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.
2024/25 Arlyn M. Brewster Education Teaching Artists
Kara Palermo, Hansel
Originally from Gilbert Arizona, mezzo-soprano Kara Palermo is excited to return to her home state to sing with Arizona Opera’s Touring Education Troupe. Palermo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Music degree from Texas Tech University. Recent engagements include participation in Opera San Luis Obispo’s Young Artist Understudy and Chorus Program, performances of the roles of Armelinde in Viardot’s Cendrillon and Florence Pike in Albert Herring, and feature as a soloist with the Texas Tech Sinfonietta. Prior to a transition from soprano to mezzo-soprano repertoire in 2023, Palermo performed the titular role of Suor Angelica, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, Amy March in Little Women, Monica in The Medium, and Dorabella in Così fan tutte. She is grateful to have had the opportunity to perform in Amarillo Opera’s educational outreach tours in their productions of The Bremen Town Musicians and The Three Little Pigs, and is looking forward to continuing to reach young minds as she sings the role of Hansel in the Arlyn M. Brewster OperaTunity Program’s tour of Hansel and Gretel vs. The Witch.
Gabrielle Salomon, Gretel
Gabrielle Salomon (she/her) is an avid performer and educator throughout the valley. Salomon participated in both her church and school choirs growing up which sparked her passion for music education. She continued to pursue her love for music at Arizona State University, earning degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Learning and Teaching. She is actively contracted with Arizona Opera as a chorister and Victory Lutheran Church as the soprano section leader. Salomon has extensive stage and concert performance experience. Recent credits include Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance and soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah. She independently teaches private voice, piano, and ukulele lessons. Another passion of Salomon's is history, which she minored in with an emphasis on American History. Her favorite time period is the Gilded Age.
Gabriella Cavalcanti, Witch
Gabriella Cavalcanti began studying classically at the age of 9, and she professionally debuted in Arizona Opera’s Hansel and Gretel singing in the Gingerbread Chorus. She has won numerous competitions including 1st place at NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) for three consecutive years and 2nd place at the Cal-Western division, which included competitors from Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. At the Oregon Bach Festival, Cavalcanti performed in the chorus and as a soloist under the direction of Helmuth Rilling and Anton Armstrong, receiving additional direction from Garrison Kiellor and Bobby McFerrin in the SFYCA chorus. She has sung in concert with Thomas Quasthoff and taken vocal masterclasses from singers like Ben Heppner and Kathryn Cowdrick of the Eastman School of Music. Gabriella graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University in Vocal Performance under the tutelage of David Britton.
As a private voice teacher and a teacher at Arizona School of Music in Scottsdale, many of Cavalcanti’s voice students are now thriving at schools like NAU, Cornell, NYU, Notre Dame, Belmont, and other prestigious programs. She primarily trains students in opera, classical training, musical theater, popular music, and mariachi, meanwhile coaching other local music professionals within various vocal stylings. As an expert musician, Cavalcanti has been consulted by several local choirs as a section leader and soloist. She also offered her expertise for a new Arizona school in 2023 to aid in the launch of their music program. Cavalcanti’s private music studio provides scholarships for children in need, offering everyone the opportunity to experience the gift of music. Cavalcanti is married, living in Phoenix with her loved ones and her adopted senior dog, Auggie. She is thrilled to be participating in Hansel and Gretel vs. The Witch.
Mauricio Perusquia, Older Hansel / Father
Mauricio Perusquia, baritone, holds a Master of Music in Opera Performance from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Texas at El Paso. He recently performed the role of Guglielmo in Così fan tutte at FIO Mondo across the region of Le Marche in Italy. Mauricio performs with the Arizona Opera Arlyn M. Brewster OperaTunity Program, 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 Opera 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 by Daniel Bernard Roumain. He has also engaged in many standard repertoire roles such as Figaro in The Barber of Seville and Marquis in La Traviata.
Polina Beymanov, Collaborative Pianist
Polina Beymanov is a collaborative pianist who recently received her Master in Music from Arizona State University, playing in a variety of styles and settings. She has performed with many talented musicians, constantly expanding and learning new interpretations from her peers. Beymanov is passionate about sharing music with others, and is excited to work with Arizona Opera and bring music to the next generation of artists.
Ashley La Montagne, COVER Hansel
Ashley La Montagne holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, both from Arizona State University. Throughout her career, she has performed with Chandler Opera Company, where she sang in the chorus of La Bohème and The Barber of Seville. Additionally, she has been involved in Arizona State University’s Music Theatre and Opera program, performing in the chorus of Hänsel and Gretel. A passionate learner of music, she participated in the Lieder program at the American Institute for Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria, further honing her vocal skills. While at ASU, she was an active member of the ASU Concert Choir and served as president of the ASU chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). Currently, La Montagne works as an Alto Section Leader and Contemporary Worship Leader at Victory Lutheran Church. In addition, she teaches private voice and piano lessons throughout the Phoenix valley. This is her first show with Arizona Opera, and she is both humbled and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the company’s legacy of excellence.
Brooke Leinbaugh, COVER Gretel
Brooke Leinbaugh is a 24-year-old soprano from Kalamazoo, Michigan and is currently pursuing her Master of Music in Opera Performance at Arizona State University. In December of 2023, Leinbaugh graduated Summa Cum Laude from Western Michigan University with two Bachelor’s degrees in Vocal Performance and Choral Music Education. During her time at Western, Leinbaugh performed multiple leading roles, including Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni and Susanna in Il segreto di Susanna. She was also an avid member of the college’s top choral ensemble, University Chorale. With this ensemble, she performed multiple solos and large choral works, including the mezzo-soprano solo in Stravinsky’s Mass with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and a soprano solo in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. In the spring of 2022, Leinbaugh was named the winner of the Western Michigan University Concerto Competition, marking her as one of three top musicians in attendance at at the Fine Arts College. In the summer of 2023, Leinbaugh attended the American Institute of Musical Studies summer program in Graz, Austria. While there, Brooke studied with multiple teachers and was cast to perform in a variety of piano/orchestral concerts. She currently spends her time performing in a variety of shows, teaching, conducting, and studying as she navigates her Master’s degree program at ASU.
Shaul Leket-More, COVER Older Hansel / Father
Shaul Leket-Mor is a baritone from Tempe, Arizona. He finished his bachelor degree at Peabody Institute, before returning back to Tempe in 2020. Since returning, he has performed across the valley, including Tosca and The Barber of Seville with Arizona Opera, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and The Creation with Arizona Musicfest. He received his Master of Music degree at Arizona State University in 2024, and is now performing professionally, including with Arizona Lyric Theatre as Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors. He has also performed as Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro and Older Turgenev in Notes on Viardot at Arizona State University.
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 NextGen programs are made possible, in part, thanks to generous support from: The Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation, Drs. Herschel and Jill* Rosenzweig, Molly Blank Fund, Jeannette Segel, SRP, Invest in Kids Charitable Gift Fund, The H. S. Lopez Family Foundation, APS, Marlu Allan & Scott Stallard, The Krumholz Foundation, City of Peoria, The Otto & Edna Neely Foundation, Desert Diamond Casinos, Kiwanis of Litchfield, 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.