Virginia Opera's 2012-13 Emerging Artists with Diana Soviero as part of the Master Teacher Series
The Virginia Opera Emerging Artist Program provides training, performance opportunities and access to industry connections and resources to a group of Opera’s talented rising stars. As one of the most competitive training programs in the nation, the Emerging Artist Program has over 650 applicants annually for an average of 12-20 artist contracts. Our Emerging Artists appear in Virginia Opera mainstage productions, touring educational productions and perform in recitals, donor events and our Master Teacher Series. Recent alumni of the Emerging Artist Program (formerly known as Spectrum Artists) include: David Pershall, Brian Jagde, Julia Ebner and Nathan Stark.
Virginia Opera's Emerging Artists perform leading and comprimario roles and/or cover leading roles in the company's mainstage productions. Additionally, some Emerging Artists perform leading roles in fully-staged Education and Community Outreach productions that tour schools throughout the state of Virginia. Community concerts and company promotional concerts offer artists the opportunity to perform standard arias and ensembles in concerts with piano. Emerging Artists are regularly re-engaged for main stage productions in future seasons.
Each participant receives regular coaching with members of Virginia Opera's Artistic Staff, which include Principal Coach Laura Friesen, Resident Conductor Adam Turner, Director of Artistic Administration Andrew Chugg and various guest conductors, directors, and singers. Master classes are held throughout the season covering topics such as resume preparation, auditioning techniques, stagecraft and foreign languages.
Our program provides exceptionally talented emerging artists with a seasonal residency program that offers an extensive schedule of performing opportunities in the context of a professional training program. Emerging Artists receive weekly compensation, plus housing and transportation to Virginia.
Virginia Opera is committed to finding and training the outstanding artists of tomorrow. Those selected to participate in the program will be challenged and supported by an outstanding staff.
Apprentice Coaches must serve as musical directors and pianists for Education and Community Outreach productions. They also serve as coaches for the resident young artists, preparing them for their mainstage roles, cover roles, and concerts. Coaches learn the basics of artistic administration and company management by serving as on-site tour managers, as well as, providing coaching for the young artists' personal repertoire. Apprentice coaches are adjunct members of the mainstage musical staff. They are scheduled to serve as pianists for cover rehearsals.
Apprentice coaches are adjunct members of the mainstage musical staff. They are scheduled to serve as rehearsal pianists in several mainstage productions and serve as pianists for cover rehearsals. Community concerts and company promotional concerts offer apprentice coaches the opportunity to perform for a variety of audiences.
Each participant receives coachings from Principal Coach Laura Friesen and Resident Conductor Adam Turner. Coaches will receive training and support from administrative staff to aid in tour management. The in-house artistic staff offers classes in resume preparation and auditioning techniques during the course of the season. Master classed are held with visiting stage directors and other distinguished guests throughout the season.
Apprentice coaches should have attained at least a Bachelor of Music degree in piano and have exceptional experience in vocal accompanying. Individuals should be capable of managing artists and overseeing non-artistic aspects of the Virginia Opera's Emerging Artists.
Please send your resume and a cover letter via e-mail to Andrew.Chugg@vaopera.org. We would also welcome an MP3 of your playing.
For the audition, please prepare a Mozart finale and a 10-minute excerpt from a standard opera by Puccini, Verdi, Strauss or other romantic composer. You will also be asked to sing vocal lines in order to demonstrate your understanding of the intergration between the vocal lines and the orchestra.
We are no longer accepting applications for our 2013-14 season. Information about our 2014-15 season application and audition process will be list here and at YAPtracker.com in July, 2013.
Check back in Summer 2013 for more information.
Hometown:
Traverse City, Michigan
Where I studied:
New England Conservatory, Bachelor of Music; University of Maryland-Opera Studio, Master of Music; Young Artist, Glimmerglass Opera (upcoming 2013); Apprentice Artist, Central City Opera; Young Artist, Opera Iowa-Des Moines Metro Opera; Aspen Opera Theater Center; Opera Theater and Festival of Lucca.
Performance History:
Sarastro in The Magic Flute at Opera Iowa; Benoit/Alcindoro in Family Performance of La Bohème at Central City Opera; Jud Fry (cover) in Oklahoma! at Central City Opera; Osmin in Die Entführung aus dem Serail at Maryland Opera Studio; El Capitan in Florencia en al Amazonas at Maryland Opera Studio; Man with a Cornet Case in Postcard from Morocco at Maryland Opera Studio
Awards:
Award Winner, 2012 Di-Panni Bel Canto Competition, Providence, RI
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
2012-13 Season: Performing Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro, covering Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro; Chorus in The Pearl Fishers. 2013-14 Season: Performing Jim Lakens in The Girl of the Golden West, covering Jake Wallace in The Girl of the Golden West; covering Sarastro in The Magic Flute and chorus in The Magic Flute.
Hometown:
Hickory, NC
Where I studied:
BA, Lenoir-Rhyne University; MM, PC, Boston University. Young Artist, Glimmerglass Opera; Resident Artist, Kentucky Opera; Gerdine Young Artist, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis;
Performance History:
King Arther in Camelot, Young Artist Cast, Glimmerglass Opera, 2013; Dr. Grenvil, La Traviata, Atlanta Opera 2013; The Dodo, Alice in Wonderland (US Premiere), Opera Theatre of Saint Louis;
Where to find me at VA Opera this year:
Singing in Jack and the Beanstalk outreach; Singing the Lackey and covering Truffaldin in Ariadne auf Naxos; covering Zuniga and singing in the chorus of Carmen
Hometown:
Manchester, CT and Menlo Park, CA
Where I studied:
Seattle Opera Young Artist Program; Glimmerglass Festival Young Artist Program; The Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singer Program; Wolf Trap Opera Studio; Master of Music, University of Maryland Opera Studio; Bachelor of Music, University of Michigan
Performance History:
Frasquita in Carmen at Seattle Opera; Woglinde/ Wellgunde (covers) in Das Rheingold and Götterdämmerung at Seattle Opera; Frasquita in Carmen at The Atlanta Opera; Norina in Don Pasquale, Sophie in Werther, and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with the Seattle Opera YAP; Mrs. Squires/ Marian Paroo (cover) in The Music Man at the Glimmerglass Festival; Kitty (cover) in The Last Savage at The Santa Fe Opera; Agrippa in The Inspector (reading) with the Wolf Trap Foundation; Adina in L'elisir d'amore with the Maryland Opera Studio; Ado Annie in Oklahoma! and Liesl in The Sound of Music at the Ohio Light Opera; Musetta in La bohème at the University of Michigan
Awards:
2013 Southeast Regional Finalist & 2010 Mid-Atlantic Regional Encouragement Award Winner, Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
Where to find me at VA Opera this year:
Nannetta in Falstaff, Papagena/Pamina (cover) in The Magic Flute, Najade in Ariadne auf Naxos, and Johanna in Sweeney Todd.
Hometown:
Mobile, Alabama
Where I studied:
Young Artist with Glimmerglass Festival; Resident Artist with Portland Opera; Resident Artist with Shreveport Opera, Gerdine Young Artist with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis; Developing Artist with Mobile Opera; Manhattan School of Music, Master of Music; University of South Alabama, Bachelor of Music
Performance History:
Lancelot (Camelot) (cover) with Glimmerglass Festival; Ford (Falstaff), Argante (Rinaldo), Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni) (cover), Maximilian (Candide), Young Galileo (Galileo Galilei) with Portland Opera; Guglielmo (Cosi fan tutte) with Washington-Idaho Symphony; El Gallo (The Fantasticks), Masetto (Don Giovanni) with Shreveport Opera; The Captain (The Death of Klinghoffer) (cover) with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis; Il Conte (Le nozze di Figaro), Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus) with Manhattan School of Music
Awards:
Regional Finalist of MONC Mid-South Region Auditions (2011); Winner of the Franco-American Vocal Academy Grand Concours de Chant (2010); Winner of the Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition (2010); Finalist of the Liederkranz Foundation Lieder/Art Song Competition (2010)
Where to find me at VA Opera this year:
Ford (cover) and chorus in Falstaff; Second Priest and Papageno (cover) and chorus in The Magic Flute; Harlekin (cover) in Ariadne auf Naxos; Le Dancaire and Escamillo (cover) in Carmen; Bird Keeper and Anthony Hope (cover) and chorus in Sweeney Todd
Hometown:
Stoughton, Wisconsin
Where I studied:
Lawrence University, Bachelor of Music; University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Master of Music; Opera Saratoga; Seagle Music Colony.
Performance History:
Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore at Opera Saratoga; Najade (Zerbinetta cover) in Ariadne auf Naxos at Fort Worth Opera; Galatea (cover) in Acis and Galatea and Oscar (cover) in Un ballo in maschera at Madison Opera; Gretel in Hansel and Gretel at Opera for the Young; Gilda in Rigoletto and Juliette in Roméo et Juliette at UNL Opera; Olympia in Les contes d'Hoffmann at Seagle Music Colony.
Awards:
Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Regional Finalist (2013 and 2011); NATS Artist Award National Semifinalist (2010).
Where to find me at VA Opera this year:
Educational tour of Jack and the Beanstalk; Zerbinetta (cover) in Ariadne auf Naxos; Frasquita in Carmen; Johanna (cover) in Sweeney Todd.
Hometown: Valencia, CA
Where I studied:
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Master of Music; Opera North Young Artist; Sarasota Opera Apprentice Artist.
Performance History:
Tisbe in La Cenerentola at Townsend Opera; Jo in Little Women and Lady Thiang in The King and I at Opera North; Dorabella in Così fan tutte at Pacific Opera Project; Zerlina in Don Giovanni at West Bay Opera; St. Teresa II in Four Saints in Three Acts with Opera Parallele, Sesto in La clemenza di Tito with the Bay Area Summer Opera Institute (BASOTI); Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia and the Old Prioress in Dialogues of the Carmelites with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Awards:
Pasadena Opera Guild Award Winner 2013, Young Musicians Foundation Concerto Competition Winner 2013, Y.M.F Scholarship Winner 2011, Couer d'Alene Symphony Young Artist First Place Winner 2012, Eastbay Oakland Opera League Winner 2012, Henry and Maria Holt Scholarship Winner 2010, Y.E.S Foundation for the Arts Third Place Winner 2010.
Where to find me at VA Opera this year:
Meg Page (cover) in Falstaff and Third Lady (cover) in The Magic Flute, and educational tour.
Hometown:
Madison, WI
Where I studied:
University of Michigan, BM voice; Boston Conservatory, MM Opera and Professional Studies Certificate in Voice; Studio and Apprentice Artist at Chautauqua Opera, Student Artist and Ohi
Performance History: Meg Page cover in Merry Wives of Windsor with Boston Midsummer Opera, Sister Helen in Dead Man Walking withBoston Opera Collaborative; Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor with Chautauqua Opera, Concepción in L’Heure Espagnole, L’Enfant in L’Enfant et les sortilèges, The Witch in Hansel and Gretel, Romeo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi with Boston Conservatory.
Awards: Career Bridges Grant, The Schuyler Foundation 2012-14; Classical Singer Competition National Semi-Finalist, Graduate Division, 2011; Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Regional Finalist, New England Region, 2010.
Where to find me at VA Opera this year: Meg Page in Falstaff, Third Lady in The Magic Flute, Mercédès/covering Carmen
in Carmen, Dryade/covering Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos, and chorus/covering Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd.
Hometown:
Traverse City, Michigan
Where I studied:
Saint Mary's College, Bachelor of Music; Cleveland Institute of Music, Master of Music;
Des Moines Metro Opera Apprentice Artist Program; Opera North Young Artist Program; Seattle Opera Young Artist Program; Central City Opera Apprentice Artist Program.
Performance History:
The Trainbearer in Elektra at Des Moines Metro Opera, cover of Mrs. Sedley in Peter Grimes at Des Moines Metro Opera, Julia Child in Bon Appetit! at Opera North, Augusta in The Ballad of Baby Doe at Winter Opera St. Louis, Sister Helen Prejean in Dead Man Walking at Opera Fayetteville, Katisha in The Mikado at Winter Opera St. Louis, Meg in Little Women at Opera Fayetteville, Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro at Opera North, Third Lady in The Magic Flute at Seattle Opera, Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor at Seattle Opera, Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at Central City Opera.
Where to find me at VA Opera this year:
Dame Quickly cover and chorus in Falstaff
Hometown:
Crofton, MD
Where I studied:
Syracuse University, Bachelor of Music; New England Conservatory, Master of Music; Gerdine Young Artist, Opera Theatre of St. Louis.
Performance History:
Tobias in Sweeney Todd at Syracuse Opera, Remendado in Carmen at Opera Theatre of St. Louis; Ernesto (cover) in Don Pasquale with Boston Midsummer Opera; Tamino in The Magic Flute, Candide in Candide, Piquillo in La Périchole and Hot Biscuit Slim in Paul Bunyan at New England Conservatory.
Awards: Semi-finalist, Young Patronesses of the Opera Competition, 2013
Where to find me at Virginia Opera this year:
Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk (educational outreach); Officer (cover) in Ariadne auf Naxos; Scaramuccio (cover) in Ariadne auf Naxos; Tobias (cover) and chorus in Sweeney Todd.
Hometown:
Walled Lake, MI
Where I studied:
Seattle Opera Young Artist Program; Merola Opera Program; Santa Fe Apprentice Program; University of Illinois, M.M.; Michigan State University, B.M.
Performance History:
La Rocca in Un Giorno di Regno, Seattle Opera YAP; 2nd Prisoner in Fidelio, Seattle Opera; Man with a Cornet Case in Postcard from Morocco, Merola Opera Program; Don Basilio in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Illinois Opera Theatre; Colline (cover) in La Bohème, Santa Fe Opera; 1st Apprentice (cover) in Wozzeck, Santa Fe Opera; Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, Illinois Opera Theatre
Awards:
Jerry Hadley Memorial Voice Scholarship (2012); Encouragement Award, MONC District Auditions
Where to find me at VA Opera this year:
Pistola (cover) in Falstaff, Speaker and 2nd Armored Man in Magic Flute, Truffaldino in Ariadne auf Naxos, Zuniga in Carmen, Judge Turpin (cover) in Sweeny Todd
Hometown:
Quincy, Massachusetts
Where I studied:
Apprentice Artist, Santa Fe Opera; Apprentice Artist, Sarasota Opera; Studio Artist, Opera New Jersey; The Boston Conservatory, Master of Music in Vocal Performance; Northwestern University, Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with Honors.
Performance History:
Adina in L'elisir d'amore atLake Placid Sinfonietta; Musetta in La bohème at Green Mountain Opera Festival; Featured Soloist, Opera Gala, Vietnam National Academy of Music, Hanoi, Vietnam; Soprano Soloist, Bach Cantata No. 51 and Villa Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 withSanta Fe Symphony; Kitty Scattergood (cover) in The Last Savage at Santa Fe Opera; Marie (cover) in Wozzeck at Santa Fe Opera; Donna Anna in Don Giovanni at MetroWest Opera; The Girl in Rocket’s Red Blare (world premiere) at Intermezzo Chamber Opera; Isabella (cover) in A Place of Beauty (world premiere) at Intermezzo Chamber Opera; Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus at Riverside Theatre Works; Königin der Nacht (cover) in Die Zauberflöte atSarasota Opera; Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow at Cape Cod Opera; Soprano Soloist, Messiah at Commonwealth Opera; Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro atBoston Opera Collaborative; Nancy Shedman in Holy Ghosts (world premiere) at Berklee Performance Center; Konstanze (cover) in Die Entführung aus dem Serail at Opera New Jersey; Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte atCape Cod Opera Outreach; Adele in Die Fledermaus at Opera by the Bay; Violetta in La Traviata at Opera by the Bay; Königin der Nacht in The Magic Flute atIntermezzo Young Artist Program; Elettra in Idomeneo at OperaHub.
Awards:
Lillian Caroff Mayer Award, Santa Fe Opera, 2011; Special Artist Award, Sarasota Opera Guild, 2010; Semi-Finalist, New Hampshire Opera Idol Competition, 2009; Finalist, Peter Elvins Vocal Competition, 2009; Third Place Winner, Duxbury Music Festival Solo Competition, 2008.
Where to find me at Virginia Opera:
Gretel, Hansel and Gretel touring education production; Stella (cover), A Streetcar Named Desire; Countess (cover), The Marriage of Figaro; First Bridesmaid, The Marriage of Figaro.
Hometown:
New Freedom, PA
Where I studied:
Temple University, BM in Voice Performance (2009); University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, MM in Voice Performance (2011); Studio Artist at Kentucky Opera 2011-12
Performance History:
Don Basilio in La Nozze di Figaro at Kentucky Opera, Remendado in Carmen at Kentucky Opera, Njegus in The Merry Widow at Kentucky Opera, Bastien in Bastien und Bastienne at Queen City Chamber Opera, Vogelsang in Der Schauspieldirektor at Queen City Chamber Opera, Florville in Il Signor Bruschino at the Spoleto Music Festival.
Where to find me at VA Opera this year:
Cajus in Falstaff, Monostatos in Die Zauberflote, Scaramuccio in Ariadne auf Naxos, covering Dancing Master in Ariadne auf Naxos, covering Remendado in Carmen, singing chorus in Carmen, covering Pirelli in Sweeney Todd, and singing chorus in Sweeney Todd.
Hometown: Orlando, FL
Where I studied:
Florida State University, Bachelor of Music; Mittelsächsisches Theater Young Artist; Wolf Trap Opera Studio; Lyric Opera Virginia Young Artist
Performance History:
Nimue and Guenevere (cover, performed) in Camelot at Virginia Opera; Maddalena in Il viaggio a Reims at the Wolf Trap Opera Company; Pamina in Die Zauberflöte at the Mittelsächsisches Theater in Freiberg, Germany; Monica in The Medium and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi at Florida Opera Theatre; Tuptim (cover) in The King and I and Micaëla (cover) in Carmen at Lyric Opera Virginia; Mrs. Gobineau in The Medium, Elaine O'Neill in Later the Same Evening, Atalanta in Xerxes at the Florida State Opera
Where to find me at VA Opera this year:
Nannetta (cover) and chorus in Falstaff, Naiad/Echo (cover) in Ariadne auf Naxos, Frasquita (cover) and chorus in Carmen
