A Chicago-based Polish-American tenor, Filip Duda's musical interests range from obscure Romantic-era Lieder and music pre-1750. He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2019 with a B.A. in Political Science. A German speaker, his studies were followed by a year in Graz, where he taught English with a program partially administered by Fulbright Austria. At IWU, he studied voice with William Hudson, from whom he gained his lasting appreciation for early music. A lover of ensemble singing, Filip served on the executive board of the university's student-run early music ensemble, Wesleyan Consort. Choral activities with the university's Collegiate Choir led to performances across the US, Canada, and Poland. Filip is currently a student of Chuck Chandler at DePaul University, where he is pursuing a M.Mus. in Voice & Opera.

His operatic experiences at IWU include Edwin in Gilbert & Sullivan's Trial by Jury, Toby in Menotti's The Medium, as well as Tommy Tenderheart in Nancy Steele Brokaw's children's opera There's a Martian in the Opera House with Prairie Fire Theater. Roles with DePaul Opera Theater include Bardolfo in Verdi's Falstaff and Telemaco in an upcoming 2022 production of Monteverdi's Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria. He has received honorable mentions in both Chicago and Central Region NATS Auditions. Filip is thrilled to be making his role debut as Tamino in the 2022 season of Chicago Summer Opera.

Holden James Turner, a Baritone from Rochester, NY, most recently had the honor of performing as the Baritone Soloist for the World Premiere of Florence Price's "Song of Hope" with the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra. He has also been seen recently as the Bass Soloist for Beethoven's Mass in C-minor with the Finger Lakes Choral Festival, and the Tenor Soloist for the World Premiere of Frank James Staneck's "Twelfth Night" with the Rochester Oratorio Society. He has been featured as a Bass Soloist with the Oratorio society on multiple occasions, recently including Schubert's Masses 1, 2, 3, and 4. He has studied under the direction of Nicole Cabell, Marc Webster and was also a Young Artist at Songfest in the Summer of 2017. Mr. Turner has worked with many great artists, including Martin Katz, Roberta Alexander, artists in Opera Noire, and more. He has placed in competitions such as the National Association of Teachers of Singing and has received awards from associations such as the Rochester Philharmonic League, The New York Summer School of the Arts, and others.

Juyoung Ma is a coloratura soprano from South Korea. She made her outstanding operatic debut as Adina from Donizetti’s opera ‘L’elisir d’amore’ with Arte Opera in 2020. She successfully performed Oscar in scene from ‘Un ballo in Maschera’ in Mannes School of Music, and will be performing a modern opera as a role Soprano from ‘Anon’ in 2022. She is the finalist with Century Opera Competition, as well as a semi-finalist with Premiere Opera Foundation International Vocal Competition, and the NYIOP Professional Casting Audition in 2021. After receiving her Bachelor of Music from Seoul National University, she is currently studying at the Mannes School of Music Master Program with Diana Soviero in New York. She participated in a masterclass in Century Opera Program(2022), Canto Vocal Program, and in Astoria Apprentice Program(2021) in New York.

Kinnon Weddall is a coloratura soprano, praised by Opera Canada for her “stirring performance” and “searing delivery”. In 2019, she graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma of Music Performance under the tutelage of Tracy Dahl. Previously, she had graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 2017. In the 2021 Winnipeg Music Festival, Kinnon was the recipient of the Herbert and Audrey Belyea Trophy, in addition to the grand prize of the Rose Bowl. She advanced to the Manitoba Provincial Music Festival, where she placed second, and was also the recipient of a Raleigh Family Scholarship for her performance in the Senior W. A. Mozart class. Also in 2021, Kinnon appeared as Héro in Manitoba Underground Opera’s production of Béatrice et Bénédict, where she was commended for her “radiant soprano voice underscored by an effortless top range” (Opera Canada). In 2018, Kinnon was a co-winner of Opera Idol (Flipside Opera), and was the runner-up for the Gilbert and Sullivan Society Trophy (Winnipeg Music Festival). She is beyond thrilled to be making her role debut as The Queen of the Night in Chicago Summer Opera’s production of The Magic Flute.

With Chicago Summer Opera, Abby Duell makes her role debut as Papagena in Die Zauberflöte. In February 2020, Abby sang the role of Gretel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, produced by the Dickinson College Department of Music. While studying at Dickinson College, she placed in both classical and musical theatre categories in regional NATS competitions.

Abby is an alumna of the Vocal Academy of Orvieto (now the Vocal Academy of Opera in Bodrum) where she sang Camilla in Il giuoco del quadriglio (Caldara). She also participated in Seattle Opera Vocal Academy, where she sang scenes from Die Zauberflöte, Les Contes de Hoffman, Le Nozze di Figaro, and was in the chorus of Copland’s The Tender Land. Additionally, she has performed, in recital, selections by Mozart, Donizetti, Copland, Weill, and Handel. She was a member of the Seattle Opera children's chorus in Pagliacci, Suor Anglica, and Turandot.

Abby Duell holds a BA in Vocal Performance from Dickinson College. She lives in Massachusetts.

Camilla Mikat is a “genuine and versatile” Soprano. Her operatic roles include The Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas), First Lady (The Magic Flute), Irene (Theodora), La Badessa (Suor Angelica) and The Sandman (Hansel and Gretel). In musicals, she has performed as Jan in Grease and The Wardrobe in Beauty and the Beast. With the BYU chamber orchestra she was a soloist in Vaughn Williams’s Serenade to Music. She has had the privilege of singing with Utah Vocal Arts Academy in Salt Lake City and has also performed in Michigan, New York and Chicago. In 2019, she graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance. She has studied voice with Sally Mikat, Diane Reich, Darrell Babidge and Stanford Olsen. Camilla has her own voice studio, where she teaches many bright, new singers in Brighton, MI.

Alona Kamynina is going into her fifth year of her studies at DePaul University, pursuing a double major in Classical Vocal Performance and Music Education, as well as a double minor in Psychology and Community Service Studies. Her primary instrument is voice, while she also plays piano. She is presently studying with Dr. Linda DiFiore, and previously studied with Nicole Cabell, Kimberly Jones, and Michelle Hackman. Alona is originally from Ukraine and immigrated to the United States in 2009. Her passion for classical singing, and classical music in general, began early in her childhood, as the films she would watch as a child were set to classical music. Alona began her performance career in Ukraine, when she joined a touring musical group called “Neposedi”. Since she had immigrated to the United States, she has joined several bands and ensembles at churches and performed at private conferences and conventions. In the spring of 2021 Alona ranked third place in the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) vocal competition. In the fall of 2021, she won the George and Phyllis Muccianti Vocal Award at the Casa Italia vocal competition. In the winter of 2022, she placed as first place runner up of the Casa Italia Judges award.

Paula Duva-Rodriguez is a mezzo-soprano with a warm and flexible voice, known for bringing her cheerful personality to everything she sings. Paula has most recently performed as Ruth (The Pirates of Penzance) for MSU Opera Scenes and as La tasse chinoise/La libellule (L'enfant et les sortilèges) for Michigan State Opera Theatre. In the summer of 2021, she performed in Spotlight on Opera’s online festival in the roles of Flora (La traviata) and L'écureuil (L'enfant et les sortilèges). Paula also participated in Spotlight’s scene programs as Tolomeo (Giulio Cesare). Paula has had experience in behind the scenes work as well, participating as Assistant Stage Manager in Michigan State’s production of Albert Herring. For Chicago Summer Opera’s 10th Anniversary Season, she will be performing as the hilarious Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte. Hailing from Clarkston, Michigan, she currently studies at Michigan State University with mezzo-soprano Jane Bunnell. She is a rising senior and she will graduate with a B.M. in Music Performance and a B.A. in English.

Italian American soprano, Gianna Terranova is from Brooklyn, New York and currently attending the Frost school of Music, at the University of Miami. She is studying under the direction of Sandra Lopez Neill. She sang the role of Despina from Cosi fan tutte by Mozart in the Frost Opera Theatres scene program. Gianna is very excited to be making her role debut of the First Spirit in The Magic Flute at Chicago Summer Opera.

Corinne Gorgas is so excited to be performing with the Chicago Summer Opera for the first time! She is an incoming 3rd year vocal performance major at Capital University Conservatory of Music. This is her second fully-staged opera performance ever! Her background is in musical theatre, as has performed in over 30 musical theatre productions. She thanks her friends, family, teachers, lovable cat “Archie,” and Chicago Summer Opera for this opportunity.

Bloomington-based Soprano Lara Van Vuuren is a young vocalist currently completing a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance at Jacobs School of Music. As a South African national based in Southeast Asia, musical influence in different cultural areas and genres drove great inspiration in her growth as a singer. Her academic and musical pursuits have brought her to the classical singing division of the Mozarteum program in Salzburg, Austria, as well as several choral programs in England where she closely studied Midieval and Baroque choral music. A greater focus towards classical solo singing followed her first competitive endeavor, winning first place in the American Protégé International Music Festival in 2018. Passionate towards all musical varieties, she regularly performs solo in contemporary spaces and participates in choral conducting recitals and selective masterclasses. She is excited to see where her rigorous Opera and music psychology studies take her in her ongoing academic and music careers.

Bass Jongwon Choi, a native of South Korea, is currently studying at Stony

Brook University for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree. He earned the

Professional Studies Diploma from the Mannes School of Music (NYC) and his

Masters from Seoul National University. Some of his US roles include Basilio in Il

Barbiere di Siviglia, Prince Gremin in Eugene Onegin, Trulove in The Rake’s

Progress, and Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro. International appearances include

performances with the Seoul Metropolitan Opera’s Verdi series, in the Korean

premiere of Curlew River, and in The Little Prince with the Korea National Opera.

Choi currently lives in Flushing, NY, where he teaches private lessons.

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.

Tim Widner, baritone, began his studies at Fullerton College and is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Music in opera performance at California State University Long Beach's Bob Cole Conservatory of Music. Upon completion of his studies, he intends to pursue a career as a professional singer. His stage experience includes performing as the title role in Le nozze di Figaro, Rangoni in the act 3 duet from Boris Godunov, Guglielmo in a scene from act 2 of Così fan tutte, Belcore in the act 1 finale of L’elisir d’amore, Emilio in the first act of Il cappello di paglia di Firenze, Pandolfe in Act 3 of Cendrillon, Masetto in a scene from Act 2 of Don Giovanni, Nilakantha in the first act of Lakmé, and as Bartolo in the Act 2 finale of Le nozze di Figaro. He placed third in the Spring 2019 NATS-LA Collegiate Auditions, and 1st in the Spring 2021 NATS-LA Collegiate Auditions, for which he got to sing in a masterclass with Barbara Bonney. He is currently studying voice with Professor Aram Barsamian. At CSULB, he is a recipient of the J & E McWilliams Endowment scholarship.

American soprano Kari Carbone is best-known for her instrument’s kaleidoscopic richness, natural agility and exceptional vocal range. She is also a seasoned singing actor who possesses a remarkable capacity to fully embody the characters she portrays through her vocal and dramatic interpretations alike.

A Central Florida native, Ms. Carbone is both a prior Studio Artist and regular chorister of the former Orlando Opera Company. Other companies with which she has professionally worked are Opera Tampa and Vero Beach Opera. She has also performed numerous major oratorio works and recital programs with notable ensembles including The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, CFCArts and Stetson University’s Choral Union and Concert Choir.

Among some of Ms. Carbone’s performed roles are Pamina/Die Zauberflöte, Susanna/Le nozze di Figaro, and Frasquita /La historia de aquel que se casó con una mujer muda. Her upcoming repertoire includes the roles of Elvira /I Puritani, Amina/La Sonnambula, Cleopatra/Giulio Cesare and the Die Königin der Nacht/Die Zauberflöte.

Ms. Carbone is an alumna of the voice studio of Dr. Craig W. Maddox of Stetson University’s prestigious School of Music in DeLand, Florida. She continues her vocal studies with W. Stephen Smith’s private studio in Evanston, Illinois.

Lily Vance is a rising senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This is

her first summer opera program and she is beyond thrilled to work with such an amazing faculty

and talented group of peers, especially doing so by covering Papagena. At Chapel Hill, Lily has

played Fortuna in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea and was in the ensemble of Meredith

Monk’s Atlas. Lastly, she would like to express her immense gratitude towards her voice teacher

Dr. Marc Callahan for opening up the world of opera to her and sparking this newfound love for

it.

Brennan Cockey is a professional bass vocalist and accomplished multi-instrumentalist and music educator based in the Chicagoland area. Brennan’s life has always been defined in terms of his relationship with music. Beginning piano lessons at an early age, Brennan quickly expanded his repertoire to include saxophone with a specialization in jazz. Later, Brennan was able to study under the instruction of John Viavattine, saxophonist of the Mambo Kings and a brief member of the Glenn Miller Jazz Orchestra, as well as Greg Banaszak, the world-renowned saxophonist at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music in Ohio.

While attending Baldwin Wallace, Brennan embraced his passion for opera through the tutelage of helden-tenor Dr. Timothy Mussard and vocal technician James Mismas, a former student of the famous vocal pedagogue Richard Miller. Continuing his studies to this day, Brennan works with the world-renowned bass-baritone opera singer William Powers of Barrington, Illinois. As his schedule allows, he also enjoys working with aspiring musicians in small groups and one-on-one settings.

Dylan Schang is a young, up-and-coming tenor from Appleton, WI. Having just finished his Junior year at Luther College (where he studies with teacher Dr. Edwin Andereck and coach Dr. Nicholas Shaneyfelt), Dylan is thrilled to join Chicago Summer Opera for his role debut as Tamino. During his time at Luther, Dylan has sung the roles of Alfred in Die Fledermaus, as well as Aeneas in an award-winning production of Dido and Aeneas. He has also performed in several Scenes productions, with scenes from operas such as L’elisir d’amore (Nemorino), Don Pasquale (Ernesto), Il barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva), and La fille du régiment (Tonio). Dylan is also an avid performer of German Lieder, having recently given a recital of Schubert’s song cycle Die schöne Müllerin. Dylan would like to thank his mentors and family for their incredible support, as well as Chicago Summer Opera for this incredible opportunity!

Colin Safley is a young baritone hailing from Kansas City, Missouri. Colin got his start in singing from enjoying musicals from a young age, which quickly led to his discovery of operatic sining. This is Colin’s second time performing with Chicago Summer Opera after playing Sid in Britten’s Albert Herring last year, and he is very excited to be back! Colin recently graduated from DePaul University’s vocal performance program, and and is excited to see what is next! At DePaul, Colin was very active in DePaul Opera Theater, performing as Apollo in Cavalli’s L’Egisto, as Dr. Bartolo in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (performances for which were unfortunately cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic), as Silvano in Cavalli’s L’Egisto, and as Voltaire/Dr. Pangloss in Bernstein’s Candide. Outside of DePaul, Colin has been involved in Musica nelle Marche, and later this summer, will perform as Peter in Sondheim’s Company at Steamboat Opera. Colin is also experienced in Sacred Music, performing Oratorio work such as Bach’s Sehet, wir gehen hinauf gen Jerusalem (BWV 159), Selections from Beethoven’s Mass in C Minor, Mondonville’s Jubilate Deo, and Charpantier’s Le Reniment de St. Pierre, as well as singing mass and leading the Bass section at St. Josaphat Catholic Church.

Cristina Rosheger is a Chicagoland area Soprano studying Voice Performance student at DePaul University School of Music. Her current teacher is Dr. Linda DiFiore, and she has been fortunate enough to work with other wonderful teachers throughout high school and college, including Nicole Cabell, Carl Lawrenz, and Cynthia Mace. Her latest role was Alice in Verdi’s Falstaff, performed with DePaul Opera Theatre, where she also sung the role of Giunone in Cavalli’s La Calisto. She has performed in master classes with singer Janai Brugger and Virginia Opera’s artistic director Adam Turner. In the summer of 2018, she participated in Oberlin Conservatory of Music’s Vocal Academy for High School Students. Cristina also served as a soloist for multiple ensembles at Highland Park High School, where she won the 2019 concerto competition with G.F. Handel’s “V’adoro pupille”. She sung Fauré’s “Pie Jesu” on Highland Park High School Band’s 2017 tour of Spain, and was involved in Ravinia Festival’s 2018 and 2019 productions of Bernstein’s Mass in Marching Band. Cristina owes her passion for music and performance to her parents, Sara and Peter Rosheger, who nurtured and encouraged her as a child and continue to do so to this day.

• Education (degree)

-Master,

Mannes school of music (The new school) Voice performance (01.2021~)

-Bachelor,

Seoul National University(Seoul-si, Korea) Voice music (03.2012 to 02.2016)

• Program & Diploma

-Chicago Summer Opera program

Roll: The queen of night (20 Jun-17 July, 2022)

-Opera Steamboat Summer program

Roll: The queen of night (20 July- 15 Aug, 2021)

-Hochschule fur Musik Wurzburg university of music

Cheryl studer Master class (wurzburg, German) (9-11 07,2016)

-L'arte del belcanto

Luciana Serra Master class (Milano, Italy) (1-6 08.2018)

• Opera Performance Experience

·Scene works

Roll: Lucia

Conductor: Ted Taylor, Lynn Baker

Company: CoPA (Mannes school of music)

(04.11.2022)

·The Magic Flute

Roll: The queen of night

Conductor: Dana Sadava

Company: Steamboat Opera

(08.8 2021)

·Arias & Ensembles concert

Roll: Lucia ,Musetta

Company: Opera Steamboat

(07.31 2021)

· The Mozart/DaPonte Project

Roll: Susanna

Conductor/Director: Minju Jeong

Company: Mannes Opera / Mannes School of Music / CoPA

· The Opera Gala Concert team

hosted by the Korea National oprea/ Main singer

Roll: Papagena

(05.2016~10.2017)

Soprano Kaitlyn Applewhite from Greenville, SC is a rising senior at Furman University. She studies voice with Lisa Browne Barksdale and is majoring in Vocal Performance and Piano and minoring in Musical Theatre.

Kaitlyn is President of Furman Singers and a member of Furman Chamber Choir and HoneyBees Quartet. She serves as Furman’s Chancel Music Director. Prior to attending Furman, she sang for three seasons as a Young Artist with The Greenville Chorale.

As a soloist in Handel’s Messiah with Furman Symphony Orchestra, Kaitlyn sang “Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion.” Kaitlyn has performed scenes from Smetana’s The Bartered Bride and J Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, and she played Lucinda in Sondheim’s Into The Woods and Lady Beaconsfield in Wildhorn’s Jekyll and Hyde. Kaitlyn’s performance as Papagena in The Magic Flute is her first opera role!

Kaitlyn was an Honors Recital Recipient for SCNATS Classical 2021 and has been a frequent Regional Qualifier.

In addition to singing and playing piano, Kaitlyn is an avid social dancer and figure skater, who enjoys hiking and water sports on the lake.

From Wilmette, Illinois, Colombian-American soprano Ella Torres particularly enjoys interpreting early music, off-the-beaten-path art songs, and works by American composers. She is committed to singing diverse repertoire from historically underrepresented artists.

This summer, Ella is excited to be performing with Erste Dame (Die Zauberflöte) with Chicago Summer Opera and Princess Dora in The Three Feathers with Opera Steamboat’s Opera Artist Institute. Recent performances include Eastman Opera Theatre (EOT), Polyxo/Soprano 3, Here Be Sirens (Suite); EOT, Despina, Così fan tutte (scenes); Rochester Summer Opera, Ensemble, Die Fledermaus; and EOT, Ensemble, L’amant anonyme.

Ella recently graduated with a B.M. in voice and an Arts Leadership Program certificate from the Eastman School of Music (Rochester, NY). This fall, she will be pursuing an M.M. in Voice at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University (Bloomington, IN).

Mezzo-soprano Erica Jackson is a captivating performer with an exciting, lush voice and intense, authentic expression. In the summer of 2021, she was involved in Spotlight on Opera’s 15th anniversary season, where she performed Momma Bear in Goldie B. Locks and the Three Singing Bears, Magda Sorel in excerpts from The Consul, and music by Satie, Purcell realized by Britten, and Menotti in the festival’s concert series. She sang the finale of Anna Bolena in a February 2021 episode of North Carolina Opera’s Opera About Town Online series. Currently, she is preparing a recital with music of Satie, Larsen, Hagen, and Shostakovich, to be performed in North Carolina’s Research Triangle area and Kansas City’s Greater Metropolitan area.

Erica is a native of the Kansas City area, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Music degree from William Jewell College and a Master of Music in Voice degree from the University of Missouri–Columbia. In the Raleigh, North Carolina area, she has worked with North Carolina Opera, North Carolina Master Chorale, and Concert Singers of Cary, in addition to her work at Spotlight on Opera, Miami Classical Music Festival and Oberlin in Italy. Previous operatic credits include Eliza in Dark Sisters, Olivia in Cold Mountain, Giulietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi, and Clorinda in La Cenerentola. She also shines as a concert and recital singer and has recently performed soprano solos in Messiah Part I and excerpts of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis.

Erica lives in Raleigh with her husband, her cats Will and Grace, and a pit mix named Dio who hasn’t figured out that the cats aren’t looking for friends.

Tessa Morris, mezzo soprano, is originally from Savannah, GA. Tessa holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from Georgia Southern University, and an M.M. from the University of South Carolina. Her roles include Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Mary Warren in The Crucible, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Hannah After in the one act opera As One with music by Laura Kaminsky and Libretto by Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed. She has participated in several young artist programs including the Savannah Voice Festival and the Savannah Choral and Voice Institute presented by the Cincinnati Fusion Ensemble. In addition to opera, Tessa performs as a church soloist and has a passion for oratorio. In 2019, she made her professional oratorio debut with Long Bay Symphony as the alto soloist for Handel’s Messiah. In addition to performing, Tessa is an Adjunct Voice Professor at Benedict College in Columbia, SC and teaches voice and piano lessons virtually for La Voix Academy based out of Charlotte, NC.

Abbey Diana Engelmann is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with a dance minor from Millikin University. Her favorite roles include Witch One in "Dido and Aeneas", Grace in "Annie the Musical", and most recently, Despina in "Cosi Fan Tutte". Engelmann has also performed in the dance ensemble of "Songs for A New World", "Bangin' Broadway", "Back 2 School", and "The Hidden". She has worked as head Choreographer on Dido and Aeneas (Millikin SOM), Site Specific (Millikin SOTAD), and Back 2 School (Physical Graffiti). Thank you to her friends and family for your support and guidance.

Alisa Pock is a young maturing operatic soprano who specializes in classical repertoire. She is from Houston, Texas, but mainly resides in the Central Texas area. She has a “a very lovely and engagin stage presence” that defines most of her performances. Miss Pock recently obtained a bachelor’s degree of Music in Vocal Performance at Texas State University this most recent May. In the past, Miss Pock covered the notable role of Pamina, from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, at Texas State University’s Opera Theatre program in Spring 2019. Since then, she has performed roles such as 1st alms sister from Suor Angelica (2020) and Ida in scenes Rewritten (2021) at Texas State University. Additionally, she was a finalist at the South Texas National Association of Teachers singing Competition in 2018. Outside of music, notably, in 2016 Alisa received a Military Officers Association of America Award for outstanding leadership in her participation with the Spring H.S. Navy's Junior Reserve Officer training Corps program. With all of this, Miss Pock will use her skills and degree to continue teaching at Orpheus Music Academy where she has her own voice studio, And, will actively be auditioning to Opera houses in the Central Texas area.

Emily Lee is a junior at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is an undergraduate majoring in vocal performance. She has been getting professional singing lessons and has been in many musicals since she was 10 years old. She played Barbarina from Le Nozze di Figaro at her university and has prepared for many roles like Zerlina from Cosi fan tutte and Susanna, also from Le Nozze di Figaro. She has won 1st place in multiple competitions and has scored top scores in all her high school state-wide competitions. She was also picked as Honorable Mention for the Central Region National Association of Teachers of Singing among thousands of students. All her experience has led her here, today, in the pursuit of a career in singing.

Brian Neal, bass, currently lives in Chicago. He sang Sarastro in the Opera Notre Dame production of Magic Flute in 2017. He premiered the role of Duke Fredrick in the Opera Notre Dame’s world premier performances of As You Like It by British composer Rodger Steptoe in 2016. In addition, he appeared as Schaunard in the Lyric Opera of South Bend’s inaugural production of La bohème. He also sang the role of Sarastro in the Portland Opera Workshop production of The Magic Flute. He has previously performed with the Tacoma Opera in il Barbiere di Sivilia and the Union Avenue Opera of St. Louis in Amahl and the Night Visitors. Brian has participated in the American Institute of Musical Studies summer program in Graz, Austria. When he’s not singing, he works as an emergency physician.

Tenor Charles M. Anderson completed his Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. Originally from Alabama, Charles holds a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from the University of North Alabama. A versatile artist, he has performed opera and musical theatre roles and appeared as a concert soloist. At the University of North Alabama, he performed a variety of opera roles including Rodolfo in La Bohème, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and The Witch in Hansel and Gretel. He also performed as Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods and Man 1 in Songs for a New World. With the Shoals Symphony Orchestra in Alabama, he was heard as the tenor soloist in Bach’s Magnificat and Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio. As an opera chorus member, he performed in Andrea Chénier and Il Trovatore with Mobile Opera, in Turandot and Billy Budd with Des Moines Metro Opera Company, and in Rigoletto with Nashville Opera.

As a Young Artist, Mr. Anderson has performed with The Druid City Opera Workshop, the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Chicago Summer Opera, and Music On Site training programs. This year, Mr. Anderson returns to Chicago Summer Opera to perform the role of Monostatos in Mozart’s The Magic Flute.

Brennan Cockey is a professional bass vocalist and accomplished multi-instrumentalist and music educator based in the Chicagoland area. Brennan’s life has always been defined in terms of his relationship with music. Beginning piano lessons at an early age, Brennan quickly expanded his repertoire to include saxophone with a specialization in jazz. Later, Brennan was able to study under the instruction of John Viavattine, saxophonist of the Mambo Kings and a brief member of the Glenn Miller Jazz Orchestra, as well as Greg Banaszak, the world-renowned saxophonist at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music in Ohio.

While attending Baldwin Wallace, Brennan embraced his passion for opera through the tutelage of helden-tenor Dr. Timothy Mussard and vocal technician James Mismas, a former student of the famous vocal pedagogue Richard Miller. Continuing his studies to this day, Brennan works with the world-renowned bass-baritone opera singer William Powers of Barrington, Illinois. As his schedule allows, he also enjoys working with aspiring musicians in small groups and one-on-one settings.

Born in Rockford, IL, Francis “Frank” Cichock is a performer and full-time student. He is currently working on his undergraduate degree in vocal performance at Luther College in Decorah, IA, where he studies under Dr. Edwin Andereck and Dr. Nicholas Shaneyfelt. Recent roles that Francis has performed at Luther include Alfred from Die Fledermaus, and Pedrillo in a scene production of Die Entführung aus dem Serail. He would like to thank his three older siblings for instilling a love for the fine arts in him; and would like to thank his mom and dad for supporting him in his pursuit of opera performance.

Abbi Brundrett is a young soprano from Omaha, NE. She has been seen in the productions of She Loves Me, The Magic Flute, and The Cunning Little Vixen at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She expects to graduate from UNL with a B.M. in Vocal Performance and a B.A. in French in May 2023. She would like to thank all of her family and friends for their support!