicchiCosi fan tutte, Le Nozze di Figaro, The Impresario, Amahl and the Night Visitors, acts from La Traviataand Die Fledermausand the operas La Divinaand Signor Delusoby Pasatieri. He has accompanied tenor William Burden in recital and recently made his debut on the LA Philharmonic Chamber Music Series at Walt Disney Concert Hall. For more information, please visit www.danielalfredwachs.com
A pianist as well as a conductor, Wachs’ performance with the Minnesota Orchestra “proved a revelation, delivering a technically impeccable, emotionally powerful performance of two Mozart piano concertos and a pair of solo works,” raved the St. Paul Pioneer Press. With the encouragement of Zubin Mehta, Wachs began his studies with Enrique Barenboim in Tel Aviv before pursuing studies at the Zürich Academy and graduating from The Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School. He has also participated at such festivals at Aspen, Tanglewood and Verbier. Wachs has also been entrusted with preparing orchestras for Valery Gergiev and Vladimir Spivakov, and has served as Assistant Conductor to Osmo Vänskä at the Minnesota Orchestra and at the National Orchestra of France under Kurt Masur. Additionally, he has served as cover conductor for the Houston Symphony and for the Rotterdam Philharmonic on tour.
Committed to the cause of music education, Wachs will conclude his ten-year tenure in 2019 as Music Director & Conductor of The Philharmonic Society’s Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra in Southern California. He is also Music Director of The Chapman Orchestra at Chapman University. Of a recent OCYSO performance, The Los Angeles Times states, “The performance was smashing thanks in no small part to the exceptionally well-practiced pre-professionals.” Both the OCYSO and The Chapman Orchestra were finalists for the 2012 American Prize in Orchestral Performance and OCYSO was the 2012 winner in the youth category. In May 2014, OCYSO was presented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County to a sold-out Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in a performance that included Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and the West Coast Premiere of Mark Anthony Turnage’s “Frieze”. This concert was selected by both the Orange County Register and Los Angeles Times as top picks during the 2013-2014 season and was later broadcast on PBS SoCal. The Orange County Register exclaimed: “Wachs guided the ensemble with energy, precision, and a welcome sense of clarity and poise. The performance wasn’t just good by standards for younger performers, but forceful and exuberant by any standard: genuinely inspiring, technically proficient, structurally sound. The combined choruses were a powerhouse.”During the 2015-16 Season, Wachs and OCYSO joined forces with the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra of Los Angeles, presenting the United States Premiere of Turnage’s “Passchendaele”, an OCYSO co-commission on the LA Phil’s Sounds About Town series on the stage of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The concert received ecstatic reviews from Musical America, the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register. Wachs also led a joint concert with members of OCYSO and YMF at the acclaimed Sundays Live Series at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He then took OCYSO on its second international tour with concerts throughout Spain in summer 2016.
Under Wachs’ leadership, The Chapman Orchestra completed a survey of Mahler song cycles with baritone Vladimir Chernov and initiated a partnership with LA Opera’s Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program. The Chapman Orchestra’s annual Holiday Wassail Concert continues to be distributed nationally on PBS. In Orange County, Wachs was featured in the January 2016 edition of Modern Luxury and selected as one of OC Metro’s 2014 “40 Under Forty” most impressive young professionals. Wachs’ expertise and experience in developing and infusing new life into education concerts has led to repeat engagements with the Monterey and Palm Beach Symphonies.
An accomplished opera conductor and collaborative pianist, Wachs has led Albert Herring, Suor Angelicaand Gianni SchicchiCosi fan tutte, Le Nozze di Figaro, The Impresario, Amahl and the Night Visitors, acts from La Traviataand Die Fledermausand the operas La Divinaand Signor Delusoby Pasatieri. He has accompanied tenor William Burden in recital and recently made his debut on the LA Philharmonic Chamber Music Series at Walt Disney Concert Hall. For more information, please visit www.danielalfredwachs.com
Dr. Josh Miller
Stage Director
Josh Miller has served on the directing staff of Virginia Opera (Street Scene), Palm Beach Opera (La Traviata, Don Giovanni and Die Fledermaus), The Fort Worth Opera Festival (The Barber of Seville & Voir Dire), The Glimmerglass Festival (Carousel), Wolf Trap Opera Company & The National Symphony Orchestra (La traviata), Opera San Antonio (Carmen), ZACH Theatre (Les Misérables), Austin Lyric Opera (Le nozze di Figaro & Turandot), and Austin Shakespeare (Sunday in the Park with George).
Miller's most recent directing credits include The Revenge of the Bat for Palm Beach Opera, an opera for children adapted from Die Fledermaus,Bernstein's Mass with the Austin Symphony, Austin Opera, Ballet Austin and the Grammy-Winning Choral Ensemble, Conspirare. Turn of the Screw (Texas State Opera), Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi (Portland State Opera), Carmen(Spotlight on Opera), Le nozze di Figaro (Virginia Tech University & The University of Texas at Austin), a double-bill of The Italian Lesson & Trouble in Tahiti (Opera Piccola of San Antonio), Sweeney Todd (Butler Opera Center), The Rape of Lucretia & Little Women (Spotlight on Opera).
An avid promoter of new music, Miller produced the fully-staged world premiere of Rose Made Manby Franklin Piland and Tegan McLeod as a part of the Cohen New Works Festival. He also directed the theatrical premiere of Daren Hagen's Cradle Song. Miller's production of Jake Heggie's Three Decembers was chosen as a winner of Opera America’s Robert L.B. Tobin Director-Designer Showcase. He and his design team presented their production concept to artistic directors and industry professionals during a special session of Opera America’s annual National Opera Conference in Washington, DC.
See the Three Decembers design here.
Watch our presentation at the 2015 Opera America Conference here.
Read the press release here.
"There are lots of nice touches throughout the staging. One in particular caught my eye… I've always thought it a lovely moment in the piece that often goes for naught if not well staged. Here, Miller gives it its due. All in all, lovely stagings."
Read the full Talkin' Broadway Review Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi here.
"Everything about this production works beautifully... Josh Miller has staged this work so it is set in a physical church space, which surprisingly works to free the work rather than constrict it. His staging is full of gorgeously constructed stage pictures and he has created lovely moments of connection amongst the chorus members."
Read the full Broadway World Review of Bernstein's Mass here.
"I've never seen it staged that way, brilliant idea."
Alexander Bernstein, after seeing his father's Mass.
"the zanny family’s antics zigzag over the stage and they’re FUNNY"
Read the full Oregon Arts Watch Review of Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi here.
"Miller's choices gave either a simple sober nod to the tale's horror or a wink at its mischievous sense of humor."
Read the full Austin Chronicle Review of Sweeney Todd here.
"an iconic work that has been given a smart and snappy staging"
Read the full Broadway World Review of Jesus Christ Superstar here.
Miller's most recent directing credits include The Revenge of the Bat for Palm Beach Opera, an opera for children adapted from Die Fledermaus,Bernstein's Mass with the Austin Symphony, Austin Opera, Ballet Austin and the Grammy-Winning Choral Ensemble, Conspirare. Turn of the Screw (Texas State Opera), Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi (Portland State Opera), Carmen(Spotlight on Opera), Le nozze di Figaro (Virginia Tech University & The University of Texas at Austin), a double-bill of The Italian Lesson & Trouble in Tahiti (Opera Piccola of San Antonio), Sweeney Todd (Butler Opera Center), The Rape of Lucretia & Little Women (Spotlight on Opera).
An avid promoter of new music, Miller produced the fully-staged world premiere of Rose Made Manby Franklin Piland and Tegan McLeod as a part of the Cohen New Works Festival. He also directed the theatrical premiere of Daren Hagen's Cradle Song. Miller's production of Jake Heggie's Three Decembers was chosen as a winner of Opera America’s Robert L.B. Tobin Director-Designer Showcase. He and his design team presented their production concept to artistic directors and industry professionals during a special session of Opera America’s annual National Opera Conference in Washington, DC.
See the Three Decembers design here.
Watch our presentation at the 2015 Opera America Conference here.
Read the press release here.
"There are lots of nice touches throughout the staging. One in particular caught my eye… I've always thought it a lovely moment in the piece that often goes for naught if not well staged. Here, Miller gives it its due. All in all, lovely stagings."
Read the full Talkin' Broadway Review Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi here.
"Everything about this production works beautifully... Josh Miller has staged this work so it is set in a physical church space, which surprisingly works to free the work rather than constrict it. His staging is full of gorgeously constructed stage pictures and he has created lovely moments of connection amongst the chorus members."
Read the full Broadway World Review of Bernstein's Mass here.
"I've never seen it staged that way, brilliant idea."
Alexander Bernstein, after seeing his father's Mass.
"the zanny family’s antics zigzag over the stage and they’re FUNNY"
Read the full Oregon Arts Watch Review of Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi here.
"Miller's choices gave either a simple sober nod to the tale's horror or a wink at its mischievous sense of humor."
Read the full Austin Chronicle Review of Sweeney Todd here.
"an iconic work that has been given a smart and snappy staging"
Read the full Broadway World Review of Jesus Christ Superstar here.
Garnett Bruce
Stage Director
Garnett Bruce's body of work includes directing at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, and his European opera debut staging Turandot for the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples. From 2008 to 2011 he was the artistic adviser and principal stage director for Opera Omaha, where he led a cycle of the Mozart-Da Ponte operas. He began directing for the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in 2004, receiving a faculty appointment in 2006. He has been on staff at the Aspen Music Festival and School since 1993 and the faculty since 1997. Born in Washington, D.C., Bruce was a choirboy at Washington National Cathedral and holds degrees in English and drama from Tufts University. After internships with Hal Prince and Leonard Bernstein in the early '90s, he joined the staffs of The Santa Fe Opera, Washington National Opera, The Dallas Opera, and Opera Colorado. His award-winning production of La Cenerentola for Kansas City has traveled to Austin, Orlando, and Madison. Known especially for his large-scale work of the standard repertoire, he has created stagings of Turandot, Carmen, Tosca, Aida, Pagliacci, and La bohème that have been seen coast to coast. In 2019, he became Co-Artistic Advisor with Loren Meeker of Opera San Antonio.
Margaret Jumonville
Stage Director
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Margaret Jumonville is an opera and theater director based in Austin, Texas. She has been a Young Artist Director with Opera NEO (San Diego) and Opera Steamboat (Colorado). Directing credits include: La Clemenza di Tito and Così fan tutte for Butler Opera Center, Cavalleria Rusticana/Opera Steamboat, Golden: a new opera/Cohen New Works Festival; Suor Angelica/Butler Opera Center; Fairy Queen/Opera NEO. Assistant director: H.M.S. Pinafore and Ulysses/Opéra Louisiane, Alcina/Opera Steamboat, Don Giovanni/Opera NEO. A stage manager on the side, Margaret has stage managed opera and theater across the country, most recently in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Margaret holds degrees in music from the University of Notre Dame and Duquesne University and a Master’s in Opera Directing from UT Austin, where she is currently working on her DMA in Opera Directing, studying with Dr. Robert DeSimone.
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