Emily Newton Soprano

Fiordiligi Emerald Cast: November 10, 12, 17, 19 Lake Jackson, TX

Soprano Emily Newton is from Lake Jackson, TX.  She began the 2011-12 season as Mimì in La Bohème with Amarillo Opera, and will return to Opera in the Heights as Anna Bolena later this season, as well as to the Metropolitan Opera for Wagner’s Ring and Mussorgsky’s Khovanschina.  Last season Ms. Newton made her company debut as Elisabetta in Don Carlo with Opera in the Heights.  Recent appearances include Micaëla, Antonina, Donna Anna, and Beatrice di Tenda. www.emilynewton.com

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Sarah Beckham Soprano

Fiordiligi (Oh! Debut) Ruby Cast: November 11, 18, 20 Amarillo, TX

Sarah Beckham has performed with opera companies throughout the country including Sarasota Opera, Opera New Jersey, New York Lyric Opera, Lake George Opera and Amarillo Opera where she sang Fiodiligi in Così fan tutte and Elena in The Italian Straw Hat. This season Miss Beckham sings Mimi in La bohème and Countess in Le nozze di Figaro with Center City Opera of Philadelphia and she returns to Opera New Jersey to sing Josephine in HMS Pinafore. www.sarahbeckham.com

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Ann Sauder Mezzo-soprano

Dorabella (Oh! Debut) All performances Peoria, IL, currently Austin, TX

Ann Sauder received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she performed multiple roles, including Sesto in Giulio Cesare and Hansel in Hansel and Gretel. She has also performed with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and has participated in the Brevard Music Festival and Sugar Creek Symphony and Song apprentice programs. Ann currently resides in Austin, Texas, and has sung the roles of Annina in La traviata, and Zulma in L’Italiana in Algeri with the Austin Lyric Opera.

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Jennifer Whalen Soprano

Despina (Oh! Debut) Emerald Cast: November 10, 12, 17, 19 Houston, TX

Jennifer’s recent roles include Lucy-fer in the world premiere of Hans in Luck, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Gretel and the Dew Fairy in Hansel and Gretel, Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring, and Monica in The Medium. She has been a young artist apprentice with Opera in the Ozarks and Sugar Creek Symphony and Song. Jennifer holds degrees from Indiana University and Baylor University and resides in Houston, Texas.

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Rebecca Heath Soprano

Despina (Oh! Debut) Ruby Cast: November 11, 18, 20 Houston, TX

Rebecca Heath, Australian-American soprano has continued to gain acclaim as a promising young opera singer. Winner of the Gerald R. Bischof Audience Choice Award and finalist at the 2010 Lois Alba Aria Competition, Ms. Heath has performed the roles of Matilde Neruda in Il Postino, 2nd Lady in The Magic Flute, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Nedda in Pagliacci, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Suor Angelica in Suor Angelica, Susan B. Anthony in The Mother of Us All, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro. www.heathsisters.com

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Emanuel-Cristian Caraman Tenor

Ferrando (Oh! Debut) Emerald Cast: November 10, 12, 17, 19 Bucharest, Romania, currently South Bend, IN

Throughout the 2010-2011 season, tenor Emanuel-Cristian Caraman has performed with opera companies, symphony orchestras, and on the recital stage in South Bend, IN, Chicago, New York, Düsseldorf, Baden and Vienna. Operatic highlights include Rodolfo in La Bohème, Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni and Tamino in Die Zauberflote. Born in Bucharest, Romania, Mr. Caraman has received a Bachelor of Arts from Bethel College IN, a Masters of Music from Indiana University and a PhD from the National University of Music in Bucharest, Romania. www.emanuelcristiancaraman.com

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Zach Averyt Tenor

Ferrando (Oh! Debut) Ruby Cast: November 11, 18, 20 Houston, TX

Tenor Zach Averyt is a Texas native and holds performance degrees from both Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston.  He has sung leading roles in operas by Rossini, Offenbach, Charpentier and Mozart, including a recent production of The Magic Flute.  Later this season, Mr. Averyt will appear in two productions with the Grammy-nominated Ars Lyrica, and also sings Lord Percy in the upcoming Oh! production of Anna Bolena.

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Kevin Wetzel Baritone

Guglielmo Emerald Cast: November 10, 12, 17, 19

Known for his “sturdy, warm-voiced baritone” and “admirably finished product” (Tim Smith, Baltimore Sun), Kevin’s appearances include Samuel in Pirates of Penzance, Morales and Le Dancaïre in Carmen, the Mandarin in Turandot, and Montano in Otello, with Arizona Opera; Renato in Un ballo in maschera with Opera in the Heights; Assan in The Consul, and the Commissionario in La traviata, with Glimmerglass Opera, the Imperial Commissioner in Madama Butterfly with Baltimore Opera Company; and Junius in The Rape of Lucretia with Peabody Opera, among others.

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Brian Shircliffe Baritone

Guglielmo Ruby Cast: November 11, 81, 20 Houston, TX

The San Antonio native has performed with numerous opera companies including Houston Grand Opera, Dayton Opera, Lake George Opera, Pine Mountain Music Festival, Utah Festival Opera and Opera in the Heights. Recent roles include Zurga in Les pêcheurs de perles, Don Carissimo in La Dirindina, and created the role of Mark in the world’s first Mariachi opera, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna, with the Houston Grand Opera. Brian holds a Master’s of Music from The University of Houston’s Moores School of Music and teaches voice at San Jacinto College.

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Erik Kroncke Bass

Don Alfonso All performances Waterbury, VT

Erik Kroncke’s unique bass voice has been in demand all over the world.  His repertoire includes Sarastro in Die Zaubeflöte, Gremin in Eugene Onegin, Mephistopheles in Faust, Hunding in Die Walküre, and Boris in Boris Godunov; with the Sarasota Opera, Opera San José, Chautauqua Opera, Green Mountain Opera, Opera Fort Collins, and Lyric Opera Virginia. A numerous award winner, he has also appeared with the New York Philharmonic, Korean Philharmonic, Sarasota Opera Orchestra, and the Chautauqua Symphony. www.erikkronckebass.com