Get to know our 2024-25 Artists in Residence

What excites you about Colorado? I’m most excited to work with the singers and music workers at Opera Colorado, each resident and visiting! I’m additionally very excited to discover Colorado and work in such a phenomenal place.

What are you most wanting ahead to performing with us this season? I’m actually wanting ahead to the Scholar Matinee of Daughter of the Regiment. Marie has been a dream function of mine since I began singing, and attending to work on this present with Opera Colorado is actually a dream! I even have an enormous ardour for group engagement, so I’m excited to proceed studying how Opera Colorado entails audiences, and to be part of that!

What’s your dream function? Do I’ve to select one?? I used to be fortunate to sing Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos just a few years in the past, and would LOVE to revisit her. I feel Zerbinetta will all the time stay a “dream function” on my record as a result of there may be all the time extra to study her. Ariadne is my desert island opera…no pun supposed!

What are you doing this summer time earlier than you be a part of us in Denver? This summer time, except for getting ready for this coming season, I spent plenty of time getting ready occasions for the opera firm I began final yr, Olympia Opera Theatre. We programmed our first full opera for the start of August, so numerous my time was dedicated to that mission!

If you happen to have been an animal, what would you be and why? I’d be a cat as a result of I feel I’m fairly adventurous and have a playful character. Cats even have a capability for intense focus, which I love and assume would turn out to be useful as a singer!

What artist or album do you’ve got on repeat this summer time? This summer time has been an enormous Tyler Childers and Brandi Carlile summer time for me. However I additionally preserve Etta James, Sam Cooke, and my favorites of that period in fixed rotation.

If you happen to may have a superpower, what wouldn’t it be and why? If I had a superpower it will be apparition, like in Harry Potter (the factor wizards can do the place they’ll teleport immediately to a brand new location). I feel that may be the best energy. I really like touring and, goodness, that may make it simpler!

If you happen to have been a wrestler, what could be your entrance music? My entrance music could be one thing like the ultimate scene from Swan Lake, or “Dies irae” from the Verdi Requiem. I don’t assume the competitors would count on that, and hopefully it will scare them off!

What did you’re keen on about Colorado throughout your first season with us? I beloved residing in Denver since you get to expertise some metropolis residing whereas nonetheless being so near the extremely beautiful Rocky Mountains!

What are you most wanting ahead to performing with us this season? I’m most wanting ahead to singing Rosina in our touring manufacturing of The Barber of Seville in addition to Hansel in Hansel and Gretel.

What’s your dream function? To sing Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier could be a dream come true!

What have you ever been doing this summer time earlier than you be a part of us in Denver? I used to be simply up the mountain singing Edith in The Pirates of Penzance and Second Nursemaid in Avenue Scene with Central Metropolis Opera. I additionally offered a Lunch and a Music recital with them in July.

If you happen to have been an animal, what would you be and why? A chipmunk as a result of they’re all the time curious however generally is a little rambunctious.

What artist or album do you’ve got on repeat this summer time? It’s 100% Charli xcx’s Brat.

If you happen to may have a superpower, what wouldn’t it be and why? Most likely to teleport as a result of it will make touring an entire lot simpler!

If you happen to have been a wrestler, what could be your entrance music? Within the spirit of Brat lady summer time I must go along with “360” by Charli xcx.

As a Colorado native, what are you excited to share concerning the Denver space with the opposite Artists in Residence? As a Colorado native, presenting the breathtaking pure fantastic thing about my dwelling state has all the time introduced me pleasure. The Colorado panorama is nothing wanting spectacular, filled with vibrancy and colour. With limitless out of doors actions at our disposal, I need all of my fellow Artists in Residence to expertise the entire pure splendor and thrilling wonders Colorado has to supply throughout our quick time collectively.

What are you most wanting ahead to performing with us this season? I’m most excited to carry out on the well-known Ellie Caulkins Opera Home stage! I grew up seeing numerous exhibits, symphonies, and displays on the Arts Advanced and to now be part of the artwork and tradition right here is nothing wanting humbling and exhilarating. I’m wanting ahead to creating my dad and mom proud once they see me on the stage—it’ll be a dream come true.

What’s your dream function? In a beautiful and serendipitous occasion, my dream function is definitely Tonio from Daughter of the Regiment. I’ve all the time had a fairly excessive voice, and have been singing the arias from this present for fairly a while. I completely love the compositional model of Donizetti’s music, particularly how he writes for prime voices, so it will likely be fairly an honor to have the ability to carry out Tonio within the scholar matinee this season!

What are you doing this summer time earlier than you be a part of us? I’ve been working full time at an area fitness center in Arvada, 24 Hour Health. I’ll work there till my residency with Opera Colorado begins, and can miss that fitness center rather a lot. I’ve been in a position to make lifelong real friendships with my coworkers, trainers, and fellow fitness center company there and can miss them dearly whereas I’m away. The local people at that fitness center is supportive and great, and I’ll all the time admire them supporting my singing.

If you happen to have been an animal, what would you be and why? I’d be a home cat. Think about this: you get up within the morning and have a chew to eat, and then you definately see a phenomenal, tantalizing ray of sunshine beaming down via a window. You lay your little head down putting your self within the heat of the solar and drift right into a restful nap. You get up when it’s time for meals, and repeat the method till its evening time. Now that it’s darkish outdoors, it’s time to harass the individuals who reside in your own home.

What artist or album do you’ve got on repeat this summer time? Except for the entire opera and romantic music I hearken to on repeat, like Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2 (my favourite piece of romantic literature that has ever been written), I’ve been listening to Nujabes’ album Metaphorical Music!

If you happen to may have a superpower, what wouldn’t it be and why? Flight—hovering via the skies affords freedom, exhilaration, and a novel perspective on the world. It’s additionally sensible for avoiding site visitors and reaching distant locations. How cool would that be!

If you happen to have been a wrestler, what could be your entrance music? My entrance music could be the ultimate motion from Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5. If you happen to’ve by no means heard it, let’s hope I decide up wrestling!

What did you’re keen on about Colorado throughout your first season with us? Final season at Opera Colorado was a lot enjoyable for thus many causes! For me the highlights of the season have been performing the roles of Don Giovanni in the course of the Scholar Matinee and Second Philistine throughout Samson and Delilah on the Ellie Caulkins Opera Home, in addition to seeing the affect the Artists in Residence had final yr performing our touring productions to children throughout Colorado, exposing this artwork type we like to extra individuals.

What are you most wanting ahead to performing with us this season? This season I’m most excited to carry out the function of Schaunard in Opera Colorado’s manufacturing of La bohème this spring!

What’s your dream function? After final yr’s season performing the title function in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, I’ve to provide you with a brand new reply! Sometime I’d like to sing the function of Pelléas in Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande.

What are you doing this summer time earlier than you be a part of us in Denver? This summer time I used to be a Studio Artist at Chautauqua Opera, singing the world premier of Love, Loss, and the Century Upon Us, written by Rene Orth and librettist Jerry Dye.

If you happen to have been an animal, what would you be and why? If I have been an animal I’d be a Bernese Mountain Canine, as a result of I’m a tough employee, I really like out of doors actions, and I’m loyal.

What artist or album do you’ve got on repeat this summer time? An artist I’ve had on repeat this summer time is Empire of the Solar, particularly the music “Strolling on a Dream!”

If you happen to may have a superpower, what wouldn’t it be and why? If I may have a superpower, I’d select teleportation! It will make life so handy to have instantaneous journey, and I may go wherever I need on the snap of my fingers, making trip locations solely a second away.

If you happen to have been a wrestler, what could be your entrance music? If I have been a wrestler my entrance music could be “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor!

What excites you about Colorado? I really like being in a excessive altitude place and most significantly the presence of mountains round me. Coming from the Andean highlands, seeing the Rockies out within the distance brings me consolation and makes for a incredible view.

What are you most wanting ahead to performing with us this season? Every part! Since I started my coaching as a younger opera singer in Denver in 2016, it has been my dream to sing on stage on the Ellie Caulkins Opera Home and work with Opera Colorado’s wonderful workers and artists. I’ve been blessed with many alternatives to take action already, initially as a refrain member, and most just lately as a visitor artist for the Don Giovanni Scholar Matinee final season. Now I get to hitch the corporate as a resident artist for the complete season, and I’m thrilled about it.

What’s your dream function? Unrealistically talking, I really like the function of Rodrigo from Don Carlo, for whom Verdi wrote such stunning and thrilling music. Realistically talking, although, I feel Mephistopheles from Faust, and perhaps at some point Banco from Macbeth.

What have you ever been doing this summer time earlier than you be a part of us in Denver? I used to be an apprentice artist with Central Metropolis Opera the place I performed Jose Castro of their manufacturing of La fanciulla del West alongside a past stellar forged and one of the best colleagues. In Avenue Scene, I lined Mr. Olsen and I used to be one of many officers that apprehends Mr. Maurrant. I used to be additionally within the refrain for Pirates of Penzance which opened the season pageant with raving opinions and appeared in a phase of CBS Information.

If you happen to have been an animal, what would you be and why? I’d wish to be a Lynx. Once I was a younger child, generally I’d flip via my mom’s books and there was certainly one of animals with fascinating images. The Lynx caught my eye, so that may be my alternative.

What artist or album do you’ve got on repeat this summer time? I hearken to my very own compilation playlists which I’ve labeled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and so forth. If I hear a music I like and it’s a Thursday, it goes to the Thursday playlist. There is no such thing as a actual logic to it aside from that. Not too long ago, I’ve been listening to numerous Chris Benstead’s Wrath of Man. It’s a reasonably darkish movie rating, so perhaps not for everybody.

If you happen to may have a superpower, what wouldn’t it be and why? I feel immortality. I’m intrigued by human evolution and curious to know the place we will likely be in 1,000 or 10,000 or 100,000 years. Will we grow to be an ideal and peaceable race, will we grow to be warmongers set on complete domination of our world and past, or will we grow to be extinct? I’d wish to know.

If you happen to have been a wrestler, what could be your entrance music? “Nookie” by Limp Bizkit. Nice monitor to get pumped and explode within the ring.

What excites you about Colorado? I’m excited to see pals, discover a brand new metropolis, and take within the pure fantastic thing about the mountains.

What are you most wanting ahead to performing with us this season? I’m most wanting ahead to performing the function of Hortensius in Daughter of the Regiment. I’ve by no means finished the present earlier than and I’m excited to dive into one thing new.

What’s your dream function? I’d like to sing the title function in Boris Gudunov. The present has a number of the strongest and exquisite music in opera.

What are you doing this summer time earlier than you be a part of us in Denver? Having fun with a calming summer time filled with fireworks, grilling, and out of doors adventures.

If you happen to have been an animal, what would you be and why? I’d be a kind of canine enjoying poker within the well-known portray, A Good friend in Want, as a result of I take pleasure in a card recreation and I’ve all the time bought your again.

What artist or album do you’ve got on repeat this summer time? I’m having a throwback summer time having fun with the dulcet baritenor of Tom Jones.

If you happen to may have a superpower, what wouldn’t it be and why? I’d need the ability to journey via time so I may see the wonders of antiquity
and meet fascinating historic figures.

If you happen to have been a wrestler, what could be your entrance music?
The SpongeBob SquarePants Theme Music.