Randall Behr, conductor, led twenty-four productions as Resident Conductor of the Los Angeles Opera, including Salome, Elektra, Die Frau ohne Schatte, Nixon in China, Don Giovanni, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Where the Wild Things Are, Higglety Pigglety Pop!, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Orfeo ed Euridice, Oklahoma!, Otello, Die Zauberflöte, Così fan tutte, Rigoletto, Carmen, and La bohème. During this period, he was also Chorus Master and Head of Music Staff for the company. Prior to his Los Angeles appointment, Behr served as Music Director of the Long Beach Opera, where he conducted the American professional stage premiere of Strauss’s original 1912 version of Ariadne on Naxos, The Ballad of Baby Doe, The Marriage of Figaro, and a benefit concert for the company featuring Marilyn Horne.
            His international roster of performances includes concerts and operatic appearances at the Vienna Staatsoper, Hamburg Staatsoper, Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu, Orchestre Nacional de Lyon, the Las Palmas Festival, the Orquestra de Valencia, the Ópera de Valencia, the Ópera de Bilbao, Herodus Atticus Theater in Athens, and the Canadian Opera Company. He has also appeared as pianist in recital with Maria Ewing at London’s Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, Florence’s Teatro Comunale, the Chatelet in Paris, the Wiener Konzerthaus, the Opéra de Lyon, and the Hong Kong Festival.
            Behr has conducted at numerous companies throughout the United States, including San Francisco Opera, the Chicago Lyric Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Spoleto USA, Central City Opera, Wolf Trap, Opera Memphis, and Utah Opera. Maestro Behr has led the American Ballet Theater Orchestra (1981–82 season) and conducted Peter Brook’s Tony Award-winning La tragédie de Carmen on Broadway.
            Deeply interested in the training of young singers, Behr serves as Resident Conductor of Marilyn Horne’s Music Academy of the West, where he has conducted productions of Rossini’s Il viaggio a Reims, Die Zauberflöte, Handel’s Rodelinda, Ariadne auf Naxos, Don Pasquale, Britten’s Albert Herring, Le nozze di Figaro, and Nino Rota’s Il cappello di paglia di Firenze. He returns in 2005 to lead Così fan tutte. As Music Director of the Department of Vocal Arts and of the Juilliard Opera Center at The Juilliard School, he made his debut in Corsaro’s 1994 production of Rutland Boughton’s The Immortal Hour and subsequently conducted the Opera Center’s productions of Prokofiev’s L’amour des trois oranges, Henze’s Elegy for Young Lovers, Gianni Schicchi, Offenbach’s Monsieur Choufleri, the Corsaro/Sendak production of Hänsel und Gretel (telecast as part of PBS’s “Live from Lincoln Center” series), The Magic Flute, Il cappello di paglia di Firenze, Gluck’s Armide, Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, and the American premiere of Kurt Weill’s Der Kuhhandel. He previously conducted Il turco in Italia for the IU Opera Theater.

Stage Director Tazewell Thompson directed his critically acclaimed Glimmerglass opera production of Les Dialogues des Carmélites earlier this season for New York City Opera.  His production of Porgy and Bess, also for New York City Opera was televised for “Live from Lincoln Center” and received EMMY nominations for Best Classical Production and Best director.  Next season for New York City Opera he will direct Patience and Most Happy Fella and in 2007, Benjamin Britten’s Death in Venice following his new production of this work this summer at Glimmerglass Opera. 
          Mr. Thompson directed world premiere operas of Stefan, Luyala, Vanqui, and As of a Dream.  In the Fall he will direct a new production of Dialogues for Vancouver Opera.  Other opera highlights include productions at La Scala, Paris Opera, Opera Bastille, Teatro Real in Madrid, Tokyo, Osaka, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Michigan, Orange County, New Jersey and Portland.  His New York production of Aaron Copland’s opera The Second Hurricane was the “hit and heart” of the Copeland 1985 Festival celebration.  Also a playwright, Mr. Thompson has been commissioned to write plays for Lincoln Center Theatre, Arena Stage, South Coast Repertory and People’s Light and Theatre Company. His award winning first play, Constant Star has had more than a dozen major productions across the U.S.
          For theatre, Mr. Thompson has produced and/or directed more than sixty plays, including the works of Shakespeare, Molière, Euripides, Brecht, Shaw, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Thornton Wilder, Ibsen, Chekov, as well as over twenty-five world and American premieres.  A former artistic director of Syracuse Stage; artistic associate of Arena Stage and The Acting Company, Mr. Thompson is a board member of Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, the Society of stage Directors and choreographers, the Society for New Music and the Thornton Wilder society.

C. David Higgins has been designing scenery since 1972 when he began working at the Indiana University School of Music as a master scenic artist. Now a faculty member, he teaches set design and has been designing opera and ballet scenery and costumes across the globe for theaters in the United States, England, Italy, Iceland, and Korea. With over 150 productions to his credit, he has been described as one of America’s finest scenic painters by Opera News magazine and is best known for his detailed, Italianate painting style.

Christina Bonsall (Blanche de la Force), soprano, is currently a Master’s student in vocal performance at Indiana University, where she studies with Costanza Cuccaro. With the IU Opera Theater she has performed the roles of Hanna in The Merry Widow, and Norina in Don Pasquale. Most recently, Ms. Bonsall was seen as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro with the Janiec Opera Company at Brevard Music Center. In 2002, she was chosen to world premiere the role of Sacagawea in The Corps of Discovery, with concert version performances at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, The York Theatre in New York City, and a full production at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She performed the roles with the Missouri Symphony Society and with Show Me Opera at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Ms. Bonsall has been soprano soloist for such works as Schubert’s Mass in G Major, Fauré’s Requiem, Haydn’s The Seasons, Handel’s Messiah, and W. A. Mozart’s Mass in C Major. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Performer Diploma in voice from Indiana University.

Anna Steenerson (Blanche de la Force), a student of Costanza Cuccaro, is excited to play the role of Blanche. She was last seen on the MAC's stage as the title role in Douglas Moore's The Ballad of Baby Doe. Ms. Steenerson is a second time winner of the MET Auditions for the district level in South Carolin and received an encouragement award at the regional level in Georgia. Other roles include Pamina in W. A. Mozart's The Magic Flute and Laetitia in Menotti's Old Maid and the Thief.

Sophie Roland (Prioress), Mezzo-Soprano,  a native of Québec, holds degrees from Wilfrid Laurier University and from the University of Western Ontario. She is now completing a DM in Voice Performance, under the tutelage of Costanza Cuccaro. Mrs. Roland recently performed Prokofiev=s Alexander Nevsky under the baton of Maestro Erick Kunzel, and she returns to the IU Opera Stage after performing in Falstaff, Les Contes d=Hoffmann, and Jeppe. She was selected to participate in the Song Fest 2004 Festival in Malibu, as a professional artist, where she worked with international pianist and coach, Martin Katz.  As a soloist, she has also appeared with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, London Fanshawe Symphonic Orchestra, the Windsor Symphony, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. Mrs. Roland was selected to participate in a Master Class given by Marilyn Horne at Carnegie Hall. She will soon return to the Windsor Symphony for their performance of Mozart=s Requiem. This summer, she will be in residence with the Utah Festival Opera before joining the Academie International Maurice Ravel in France for the Fall 2005

Teresa Herold (Prioress), contralto, is a Master of Music student at IU, studying with Costanza Cuccaro. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern Maine. Her recent operatic appearances include the role of Auntie in  Peter Grimes, The 2nd Harlot in Handel's  Solomon, and La Diva in Jeppe with the IU Opera Theater. Ms. Herold recently received an Encouragement award for the 2004 Indiana District MET National Council Auditions. Her singing has earned her awards from the National Arts and Letters Music competition, the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competitions in both Boston (2002) and Maine (2001). A frequent performer of concert music, Ms. Herold has appeared as soloist appearances include the  W. A. Mozart's Coronation Mass, Handel's Messiah, and J. S. Bach's Mass in B Minor, Magnificat and Jesu, meine Freude. She has participated in summer artist programs such as the Maine Emerging Artists Program (2002) and the Charlie Creek Vocal Workshop (2003). This summer, she will participate in the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Young Artist Program, as well as the Carmel Bach Festival in California.

Eileen Marie Bora (Mme. Lidoine), appears in her second role at IU. In the spring of 2004 she was seen as Niece No. 2 in Peter Grimes by Benjamin Britten. Prior to IU, Bora enjoyed many successes at Interlochen Arts Academy, also while attaining her Bachelor’s of Music at Westminster Choir College, studying with Ms. Laura Brooks Rice. There she was seen as Laetitia in Menotti’s Old Maid and the Thief, Fiordiligi in W. A. Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Micaela in Bizet’s Carmen, as well as numerous choral engagements with some of the world’s foremost conductors. Ms. Bora currently studies with James McDonald.

Emily Hindrichs (Mme. Lidoine), soprano, is a first year doctoral student and associate instructor in voice. Dialogues des Carmélites marks her first appearance with IU Opera Theater.  Originally from New Orleans, she holds degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Exeter (UK) in church music, musicology and vocal performance. Recent stage credits include The Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte and The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods. Emily has appeared as a soloist with the IU New Music Ensemble, Motet Choir, and Pro Arte. She studies with James McDonald. 

Originally from Canada, mezzo-soprano Jessica Riley (Mother Marie) recently completed course work for the doctoral degree in Vocal Performance, with minor field concentrations in Stage Direction and Music Education. She is currently an Associate Instructor of Voice at IU, and she has served on the faculty of Indiana State University. As a performer, Ms. Riley has sung as an Apprentice Artist with the Sarasota Opera Association and as an artist with the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina. This summer, she will be an apprentice with Lyric Opera Cleveland. She has also appeared with the Bloomington Early Music Festival and in several Indiana University productions. Among her past roles are Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, Ruggiero in Alcina, Effie in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Mother Goose in The Rakes’ Progress, Grandma in Polly Patchwork, and the Badessa in Suor Angelica. Ms. Riley has also appeared as a recitalist at a variety of venues in both Canada and the United States. She has twice toured Kentucky schools in an educational outreach effort to bring opera to children and teenagers. Ms. Riley is finishing her doctoral degree with Patricia Havranek.

New Zealand soprano, Stephanie Bain (Mother Marie), is making her IU Opera Theater debut in the role of Mother Marie. After originally receiving postgraduate degrees in Industrial/Organisational Psychology she switched careers in 2003. She has performed and understudied many roles with New Zealand Opera and in 2003 was selected for their highly competitive Emerging Artist Program. Stephanie is in demand as an artist throughout New Zealand, performing with ensembles as diverse as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Wellington Sinfonia, Auckland Philharmonic and the Dalewool Auckland Brass Band. She has worked with international conductors such as Michael Lloyd, Nicholas Braithwaite and Wyn Davies. Since her arrival at Indiana University, Stephanie has participated in masterclasses with Håken Hagegård, Regina Resnik, Roger Vignoles and Richard Perlman. Stephanie is currently completing her Performer Diploma with Teresa Kubiak.

Sheila Murphy (Sister Constance), a native of Pensacola, Florida, is a doctoral student in Voice, currently studying with Costanza Cuccaro. Sheila has played the following roles in IU Opera Theater Productions: Blonde in Abduction from the Seraglio, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Despina in Cosí fan tutte, and Una Novizia in Suor Angelica. Sheila has also played the role of Johanna in Sweeney Todd with the IU Department of Theatre and Drama.

Soprano Hee Jung Yoo (Sister Constance) is currently pursuing a Performer Diploma in Vocal Performance at Indiana University. She received her Bachelor of Music from Yonsei University and a Master of Music from the Seoul National University in her native Korea. She earned a Silver medal of “Seoul Competition for Young Musicians” by KBS (Korea national Braodcast System) and 3^rd grade of Dong-a Music Competition from Korea. While at IU she has appeared as Nannetta in Falstaff. Mrs. Yoo is a student of Costanza Cuccaro.

Born in Mexico City, tenor Emilio Pons (Chevalier de la Force) holds graduate degrees in piano and in law. He completed a Master’s Degree at Indiana University in 2001 and is currently finishing his Doctorate as a student of Andreas Poulimenos and Carlos Montané. Mr. Pons has taught courses in Spanish and in Italian Diction and has served as Italian diction coach for IU. He has participated in Master Classes with Atlantov, Arroyo, Cura, Díaz, Hagegård, Kubiak and Zeani amongst other singers, and with collaborative pianists such as Gergieva, Vignoles and Palomo, and performed in Chicago, D. C. and New York, Bermuda, Finland and Italy. His operatic credits include roles in Floyd’s Susannah, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Britten’s Peter Grimes with the IU Opera Theater, and in Hasse’s Piramo e Tisbe with the Bloomington Early Music Festival. He has been a recipient of numerous awards, including Mexico’s INBA (National Fine Arts Institute), FONCA (National Endowment for the Arts), and SIVAM grants, as well as IU’s Barbera and Culver-Miller scholarships.

John Sumners (Chevalier de la Force), tenor, is a native of Indianapolis. He has recently performed with Central City Opera as Detlef in The Student Prince, Conchenille in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, and covering the title role in Massenet’s Jongleur de Notre Dame. Past operatic roles include Edgardo in Knoxville Opera’s Lucia di Lammermoor, as well as Nemorino in Elixir of Love, Lysander in Midsummer Night’s Dream, Camille in The Merry Widow, and Sabastiani in Ohio Light Opera’s production of Strauss’ The Merry War. He returns to Central City Opera this upcoming summer to perform Sam Sharkey in Brittens’ Paul Bunyan and cover Pinkerton in Catherine Malfitano’s directorial debut of Madama Butterfly. John holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Millikin University and a Master of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Tennessee. He is currently pursuing a Performer Diploma at Indiana University. John studies with James McDonald.

Jason Plourde (Marquis de la Force) — Jason Richard Plourde, baritone, is in his 3rd year of studies at Indiana University where he pursuing his Master of Music in Voice and Opera. While at IU Mr. Plourde has performed the roles of Swallow (Peter Grimes), William Jennings Bryan (The Ballad of Baby Doe), Baron Mirko Zeta (The Merry Widow) and the Marquis (La Traviata). Other roles include Count Almaviva (The Marriage of Figaro), Ben (The Telephone), Gasparo (Rita), Le Podestat (Dr. Miracle), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Jekyll and Hyde, the musical), Dr. Craven (The Secret Garden) and most recently Henry Higgins (My Fair Lady). Mr. Plourde has also appeared in various concert works including Mozart’s Requiem, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Five Mystical Songs by Vaughan Williams and the Faure Requiem. Mr. Plourde has also been a 3 time participant in the Portland Opera Repertory Theatre’s Young Artist Program (2000, 2002, and 2003) and was a member of Janiec Opera Company at the Brevard Music Center this past summer. A student of Timothy Noble, Mr. Plourde is also the recipient of the I. Pizzetti Memorial Scholarship.

Andrew Darling (Marquis de la Force), baritone, is a Senior vocal performance major. Has been seen in IU Opera as Achilla in Giulio Cesare, Barney in The Ballad of Baby Doe and Sciarrone in Tosca. He has won an encouragement award from the Metropolitan Opera Competition, a finalist at the Palm Beach Opera vocal competition and the Bel Canto foundation Competition, and a finalist at the Dallas opera competition. Darling studies with Andreas Poulimenos and Virginia Zeani.

Amy Olipra (Mother Jean), mezzo-soprano, a native of Clarendon Hills, IL is currently a Master of Music candidate at IU, where she studies with Patricia Havranek. Ms. Olipra holds a BM and a BME from the University of Illinois, where she performed as a soloist with the University of Illinois Symphony, as well as several roles with the Illinois Opera Theatre, including Gertrude in Romeo et Juliette, the Mother in Six Characters in Search of an Author, La Mère in Les Contes d’Hoffmann and Olga Olsen in Street Scene. Ms. Olipra sang the role of Mrs. Sedley in Britten’s Peter Grimes at IU last spring and spent the summer of 2004 as an Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera, where she sang Gretchen in The Student Prince and La Mère in the youth performance of Les Contes d’Hoffmann. 

Heng Xia (Mother Jean), received her Bachelor of Music from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China, her home city, where she received numerous awards and won and placed in several contests. She sang the role of Cherubino in W. A. Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro with the Beijing National Opera Theater. She received her Master of Music from Baylor University, where she was a graduate assistant. There she sang the roles of Dorabella in Così fan tutte and the Old Prioress in The Dialogues of the Carmelites. She sang with the Waco Lyric Opera’s Outreach program. Heng was a Finalist in the Vera Scammon SOS Internationl competition in 2004 and 5^th place in Vervier International Opera Competition in Belgium. She is a Performer Diploma student at IU, studying with Patricia Stiles.

Laura Barker (Sister Mathilde) —

Lindsay Shipps (Sister Mathilde), mezzo-soprano, whose career spans a decade, has worked towards presenting a repertoire bridging eight centuries. Having concertized with Neeme Järvi, Paul Hillier, John Poole, and Ed Penhorwood, Miss Shipps has captured a multi-faceted niche in today’s dynamic music world. She completed her Bachelor of Music studies at the University of Michigan, where she studied with George Shirley and participated in master classes with Evelyn Lear, William Warfield, Shirley Verrett and Martin Katz. She is currently completing her Master of Music degree at Indiana University, where she studies with Patricia Havranek. Miss Shipps has been a featured soloist with Indiana University’s University Chorale and Symphonic Choir. She has sung the role of Carmen, Valetto in L’Incoronazione di Poppea,  Cherubino and Despina in many opera workshop settings and continues to enjoy singing in any venue or setting. Outside the performing arena, Miss Shipps has worked as an advocate for the inclusion of music in childhood education by way of the Miss America Organization.

Tenor Nathan Bick (Father Confessor) is a Master’s student in the studio of Andreas Poulimenos. Originally from Richmond, Virginia he completed his Bachelor of Music at IU in 2002. Recently with the IU Opera Theater, Bick has appeared as Tony in West Side Story, Josh in Jeppe, and Bushy in The Ballad of Baby Doe. On the concert stage, he has appeared frequently as a soloist with the University Singers and made his professional concert debut at Carnegie Hall as the Tenor Soloist in W. A. Mozart’s Coronation Mass. Last spring, he performed Franz Schubert’s song cycle, Die schöne Müllerin. 

Joel Cummings (Father Confessor), tenor, is currently pursuing a masters degree in voice at Indiana University. Mr. Cummings is a native of Seattle, Washington, where he attended Pacific Lutheran University completing a Bachelor in Vocal Performance last May. In the Seattle area, Mr. Cummings participated in the Next Generation Artist Program of Tacoma Opera, covering the role of Alfred in Die Fledermaus and performing the role of Young Conductor in Pasatieri's La Divina. Mr. Cummings has been seen in PLU opera productions as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte and as Rapunzel's Prince in Sondheim's Into the Woods. This will mark his debut with IU opera theater. Mr. Cummings is a student of James McDonald.

Stanley Lacy (Officer 1), tenor, a native of Amarillo, Texas, is currently pursuing a Masters of Music. He sang the part of Desk Clerk, Stage Doorman, and Priest in The Ballad of Baby Doe last season. He studies voice with Gary Lakes.

After completing his Bachelor’s degree at the University of British Columbia, tenor Ian Paul (Officer 1) began graduate studies at IU Bloomington in the fall of 2003. Ian is very excited to be performing his first role with the IU Opera Theater. Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, Ian has a varied background in musical theater, concert performances and opera. Past roles include Cheever in The Crucible, Camille in The Merry Widow, the Rechtor in Cunning Little Vixen and the Podestà in Die Gärtnerin aus Liebe. Ian’s past voice teachers include Anna Relyea, Bruce Pullan and Carlos Montané.

Chaz Nailor (Officer 2) made his memorable IU debut as the pregnant girl in Rossini's Il Turco in Italia last season. As part of his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Austin he has also performed Belcore in L'elisir d'amore, Junius in The Rape of Lucretia, and Argante in Rinaldo. The Texas native is pursuing a masters degree and studies with Timothy Noble. Chaz is also a recipient of the T.I.S. Tichenor Foundation Scholarship through the Society of the Friends of Music.

Joseph David Legaspi (Officer 2), a native of the Philippines, received his Diploma in Creative and Performing Musical Arts from the University of the Philippines College of Music, studying with Cecilia Valeña. While pursuing his undergraduate studies, he won prizes in several national vocal competitions, such as the 1999 National Competition for Young Artists and the Y’s Men Classical Singer of the Year. He toured the United States in 2000 and Europe in 2001, as featured soloist for the Music Theater Foundation of the Philippines and the renowned Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club. He made his Philippine solo debut with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in 2002 and has since performed on the music stage as Jose Rizel in Noli me tangere and Tiresias in Igor Stravinsky’s opera-oratorio Oedipus Rex. He will be one of the featured artists at the upcoming Argento Festival in February. Jospeh is a senior at IU, studying voice with Robert Harrison.

Justin Moore (Jailor), began his operatic training early, singing with the Seattle Opera Youth Chorus in 7 operas, as well as numerous performances of Amahl.  More rrecently, he has been seen as Gugiielmo in Cosi fan tutte, Guiteau in Sonheim’s Assassins, and Adam in The Apple Tree by Sheldon an Harnack.  He s ang the Second Guard in The Magic Flute while covering the role of Papageno last year.  This is his Indiana University Opera Theater debut.  Justin studies with James McDonald.

Jeff Gwaltney (Jailor) —

Ross Shikowitz (Thierry), baritone, hailing from Suffern, NY, is a second year Master's of Music candidate in voice studying with Robert Harrison. He completed his undergraduate work at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, where he received his BA in music. While at IU, Mr. Shikowitz has previously been seen in the IU Opera Theater as Cascada in The Merry Widow, Alfred in The Ballad of Baby Doe and a Gypsy Woman in The Turk in Italy.

Bass-baritone Jong-Hun Cha (M. Javelinot),  a native Korea, is currently in his second year of the Performer Diploma program at IU. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the Korean National University of Arts at Seoul, South Korea. This will be his debut with the IU Opera Theater. Mr. Cha studies with Giorgio Tozzi.

Adonis Abuyen (M. Javelinot) —

Megan Barrios (Nun), soprano, is a second year Master’s Degree student in voice at Indiana University. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree at Louisiana State University’s School of Music in Baton Rouge, LA. She has been seen in the IU productions of Merry Widow, Eugene Onegin, A View from the Bridge, and as a Saloon Girl in The Ballad of Baby Doe. Previous roles include The First Spirit in The Magic Flute, and Peaseblossom in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Ms. Barrios is a student of Robert Harrison.

Soprano Noriko Hashimoto (Nun), native of Kawanishi, Japan, began her vocal studies at the age of 11. She received her bachelor’s degree in voice from Osaka College of Music in 1998 and attended the Kansai Opera Company Training Institute the following year. She recently received her master’s degree in voice from the Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana (2004). Her performance experiences include: Yum-Yum in The Mikado with Bloomington Music Works; Customer, Café Guest and Shopper in the IU Opera Theater production of  She Loves Me in 2004. She toured 11 cities in Spain with Musica 2001’s production of Madama Butterfly and has given several recitals and participated in a number of solo concerts over the course of her studies in Japan and the United States.

Noelle Jacquez (Nun) – Soprano Noelle Jacquez is a first year Master’s Degree candidate in voice at Indiana University.  She earned her Bachelor of Music degree at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music in Nashville, TN.  Previous roles include Zita and Nella in Gianni Schicci, Laurey in OKLAHOMA and Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance.  Her performances at Vanderbilt earned her the Delene Laubenheim McClure award for excellence in opera performance.  Ms. Jacquez is a student of Patricia Stiles.

Kaia Richards (Nun) —

Meredith Taylor (Nun), soprano, is in her first year of her Masters of Music degree at IU in Vocal Performance. Her professional credits include Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro and most recently Nannetta in Falstaff, both with the Cedar Rapids Opera Company in Cedar Rapids, IA. She was also a frequent participant in the CROC's Young Artists Program. Meredith received her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Millikin Univeristy in '04. At Millikin, she appeared in numerous productions, including Mrs. Segstrom in A Little Night Music, Marianne in Kurt Mechem’s Tartuffe, and Little Red in Barber’s Little Red Ridinghood. In addition, Ms. Taylor appeared as Gheradino in Gianni Schicchi at the La Musica Lirica International Festival in Urbania, Italy. Ms. Taylor is a student of Robert Harrison. 

Elizabeth Koontz (Nun), soprano, is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Voal Performance at IU School of Music, studying with Patricia Stiles. Ms. Koontz has won numerous awards and scholarships, including an Honorable Mention Award from NATS Great Lakes Regional Auditions, IU School of Music Undergraduate Dean’s Award, IU Foundation William S. Armstrong Scholarship, IU School of Music Faculty Award, The National Federation of Music Clubs Gwladys Comstock First Place Award, and a Merit Award from the National Foundation for Advancement of the Arts. Her roles with the IU Opera Theater include chorus member in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and Britten’s Peter Grimes. She played the role of Anne Trulove in Act I of Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress at Bel Canto Northwest Vocal Institute last summer. This is her debut in a role with the IU Opera Theater.

A native of San Mateo, CA, soprano Natalie Ford (Nun) graduated Summa Cum Laude from Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. She is now in her first year of graduate study at IU, pursuing a Master of Music in Voice and Opera. Most recently, Natalie appeared as a soloist in J. S. Bach’s Mass in B Minor, conducted by Carmen Téllez. She also performed the role of Pauline in the Bloomington Music Works production of The Toyshop. This is Natalie’s debut with the IU Opera Theater. She studies with Patricia Wise.

Sara Beddow (Nun) is in her third year of the master’s program in Voice and studies with Andreas Poulimenos. Last April, she made her IU Opera Theater debut as the 1^st Niece in Britten’s Peter Grimes. From Wilsonville, Oregon, Ms. Beddow graduated from Kenyon College (Bambier, Ohio) with an BA in Music in 2002. While at Kenyon, she performed roles such as Geraldine in A Hand of Bridge, Dido in Dido and Aeneas and Sally in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. She also performed as a soloist in Beethoven’s Mass in C Major and Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Knox County Symphony. Recently Beddow returned to Kenyon to sing the soprano solo in the Brahms Requiem. Beddow has participated in two summer programs: Operafestival di Roma and Bel Canto Northwest.

Elisabeth Marshall (Nun), a master’s student in voice performance at IU, graduate from the School of Music at the University of Southern Maine, where she sang with the Portland Symphony, Bangor Symphony, Southern Maine Symphony, and Portland Opera Repertory Theatre and its summer program, the Maine Emerging Artsts. She is also a member of the Festival Chorale at the Carmel (CA) Bach Festival. Among her awards are the Emily K. Rand vocal award, the Norman and Louise Meyer Vocal Prize, Opera League of Maine, and Maine NATS. Elisabeth studies with James McDonald.