Elaine Alvarez

soprano

Critics have called Cuban-American soprano Elaine Alvarez’s voice “luminous” and have said that “conveying lyric pathos seems to come as naturally to Alvarez as breathing.” She has recently performed as Mimi in La Boheme with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera Frankfurt and Arizona Opera, Micaela in Carmen with Florida Grand Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago, Violetta in La traviata with Bayerische Staatsoper, Contessa Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera Cleveland, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Oper Leipzig, and as Magda in La rondine with Oper Frankfurt. Notable performances on the concert stage include Rossini's Stabat Mater with the Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino under Riccardo Muti, her Carnegie Hall debut as a featured performer in the Marilyn Horne Foundation’s Annual Recital, and her recital debut at the Kennedy Center for the Vocal Arts Society.

Lisa Daltirus *

soprano

Career highlights for soprano Lisa Daltirus, who exudes a “tangible electricity” when performing, include Cilla in Margaret Garner with New York City Opera, the title roles of Tosca and Aida with Seattle Opera, and Serena in Porgy and Bess with Washington National Opera. She sang Leonora in Il Trovatore with Seattle Opera, Bess in Porgy and Bess with Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as leading roles with Opera Natinoale de Nancy, Boston Lyric Opera and Opera Company of Philadelphia, among others. With repertoire ranging from Mahler to Barber to Verdi and Mozart, her concert appearances have included engagements with the Chicago Sinfonietta, Philadelphia Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival, and at the Concertgebouw, Avery Fisher Hall and Carnegie Hall.

Brenda Harris

soprano

One of America's finest sopranos, Brenda Harris has appeared in leading roles with many of the world's most prominent opera companies and orchestras. Praised for her “drop dead gorgeous singing, soaring on high, glowing with mezzo-ish warmth in lower registers,” recent roles include Odabella in Attila, Leonora in Fidelio, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Elizabeth in Maria Stuarda, and the title role in Norma. She has performed with The Metropolitan Opera, Teatro Massimo in Palermo, Italy, Washington National Opera, Arizona Opera, Minnesota Opera, New York City Opera, Opera du Rhin in Strasbourg, Utah Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Opera Pacific, the Canadian Opera Company, Edmonton Opera and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, among others. Highlights from her concert career include engagements with the Utah Symphony, Austin Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, and Buffalo Philharmonic.

Leah Partridge

soprano

Georgia native, Soprano Leah Partridge has received consistent praise world-wide for her compelling stage presence and intelligent interpretations of opera’s most beloved characters. Hailed for her “clarity, accuracy and poise,” and for her “lovely presence and shining voice,” she has recently performed with The Metropolitan Opera as the First Niece in Peter Grimes, La Charmeuse in Thais and Marie in La fille du Regiment. Additional performances have taken her to the stages of the Semper Oper in Dresden, Germany, Florida Grand Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Pittsburgh Opera, Atlanta Opera and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. As a concert soloist she has performed with the Atlanta Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, and San Diego Symphony among others.

Amanda Squitieri *

soprano

Praised for being “one of the most engaging singers of the younger generation,” Soprano Amanda Squitieri recently created the role of Beatrice Russo in Daniel Catan’s Il Postino in the World Premiere performances at Los Angeles Opera, sang Catherine in A View from the Bridge with Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Esmeralda in The Bartered Bride for her debut with Opéra National de Paris at the Palais Garnier, and Lisette in La rondine with Los Angeles Opera. Additional highlights for the soprano include Anne in A Little Night Music at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Adina in L’elisir d’amore at Michigan Opera Theatre, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Zerlina in Don Giovanni conducted by Plácido Domingo, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, and Papagena in Die Zauberflöte all with Washington National Opera. Further leading roles have taken her to the stages of the Spoleto Festival USA, Theater An der Wien, Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, the Festival Internacional Cervantino in Mexico and Teatro Municipal in Santiago, Chile.

Mary Wilson

soprano

Soprano Mary Wilson is acknowledged as one of today's most exciting and sought-after artists.  Receiving consistent critical acclaim from coast to coast, “she proves why many in the opera world are heralding her as an emerging star. She is simply amazing, with a voice that induces goose bumps and a stage presence that is mesmerizing. She literally stole the spotlight…” A consummate concert artist, she has appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, University Musical Society, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, among many others. An especially exciting interpreter of Baroque repertoire, she has performed with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Boston Baroque, Musica Angelica, American Bach Soloists, Grand Rapids Bach Festival, Bach Society of St. Louis, Baltimore Handel Choir, Florida Bach Festival, and the Carmel Bach Festival. On the opera stage, she is especially noted for, among others, her portrayals of Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, Susannah in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Gilda in Rigoletto.

Monica Yunus

soprano

Equally at home in concert, recital or on the operatic stage, soprano Monica Yunus is quickly establishing herself as one of America's most promising young sopranos. A recent critic proclaimed her “rich and sonorous voice was utterly captivating.” A favorite of The Metropolitan Opera, she has appeared in their productions of The Enchanted Island, Manon, Don Giovanni, Die Zauberflöte, Le comte Ory, and La Rondine. Highlights of recent performances include Oscar in Ballo in Maschera with Washington National Opera, the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro with Opera Omaha, Norina in Don Pasquale with Opera Memphis, as well as leading roles with the Syracuse Opera, Arizona Opera, and the Spoleto Festival USA. Engagements on the concert stage have taken her from the Tilles Center in New York, to the University of Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala City, to The Al Bustan International Festival of Music and Arts in Beirut, Lebanon, and to The Jordan Festival where she performed in concert with Placido Domingo. Ms. Yunus is also the Co-Director of Sing for Hope, a non-profit organization that mobilizes artists in volunteer service to benefit communities in need.