Young Artist Program
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2010 Apprentice Artists
Samantha Barnes, soprano
Northwestern University; University of Central Florida; Arizona Opera; Marion Roose Pullin Opera Studio at Arizona Opera; Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, National Semi-Finalist, Central Region; Chautauqua Opera, Studio Artist Award; 2009 Chautauqua Opera Studio Artist
"Not-so-closet nerd."
Adam Patrick Cromer, tenor
Rhodes College; Washington University; Sarasota Opera; Utah Festival Opera; Union Avenue Opera; AIMS Festival; Graz Meistersinger Competition, Semi-Finalist; Concorso Lirico Competition, Semi-Finalist; Sarasota Opera, Anne J. O'Donnell Award; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"Craft beer enthusiast."
William Davenport, tenor
Peabody Conservatory of Music; Glimmerglass Opera Young American Artist Program; Chesapeake Concert Opera; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"I can balance large objects on my face."
Corey Grigg, baritone
Northwestern University; The Castleton Festival; The Newberry Consort Emerging Artists; Arts Musica Chicago; New Jersey Governor's Award in the Arts; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"In opera, there are many Counts; thus I plan to get the most out of my degree in Mathematics."
Jennifer Harris, soprano
University of Michigan; Knoxville Opera; Center City Opera Theater; Seagle Music Colony; Bel Canto Scholarship Foundation, Finalist; Arleen Auger Memorial Fund, Top Award Winner; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"Mixologist extraordinaire!"
Maria McDaniel, mezzo
Millikin University; Georgia State University; Atlanta Opera; Peachtree Modern Opera; Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Southeastern Regional Finalist; Ft. Worth Opera McCammon Voice Competition, Semi-Finalist; Chautauqua Opera, Goldfarb Young Artist Award; Florida Grand Opera Voice Competition, Semi-Finalist; National Opera Association Competition, Finalist; Shreveport Opera Singer of the Year Competition, Semi-Finalist; American Traditions Competition, Quarter-Finalist; Pro-Mozart Society Scholarship Competition, Finalist; 2008 Chautauqua Opera Studio Artist
"Ms. Maria's Sunday Southern Brunch will be open weekly - loves to cook, eat and make merry!"
Brian Wehrle, bass
McGill University; Opera Lyra Ottawa; Virginia Opera; IVAI Tel Aviv; Green Mountain Opera Festival; Saskatoon Opera; The Banff Centre; Brevard Music Center; McGill Chamber Orchestra; The Manitoba Chamber Orchestra; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"Once swam in the ocean with Pavarotti."
2010 Studio Artists
Andrea Arias-Martin, soprano
Manhattan School of Music; C.W. Post, Long Island University; American Opera Projects; Prelude to Performance; Oberlin in Italy; Chautauqua Institution Voice Program; 2009 Chautauqua Opera Studio Artist
"Mommy to a beautiful 3 year old, Cadence and wife to Scott Martin."
Kelsey Betzelberger, soprano
Northwestern University, Beinen School of Music; Astoria Summer Music Festival; Institute of European Studies, Vienna; Universität der Braunschweig; Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, District Finalist 2009; Bel Canto Foundation Italian Opera Contest, Semi-Finalist 2009; Northwestern University Language Immersion Program Grant; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"Law and Order: SVU, Girl Scout cookies and German romance novels."
Casey J. Candebat, tenor
Northwestern University; Loyola University New Orleans; New Orleans Opera Association; Opera North; Music @ Madewood Festival; 2009 Chautauqua Opera Studio Artist
"I never leave home without my Southern Spices, Coffee with Chicory, and at least one seersucker suit."
William Dwyer, tenor
Illinois Wesleyan University; Northwestern University; Kunst Ohne Grenzen, Vienna, Austria; Universitaet Wien; Prairie Fire Opera Theatre; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"I am the youngest of five kids."
Jennifer Feinstein, mezzo
Indiana University; Yale University; Opera Theatre of St. Louis; Indianapolis Opera; Music Academy of the West; Metropolitaion Opera National Counci Auditions, 3rd Place, New England Region; Jesen Foundation, Finalist; Marilyn Horne Foundation, Encouragement Award; 2007 Chautuaqua Opera Studio Artist
"Is trying to see all 50 states, and has driven coast-to-coast twice in two years towards that goal."
Stephen Fish, bass-baritone
University of Northern Iowa; University of Missouri Kansas City; Lyric Opera of Kansas City; Des Moines Metro Opera; Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"NPR Junkie + Fiscally Fettered Foodie."
Alexander Hahn, bass
Cornell University; Mannes College of Music; International Vocal Arts Institute; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"Love pickup basketball."
Errik Hood, baritone
Northwestern University; Wright State University; Opera New Jersey; Dayton Opera Guild Tri-State Aria Competition, Finalist; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"Has a debilitating fear of writing short biographical anecdotes."
Carla Jablonski, mezzo
The Juilliard School; Manhattan School of Music; Wolf Trap Opera Company; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"Over zealous cackler prone to spontaneous yodeling."
Taylor Johnson, soprano
Florida State University; Converse College; Opera Festival di Roma; Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, SC District Winner; Tallahassee Music Guild Scholarship Recipient; Leontyne Price Emerging Young Artist Competition, 2nd Place; Hannah Beaulieu Music Scholarship Competition; Palm Beach Young Aritst Competition, Semi-Finalist; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"R&B Songwriter."
John McCarthy, baritone
Temple University; Lake George Opera; Chautauqua Institution Voice Program, Opera Delaware; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"Worst Enemy - Mayonnaise."
Arthur John Miller, baritone
Carnegie Mellon University; Manhattan School of Music; Opera New Jersey; Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; New York Lyric Opera Theatre; Pocket Opera of New York; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"I am an avid...well, slightly obsessed fan of The Godfather films!"
Eric Neuville, tenor
The University of Texas at Austin, Butler Opera Center; St. Olaf College; Seattle Opera; Grand Concours de Chant, Runner-up; Metropolitan National Council Auditions, Encouragement Award; Edvard Grieg Society, Fellowship in Art Song; 2009 Chautauqua Opera Studio Artist
"2009 Chautauqua Opera Iron Chef Champion!"
Brittany Ann Reneé Robinson, soprano
Johns Hopkins University, Peabody Conservatory; Opera Theatre of the Rockies; American Institute of Musical Studies, Graz, Austria; Bay Area Summer Opera Theatre Institute; Baltimore Municipal Opera; Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, 4th Place Regional Finalist, Rocky Mountain Region; AIMS Meistersinger Competition, Semi-Finalist; Pikes Peak Opera League, Grant Winner; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"Shoe Fanatic!"
Laura Sauer, mezzo
Northwestern University; Chauteauville Foundation Castleton Festival; V.O.I.C.Experience Summer Program; AIMS in Graz Summer Program; American Friends of Austria, Finalist; Chicago NATS, Finalist; Northwestern University Eckstein Scholar; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"My favorite movie is WALL-E!"
Lacy Sauter, soprano
Arizona State University; Indiana University; Utah Fesitval Opera; Arizona Opera; Arizona Broadway Theater; Lyric Opera Theater; Opera Dell'Arte; Metropolitan Opera National Council, AZ District 2008; Bertha Autenreith Vocal Scholarship; Graduate Assistant, Indiana University; 2008 Chautauqua Opera Studio Artist
"Will sing for ice cream tokens!"
Dane Thomas, tenor
Northwestern University; Eastern illinois University; Sugar Creek Symphony and Song; Chicago Chapter NATS, 2nd Place; Margaret E. Dadian Scholarship; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"I have a beautiful wife and the cutest dog you have ever seen."
Adam Ulrich, tenor
University of North Carolina School of the Arts, A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute; State University of New York at Geneseo; Central City Opera; Piedmont Opera; Mercury Opera Rochester; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"Once starred as Raggedy Andy in a pre-school tap recital."
Victoria Vargas, mezzo
S.U.N.Y Fredonia; Manhattan School of Music; Ash Lawn Opera; Prelude to Performance; Sarasota Opera; Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Encouragement Award; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"I am an avid fan of chocolate and all chocolate products."
Lisa Williamson, soprano
University of Connecticut; Peabody Conservatory; Connecticut Opera; Operamission; Chautauqua Opera Debut
"A Martha Stewart devotee."