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.
2022/23 Arlyn M. Brewster Education Teaching Artists
Kelli Shill, soprano
Kelli Shill is a Phoenix-based soprano. She holds a MM in Opera Performance (’22) and a BM in Voice Performance (’20) from Arizona State University, where she studied with Carole FitzPatrick. While at ASU, Shill performed as Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel and participated in the productions of Street Scene, Suor Angelica, and Die Zauberflöte as well as the Opera Scenes program. In addition to her performances, Shill directed the first staged production of Nkeiru Okoye’s 600 Square Feet and served as a graduate choral artist. She is delighted to now join the Arizona Opera OperaTunity Troupe.
Danielle Corella, mezzo-soprano
Dramatic mezzo-soprano, Danielle Corella, is a 7th generation Arizona native. Most recently, she returned home from Chicago after pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Voice Performance at DePaul University. Corella has a particular love for bringing music to the community. At Long Beach Opera, she worked as an education artist and regularly performed children’s operas for elementary school students in English and Spanish. Some of Corella’s favorite mezzo soprano roles to perform are the Composer, Santuzza, Eboli, and Carmen. Corella lives in Prescott with her husband, new baby, and cat.
John Momeyer, tenor
John Momeyer is a tenor with a degree in vocal performance from Arizona State University. He has received instruction from prominent artists such as Dr. Amanda DeMaris, Dr. Justin Carpenter and Mary-Sue Hyatt. He was recognized by the National Association of Teachers of Singing by receiving first place in the 2021 Arizona Division Vocal Competition, second place in the 2022 Cal-Western Region and also made Semi-Finals for their 2022 National Competition.
Mauricio Perusquia, baritone
2022/23 Ted Stephan Teaching Artist
Mauricio Perusquia, baritone, holds an MM in Opera Performance from Arizona State University and a BM in Voice Performance from the University of Texas at El Paso. Perusquia performs with the OperaTunity Troupe of Arizona Opera, bringing music to schools in the Phoenix area. He has also participated in the Curbside Opera initiative as a Resident Artist with El Paso Opera.
Perusquia has engaged in many new works such as Arizona Opera’s Silent Night and the New Works reading of the jazz interactive opera, Marie Begins, as well as concert works such as Cipher.
Mei-Yi, collaborative piano
Mei-Yi Wang is a DMA candidate in Collaborative Piano at the Arizona State University under the tutelage of professor Russell Ryan. A native of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, Wang holds her bachelor of Music at National Hsinchu University of Education and her first master’s degree in Piano Performance at National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan. In 2019, she received her second master’s degree in collaborative piano at Bowling Green State University, OH. Mei-Yi is an active solo pianist and collaborative musician. She was the winner of the 2018 Bowling Green State University Concerto Competition. During her study at BGSU and ASU, she has accompanied voice studio classes, instrumental and vocal degree recitals, concerto competitions and Conrad Art Song Competition. Also, she worked as a choir pianist with AZ Statesmen Choir and Barrett Choir at ASU.
Wang enjoys both performing and teaching. During her graduate studies at National Chiao Tung University, she was the piano teaching assistant for the class piano. In 2015, she served as a music student teacher at Taipei Jingmei Girls' High School, Taiwan. As an active collaborator, Wang enjoys working in a variety of duo and chamber settings at both school and church community.
Logan Talarico, Phoenix Tour Supervisor, tenor
From choirs to concerts to operas, Logan Talarico has been singing since the age of 12. He was most recently seen as a featured soloist in Scottsdale Philharmonic’s performance of Handel’s Messiah and can be seen on-stage performing in the opera choruses of Arizona Opera and Chandler Opera. He studied vocal performance at Arizona State University under the teachings of Dr. Amanda DeMaris and had his operatic debut as Spinelloccio in ASU’s 2019 production of Gianni Schicchi. Talarico can also be found singing at Church of the Nativity in Scottsdale and is a board member for Arizona North Star Arts.
Diana Peralta, mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano from Mexico City. Graduated from the National Conservatory of Music with Degree in Opera and Concert Singing. Obtained her Masters Degree in Voice Performance in the University of Arizona and currently studying her Doctoral Degree.
In July 2019 she sang the role Cherubino from Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart with the Jerusalem Opera Studio in Israel. She made her debut in Carmen in a production with the San Luis Opera Festival in July 2018 with the conduction of Dr. Linus Lerner and sang it again in a new production for “Opera de Mexico” Company. Her roles also include Donna Elvira, Cherubino, Zita, Zia Principessa, Ma Moss, Mercedes, Mme de la Haltiére, Hansel, Charlotte, Lady Rhondda, 2nd and 3rd lady of The Magic Flute among others. She has been the mezzo-soprano soloist at The Messiah, 9th Symphony, Requiem of Mozart and Petite Messe Solennelle in New York City. Winner of the 2nd place in the Amelia Rieman Opera Competition and 1st place in “Opera Guild Quest for the Best”, both in the University of Arizona in their 2019 Edition.
Winner of the "Gertrude Brownlee Bitner Memorial Award” in Guanajuato and "Opera of Panama" Award in “Linus Lerner Competition” San Luis Potosi in 2018. In December 2019, she won the 1st Place of the Vienna Summer Festival Vocal Competition and she got the role of Carmen for Vienna, Austria for July 2020, but because of the pandemic it was postponed. In the summer of 2022, she sang the leading role of Carmen in Bodrum, Turkey with the VAO Vocal Academy of Opera with a full orchestra production and later, she offered in Jerusalem concerts of French and Mexican music. Future projects include and adaptation of Cinderella and the role of Cherubino.
Chunghee Lee, soprano
Soprano Chunghee Lee is a DMA candidate at the University of Arizona under the tutelage of professor Yunah Lee. She received her Bachelor of Music at Korea National University of Arts and Master’s and Professional studies degree in Music at Manhattan School of Music. She recently had a successful debut in Italy as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni by Mozart. She also participate in video recording as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni and the Witch in Hansel and Gretel during the pandemic. Her previous roles with the UA Opera Theatre include Cendrillon in Massenet’s Cendrillon, Diana in Offenbach’s Orpheus in the underworld and she covered Female Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia by Britten. Her other operatic roles include Romilda in Xerxes, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Mimi in La Bohème, Anna in Anna Bolena, Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, Cio-Cio-san in Madama Butterfly, Adina in L’elisir d’amore, and Papagena and First Lady in Die Zauberflöte. Her upcoming role is the main role in Suor Angelica by Puccini. Lee recently won the 2nd place in San Francisco International Innovative Music Competition and Special Jury Award of the 2nd KAMA Competition. Also, she won 1st place in the Quest for the Best competition and 3rd place in the Marguerite Ough Competition.
Suyoung Lee, Baritone
Suyoung Lee, a lyric baritone, has appeared in various styles of operas from Baroque to Contemporary. He recently appeared as the role of Gianni Schicchi, Top from Tender Land by Copland, and Don Giovanni in the film version at the University of Arizona. His other notable appearances include Count Almaviva from Le nozze di Figaro at the Amalfi Coast Music Festival, Germont from La Traviata at the Spotlight on Opera, Marcello from La Bohème at da Corneto Opera, Ottone from L'incoronazione di Poppea, Father from Hansel and Gretel, Mr. Gedge from Albert Herring, and The Man from The Women by Pasatieri. Lee will be performing Count Almaviva this fall at the University of Arizona Opera Theater. As a soloist, Lee has performed Missa in Angustiis at the Arizona State University, and Elijah, Messiah, and Die Schöpfung with the Chicago Oratorio Society.
Lee won 2nd place in the Dr. Larry Day Memorial Competition in 2019, 2020, and 2021 and the University of Arizona President Competition in 2019 and 2020. In 2018, Lee won a special talent scholarship from Arizona State University. In 2012, he was awarded a scholarship from The Bruce Foote Memorial Scholarship Foundation. He has won several competitions in Seoul, South Korea, including the 21st Music Journal Competition and the 38th Music Education Newspaper Company Competition.
Lee earned a Master of Music from Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and holds a Performer’s Diploma from Southern Methodist University where he was also a Meadows Artist Scholarship Award winner. He earned a Bachelor of Music from Kookmin University in Seoul, South Korea. Mr. Lee’s distinguished teachers include baritone Richard Stilwell, baritone Gordon Hawkins, and tenor Allan Glassman. Lee is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at the University of Arizona under Dr. Andrew Stuckey.
Lee is also pursuing a minor in Music Education at the University of Arizona. He is passionate about bringing classical music education to children from underserved communities and preparing the next generation of classical musicians is equal to his passion for performing.
Yukyung Hwang (Rachael), pianist
Yukyung Hwang is a chamber musician and collaborative pianist. She has performed solo and collaborative piano recitals throughout her career across the United States, China, and South Korea. As an enthusiastic pianist, she has performed for the Arizona Symphonic Choir and the South Dakota National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Competition. Recent performances encompass a selection of songs by Emile Naoumoff at Music+Festival: Nadia Boulanger and Her Students in 2021.
Moreover, Yukyung also accompanied faculty members, voice studio classes, instrumental and voice degree recitals, and various voice competitions including Larry Day Competition, Marguerite Ough Competition, Amelia Rieman Competition, and President competition at the University of Arizona and Concerto Aria Competition at the University of South Dakota. Also, she worked as a pianist and vocal coach for opera singers at two opera productions: Cendrillon by Jules Massenet and L’isola Disabitata by Joseph Haydn as a graduate assistant at the University of South Dakota. In addition to collegiate experiences, she worked for Tucson Girls Choir, Salpointe Catholic High School, Tucson Youth Music Center, and West High School (Sioux City, IA), as an accompanist and class piano teacher.
Yukyung is currently pursuing her D.M.A. in keyboard performance with ensemble emphasis at the University of Arizona’s Fred Fox School of Music. Before moving to Tucson, AZ, she earned a M.M in collaborative piano from the University of South Dakota, and a B.M. in piano performance from China Conservatory of Music. Her principal teachers include Dr. Fanya Lin, Dr. Susan Keith Gray, Professor Min Li, and Professor Minsook Kim.
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, Cassie Hollerbach, at chollerbach@azopera.org.
Arizona Opera’s Education and Community Engagement programs are made possible, in part, thanks to the support of: The Molly Blank Fund, Dr. Rex Brewster, Invest in Kids Charitable Gift Fund, The Moreno Family Foundation, The Ted Stephan Teaching Artist Endowed Fund, The Arizona Republic, Cardinals Charities, The City of Peoria, and a consortium of individual donors.
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, contact Ashley Parks at 602.218.7337 or aparks@azopera.org.