2010 Apprentice Singers Announced
2010-06-17
This year was a record year for The Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Singer Program. 1,498 young singers applied and 38 were chosen to come to New Mexico from as far as Venezuela, Spain, Louisiana, Washington and Pennsylvania to perform with The Santa Fe Opera during its 54th season. The Opera’s Apprentice Singer program is among the oldest and most respected in the nation.
The Apprentice Program for Singers was founded along with The Santa Fe Opera itself in 1957 by John Crosby, who believed in the importance of training young American opera singers in a diverse repertory. It was the first program of its kind, with many companies around the world to follow suit.
The Apprentice Singer Program affords young artists the opportunity to work and perform with some of the most respected conductors, directors and singers in the classical music world. The apprentices form the backbone of the season’s five operas as members of the chorus and in supporting roles. They receive coaching, lessons in diction and performance and master classes by leading teachers and esteemed artists such as famed soprano Evelyn Lear, Brian Zeger (Executive Director of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artists Development Program and Artistic Director of Vocal Arts at The Juilliard School), Marlena Malas (teacher at the Curtis Institute of Music, Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music), internationally known tenor Bruce Ford, tenor Michael Best (appeared at the Metropolitan Opera for 22 seasons and currently a voice teacher at Roosevelt University in Chicago) and Corradina Caporello (Italian diction coach at Julliard and the Metropolitan Opera).
Throughout the summer, the apprentices work toward the Apprentice Scenes (August 15 and 22), a review which gives each apprentice a chance to star on the main stage in fully-staged and costumed scenes from beloved operas. Each Apprentice Scene is designed and costumed by a team of technical apprentices, making it an original collaboration between the Opera’s programs for young singers and technicians.
For many young artists, the Apprentice Singer Program is a significant benchmark in their professional development. The program has launched numerous distinguished careers and many former apprentices return to star on the main stage. This year’s former apprentices include Brandon Jovanovich in Madame Butterfly; Keith Jameson in Madame Butterfly and Life is a Dream; Audrey Elizabeth Luna in The Magic Flute; Celena Shafer in Albert Herring; and Kate Lindsey in Albert Herring and The Tales of Hoffmann.
The Santa Fe Opera’s 54th summer festival season features 38 performances of 5 operas and runs from July 2 through August 28. The 2010 repertory consists of Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini, The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, The Tales of Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach, the world premiere of Life is a Dream by Lewis Spratlan and Albert Herring by Benjamin Britten.
The 2010 operating budget for the Apprentice Singer Program is $654,500. The program is funded in part by proceeds from the Gala Opening Weekend Celebration, income generated from endowment funds, and contributions to the annual operating fund. Individual singers who have received named apprenticeships are indicated on the list below.
Complete roster of 2010 Apprentice Singers:
| Arizona |
Tammy Coil (mezzo-soprano), Scottsdale |
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| California |
*Carin Gilfry (mezzo-soprano), Rancho Cucamonga |
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Devon Guthrie (soprano), Claremont |
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Matthew Peña (tenor), Modesto |
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Renée Tatum (mezzo-soprano), Carlsbad
Donald & Luke Graham Endowment |
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| Colorado |
James Baumgardner (tenor), Denver |
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| Florida |
Brent Turner (baritone), Winter Springs |
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Meredith Woodend (mezzo-soprano), Kissimee
Melody Damon Endowment
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| Iowa |
*Heath Huberg (tenor), Milford
Dr. & Mrs. Robert M. Zone
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Benjamin LeClair (bass-baritone), Royal |
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| Illinois |
*Brad Benoit (tenor), Kankakee
50th Anniversary Apprenticeship |
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*Thomas Forde (bass-baritone), Chicago |
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*David Govertsen (bass), Chicago
Hale Matthew Foundation
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*Jamie-Rose Guarrine (soprano), Peoria |
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| Indiana |
Joe Shadday (tenor), Indianapolis |
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| Kansas |
Lindsey Ohse (soprano), Topeka |
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| Louisiana |
*Brandy Lynn Hawkins (mezzo-soprano), Baton Rouge
The de Compiegne-Wallace Foundation
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| Maryland |
Danielle Pastin (soprano), Annapolis
Jim & Jeanne Manning
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| Massachusetts |
Samuel Levine (tenor), Boston |
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| Michigan |
Benjamin Clements (bass-baritone), Grand Ledge |
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| Minnesota |
*Matthew Hanscom (baritone), Plymouth
The William Randolph Hearst Fund
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| New Jersey |
*Kiri Deonarine (soprano), Fair Lawn |
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Ashley Logan (soprano), Princeton |
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| New Mexico |
Erin Sanzero (soprano), Albuquerque
Mr. & Mrs. Terrence A. Tobias
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*Audrey Walstrom (mezzo-soprano), Los Alamos
Drs. Raymond & Nancy Lutz
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| New York |
Stephanie Lauricella (mezzo-soprano), Wading River |
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Jonathan Michie (baritone), Rochester |
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| Oklahoma |
Stephanie Washington (soprano), Tulsa |
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| Oregon |
*Albert J. Glueckert (tenor), Portland
Donald & Luke Graham Endowment
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| Pennsylvania |
*Emily Lorini (mezzo-soprano), Pittsburgh
Betty S. Blessing, in memory of William G. Blessing
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| South Carolina |
Alan Dunbar (bass-baritone), Beaufort
Ann S. & Wade C. Harrison II
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| Texas |
Alissa Anderson (mezzo-soprano), San Antonio |
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*Jason Slayden (tenor), Plano
Lois C.A. Smith
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*Craig Verm (baritone), Houston
Dr. Jean D. Wilson
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| Virginia |
Darik Knutsen (baritone), McLean |
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| Washington |
Rachel Willis-Sørensen (soprano), Tri-Cities
The Newcomb Gladney Seitz Memorial Fund
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| SPAIN |
*Jorge Prego (tenor), Vigo
The Vilcek Foundation, Inc. |
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VENEZUELA Marcos Carrero (tenor), Maracaibo
The Vilcek Foundation, Inc.
*Second-year apprentice
Press Contact: Joyce Idema, Cindy Layman, Dolores McElroy press@santafeopera.org
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