History & Alumni
History
Training emerging artists is an important component of Pittsburgh Opera’s educational programs. Since the early 1990s, the Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artist training program has provided exceptionally talented artists with opportunities to improve and perfect the skills necessary to launch successful professional careers. Today, the program is internationally respected and acknowledged as one of the top five programs in the country, alongside those of San Francisco Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, and Houston Grand Opera.
The resident artists form the backbone of Pittsburgh Opera’s education program, while simultaneously gaining performance and audience experiences necessary to further their professional careers. Resident Artists serve as ambassadors for the company, touching the community through participation in programs for public schools, community centers, libraries, and corporate events. As Pittsburgh Opera has four mainstage productions each season, the Resident Artists of Pittsburgh Opera’s ongoing work in our community plays a critical role in keeping Pittsburgh Opera visible throughout the year.
Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artist training program offers emerging artists individual evaluation and training in all of the basic and specialized skills necessary for successful career advancement. Intensive vocal coaching sessions with resident vocal coaches, frequent master classes with distinguished guest artists – plus classes in stage movement, dance, and foreign languages – make the Resident Artist training regimen rigorous and comprehensive.
So that each artist receives enough highly personalized time and attention, General Director Christopher Hahn selects no more than eight artists to participate in the program each year. Participants are selected from a competitive pool of more than 600 applicants through national auditions held in New York City, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh. Each applicant must demonstrate significant operatic potential and thorough musical and theatrical training. Applicants who are granted an audition must demonstrate their versatility and proficiency in various musical styles and foreign languages by performing five contrasting arias in at least two foreign languages.
Throughout the year, the Resident Artists of Pittsburgh Opera work to introduce various communities throughout southwestern Pennsylvania to opera. Resident Artists broaden Pittsburgh Opera’s reach into the community through their ongoing performances in schools, community centers, libraries, and at corporate events. The aannual Cabaret serves as a ticketed revenue-generating event for Pittsburgh Opera patrons, as well as a production that can be marketed for corporate entertainment.
In February 2008, Resident Artists of Pittsburgh Opera presented Jonathan Dove’s Flight, an engaging comedy that had its premiere at England's Glyndebourne Festival in 1998. Reviews of the Resident Artist production at the CAPA Theater were excellent, including Robert Croan’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette assessment that, “There's not a weak link in this production. It's by far the best thing the [Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artist program] has done: an evening of total theater not to be missed.”
Alumni
Many of Pittsburgh Opera’s young Resident Artists have gone on to successful careers and have headlined at the Metropolitan Opera and some of the world's most prestigious opera houses, including:
- Marianne Cornetti – La Scala, Metropolitan, Vienna
- Rolando Villazon – Berlin, Paris, Metropolitan
- Oren Gradus – Metropolitan, Marseille, Houston
- David Miller – Broadway Boheme, La Scala
- Maria Zifchak – Metropolitan, Houston
- Kevin Glavin – San Francisco, New York City Opera
Search the database of Resident Artists Alumni.
| First Name | Last Name | Voice | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Javier | Abreu | Tenor | 2001-02 |
| Rodolfo | Acosta | Tenor | 1987 |
| Lisa | Actor | Soprano | 1990 |
| Daphne | Alderson | Mezzo | 1989 app. |
| Kate | Aldrich | Mezzo | 1998-99 |
| Francisco | Almanza | Tenor | 1999-00 |
| Reuven | Aristeguete-Senger | Tenor | 1990-91 |
| Elizabeth | Baer | Soprano | 2003-04 |
| Noah | Baetge | Tenor | 2009-10 |
| Ron | Baker | Baritone | 1989 |
| Zara | Barrett | Soprano | 2001-02 |
| Lielle | Berman | Soprano | 1998-99 |
| Valerie | Bernhardt | Soprano | 1994-95 |
| Carolyn | Betty | Soprano | 2002-03 |
| Jonathan | Beyer | Baritone | 2007-08 |
| Daniel | Billings | Baritone | 2006-07 |
| Sylvia | Bloom | Soprano | 1995-96 apprentice |
| Aaron | Borst | Bass | 1999-00 |
| Jean Marie | Braham | Soprano | 1988 |
| Greggory | Brandt | Baritone | 1991-92 apprentice |
| Daniel | Brewer | Tenor | 1986 |
| Melissa | Brezinsky | Soprano | 2000-01 |
| Judith | Burbank | Soprano | 1987 |
| Daniel | Burgin | Tenor | 1990 |
| Jennifer Casey | Cabot | Soprano | 1989 |
| Mark | Calvert | Tenor | 1999-00 |
| Rene | Carnevali | Soprano | 1988 app. |
| Karin | Caspi | Mezzo | 2001-02 |
| Patrick | Chestnut | Conductor | 1992-93 |
| Karen | Coker | Soprano | 2000-01 |
| Deborah | Cole | Soprano | 1988 |
| Jason | Collins | Tenor | 2003-04 |
| Steven | Condy | Bass | 1989 |
| George | Cordes | Bass | 1992-93 |
| David | Corman | Baritone(Tenor) | 1987 |
| Marianne | Cornetti | Mezzo | 1989 |
| Christina | Cox | Soprano | 1993-94 |
| Raul | Cragg | Baritone | 1995-96 apprentice |
| John | Daniecki | Tenor | 1986 |
| Donna | Darden-Spangler | Soprano | 1990-91 |
| Don | Davis | Baritone | 1994-95 |
| Brian | Davis | Soprano | 1990 |
| Sharon | Derstine | Soprano | 1990-91 |
| Marjorie Elinor McClean | Dix | Soprano | 1991-92 |
| Thomas | Doherty | Tenor | 1996-97 |
| Deborah | Domanski | Mezzo | 2003-04 |
| Katherine | Drago | Mezzo | 2007-08 |
| Deborah | Dunn | Mezzo | 1986 |
| Stephen | Eisenhard | Bass | 1989 |
| Teresa | Eldh | Soprano | 1986 |
| Ethelyn | Enos | Soprano | 1986 |
| Arthur | Espiritu | Tenor | 2005-06 |
| Cheryl | Evans | Soprano | 1998-99 |
| Carlos | Feliciano | Tenor | 2007-08 |
| Colm | Fitzmaurice | Tenor | 1998-99 |
| Jessica | Flint | Mezzo | 1998-99 |
| Peter Nathan | Foltz | Tenor | 2002-03 |
| John | Furman | Bass | 1989 |
| Steven | Gaudagno | Conductor | 1992-93 |
| Sondra | Gelb | Soprano | 1987 |
| Laurie | Gibson | Soprano | 1989 |
| Camille | Gifford | Mezzo | 1991-92 |
| Kevin | Glavin | Bass | 1987 |
| Deborah | Golembiski | Soprano | 1987 |
| Liliana | Gomez-Arzapalo | Soprano | 1991-92 apprentice |
| Alicia | Gonzales-Grugett | Soprano | 1986 |
| Oren | Gradus | Bass | 1997-98 |
| Barton | Green | Tenor | 1990-91 |
| Ian | Greenlaw | Baritone | 1997-98 |
| Daniel | Gross | Bass-Baritone | 2000-01 |
| Kirsten | Gunlogson | Mezzo | 2000-01 |
| Olga | Gurkovska | Mezzo | 1994-95 |
| John | Hancock | Baritone | 1989 |
| Sandra | Harmozi | Mezzo | 1990-91 |
| Robert John | Harper | Director | 1992-93 |
| Neal | Harrelson | Tenor | 1992-93 |
| Adam | Harris | Baritone | 1991-92 |
| Holli | Harrison | Mezzo | 2001-02 |
| Christina | Harrop | Soprano | 1997-98 |
| Josepth | Haughton | Tenor | 2004-05 |
| Nancy | Herrera | Mezzo | 1992-93 |
| Jonathan | Hodel | Tenor | 1995-96 |
| Jennifer | Holloway | Mezzo | 2005-06 |
| Susan | Holsonbake | Soprano | 1993-94 |
| Joel | Jameson | Baritone | 1990-91 apprentice |
| Shelley | Jammeson | Soprano | 1990-91 |
| Jane | Jennings | Soprano | 1996-97 |
| Jason | Karn | Tenor | 2005-06 |
| Meredith | Kitchin | Soprano | 1995-96 |
| Sarah | Kleeman | Mezzo | 2003-04 |
| Laura | Knoop-Very | Soprano | 1989 |
| Dean | Kokanos | Tenor | 2007-08 |
| Adrienne | Kowal | Soprano | 1990-91 |
| Krzysztof | Kowalewski | Bass-Baritone | 2002-03 |
| Andrew | Krikawa | Baritone | 1996-97 |
| Manuel | Lanza | Baritone | 1990 |
| First Name | Last Name | Voice | Class |
| Elizabeth | Lawrence | Soprano | 1992-93 |
| Marcie | Ley | Soprano | 1993-94 |
| Victoria | Litherland | Soprano | 1991-92 |
| Audrey | Luna | Soprano | 2006-07 |
| Ken | Magos | Baritone | 1991-92 |
| Johnny | Maldonado | Tenor(Counter) | 1991-92 |
| Charlene | Marcinko | Mezzo | 1993-94 |
| Randa | Marshall | Soprano | 1995-96 |
| Patricia | McAfee | Mezzo | 1990 |
| Mary Clare | McAlee | Mezzo | 1993-94 apprentice |
| Beth | McLoed | Mezzo | 1993-94 |
| Jose | Medina | Tenor | 1989 |
| Molly | Meehan | Mezzo | 1990-91 |
| David | Miller | Tenor | 1996-97 |
| Tim | Mix | Baritone | 2004-05 |
| Michael | Monnikendam | Baritone | 1994-95 apprentice |
| Brian | Moon | Baritone | 1995-96 |
| Liam | Moran | Bass-Baritone | 2007-08 |
| Matt | Morgan | Tenor | 2000-01 |
| Rosemary | Museleno | Soprano | 1989 |
| Karin | Mushegain | Soprano | 2005-06 |
| Euro | Nava | Tenor | 1993-94 |
| Rod | Nelman | Baritone | 1991-92 |
| Coleen | Neubert | Soprano | 1989 |
| Susan | Nicely | Mezzo | 1986 |
| NaGuanda | Nobles | Soprano | 2005-06 |
| Diane | Ospina | Soprano | 1997-98 |
| Coral | Owdom | Soprano | 2000-01 |
| Sean | Panikkar | Tenor | 2004-05 |
| Danielle | Pastin | Soprano | 2008-09 |
| Jon | Pescevich | Bass | 1988 |
| Patricia | Phillips | Soprano | 1989 |
| Lisa | Pierce | Soprano | 1990 |
| Rebecca | Pitcher | Soprano | 1996-97 |
| Brian | Podolny | Bariton | 1996-97 |
| Walter | Pool | Tenor | 1992-93 |
| Alvaro | Ramirez | Bass | 1995-96 |
| Dani | Raphael | Mezzo | 1990-91 |
| Jessie | Raven | Mezzo | 1996-97 |
| Jeannie | Reavel | Soprano | 1988 app. |
| Jeffrey | Reynolds | Tenor | 1988 |
| Andrew | Richards | Tenor | 1994-95 |
| Sharon | Richards | Soprano | 1996-97 |
| Cassandra | Riddle | Soprano | 1990 |
| Elizabeth | Rundlette | Soprano | 1990-91 |
| Hugh | Russell | Baritone | 1999-00 |
| Sam | Savage | Tenor | 1991-92 |
| David | Schanaurd | Baritone | 1990 |
| Mary Beth | Sederburg | Mezzo | 1997-98 |
| Deborah | Selig | Soprano | 2007-08 |
| Matthew | Shaw | Baritone | 2000-01 |
| Kevin | Short | Bass | 1987 |
| John | Shulik | Bass | 1986 |
| Heidi | Skok | Soprano | 1990-91 |
| Samuel | Smith | Bass | 1992-93 |
| Brent | Stater | Baritone | 1990-91 apprentice |
| Danielle | Strauss | Soprano | 1992-93 |
| Philipp | Sulzberger | Baritone | 2001-02 |
| Jay | Taylor | Baritone | 1986 |
| Daniel | Teadt | Baritone | 2002-03 |
| Richard | Teaster | Bass | 1996-97 |
| Eric | Thomas | Baritone | 1993-94 |
| Bronwyn | Thomas | Mezzo | 1988 |
| Helen | Todd | Soprano | 1994-95 |
| Philip | Torre | Baritone | 1999-00 |
| Timothy | Truschel | Baritone | 1989 |
| Tammy | Tyburczy | Soprano | 2004-05 |
| Charles | Unice | Bass-Baritone | 2005-05 |
| Melanie | Vaccari | Soprano | 1998-99 |
| Craig | Verm | Baritone | 2004-05 |
| Anna | Vikre | Soprano | 1991-92 |
| Rolando | Villazon | Tenor | 1998-99 |
| Diane | Walker | Soprano | 1990-91 |
| Matthew | Walley | Tenor | 1993-94 |
| Gloria Nathan | Watson | Mezzo | 1989 |
| Brent | Weber | Tenor | 1987 |
| Max | Wittges | Bass-Baritone | 1987 |
| Julie | Wolf | Soprano | 1990-91 |
| Caroline | Worra | Soprano | 1999-00 |
| Monica | Yunus | Soprano | 2002-03 |
| Maria | Zifchak | Mezzo | 1995-96 |
| Ellen | Zimmer | Soprano | 1990 |