Arlyn M. Brewster OperaTunity Program
Experience an opera performance at your school, community center, or library through a fully staged, 40-minute adaptation of a classic, or an original story! Performances are presented in English and designed for K-8 audiences.
2025/26 Arlyn M. Brewster Education Teaching Artists
Jaqueline Alcocer, rusalka
Dramatic soprano Jaqueline Alcocer received her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance at Northern Arizona University. There she sang the title role in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Signora Nacarelli in Guettel’s The Light in the Piazza, and Lady Billows in Britten’s Albert Herring. As a mezzo-soprano undergraduate, she sang Dinah in Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti, Marcellina in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, and Mother Bayard in Hindemith’s A Long Christmas Dinner. At Chandler-Gilbert Community College she began performing musical theater roles such as, Sour Kangaroo (Seussical), Mama Noah (Children of Eden), and Marmee (Little Women).
In the fall of 2021, she performed in Munich, Germany, as a winner of the annual Hidalgo Festival. Recently she sang Second Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with Arizona Lyric Theatre. Upcoming engagements include covering the title role in Puccini’s Suor Angelica with Valley Opera and singing with the Arizona Opera Chorus in Madama Butterfly.
Brooke Leinbaugh, Rusalka's Sister/Prince's Sister
Brooke Leinbaugh is a soprano from Michigan pursuing a Master’s Degree in Opera Performance from Arizona State University. Brooke graduated Summa Cum Laude from Western Michigan University in 2023 with two Bachelor’s Degrees in Vocal Performance and Choral Music Education. While at Western, Brooke performed multiple leading roles, including Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni and Susanna in Il segreto di Susanna, and was the winner of Western Michigan University's Concerto Competition in 2022.
Since attending ASU, Brooke has performed various roles in multiple productions both at ASU and with the Arizona Opera and is a recent winner of the Cal-Western Regional NATS competition. Brooke is beyond excited to participate in this year’s OperaTunity production as Rusalka’s sister/Prince’s sister!
Rachael Bastien, Sea Witch
Rachael Bastien (mezzo-soprano) has enjoyed a wide-ranging career across the U.S. and abroad, performing opera, musical theatre, and concert repertoire with equal passion. After a decade in New York City performing, coaching, and directing—and earning her graduate degree from the Manhattan School of Music—she is thrilled to be back in her hometown of Phoenix, where she continues to balance an active performing career with her work as an educator and musical director.
Since 2019, Rachael has served on the Voice and Music faculty at Phoenix College and maintains a vibrant private voice studio, The Joyful Voice Collective, dedicated to empowering singers of all backgrounds. Upcoming engagements include joining Arizona Opera’s OperaTunity Educational Outreach Program in 2026 as the Sea Witch and performing as a soloist in Mozart’s Coronation Mass with the Phoenix College Choirs
Joshua Borths, Writer (operaclassroom.com)
Joshua Borths is a stage director, writer, educator, and administrator with over a decade of experience in the opera industry.
Originally from Cincinnati, OH, Borths currently works with Des Moines Metro Opera and Virginia opera after having served as the Director of Opera & Musical Theater and Professor of Music History at Capital University in Columbus, OH and as Director of Education at Arizona Opera. His children's opera adaptations have been seen by hundreds of thousands of students across the country, and he is a frequent guest lecturer.
At Capital University, Borths produced and managed all of the opera and musical theatre programming while also serving as the Professor of Music History. Additionally, he created a joint Resident Artist Program with Opera Columbus creating innovative programming for both institutions. With Arizona Opera, Borths more than doubled the reach and scope of the department through innovative programming and cultural engagement.
As an educator, Borths has taught at Shenandoah University, been a Visiting Professor at the Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam), directed Maryland Opera Studio, and been guest panelist at the Opera America Conference. He collaborated with TED Ed on their first opera resources and was featured in Opera News for his innovative approach to opera education.
For more information about Arizona Opera Education Programs, please contact Director of Education and Community Engagement, Cassie Hollerbach, at chollerbach@azopera.org.
Arizona Opera’s NextGen programs are made possible, in part, thanks to generous support from: Ted Stephan Teaching Artist Endowment Fund, Drs. Herschel and Jill* Rosenzweig, The Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation, Molly Blank Fund, Jeannette Segel, SRP, Invest in Kids Charitable Gift Fund, The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation, APS, A gift in memory of Elsa Reichenbach, The Arizona Republic, Marlu Allan & Scott Stallard*, City of Peoria, First Western Trust, The Krumholz Foundation, Desert Diamond Casino, Jim Click Automotive, and a consortium of individual donors. This program is made possible, fully or in part, by a grant from Scottsdale Arts with funding provided by the City of Scottsdale.
This program is made possible, fully or in part, by a grant from Scottsdale Arts with funding provided by the City of Scottsdale.
If you are passionate about continuing the traditions of opera for the next generation, this is your opportunity!
For more information about supporting this program, or to inquire about sponsoring an apprentice, please contact the Development Department at development@azopera.org.