Get to know our 2026-27 Resident Artists

Bridget is sponsored by Pleasure & Christopher Dinsdale.

The place are you from and what do you get pleasure from most about Colorado? Whereas I’ve moved round loads, I’m initially from the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Colorado is wonderful and I loved making the most of the varied artwork scenes and performances, be it Wiz Khalifa on the Purple Rocks to DU’s manufacturing of Die Fledermaus. There’s all the time one thing to do!

What position are you most trying ahead to performing with us this season? I’m most trying ahead to study-covering Despina in The Faculty for Lovers (Così fan tutte) and studying model new music for Earth to Kenzie and The Snowy Day.

Inform us a few spotlight out of your summer season. This summer season, my little sister received married! Congratulations, Rory. I additionally spent 3 months in Maine working and acting at Quisisana Resort. The lake was gorgeous, and I made some wonderful mates.

What drew you to Opera Colorado and our Artist in Residence Program? I used to be drawn to the corporate and program for its thrilling concepts and new alternatives. My first yr as an Artist in Residence taught me a lot about myself; it was thrilling to see my musicianship expertise and my confidence as an actor proceed to settle. I can’t anticipate what yr 2 will carry and sit up for making new connections and rising much more as an artist.

What’s your dream position? I nonetheless have the identical dream roles as final yr, that are Lucia from Donizetti’s Lucia di Lamermoor and Christine Daaé from The Phantom of the Opera.

What was your first opera expertise? My first publicity to opera was Risë Stevens’ portrayal of Carmen within the movie Going My Means starring Bing Crosby.

What film, TV present, ebook, or album are you at present obsessing over? I’m at present obsessing over Home of the Dragon season 3.

What’s your favourite non-opera associated interest? My favourite non-opera associated interest is lifting weights within the gymnasium! I additionally love studying, particularly fantasy, although I’m going by way of phases with it. Sleep.

Emily is sponsored by Gayle Landis.

The place are you from and what excites you about Colorado? I’m initially from Lantana, which is in South Florida, however have been dwelling in Chicago since 2021. I’m excited for all of the out of doors adventures I’m hoping to fill my free time with, making new mates in Colorado, and discovering small companies and unbiased artists to assist whereas I’m right here.

What position are you most trying ahead to performing with us this season? I’m actually excited for Edwin in our touring manufacturing, Earth to Kenzie. I really feel that so typically, I’m singing very critical characters with heavy themes, however Edwin goes to be an ideal alternative to discover how a personality can nonetheless convey emotional themes however by way of journey and silliness as Kenzie’s online game avatar.

Inform us a few spotlight out of your summer season. My summer season was fairly enjoyable, stuffed with experiencing some quintessential Chicago issues earlier than relocating. My favourite days are all the time picnicking in one of many parks or on the seaside alongside Lake Michigan, which I attempted to do a variety of this summer season.

What drew you to Opera Colorado and our Artist in Residence Program? I had heard fantastic issues concerning the individuals concerned within the present Artist in Residence program, which was an enormous draw, in addition to the employees’s objective of all the time striving to assist and create fruitful alternatives for the Resident Artists. I’m additionally a agency believer in retaining the humanities accessible to as many individuals as attainable, which is a worth shared by Opera Colorado and I’m excited to see how that manifests within the firm by way of issues like training and group programming.

What’s your dream position? I’m actually grateful that I used to be in a position to sing my dream position, Suor Angelica (from Puccini’s Suor Angelica), in grad college. I’d fortunately sing that position again and again. Puccini’s writing is so lovely, and I believe a variety of girls might in all probability see themselves in Angelica, whether or not within the standing as an outsider in her group, in her longing to be a mom, or in vulnerability all through the opera. She’s going to without end be a dream position of mine.

What was your first opera expertise? My first opera expertise and what helped me determine I need to pursue it for the remainder of my life was a program for prime schoolers at Palm Seaside Opera known as PBO Studio. They gave the scholars voice classes, assigned opera scenes to sing, gave us entry to sit down in at rehearsals, and supplied tickets to the performances. It was from the assistance and mentoring of the employees that I noticed I’ve a voice and skillset that will swimsuit opera and classical singing. I’m so grateful for a way a lot opera I used to be uncovered to in highschool by way of their program.

What film, TV present, ebook, or album are you at present obsessing over? I just lately found a songwriter named Annabelle Dinda who launched an album this yr known as Some Issues By no means Go away. I instantly fell in love along with her music and attended a present on her first ever tour this summer season. I’m additionally all the time obsessing over Studio Ghibli movies like Ponyo, Howl’s Shifting Citadel, Princess Mononoke. They’re stuffed with nostalgia for me and the animation is so lovely.

What’s your favourite non-opera associated interest? I like artwork and artwork historical past, so I’m steadily watching video essays, studying books, and doing analysis on artwork and style. One in every of my favourite locations in Chicago is the Artwork Institute, and I’ve spent many a day there taking a look at artwork till my eyes get drained.

Xiao is sponsored by Larry & Cynthia Chan and Marcia Ragonetti Bel Canto Fund.

The place are you from and what excites you about Colorado? I’m initially from Changsha within the Hunan province of China, and I’ve heard Colorado has about 300 days of sunshine every year. As somebody who loves brilliant, sunny days, I really feel so excited!

What position are you most trying ahead to performing with us this season? Woman in Ready in Macbeth. It’ll be my first Verdi position and my Opera Colorado debut, so it appears like a extremely particular milestone. I’ve all the time liked Verdi’s music, and I’m excited to lastly carry out it.

Inform us a few spotlight out of your summer season. A spotlight of my summer season has been returning to the Glimmerglass Competition for my second season. It’s been so rewarding to reunite with acquainted colleagues whereas additionally assembly so many new mates. A very thrilling expertise has been masking Suzuki in Madama Butterfly. It’s my first time engaged on the position, and I’ve realized a lot from being a part of the rehearsal course of and collaborating with the inventive crew. Total, it’s been a summer season stuffed with studying, friendship, and fantastic music.

What drew you to Opera Colorado and our Artist in Residence Program? I used to be drawn to Opera Colorado due to its excellent popularity, the thrilling repertoire, and the Artist in Residence Program’s dedication to growing well-rounded artists. I additionally love that the corporate is a part of such a vibrant metropolis. Having the ability to develop as an artist whereas dwelling in lovely Colorado made the chance much more thrilling.

What’s your dream position? I’d say Charlotte in Massenet’s Werther. I like how emotionally layered she is—she’s robust, compassionate, and continuously balancing obligation along with her personal emotions. Massenet’s music is so lovely, and I believe it’s a job that enables each vocal heat and deep storytelling, which is one thing I actually worth as a performer.

What was your first opera expertise? My first opera expertise was watching Mozart’s The Magic Flute after I was a school pupil in Beijing. The music was in German​, whereas the spoken dialogue was in Chinese language, so it was a beautiful introduction to opera. I used to be instantly drawn to Mozart’s lovely music and acknowledged so lots of the well-known melodies. I bear in mind leaving the theater considering, “I need to do that sometime.” Trying again, it’s wonderful to comprehend that opera has now turn out to be my profession.

What film, TV present, ebook, or album are you at present obsessing over? I like TV sequence and films, just lately I simply completed 911 season 9 and Matlock, nonetheless on Gray’s Anatomy season 10!

What’s your favourite non-opera associated interest? Touring and pictures.

Mason is sponsored by Arline Echandia, Lynn Harrington, and Kenneth & Barbara Laff.

The place are you from and what do you get pleasure from most about Colorado? This might be my fourth yr dwelling within the entrance vary! I’m from Memphis Tennessee, and I moved to Denver for Graduate college. My favourite issues about Colorado are the climate, the mountains, and going to Rockies video games!

What position are you most trying ahead to performing with us this season? I’m completely stoked to carry out as Daddy/Tim in The Snowy Day. It’s only a deal with to placed on a mainstage opera for households or people of all ages.

Inform us a few spotlight out of your summer season. Lastly attending to spend some high quality time and play a couple of rounds of golf with my dad and mom again house in Memphis.

What drew you to Opera Colorado and our Artist in Residence Program? I’m so excited to be again for my second yr. Opera Colorado has actually given me a superb outlet to be myself on and off the stage. The Colorado group is actually a house to me. I’ve by no means as soon as felt misplaced or unwelcome. I really feel grounded and all the time prepared to present my all.

What’s your dream position? My dream position is completely Marcello in Puccini’s La bohème. I need to carry out the position 500 occasions. I might additionally like to in the future sing Rigoletto in Verdi’s Rigoletto.

What was your first opera expertise? My first opera expertise was in 2017 after I was chosen to be a chorister in Opera Memphis’s La traviata whereas in highschool. I had been finding out classical voice, however I used to be an enormous musical theater buff and was so “inexperienced” to the idea of being in an opera. It modified my life!

What film, TV present, ebook, or album are you at present obsessing over? My girlfriend and I’ve been watching Hacks on HBO Max, we actually prefer it! I’ve additionally been shamelessly rewatching all the Pokémon anime as properly…

What’s your favourite non-opera associated interest? Attending sporting occasions! I’m an enormous fan of the NBA, outdated and new. Whereas I’ll all the time be keen on my Memphis Grizzlies, I actually get pleasure from going to Nuggets video games each time I’ve the time. I’ve additionally turn out to be an enormous Rockies fan in my time right here!

Connor is sponsored by Denver Guide Society, Prem & Stephanie Subramanian, and Jill & Tim Wayne.

The place are you from and what excites you about Colorado? I’m from Hagerstown, MD. I’m excited to discover the mountains and stay music scene.

What are you most trying ahead to engaged on with us this season? I’m actually trying to engaged on Macbeth and The Snowy Day.

Inform us a few spotlight of your summer season.  Spending time with mates within the lovely Minnesota lakes space and the Wisconsin Dells.

What drew you to Opera Colorado and our Artist in Residence Program? I used to be drawn to Opera Colorado by its number of repertoire and plentiful efficiency alternatives for me.

What’s your dream piece to carry out? Choosing one is not possible: Richard Strauss’ Elektra, Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, and Verdi’s Otello can be dream items to conduct for his or her dramatic depth, scale, and orchestration.

What was your first opera expertise? In highschool, I ran the supertitles for a neighborhood firm’s manufacturing of Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore.

What film, TV present, ebook, or album are you at present obsessing over? I’ve been listening to Jackie Evans’ EP A lot of the Time, Jean by YEBBA, and LOVED by Parcels.

What’s your favourite non-opera associated interest? Mountain climbing, studying, and consuming sushi. That’s a interest, proper?

Diane is sponsored by Donald Okay. Braden and Ayliffe & Fred Ris.

The place are you from and what excites you about Colorado? I’m a California woman making Chicago my house. I’m very excited that my soon-to-be sister-in-law and her household are shifting to Colorado on the similar time I’m! We’ve got plans for a lot of a Nationwide Park outing along with her household.

What are you most trying ahead to engaged on with us this season? Engaged on Macbeth! Will probably be my first Verdi opera and I’m SOOO psyched. As an enormous fan of Halloween, I anticipate this yr to really feel additional spooky and witchy.

Inform us a few spotlight of your summer season. This summer season feels particularly fantastic as a result of my accomplice Holly and I received engaged! She proposed to me on the Garfield Park Conservatory subsequent to the koi pond. After telling our households her nephew requested, “so they’re going to be a no boy household?” to which we stated sure. (See Diane’s engagement image within the gallery beneath!)

What drew you to Opera Colorado and our Artist in Residence Program? It’s all due to Kendra Inexperienced, Opera Colorado’s Manufacturing Stage Supervisor! She couldn’t have had higher issues to say concerning the firm, and I used to be wanting to work alongside her once more.

What’s your dream piece to direct? I’m dying to direct Verdi’s Falstaff set in a frat home, full with a beer pong ballet. No additional rationalization wanted.

What was your first opera expertise? My father fondly remembers taking me to see Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance as a bit of woman. Apparently, I liked the primary act and promptly fell asleep throughout the second.

What film, TV present, ebook, or album are you at present obsessing over? I’m an enormous reader, particularly of romantasy. So clearly I’m chomping on the bit for Sarah J. Maas’ new novels to come back out.

What’s your favourite non-opera associated interest? My fiancée and I like board video games, and we’ve actually gotten into this solo participant recreation known as Ultimate Woman, that we prefer to play collaboratively. The sport has totally different locales and killers and a wide range of distinctive methods for the killer to knock off civilians.

See them in motion!

Artist in Residence Showcase
Saturday, September 26 at 7:00 p.m.
The Ellie Caulkins Opera Home