Sonja Krenek (Tosca)
Soprano Sonja Krenek is a passionate and emotionally expressive performer described as a “powerful sumptuous soprano with a nice ‘dark’ quality.” In 2018, Ms. Krenek sang with Winter Opera St. Louis as Leïla in Les pêcheurs des perles. The summer of 2016 marked her debut as Mimì in La bohème with the Crested Butte Music Festival. She then reprised the role in October 2016 with The Colorado Symphony and will twice more reprise the role this year with Salt Marsh Opera and Barn Opera.
Ms. Krenek continues to do well in Opera Competitions around the country. In 2016 she was the Opera Division Grand Prize Winner at the Metropolitan International Music Festival Competition, the Third Prize recipient at the Gerda Lissner Foundation International Vocal Competition and a semi-finalist in the Loren L. Zachary International Vocal Competition. She is also the winner of encouragement awards from The Gerda Lissner Foundation in Opera ans well as their Lieder/Song Competition, The Giulio Gari International Voice Competition and the Opera at Florham Violetta DuPont Vocal Competition in 2015, the 2014 Second Place winner of the Peter Elvins Vocal Competition, the 2011 recipient of the Tony Cuevas Memorial Award from West Bay Opera’s Holt Competition, and the East Bay Opera League Competition Award winner in 2010. In 2012, she won the MetroWest Opera Young Artist Competition, and subsequently appeared with the company as Micaëla in Carmen.
Ms. Krenek has participated in Young Artist programs with Opera North, where she performed Greta Fiorentino in Street Scene and covered Violetta in La traviata in 2014, and Central City Opera, where she performed Monica in The Medium as a Bonfils-Stanton Studio Artist in 2012, and where she was the recipient of Central City Opera’s Yellow Rose Award for Most Outstanding Female Performer.
A dedicated concert artist, Ms. Krenek recently performed as the soprano soloist in Canciones y arias with the Lyric Unlimited, Lyric Opera of Chicago. In 2013, days after the Boston Marathon bombings, she had the honor of singing the soprano solo in a benefit concert of Brahms’ Requiem. Taking place at the MIT campus, the concert raised thousands of dollars for victims of the tragic event.
Ms. Krenek is a graduate of the Boston University Opera Institute, where she performed Mrs. Coyle in Owen Wingrave, Carolina in Il matrimonio segreto, Beatrice in Three Decembers, and produced, directed, and sang the leading role of Irena in The Seduction of a Lady as an independent project. She received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of California, Irvine and a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she appeared as Anne Trulove in The Rake’s Progress, and was the winner of the vocal concerto competition performing Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915.
JOSHUA COLLIER (CAVARADOSSI)
American tenor, Joshua Collier, praised for his “thrilling high range” and “passionate commitment to character,” was hailed as “a great Italian tenor on the make” by Boston’s Classical Scene in his June 2016 role debut as Roméo in Roméo et Juliette.
A graduate of The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (Bachelor in Music - Vocal Performance) and The New England Conservatory (Masters in Music - Vocal Performance), he has performed throughout New England and beyond in roles including: Calaf (Turandot - NERO/Clark), Rodolfo (La Boheme - Opera Ithaca), Nemorino (L’Elisir D’Amore - Opera Company of Middlebury), Mario Cavaradossi (Tosca - BARN OPERA) Chevalier de La Force (Dialogues of the Carmelites - Sarasota Opera), Calaf (Turandot - Opera Company of Middlebury), Macduff (Macbeth - Raylynmor Opera) B. F. Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly - BARN OPERA), Camille (The Merry Widow - Opera Wilmington), Tamino (Die Zauberflote - Opera New Hampshire), Tony (West Side Story - Asheville Lyric Opera), Lysander (A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Lowell House Opera), Male Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia - Opera Brittenica), Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance - Opera Providence), Fabrizio (The Light in the Piazza - Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre), among others.
In addition to the lyric stage, Mr. Collier has performed the tenor solos in much of the symphonic and oratorio repertoire including Requiem by both Verdi and Mozart, Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings (op.31), Les Illuminations de Rimbaud, Rejoice in the Lamb, Abraham and Isaac - All by Benjamin Britten, Elijah and Paulus of Mendelssohn, Handel’s Messiah, as well as Beethoven's 9th Symphony and the Coronation Mass of Mozart. He was the tenor soloist for the New England premiere of Robert Aldridge’s Parables: An Interfaith Oratorio with Bennington Choral Society.
Throughout his career he has been fortunate to work with such conductors as Cailin Marcel Manson, Nicolas Giusti, Stephen Lord, Lidiya Yankovskaya, John Moriarty, Emmanuel Plasson, James Albritten, Andy Anderson, and Michael Sakir, among others.
Mr. Collier founded the Bostonian opera company, Opera Brittenica, championing the works of Benjamin Britten, in 2013, and is currently a professor of Voice at both The University of Vermont, and Castleton campus of the Vermont State University.
For more information, please visit jrctenor.com, barnopera.com, or operavermont.com
Wayne hu (scarpia)
Taiwan-born baritone Wayne Hu has established himself as a true modern musical artist, deftly navigating across genres with his commanding vocals, nuanced musicality and magnetic stage presence. The 2013 graduate of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and receipt of the Wilfred Bain Opera Fellowship has performed roles on the main stage of over 30 opera and theatre productions across the country. Former engagements include La Fanciulla del West (Bello) and Candide (Lion/Maximilian cover) with New York City Opera, Camelot (Sir Sagrimore) and Un giorno di regno (Belfiore cover) with The Glimmerglass Festival, Tosca (Scarpia) with New Rochelle Opera, Les Misérables (Enjorlas) with Amarillo Opera and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Gaston) with Theatre by the Sea. Most recently, he was seen as Edward Rochester in Jane Eyre the musical with Off-Brand Opera at the Theatre at St. Jean's in New York. He is excited to work with Opera Vermont and looks forward to seeing where Collier, Maestro Manson, and the team will lead this company in the future.
Brian J. Alvarado (Angelotti)
Singing with "a liquid baritone of great charm," "a highly attractive legato," and "precise patter elocution" (Parterre Box), Brian J. Alvarado is an emerging interpreter of known, unknown, and new music.
This season, he makes his Midwestern debut with Opera Kansas as the title role in Mr. Twister and the Tale of Tornado Alley, and Bill Bobstay and the Captain Corcoran cover in H.M.S. Pinafore, his role debut as Cesare Angelotti in Tosca with Opera Vermont, reprises Leporello in Don Giovanni with Amore Opera and an abridged version with Off-Brand Opera, returns to Bronx Opera as Filiberto and Simone in their double-bill of Il Signor Bruschino and Gianni Schicchi, and sings in La Vestale with Teatro Grattacielo. He also appears in concert with the Philadelphia Chorale, as a vocal mentor with National Children's Choir, and in film as Thésée in Hippolyte et Aricie with Brooklyn Telemann Chamber Society.
In 2023, he made debuts as Eugene Johnson in the Colorado premiere of Scott Davenport Richards' Blind Injustice at Opera Theatre of the Rockies, Tom in Un ballo in maschera with Opera Project Columbus, Betto in Gianni Schicchi with SAS Concert Opera, Frosch and Frank in Ridgewood G&S Opera Company and New Rochelle Opera's respective productions of Die Fledermaus, covered Leporello in Don Giovanni with Light Opera of New Jersey, reprised Sciarrone in Tosca with Garden State Opera, and joined the inaugural roster of the New York Philharmonic Chorus.
In recent seasons, he has performed traditional roles such as Leporello in Don Giovanni with Bronx Opera, Long Island Lyric Opera, and Lighthouse Opera, both The Magic Flute’s Papageno with Opera Theatre of Montclair and the Speaker with Barn Opera, Schaunard in La bohéme with Amore Opera and Regina Opera, Dandini in La Cenerentola with Bay View Music Festival and Opera Theatre of Montclair, and Sciarrone in Tosca with New Rochelle Opera, Long Island Lyric Opera, and Amore Opera.
His early music and baroque roles include Nettuno in La liberazione di Ruggierowith dell’Arte Opera Ensemble (for which Oberon’s Grove praised his "voice of power and warmth"), Melisso in Alcina with OperaRox Productions, Seneca in Killer Queen Opera's filmed production of L'incoronazione di Poppea, the Adonis cover in Venus and Adonis with New Camerata Opera, and Caronte in L'Orfeo with the New York City Guitar Orchestra.
Roles within the realm of Operetta and Musical Theatre include the title role in The Sorcerer and Ludwig in The Grand Duke with Utopia Opera, Pish-Tush in The Mikado with Bronx Opera, a "sonorous" Baron de Pictordu in Cendrillon with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble (Limelight Magazine), Cascada in The Merry Widowat the Minuetto Music Festival, Lopez in El Barbero de Sevilla with New Camerata Opera, Magaldi in Evita at the Bay View Music Festival, Lieutenant Barri in Passion and Bob the Saw in Threepenny Opera at Susquehanna University, and the title role in Sweeney Todd with City Island Theatre.
Additional roles include a "vulnerable" Farář/Jezevec in Příhody lišky Bystroušky with dell'Arte Opera Ensemble (Opera News), Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette with West Side Opera, Kuno and the Ottokar cover in Der Freischütz, and Corporal Nym and the George Page Cover in Sir John in Love with Bronx Opera, Fiorello in Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Silvano in Un Ballo in Maschera with Amore Opera, Truffaldin in Ariadne auf Naxos, the Sheriff in Martha, Jacob in The Ballad of Baby Doe, and the Captain and Zaretzky in Eugene Onegin with Utopia Opera, Vergil’s Ghost in Rachmaninoff’s Francesca da Rimini with Garden State Opera, the Tsarevich Afron cover in Zolotoy Petushok with New Opera NYC, the Alcade/Chirurgo cover in La forza del destino with New Amsterdam Opera, Simone in Gianni Schicchi at Susquehanna University, and all of the bass clef comprimarios in Empire Opera's Macbeth concert.
He has premiered the soloist role in the virtual premiere of Steven Sérpa's American Prize finalist micro-opera these wings are meant to fly with Thompson Street Opera Company, Le Grand Ecuyer/Secretary of Commerce in Whitney George's opera film Julie with Camerataworks, Billy Eckstine in Richard Thompson’s Jazz opera Sassy with Trilogy Opera Company at the NJPAC, Donald Wilkinson in Francine Trester’s chamber opera Keepers of the Light at the Nahant Music Festival, Mark Greene in Transportation Transformation during WNYC/WQXR's 10th anniversary celebration at Greene Space, Rey 3 in the American premiere of Jose Luis Gonzalez Moya’s nativity opera El Rey Nacio, and the Murdered Man in Kris McCormick’s chamber opera In a Grove with the Susquehanna New Music Ensemble. He appeared chorally in Center for Contemporary Opera's workshop of Niloufar Nourbakhsh's We, the Innumerable at National Sawdust. He has additionally workshopped multiple roles in Cecil Price Walden’s The Contract Player, Nick Scarim’s Sick!, and Alicia Lieu’s Unwrapping Fortune, and covered the 90th birthday premiere of Thea Musgrave’s baritone monodrama La Vida es Sueno.
In concert, he has sung bass solos in Handel’s Messiah (Susquehanna University Symphony Orchestra; Brooklyn Contemporary Chorus), Bach’s BWV 147 (St. Peter’s Bach Collegium), Keiser’s Markuspassion (Nahant Music Festival), Haydn’s Nicolaimesse (Musikapiphany), Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore (Continuo Arts Symphonic Choir), Gounod’s St. Cecilia Mass(Collegiate Singers), and Schubert's Messe in G (Susquehanna University Choir).
Chorally, he has sung with Teatro Nuovo, Teatro Grattacielo, Juilliard Opera, New Amsterdam Opera, Orchestra of the Bronx, Civic Chorale of NJ, Continuo Arts Symphonic Choir, Collegiate Singers, St. Peter’s Bach Collegium, Lyrica Classic, MuSE Chorus, Sonaré, Susquehanna University’s Choir, Chorale, and Chamber Singers, and the Philadelphia Chorale.
Straight theatre credits include an “excellent” Davey Battle in Take Me Out(OnstageBlog), and Aide Turkle/Technician in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at the Bijou Theatre, a Venticelli in Amadeus, Bill in Sure Thing, and Mark in The Chalky White Substance at the Degenstein Theatre, and Feste in Twelfth Night.
Brian has been an Apprentice Artist at Teatro Nuovo, a Young Artist with dell'Arte Opera Ensemble, a Vocal Apprentice at the Nahant Music Festival, a Student Artist at the Bay View Music Festival, an Emerging Artist at the Minuetto Music Festival, and has participated in outreach performances for children with Bronx Opera, Opera Theatre of Montclair, and Prelude Opera. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing at Susquehanna University, and currently resides in his native New York City.
Kartik ayysola (Spoletta)
Kartik Ayysola is an active classical tenor based in the Greater Boston Area. Most recently, he sang the role of Tamino in Opera51's concert production of Die Zauberflöte. In addition, he has also been seen as Alfred in Die Fledermaus, the title role of Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, Brighella in Ariadne auf Naxos, Borsa in Rigoletto, Don Basilio and Don Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro, Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte, and has covered the roles of Oronte in Alcina, and the title role of Le Comte Ory. In addition to opera, Kartik has also performed in oratorio as well, such as Saint-Saëns's Oratorio de Noël, Mozart's Spatzenmesse and Krönungmesse, and Handel's Messiah.
In addition, Kartik has also recently branched out into musical theater, beginning with Fakir in The Secret Garden and the Ziegfeld Tenor in Funny Girl.
Kartik holds the Master of Music degree from Boston University, studying with Dr. Jerrold Pope, and the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, studying with Dr. Joseph Baunoch. He currently studies voice under Bradley Williams.
liam shannon (Sacristan)
Baritone Liam Shannon has been praised by the South Florida Classical Review for his “strong” voice. He has performed roles such as Ping in Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot, Elviro in G.F. Händel’s Serse, The Minskman in Jonathan Dove’s Flight, The Ferryman in Benjamin Britten’s Curlew River, Artemidore/Ubalde in Jean Baptiste-Lully’s Armide, and Antonio in W.A. Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. He has performed as a soloist with Opera Vermont, the New England Repertory Orchestra, the Utah Valley Vocal Arts Academy, Miami Classical Music Festival, Opera Lucca Festival, and the Bennington County Choral Society.
Liam recently graduated with his Master of Music in Vocal Arts & Opera from the USC Thornton School of Music where he studied with renowned voice teacher, Lynn Helding
Claire black (piano)
Noted as “a fine pianist with substantial, crystal-clear technique, plenty of power, yet with a sensitive musicality and a penchant for lyricism” (James Lowe, Times Argus), Claire Black is an active performer of classical music as both a collaborator and soloist. Her passion for chamber music synergizes with abundant experience, including many seasons of performance tours with the Stellaria Trio, Vermont Virtuosi, Cialde Quintet, and the Elegua Duo. Ms. Black’s latest solo projects spotlight works by Clara Schumann. She won Second Prize in the 2022 International Clara Schumann Competition.
Though 2019 found Ms. Black in Spokane, WA, where she served for a year on the faculty and as staff accompanist at Whitworth University, her musical life has been based in Burlington, VT, for the better part of a decade. Widely in demand for her work with vocal and instrumental soloists, choirs, and opera productions, Ms. Black plays for Barn Opera of Brandon, VT, and accompanies the Burlington Choral Society. She traces her collaborative roots to Baldwin Wallace University (BWU), where she kept an extensive roster of clients as a staff accompanist and coach. While at BWU, she also worked closely with soprano Jane Eaglen, who selected Ms. Black as pianist for her Wagner Intensive summer institute.
An avid educator, Ms. Black specializes in intermediate- and advanced-level instruction as she fosters 30 young pianists in her bustling private studio. Past teaching engagements include positions at Middlebury Community Music Center, Oberlin Conservatory Community Music School, and the piano festival Summer Sonata.
Ms. Black trained with Dr. Robert Mayerovitch at BWU, and with Margarita Shevchenko at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees. Ms. Black is an alumna of the Tanglewood Institute, Eastern Music Festival, Brevard Music Center, and the Tuckamore Festival of St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Cailin marcel manson (conductor)
Cailin Marcel Manson, baritone and conductor, a Philadelphia native, has toured as a soloist and master teacher at major concert venues throughout the United States, Europe and Asia with many organizations, including the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart, SWR Sinfonieorchester, Taipei Philharmonic, Bayerische Staatsoper - Münchner Opernfestspiele, Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Teatro La Fenice, Teatro San Carlo, Konservatorium Oslo, and the Conservatoire de Luxembourg.
He has also been a guest cantor and soloist at some of the world’s most famous churches and cathedrals, including Notre Dame, Sacré-Coeur, and La Madeleine in Paris, San Marco in Venice, Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, San Salvatore in Montalcino, Santa Maria Maggiore and San Giovanni in Laterano in Rome, Thomaskirche and Nikolaikirche in Leipzig, and Wieskirche in Steingaden.
Cailin has held positions as Music Director of the Vorarlberger Musikfest, Music Director and Conductor Laureate of the Chamber Symphony of Atlantic City, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Montgomery County Youth Orchestra, Chair of Vocal Studies at the Hazleton Conservatory for the Performing Arts, Director of Music at The Putney School, and as Music Director of the Bennington County Choral Society. He has also served as a member of the faculty of the Vermont Governor's Institute on the Arts and the Performing Arts Institute of Wyoming Seminary. He also founded and directed the Germantown Institute for the Vocal Arts and the Germantown Concert Chorus.
Cailin is a frequent guest conductor, clinician, presenter, panelist, and adjudicator for conventions, conferences, competitions, and music festivals. Cailin studied voice performance at Temple University, and opera performance and orchestral conducting at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg.