Bold. Brave. Brilliant.
Music by Stephen Sondheim, Libretto by Hugh Wheeler

A Little Night Music

Headshot of opera soprano singer Patricia Racette with Arizona Opera

Patricia Racette

Desirée Armfeldt

Soprano Patricia Racette has appeared in the most acclaimed opera houses of the world including The Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Canadian Opera Company, Royal Opera House, La Scala, Paris Opera, Theater an der Wien, Gran Teatro del Liceu, and the Bayerische Staatsoper. Established as a great interpreter of Janáček and Puccini, Racette has gained particular acclaim for her portrayals of the title roles of Madame Butterfly, Tosca, Jenufa, Kátya Kabanová, and all three lead soprano roles in Il Trittico. Racette's repertory now expands to include triumphant portrayals of Strauss’s Salome, Minnie in La Fancuilla del West, Katerina in Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, Magda in Menotti’s The Consul, Anna Maurrant in Street Scene, Kostelnička in Jenufa, and Elle in La voix humaine. In the fall of 2019, Racette added to this list Sister Helen in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking which she performed at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Racette has been a favorite on The Met: Live in HD series as both leading lady in Madame Butterfly, Tosca, and Peter Grimes, as well as the celebrated host for multiple other productions.

A champion of new works, Racette has created roles in a number of world premieres, including Leslie Crosbie in Paul Moravec’s The Letter at The Santa Fe Opera, Roberta Alden in Tobias Picker’s An American Tragedy at The Metropolitan Opera, the title role in Tobias Picker’s Emmeline at the Santa Fe Opera (broadcast on PBS/Albany Records audio), Love Simpson in Carlisle Floyd’s Cold Sassy Tree at the Houston Grand Opera, and most recently, the title role in Tobias Picker's Dolores Claiborne at the San Francisco Opera.

Racette made her directorial debut with a new production of La Traviata at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in the summer of 2018. Plans to direct Susannah at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and a production of La voix humaine starring herself at the Dallas Opera in the spring of 2020 were unfortunately cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic.

Racette was recently named the Artistic Director of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ Gerdine Young Artist and Richard Gaddes Festival Artist programs. Racette also continues to be sought after for master classes and workshops to foster artistry in the next generation of classical singer. In January 2017, Racette presented the pilot program of her intensive seminar, Integrative Artistry, at the San Francisco Conservatory, and has since presented it at The Juilliard School and the Washington National Opera.

Born and raised in New Hampshire, Racette studied jazz and music education at North Texas State University. Among Racette's recognitions are an Opera News Award, the prestigious Richard Tucker Award, and the Marian Anderson Award. Racette also received the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording for her performance in the Los Angeles Opera’s production of The Ghosts of Versailles.

Keith Phares

Keith Phares

Frederick Egerman

A noted interpreter of Mozart and bel canto repertoire as well as many of today’s prominent composers, Opera News has recently hailed Keith Phares as a "mainstay of contemporary opera" and " an authentic contemporary-American-opera divo" with "an impressive gallery of finely-drawn character portraits.”

This season he workshops the role of Tom in Matthew Boehler's Fat Pig with Victory Hall Opera, and sings the roles of Daddy Lowell and Mr. Floyd in the premiere of Clint Borzoni's The Copper Queen, to be released on film and produced by Arizona Opera. Highlights from last season include Brahms' Requiem with the Bucks County Choral Society, Messiah with Toledo Symphony, a reprise of Elder Tull in Riders of the Purple Sage with Arizona Opera. Phares was slated to appear as Mountjoy in Gloriana with Arts Centre in Ottawa; however both engagements were cancelled due to COVID-19 safety protocols.

Recently he appeared as Edward Kynaston in Carlisle Floyd's Prince of Players with Florentine Opera (recorded live for Reference Records), Sam in Trouble in Tahiti with Lexington Philharmonic, the premiere of Paul Salerni's opera, The Haunted at Zoellner Arts Center, Carol of Words - a song recital with Lyric Fest featuring texts by Walt Whitman and a return to Opera Saratoga as Dr. Ludwig Binswanger in the premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's Ellen West.

In the 2017/18 Season he made debuts with Los Angeles Opera as Roderick Usher and Hiram Otis in Gordon Getty's SCARE PAIR: Usher House/Canterville Ghost, Chicago Opera Theater as Gasparo in Donizetti's Rita, Opera Omaha as Ford in Falstaff, and Opera Maine as Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro. Other highlights from last season include Viva Opera! at Florentine and the recording of Gregory Spears' critically acclaimed Paul's Case as the Father, which he sang in the opera's premiere at UrbanArias and PROTOYPE festival remount.

In the 2016/17 Season he sang Hurstwood in the world premiere and live recording of Robert Aldridge's Sister Carrie with Florentine (released on Naxos in Sept '17), Escamillo in Carmen with Opera Santa Barbara, Maximilian in Candide with New York City Opera, Elder Tull in the world premiere of Craig Bohmler's Riders of the Purple Sage with Arizona Opera, Charlie in Three Decembers with Hawaii Opera Theatre, Albert in Werther with Manitoba Opera, the American premiere of Philip Glass and Christopher Hampton's The Trial with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Belcore in L'elisir d'Amore with Boston Midsummer Opera.

Other recent engagements have included Zurga in Les pêcheurs des perles with Seattle Opera, Gaylord Ravenal in Showboat with Kentucky Opera, Charlie in Three Decembers with Florentine Opera, Carmina Burana with Madison Symphony and Fort Wayne Philharmonic, John Sorel in The Consul and Orin Mannon in Mourning Becomes Electra with Florida Grand Opera, Marcello in La bohème with Seattle Opera and Manitoba Opera, Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro with New Orleans Opera and Opera Saratoga, Paul's Case with UrbanArias and the PROTOTYPE festival, Dandini in La cenerentola and the title role in Elmer Gantry with Tulsa Opera and Maximilian and the Captain in Candide with São Paulo Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop. In previous seasons, the baritone sang the title role in Der Kaiser von Atlantis in a joint production with Central City Opera and Colorado Symphony, Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro with Opera Colorado, returned to Washington National Opera as Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, joined Opera Hamilton as Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, Portland Opera as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte and Central City Opera as Charlie in Jake Heggie's Three Decembers. His has also appeared as the baritone soloist with San Francisco Symphony, Virginia Symphony and Columbus Symphony for performances of Carmina Burana.

For his debut with Florentine Opera, he portrayed the title role in Elmer Gantry, prompting Opera News to write that “Keith Phares's scrupulously rendered Elmer Gantry appears a strong contender for iconographic recognition. Beautifully vocalized and bursting with charismatic smarm (think Burt Lancaster with buttery legato), Phares's achievement will prove a difficult act to follow.” A live recording of this performance is available from Naxos records. Alongside Grammy awards for Best Contemporary Classical Composition and Best Engineering - Classical, it was named Opera News' #1 Opera Recording of 2011.

During the 2008/09 Season Phares made his San Francisco Opera debut in the company’s première of Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers, singing opposite Frederica von Stade. His performance was praised for his “rich, accurate voice; good looks; and fine acting ability to the part of Charlie, making his performance the highlight of the production.” (San Francisco Classical Voice) Additional house debuts that season included the Opera Company of Philadelphia where he played the role of Haly in L’italiana in Algeri and Glimmerglass Opera where he played Dandini in a new production of La Cenerentola. In addition, he sang Falke in Opera New Jersey’s presentation of Die Fledermaus, Kaiser Overall in Ullmann’s Der Kaiser von Atlantis at the Greenwich Music Festival, and Ned Keene in Peter Grimes with Washington National Opera. The Washington Post remarked of his performance that he “sang with a marvelous frank lyricism as Ned Keene.” He also offered a recital under the auspices of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.

Phares made his Houston Grand Opera debut during the 2007/08 Season under the direction of Patrick Summers in the world première of Jake Heggie’s Last Acts (Three Decembers) and returned to the stage of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in a new production of Martín y Soler’s Una cosa rara. Continuing his commitment to bring the works of living composers to the stage, he sang the title role in the première of Elmer Gantry, by Robert Aldridge, in a co-production with Nashville Opera and Montclair State University. Phares offered Five Movements for My Father in a program of chamber music by Susan Kander at Weill Hall in New York - his performance coinciding with the commercial release of this work on the Loose Cans Music label.

Phares made his Metropolitan Opera debut, under the baton of James Levine, in the French triple-bill Parade, sang The Pilot in the Francesca Zambello production of The Little Prince at New York City Opera and Boston Lyric Opera, Maurice Bendrix in Jake Heggie’s The End of the Affair with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and Madison Opera, Harlequin in Ariadne auf Naxos at the Dallas Opera, Chou-En Lai in Portland Opera’s presentation of Nixon in China, Danilo in The Merry Widow in a return engagement at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Masetto in the acclaimed Günter Krämer production of Don Giovanni at the Spoleto Festival USA, and Sebastian in the North American premiere of Thomas Adès’ The Tempest presented by the Santa Fe Opera in a new production by Jonathan Kent and conducted by Alan Gilbert.

Additional credits of note include Donald in Billy Budd at Washington National Opera; Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd, Telemaco in Il ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria, and Fritz in Die tote Stadt with New York City Opera; Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Dandini in La cenerentola, and Pish-Tush in The Mikado for Arizona Opera; Valentin in Faust and Clayton McCallister in Cold Sassy Tree with Utah Symphony & Opera; Claudio in Beatrice and Benedict at Santa Fe Opera; Guglielmo in Così fan tutte and Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia at Boston Lyric Opera; and Charles Lindbergh in the premiere of Loss of Eden by Cary John Franklin as well as Pip in the premiere of the revised Miss Havisham’s Fire by Dominick Argento.

Other concert highlights include Claudio in Béatrice et Bénédict with the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Sir Colin Davis, Maximilian in Candide with the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Patrick Summers, Gerald Barry’s The Triumph of Beauty and Deceit with Thomas Adès and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and a program of Rodgers and Hammerstein songs with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. He also has been honored to have been affiliated for many seasons with the Marilyn Horne Foundation, under whose auspices he appeared in numerous recitals and master classes throughout the United States.

A graduate of the Juilliard Opera Center, he was a national winner of the 1998 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and a finalist in the 1999 Eleanor McCollum Competition of the Houston Grand Opera. He also has been recognized with a Richard Gaddes Grant from the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the 2000 and 2001 Shouse Grants from Wolf Trap and the 2000 Richard F. Gold Career Grant from the Juilliard School of Music.

Headshot of opera bass-baritone singer Brandon Morales with Arizona Opera

Brandon Morales

Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm

Brandon Morales, Bass-Baritone and graduate of the Marion Roose Pullin Studio Artist Program, has performed with opera companies all over the US - stretching from the Pacific northwest’s Portland Opera to Virginia Opera on the East coast. Morales has recently completed two years with Virginia Opera’s Heardon Foundation Emerging Artist’s Program with highlights including Bartolo in The Barber of Seville, Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Jose Castro/Billy Jackrabbit in La Fanciulla del West, and the Mother in Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins.

A graduate of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, he has been highly active in the Ohio area performing with Dayton Opera, NANO Works, Cincinnati Chamber Opera, Queen City Chamber Opera, Cincinnati College-Conservatory, Cincinnati Opera, participated in Toledo Opera’s Resident Artist program, and performed the roles of Friedrich von Telramund in Lohengrin and the Dutchman in Die Fliegende Holländer in concert with the Wagner Society of Cincinnati, where he is a part of their blooming Wagner studio. A native of San Antonio, TX, Morales currently enjoys the vagabond life of performing, but misses his faithful cat, Elsie.

Beth Clayton

Beth Clayton

Charlotte Malcolm

Mezzo Soprano Beth Clayton led an active solo career for over twenty years, singing over fifty leading roles with companies both in the U.S. and abroad. Particularly known for her interpretation of the title role of Carmen, she also created a number of roles in world premieres, including John Adams’ Doctor Atomic, Thomas Adès’ America, Howard Shore’s The Fly, William Bolcom’s A Wedding, Carlisle Floyd’s Cold Sassy Tree, Deborah Drattell’s Lilith, and Lembit Beecher’s I have no stories to tell you. On the concert stage, she made appearances with leading orchestras ranging from the New York Philharmonic and the Cleveland Orchestra to The Israeli Philharmonic. Her discography includes the Grammy-nominated recording of The Glimmerglass Festival production of The Mines of Sulphur as well as Five Songs of Bernstein with The Minnesota Orchestra. She holds two Bachelors’ degrees in both Voice Performance and Music Education from Southern Methodist University, a Master of Music in Voice Performance from Manhattan School of Music, and most recently a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch University. She currently combines her performance experience with the platform of total mental well-being in a private practice geared towards the specific needs of performing artists but also those in the LGBTQ community and beyond. Clayton was a finalist in the Metropolitan National Council Auditions in 1995 (and has now become an adjudicator for the MONC competition), a Sullivan Award Winner, and an alumna of the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program and the Houston Opera Studio. She is a native Arkansan but resides primarily in Santa Fe, New Mexico and secondarily in New York City.

Jill Grove

Jill Grove

Madame Armfeldt

Praised by the Chicago Tribune for her “firmly knit tone from top to bottom of an imposingly wide range,” in the 2021/22 Season, American mezzo-soprano Jill Grove returns Arizona Opera as Madame Armfeldt in A Little Night Music, and also returns to the Metropolitan Opera for their productions of Elektra and The Rake’s Progress. She recently joined the Metropolitan Opera and the Lyric Opera of Chicago as the Governess in Pique Dame, joined Minnesota Opera for Klytaemnestra in Elektra, San Francisco Opera the Fortune Teller in Arabella and Mamma Lucia in Cavalleria Rusticana, Canadian Opera Company 1st Maid in Elektra, and joined the Calgary Philharmonic for performances of Verdi’s Requiem.

Grove is a frequent guest at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, she has sung previous performances of Marthe in Faust, Ježibaba in Rusalka, Filippyevna in Eugene Onegin, Klytaemnestra in Elektra, Margret in Wozzeck, the Witch in Hansel und Gretel, Die Amme in Die Frau ohne Schatten, Amneris in Aida, Erda in Götterdämmerung, Countess Geschwitz in Lulu, and Reginal Segla in the world premiere of Wlad Marhulet’s The Property as part of the inaugural season of Lyric Unlimited. At the Metropolitan Opera, her performances include Erda in Siegfried and Das Rheingold, Magdalene in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Madelon in Andrea Chénier, Pantalis in Mefistofele, Emila in Otello, Mary in Die fliegende Holländer, Auntie in Peter Grimes, die Muschel in Die ägyptische Helena, and Cornelia in Giulio Cesare.

The mezzo’s other recent performances include Ježibaba in Rusalka with Des Moines Metro Opera; Klytaemnestra in Elektra with Michigan Opera Theatre; Auntie in Peter Grimes with Canadian Opera Company; Ježibaba in Rusalka and First Maid in Elektra with Houston Grand Opera; Buryja in Jenůfa, Madelon in Andrea Chenier and Jenny Reefer in Thompson’s The Mother of Us All at San Francisco Opera; Dame Quickly in Falstaff, Muschel in Die ägyptische Helena, Florence Pike in Albert Herring, Ursule in Béatrice et Bénédict, and Antonia’s Mother in Les contes d’Hoffmann with Santa Fe Opera; Erda in Siegfried, Nutrice in L'Incoronazione di Poppea, and Zita in Gianni Schicchi at Los Angeles Opera; Baba the Turk in The Rake’s Progress with Pittsburgh Opera and Utah Opera; Amneris in Aida in previous performances with Canadian Opera Company and New Orleans Opera; Ulrica in Un ballo in maschera with San Diego Opera; and the Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas with Philharmonia Baroque. In Europe, Grove has performed the role of Haushälterin in Die schweigsame Frau with Théâtre du Châtelet; the Deaconess in Szymanowski’s Krol Roger; Ulrica in Un ballo in maschera with Welsh National Opera and Teatro Carlo Felice; and Erda in Siegfried and the First Norn in Götterdämmerung with the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich under the baton of Kent Nagano.

A sought-after concert soloist, she has joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, National Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Utah Symphony, Houston Symphony, Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, and Santa Fe Symphony for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. She has sung Verdi’s Requiem with the Toronto Symphony under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis, Tucson Symphony, Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, and Calgary Philharmonic; Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 with the Houston Symphony under the baton of Christoph Eschenbach and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra with Mariss Jansons conducting; Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky with the National Symphony under the baton of Hans Graf; Maria Aegyptiaca in Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with the San Francisco Symphony under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas and the Houston Symphony with Eschenbach, Bergen Philharmonic, and the Norddeutsche Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester under the baton of Eschenbach; Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass and Elgar’s The Kingdom at the Grant Park Music Festival; Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius with the Jacksonville Symphony; Handel’s Messiah with the Toronto Symphony under the batons of Nicolas McGegan and Sir Andrew Davis and with the National Arts Centre Orchestra under the baton of Trevor Pinnock; Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas; Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Minnesota Orchestra; Bernstein’s Jeremiah Symphony with The Orchestra NOW; Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody with the American Classical Orchestra; and Verdi’s Requiem with the Dallas Symphony conducted by Jaap van Zweden.

Grove's recordings include Ulrica on a Chandos recording of Verdi's Un ballo in maschera, Auntie in Peter Grimes on the London Symphony Orchestra Live label with Sir Colin Davis and in a new production by John Doyle at the Metropolitan Opera (available on EMI DVD), Magdalene in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg under the baton of James Levine and issued on DVD by Deutsche Grammophon, as well as the Muschel in Strauss's Die ägyptische Helena with the American Symphony Orchestra on Teldec. As a member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, she sang Tisbe in La cenerentola opposite Cecilia Bartoli which was released by Decca/London.

She is the winner of the 2003 ARIA award, a 2001 Richard Tucker Foundation Career Grant, a 1999 George London Foundation Career Grant, a 1997 Sullivan Foundation Career Grant, a 1996 winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a 1996 recipient of a Richard Tucker Foundation Study Grant, and a 1995 recipient of a Richard F. Gold Career Grant. She was a member of the Merola Program at San Francisco Opera and the Houston Grand Opera Studio and attended the Music Academy of the West, the New England Conservatory, and Stephen F. Austin State University. She received a Distinguished Alumna Award from the latter university in 2006.

Headshot of opera soprano singer Katrina Galka with Arizona Opera

Katrina Galka

Anne Egerman

The Oregonian praises soprano Katrina Galka for her recent performances of Adina in L’elisir d’amore, exclaiming that she “looked like a young Glenn Close, projecting power over Nemorino as she thrilled with fine coloratura filigree and pure high notes.” In the 2020/21 Season, she makes her role and company debut as Olympia in Les contes d’Hoffmann at the Opernhaus Zürich as well as sings a solo digital recital for Portland Opera. Her San Francisco Opera debut as Janine (Ofwarren) in Ruder’s The Handmaid’s Tale was unfortunately cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, as were the roles she added to her repertoire last season: Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos and the Charmeuse in Thais for performances at Arizona Opera and Utah Opera. In the first half of last season, she returned to the Wiener Staatsoper to reprise Fritzi in Staud’s Die Weiden following her debut with the company in the work’s world premiere in the season prior. She sang her first performances of the Controller in Dove’s Flight with Minnesota Opera and returned to the Las Vegas Philharmonic for Handel’s Messiah.

Galka recently role and company debuts as Blondchen in Die Entführung aus dem Serail with Atlanta Opera—followed by reprisals at New Orleans Opera and Opera San Jose, Atalanta in Xerxes at the Glimmerglass Festival, and Serpetta in La finta giardiniera with On Site Opera at the Caramoor International Music Festival, and Aithra in Die ägyptische Helena with Odyssey Opera. She sang her first performances of Gilda in Rigoletto in a return to Portland Opera, where she was previously a resident artist and host of role debuts that include Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Elvira in L’italiana in Algeri, Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, and Frasquita in Carmen. With Arizona Opera Opera, she sang Cunegonde in Candide, Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Woglinde in Das Rheingold, and a quartet of roles in Morganelli’s Hercules vs Vampires, the First Wood Nymph in Rusalka and Clorinda in La cenerentola as a resident artist. She joined the Seiji Ozawa Music Academy as a guest artist for Frasquita in Carmen and sang prior performances of Papagena in Die Zauberflöte with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis at which she has been both a Festival Artist and a Gerdine Young Artist. She joined the CoOperative Program as Marie in La fille du régiment and sang the Cat in Schuller’s The Fisherman and his Wife with Odyssey Opera and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. She also joined Dallas Opera as Voice I in Cuomo's Arjuna's Dilemma, presented as the company hosted the annual Opera America conference.

On the concert stage, she has joined the Rhode Island Civic Chorale for the Angel in Respighi's Laude to the Nativity and Handel's Messiah and returned to the latter previously with the Las Vegas Philharmonic. With the Florida Orchestra, she sang Bernstein favorites in a concert celebrating his work on Broadway. She sang Elvira in excerpts of L’italiana in Algeri with the Oregon Symphony and Violetta in excerpts of La traviata with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. With various Dallas-based chamber ensembles and orchestras, she has sung Fauré’s Requiem, Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate, and Bach’s St. John Passion. In 2011, Katrina performed in the east coast premiere of Jake Heggie’s Pieces of 9/11 as the Girl Soprano, with Mr. Heggie at the piano.

Galka is a three-time regional award winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She is the first-place winner of the Mario Lanza Scholarship and has received further awards from the National Opera Association Vocal Competition, Marcello Giordani International Vocal Competition, and the Heida Hermanns International Vocal Competition.

She holds a Master of Music from Boston University, at which she sang Servilia in La clemenza di Tito, Carolina in Il matrimonio segreto, and Rosalba in Catan’s Florencia en el Amazonas. She earned a Bachelor of Music from Southern Methodist University, from which she graduated summa cum laude.

Headshot of opera tenor singer Terrence Chin-Loy with Arizona Opera

Terrence Chin-Loy

Henrik Egerman

American tenor Terrence Chin-Loy, whom Opera News described as having a "beautiful lyric tenor voice” pairs passionate performance with a full, sweet sound. In the 2022/23 Season, Chin-Loy will perform Tamino in The Magic Flute with the National Taichung Theater in Taiwan as well as at Arizona Opera, Don José in Carmen with MasterVoices at Lincoln Center, Old Head 2 and Charlie in the world premiere of Factotum with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Acis in Acis and Galatea with Eugene Opera, and join the roster of The Metropolitan Opera to cover the role of Arbace in Idomeneo. In concert, Chin-Loy joins the North Carolina Symphony for Mozart’s Requiem, and the Boise Philharmonic for a performance of Hailstork’s I Will Life Mine Eyes as well as a residency with the College of Idaho.

Chin-Loy opened the 2021/22 Season in his solo debut at The Metropolitan Opera in Terence Blanchard's Fire Shut Up In My Bones. Chin-Loy returned to Arizona Opera for his second and final season as a Marion Roose Pullin Resident Artist where he performed Henrik Egerman in A Little Night Music and Ferrando in Così fan tutte and Benny Paret Jr. in Boston Lyric Opera’s production of Champion. In concert, Chin-Loy performed and recorded Taneyev’s At the Reading of a Psalm with the American Symphony Orchestra and Leon Botstein at Carnegie Hall.

In the 2020/21 Season, Chin-Loy sang a series of concerts with Arizona Opera as a member of the Studio, and joined the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival in Twin Stars, a piece by Daniel Bernard Roumain about the shooting of Philando Castile. Chin-Loy also appeared in William Grant Still's Highway 1 as a Gerdine Young Artist at Opera Theatre Saint Louis. In the 2019/20 Season, Chin-Loy joined the roster of The Metropolitan Opera as Mingo (Cover) in Porgy and Bess and the New York Festival of Song as a part of the Vocal Rising Stars series at Caramoor.

Chin-Loy 's favorite roles include Idomeneo in Idomeneo: afterWARds (Pittsburgh Opera), director David Paul's retelling of Mozart's masterpiece with the composer's original music, Edgardo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor (Indiana University), and Younger Thompson in Tom Cipullo's Glory Denied (Pittsburgh Opera, Penn Square Music Festival). Chin-Loy was happy to make his Carnegie Hall debut in Handel's Messiah in the 2018/19 Season.

Chin-Loy is a graduate of Indiana University, where he received a Performer Diploma, and holds degrees from Mannes College and Yale University. At Mannes, Chin-Loy performed the roles of Laurie in Mark Adamo's Little Women and Bill in the New York premiere of Jonathan Dove's Flight with Mannes Opera, and received the Michael Sisca Opera Award, the school's top prize for an opera singer. Chin-Loy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Yale University, where his studies concentrated on Music Theory and Musicology. While at Yale, Chin-Loy was also a frequent performer with the Yale Baroque Opera Project, with which he performed major roles in La Calisto, Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in patria, and Scipione affricano. Chin-Loy is a 2018 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions National Semifinalist.

Melanie Long

Melanie Long

Petra

Admired for her unique vocal prowess, "...easily switch-hitting from high coloratura to Broadway belt” (New York Post), mezzo-soprano Melanie Long is making her mark forging a truly modern operatic career. In 2019 Long created the role of Anna in Encompass New Opera Theater’s world premiere of ANNA CHRISTIE by Edward Thomas. The production and her performance received rave reviews and the cast album was up for Grammy Nomination in 2020.

Long made her New York City Opera debut in 2016 with a power-house portrayal of Ava (Gardner) in the East Coast premiere of Stewart Wallace’s HOPPER’S WIFE and returned to NYCO in 2017 to portray Amore/Cupid (PYGMALION, Rameau). Her 2017 season also included the very notable world premieres of Julian Wachner's REV 23 with White Snake Projects and Michael Gordon's ACQUANETTA for the PROTOTYPE Festival.

An exceptional singing actress, Long is an established performer of crossover, operetta and musical theater repertoire. She created the role of Pelegrino at the New York International Fringe Festival in the world premiere of THE PIG, THE FARMER AND THE ARTIST. Other notable crossover performances include Mrs. Segstrom (A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC) with The Gallery Players and frequent New York and International cabaret appearances.

Long was an Opera Works artist at English National Opera in 2013 and has performed throughout the United Kingdom. Her much-lauded Edinburgh Festival Fringe appearances include the title role in MARIA STUARDA, Rosina (IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA) and DORABELLA (COSÌ FAN TUTTE).

Long began her career as a soprano, making her professional debut at Des Moines Metro opera as a “buoyant Papagena” (DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE) (Opera News), and has performed some of her most beloved roles there, including OSCAR (UN BALLO IN MASCHERA), ÄNNCHEN (DER FREISCHÜTZ) and most recently Petra in the iconic Isaac Mizrahi production of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC.

She earned her Master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music and makes her home in New York City.

Brooklyn Snow

Brooklyn Snow

Fredrika

Soprano Brooklyn Snow is a rising international artist with multiple performances to her credit in both Europe and the United States in her young career. This season, Ms. Snow makes her debut at Carnegie Hall as the soprano soloist for Choirs of America’s Emerging Artists Series, debuts at Arizona Opera in A Little Night Music, returns to sing with the New Philharmonic in a concert version of West Side Story as Maria, and performs as Nannetta in Falstaff with Union Avenue Opera. She most recently covered the role of Semele with Opera Santa Barbara.

In 2020, she sang all three heroine roles in Les Contes d’Hoffmann in a well-reviewed return to Union Avenue Opera. “Snow was especially adept in distinguishing her three very different characters, displaying that stunning combination of vocal athleticism and theatrical smarts that impressed me so much in UAOs “Candide” in 2019.” Chuck Lavazzi, KDHX. Ms. Snow had previously received an Outstanding Achievement in Opera award nomination for her 2019 performance as Cunegonde in Candide with the company.

She debuted with Opera Santa Barbara as Woglinde in Das Rheingold, following up with a performance in At The Statue of Venus, a monodrama by Jake Heggie and covering the role of Norina in Don Paquale. Ms. Snow was a featured soprano in the Eugene Opera’s virtual New Year's Eve Gala Concert. She sang her first Adina in L’elisir d’amore with Opera Bend in 2019 and will reprise the role with The Southern Illinois Music Festival in 2023. Ms. Snow was a finalist for the Central Region in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2015. Originally from Beaverton, Oregon, Ms. Snow holds music performance degrees from the University of Oregon and Indiana University School of Music.

Thomas W. Strawser, a native of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, enjoys an extensive and diverse career as a performing artist. His professional choral experience includes The Philadelphia Singers during the organization’s tenure with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Manhattan Chorale, a choral residency at St. Alban’s Cathedral in England, staff singer at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, the Grammy-Nominated True Concord Voices & Orchestra, and the Grammy-Award Winning Phoenix Chorale including their album Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil which received the 58th Grammy’s “Best Choral Performance” award.

Thomas is currently in his 9th season at Childsplay Theatre as a company actor. He has also acted in other Valley productions including Arizona Opera, Arizona Broadway Theatre, Detour Company Theatre, The Phoenix Theatre Company, and Showtune Productions.

Thomas holds a Master of Music in Opera/Musical Theatre Performance from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Headshot of opera soprano singer Grace Kahl with Arizona Opera

Grace Kahl

Mrs. Nordstrom

New York City native soprano Grace Kahl is an artist quickly emerging on the opera and concert stages throughout the United States. Kahl recently finished her tenure as Resident Artist at Utah Opera from 2018-2020, where notable performances included The Rose (The Little Prince), Papagena (Die Zauberflöte), and Annina (La Traviata). Kahl was a member of the prestigious Apprentice Artist program at Santa Fe Opera for their 2019 season, where she covered the role of Lyra and was featured in the world premiere of Poul Ruder’s The Thirteenth Child. After the COVID-19 pandemic put live performances on pause, Kahl made a triumphant return to the stage at Des Moines Metro Opera where she sang the roles of Johanna (Sweeney Todd) and Mary Johnson (Fellow Travelers) in their 49th season. Most recently she premiered the role of Isabel Cummings Haskell in Dayton Opera’s World Premiere of Finding Wright by Laura Kaminsky. Kahl was the first prize winner of the 2017 American International Czech and Slovak Voice Competition, with a distinction for best interpretation of a French work. Kahl has also been awarded prizes in the Palm Springs Opera Competition, Carolyn Bailey and Dominick Argento Vocal Competition, and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. This the summer of 2022, Kahl will return to Des Moines Metro Opera to sing the role of Caroline in their World Premiere of an adaptation of the Pulitzer-Prize winning novel, A Thousand Acres. Kahl holds a Bachelor’s of Music from CUNY Queens College and a Masters of Music/Artist Diploma from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She currently resides in New York City with her husband and her dog. You can find out more information about Grace Kahl on her website: gracekahlsoprano.com or follow her on Instagram @gracekahlsoprano.

Headshot of opera soprano singer Caitlin Gotimer with Arizona Opera

Caitlin Gotimer

Mrs. Anderssen

"Gotimer is a force of nature on stage… Her soaring vocal range and the depth of her acting establish Juliette as the driving force of the affair." — Broadway World

This summer, Gotimer makes her European debut as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Deutsche Oper Berlin. She also makes her debut as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro as a Renée Fleming Artist at the Aspen Music Festival, and she covers Musetta in La Bohème with the Bravo Vail Music Festival. Later, in the 2024/25 Season, Gotimer debuts in Pagliacci (Nedda) with Pittsburgh Opera; La fiamma (Silvana cover and La Voce) with Deutsche Oper Berlin; and La Bohème (Mimi) with Arizona Opera.

In the 2023/24 Season, Gotimer made her debut as Juliette in Gounod’s Roméo & Juliette with Arizona Opera, her Palm Beach Opera and Dayton Opera debuts as Tosca, and her Santa Fe Symphony debut as the soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah. In the 2022/23 Season, Gotimer debuted as Tosca with Arizona Opera, made her Dallas Opera debut as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, and joined The Santa Fe Opera's Apprentice Program, where she covered Tosca.

In her residency with the Marion Roose Pullin Arizona Opera Studio, Gotimer made main stage debuts in Carmen (Micaëla), Così fan tutte (Fiordiligi), and A Little Night Music (Mrs. Anderssen). During her tenure as a resident artist with Pittsburgh Opera, she appeared as the title role in Handel’s Alcina, Elettra in a reimagining of Mozart’s Idomeneo, and covered Mimì in Puccini's La Bohème. With Crested Butte Opera Studio, Gotimer performed as Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi and Musetta in La Bohème. Other roles in Gotimer’s repertoire include the title role in Suor Angelica and Magda in La Rondine. In concert, Gotimer was a soloist in Mozart’s Requiem in D minor at the Festival Songe d’été en musique in Québec and Bach’s Missa Brevis in F with Binghamton University.

Gotimer won two top awards in the YPO/Florida Grand Opera Voice Competition and was the district winner of the 2022 Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition. She was a semifinalist in both the 2022 Vincerò Competition and the 2020 Houston Grand Opera Eleanor McCollum Competition, a finalist in the 2020 Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s Mildred Miller Competition, the Second Prize and Audience Favorite Award winner at the 2017 Opera Guild of Dayton Competition, the recipient of the Italo Tajo Award in CCM’s 2017 Corbett Competition, and the winner of the 2015 National Biennial Collegiate Voice Competition hosted by NFMC.

Gotimer holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and she received her Bachelor of Music in Voice from Binghamton University.

Headshot of opera mezzo-soprano singer Mack Wolz with Arizona Opera

Mack Wolz

Mrs. Segstrom

Named a 2019 Grand Finals Winner by the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, rising American mezzo-soprano Mack Wolz joined Arizona Opera as a member of the Marion Roose Pullin Opera Studio for the 2020/21 Season. Praised by Opera News for a “keen sense of character,” Wolz covered the role of Addison in the world premiere of The Copper Queen and was seen as Mercèdes in Carmen. On the concert stage, engagements included debuts with the Phoenix Symphony, performing Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and Opera Edwardsville, presenting a program of Renaissance and Baroque motets with renowned harpsichordist Jory Vinikour.

Previously, Wolz joined pianist Steven Blier in the New York Festival of Song “Killer B’s” tour, performing the concert at the Tucson Desert Song Festival, the Century Club in New York City, and Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

Wolz has spent several summers with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, taking part in their Gerdine Young Artist and Gaddes Festival Artist programs. The performance in The Coronation of Poppea was highlighted by Opera News for a “creamy mezzo and mischievous spark as Amore.”

Wolz trained at the Boston Conservatory, where numerous mainstage performances were lauded for their “immense skill in both solo and ensemble singing” and for a “radiant” voice (the Boston Musical Intelligencer).

Aaron Smith

Aaron Smith

Mr. Erlanson

Aaron Matthew Smith, is an accomplished musician who has performed widely throughout the valley. Aaron began his musical career as a classical violinist, something he still enjoys to this day. It was in pursuing this passion that he first encountered and fell in love with the operatic style and classical singing. Since embracing classical voice, he has enjoyed performing varied works throughout the southwest. He made his main stage debut with Utah Lyric Opera in 2019 as Remendado in Bizet’s Carmen. He has sung the role Duncan in the concert revival of Mountain Days by Arizona’s own Craig Bohmler and covered Rinuccio in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. Along with opera, Aaron enjoys performing both concert and recital works. Performing regularly as a recital artist, his most recent performances have included English Chamber Music, German Lied, and American Art Song. Highlights include solo works such as Ralph Vaughan Williams’ On Wenlock Edge, Gerald Finzi’s Farewell to Arms, Franz Liszt’s Wilhem Tell, various works by Josephine Lang, and as a featured soloist for Morten Lauridsen in a discussion and performance of his first song cycle, A Backyard Universe. In the 2021/2022 Season, Aaron is delighted to make his Arizona Opera debut as Mr. Erlanson in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. He can also be seen as the lead soloist in Joseph Julian Gonzalez’s ground breaking work Misa Azteca and as the 2nd tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy. Aaron is a native of Arizona and proud alumna of Arizona State University holding degrees in both Vocal Performance and Violin Performance

Rob McGinness

Rob McGinness

Mr. Lindquist

Recognized for his “impressive singing … well-supported tone and supple phrasing,” (Baltimore Sun) baritone Rob McGinness‘ recent venue debuts include Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. This season Rob joins Arizona Opera as a member of the Marion Roose Pullin Arizona Opera Studio, performing multiple roles including Schaunard in La Bohème, Harlekin in Ariadne auf Naxos and the lead role in Shining Brow, Darren Hagen’s opera about Frank Lloyd Wright. Other highlights this season include Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra.

Often featured portraying opera’s “bad boy,” Rob’s operatic credits include the title roles in Eugene Onegin and Don Giovanni, as well as Marcello in La Bohème. Rob has made a specialty in Russian repertoire, performing leading roles in Rimski-Krosakov’s Tsar’s Bride, Mozart and SalieriSnow Maiden, Sadko as well as Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta. Other famous roles include Enrico in Lucia, Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro, and Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, a performance lauded for a “bright baritone and winning jitteriness” by the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

As a featured soloist, Rob performed Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer, the Duruflé Requiem with the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, and the Brahms Requiem with Portsmouth Pro Musica. Other concert credits include Carmina Burana with Columbia Pro Cantare and Brahms’s Requiem with The Washington Chorus, where Rob’s performance was lauded by the Washington Post for his “warm baritone.”

Committed to promoting and performing new works, Rob regularly premieres new roles, including Ed Wall in Frances Pollock’s award-winning opera Stinney, and Saul Hodkin/Price in The Ghost Train by Paul Crabtree. Rob’s own compositions include vocal, theatrical and orchestral pieces premiered at IngenuityFest, Andy’s Summer Playhouse, and by the Windham Orchestra in Vermont.

Rob holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and the Peabody Institute, and was a young artist with Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Teatro Nuovo, and Bel Canto at Caramoor. His awards include first place in the Sylvia Greene Vocal Competition, second place in the Piccola Opera Competition, and the Patricia A. Edwards Award in the Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition. 

Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim

Composer

STEPHEN SONDHEIM wrote the music and lyrics for Saturday Night (1954), A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (1962), ANYONE CAN WHISTLE (1964), COMPANY (1970), FOLLIES (1971), A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (1973), THE FROGS (1974), PACIFIC OVERTURES (1976), SWEENEY TODD (1979), MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (1981), SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (1984), INTO THE WOODS (1987), ASSASSINS (1991), PASSION (1994) and ROAD SHOW (2008) as well as lyrics for WEST SIDE STORY (1957), GYPSY (1959) and DO I HEAR A WALTZ? (1965) and additional lyrics for CANDIDE (1973). Anthologies of his work include SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM (1976), MARRY ME A LITTLE (1981), YOU'RE GONNA LOVE TOMORROW (1983), PUTTING IT TOGETHER (1993/99) and SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM (2010). He composed the scores of the films "Stavisky" (1974) and "Reds" (1981) and songs for "Dick Tracy" (1990) and the television production "Evening Primrose" (1966). His collected lyrics with attendant essays have been published in two volumes: "Finishing the Hat" (2010) and "Look, I Made A Hat" (2011). In 2010 the Broadway theater formerly known as Henry Miller's Theatre was renamed in his honor.

Hugh Wheeler

Hugh Wheeler

Librettist

Hugh Wheeler was a novelist, playwright and screen writer. He wrote more than thirty mystery novels under the pseudonyms Q. Patrick and Patrick Quentin, and four of his novels were transformed into films: Black Widow, Man in the Net, The Green-Eyed Monster and The Man with Two Wives. For films he wrote the screenplays for Travels with My Aunt, Something for Everyone, A Little Night Music and Nijinsky. His plays include Big Fish, Little Fish (1961), Look: We've Come Through (1961) and We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1966, adapted from the Shirley Jackson novel), he co-authored with Joseph Stein the book for a new production of the 1919 musical Irene (1973), wrote the books for A Little Night Music (1973), a new production of Candide (1973), Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979, based on a version of the play by Christopher Bond), and Meet Me in St. Louis (adapted from the 1949 M-G-M musical), contributed additional material for the musical Pacific Overtures (1976), and wrote a new adaptation of the Kurt Weill opera Silverlake, which was directed by Harold Prince at the New York Opera. He received Tony and Drama Desk Awards for A Little Night Music, Candide and Sweeney Todd. Prior to his death in 1987 Wheeler was working on two new musicals, Bodo and Fu Manchu, and a new adaptation of The Merry Widow.

Andrew Bisantz

Andrew Bisantz

Conductor

A versatile musician acknowledged for his passionate and commanding leadership from the podium, the exciting American conductor Andrew Bisantz is building an impressive roster of credits at leading national orchestras and opera companies throughout the country. As the Music Director at Eugene Opera, Bisantz has been responsible for the emergence of the company as one of the most noted and important performing arts organizations in the Pacific Northwest. In Eugene, he has conducted Don Giovanni, Le nozze di Figaro, Faust, La bohème, The Mikado, Carmen, Nixon in China, Pirates of Penzance, Dead Man Walking, Offenbach’s Orphée aux Enfers, La fanciulla del West, L’elisir d’amore, Lucia di Lammermoor, Eugene Onegin, and La traviata. This season, Bisantz will continue his post at Eugene Opera and will conduct Madama Butterfly at Opera Tampa. Last season, Bisantz conducted Tosca with Tri-Cities Opera and Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant at American Lyric Theater. Upcoming engagements include New York Stories for Florida Grand Opera and Madama Butterfly for Opera Tampa.

In recent seasons, Bisantz conducted Opera Saratoga’s production of The Consul, a concert entitled “Mozart’s Operatic Favorites” with Buffalo Philharmonic, Albert Herring at McGill University, Le Nozze di Figaro for Florida Grand Opera, Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant for American Lyric Theater, La fille du regiment with Opera Saratoga, Dialogues des Carmelites with Savannah Voice Festival, as well as his company’s productions of As One and H.M.S. Pinafore, La fanciulla del West with Virginia Opera, Macbeth for Opera Tampa, Don Giovanni with Northwestern University, and Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Eugene Opera. Notable engagements from the past few seasons include returns to Florida Grand Opera for Rigoletto, Menotti’s The Consul, and Die Zauberflöte; A Midsummer Night’s Dream at McGill University; Rigoletto at Opera Coeur d’Alene and Tri-Cities Opera; Verdi’s La traviata for Virginia Opera; Le nozze di Figaro at Opera San José; La faniciulla del West at Opera Omaha; and Don Giovanni at Savannah Voice Festival and in his début with Wolf Trap Opera. He also conducted Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 with the Boston Landmarks Orchestra under the famed Hatch Shell and sold-out performances of Rhapsody in Blue with Buffalo Philharmonic.

He made his European début conducting concerts with the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto in Porto, Portugal and returned conducting a concert of Bomtempo’s Requiem with the OSP and the Coro Casa da Música. He also recently débuted at the Brevard Music Center, conducting Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore for the Janiec Opera Company.

For his début with Boston Lyric Opera leading The Turn of the Screw, The Boston Globe selected it as one of the ten top Boston classical music events of 2010, and The Boston Musical Intelligencer noted that “Conductor Andrew Bisantz led the small group of instrumentalists with skill and an impeccable ear for balance…in those instances when the players were the focal point, especially the interludes that fall between each scene, the musicianship was effective and inspired.” He subsequently returned for productions of Tosca and Madama Butterfly.

Bisantz previously served as Associate Conductor of Florida Grand Opera (FGO). He made his FGO main stage début conducting Bizet’s Carmen for the company’s historic final performances at Miami-Dade County Auditorium. With FGO, he also conducted Suor Angelica, Pagliacci, La Cenerentola, La bohème, Don Giovanni, and Manon Lescaut. At FGO General Director Robert Heuer’s 25th Anniversary Gala, Maestro Bisantz led the FGO Orchestra in performance with notable artists such as Elizabeth Futral, Katharine Goeldner, Kyle Pfortmiller, and David Pomeroy.

Additional positions held include Assistant Conductor at Glimmerglass Opera, where he conducted Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience and Massenet’s Le portrait de Manon; Apprentice Conductor and Associate Producer of the Buffalo Philharmonic National Public Radio broadcasts; Music Director of the Florida International University Opera Theatre; and faculty member of VOICExperience, a summer voice program created by legendary baritone Sherrill Milnes and soprano Maria Zouves.

Bisantz earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Fredonia State College, where he studied piano with Robert Jordan and conducting with Grant Cooper. He completed his Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with legendary conductors such as Carl Topilow, Louis Lane, and current Music Director of New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Alan Gilbert.

Keturah Stickann

Keturah Stickann

Stage Director/Choreographer

Keturah Stickann’s work has been seen in countless opera houses across the United States and Canada, as well as in Chile, Japan, France, Germany, Hungary, and Australia. A champion of new American opera, she has worked extensively with director and librettist, Leonard Foglia, helping to bring new operas to the stage by Ricky Ian Gordon, Jennifer Higdon, Jose “Pepe” Martinez, and Jake Heggie & Gene Scheer. Her work on the premieres of Moby-Dick (2010), and It’s A Wonderful Life (2016) prompted Jake Heggie to ask her to helm the premiere of his newest opera, If I Were You (2019), at the Merola Opera Program. In addition, she has directed works by Mr. Gordon, Laura Kaminsky, Anthony Davis, and Robert Aldridge.

Stickann has a well-rounded operatic repertoire, directing new productions including Candide, La clemenza di Tito, Dialogues of the Carmelites, Don Giovanni, L’enfant et les sortileges, Jonathan Dove’s Flight, Norma, Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, Pelléas et Mélisande, The Seven Deadly Sins, Tosca, La tragédie de Carmen, and La traviata, among others.

Isaac Mizrahi

Isaac Mizrahi

Scenery & Costume Designer

Isaac Mizrahi has worked extensively in the entertainment industry as a performer, host, writer, designer and producer for over 30 years. He has an annual residency at Café Carlyle in New York City and has performed at various venues across the country such as Joe’s Pub, The Regency Ballroom and several City Winery locations nationwide. He is the subject and co-creator of Unzipped, a documentary following the making of his Fall 1994 collection which received an award at the Sundance Film Festival. He hosted his own television talk show The Isaac Mizrahi Show for seven years, has written three books, and has made countless appearances in movies and on television. He served as a judge on Project Runway: All-Stars for the series’ entire seven-season run.

Gregory Hirsch

Lighting Designer

Gregory Hirsch's multifaceted career has included nearly 400 productions divided between opera, theatre and television. Opera company production credits include Director of Production at Palm Beach Opera, Portland Opera and San Diego Opera, Production Manager and Technical Director at Dallas Opera and Tulsa Opera. His lighting designs for opera and musical theatre include the Broadway revival and multiple National Tours of Man of La Mancha, Werther, at both San Diego Opera and Opera de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, La traviata at Pittsburgh Opera, and multiple productions for Portland Opera, Florida Grand Opera, San Diego Opera and numerous Off-Broadway productions.
 

Joshua Reid Headshot

Joshua D. Reid

Sound Designer

Joshua Reid is a sound & systems designer based in New York City, with extensive work on Broadway, Off-Broadway, National Tours, International Productions, & Sound Installations. Design selections include A Christmas Carol (Broadway, Geffen Playhouse, LA Drama Critics Circle Award, LA Ovation Award), Ragtime (Calgary Philharmonic), Million Dollar Quartet (Theatre Calgary), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Tour), Girlfriend (TheatreWorks Hartford, Connecticut Critics Circle Award), A Time Like This (Carnegie Hall). Additional Broadway credit selections include: Flying Over Sunset, The Ferryman, The Iceman Cometh, Falsettos, American Psycho, The Visit, & Act One.

Alita Lopez

Alita Lopez

Wig & Makeup Designer

A native of Tucson, Alita Lopez began her career with Arizona Opera in 2001 working as a makeup artist. After just a few seasons, she became assistant to the former Wig Master. In this position she learned the art of wig building and developed her skill as a stylist. In 2010, she took on the title of Wig Master and has been overseeing the hair and makeup department at Arizona Opera ever since. In addition to managing her crew, she utilizes her creativity and talent as an artist and designer to aide each director in the realization of their vision.