The Santa Fe Opera Awards 36 Outstanding Apprentices for the 2026 Season
2026 Outstanding Apprentice Awards
Santa Fe, NM — Each season, talented young singers and technicians take part in the Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Programs, where they receive intensive training and play critical roles in the creation, both on stage and off, of the season’s five mainstage productions. Their work culminates in two performance evenings created and performed solely by the apprentices: the Apprentice Scenes and the Apprentice Concert featuring the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra.
Of this season’s 84 Apprentice Technicians and 43 Apprentice Singers, 36 won cash awards, honoring their exceptional talent and hard work.
SINGER AWARDS
The Natalie and Barry Beller Audition Fund for Apprentices
Jasmin Ward
The Campbell/Wachter Apprentice Award for Singers
Jazmine Saunders, Soprano
The Donald Gramm Memorial Award
Tzvi Bat Asherah, Bass-baritone
The Guild of the Santa Fe Opera Award in memory of Emmah Ellis
Julia Holoman, Mezzo-soprano
Lillian Caroff Mayer Award
Alissa Goretsky, Soprano
The Katharine Mayer Award
Alexis Seminario, Soprano
Anna Case MacKay Award
Lauren Randolph, Mezzo-soprano
Outstanding First Year Apprentice Award
Matthew Juhlin, Baritone
Lindsay Martin, Mezzo-soprano
Dominic Salvati, Tenor
Audrey Welsh, Mezzo-soprano
The Santa Fe Opera Encouragement Award
Lauryn Davis, Soprano
Aaron McKone, Tenor
Darya Narymanava, Mezzo-soprano
Atticus Rego, Bass
Kyle White, Baritone
Ryan Wolfe, Baritone
The Santa Fe Opera Award of Excellence
Deanna Ray Eberhart, Mezzo-soprano
Yeongtaek Yang, Baritone
TECHNICIAN AWARDS
The Guild of the Santa Fe Opera Award in memory of Emmah Ellis
Faith Gilbert, Wigs and Makeup
The Greg Teakle Memorial Award for a Technical Apprentice
Ellie Vice, Paints
The Randall R. Lutz Award for Technical Apprentices
Jordan Kerr, Properties Run Crew
The Katharine M. Mayer Memorial Award
Katie Barnes, Production/Music Services
Tzu-Hsuan (Celine) Lin, Wigs & Makeup
The Craig J. Miller Technical
Apprentice Award
Li Downey, Electrics
The Caroline Chao Apprentice Award
Shoshi Brustin, Costumes
The Santa Fe Opera Technical Apprentice Award
Elli Caunitis, Production Music Services
Sophie Coudert, Stage Crew
Rayya Gracy, Costumes
Ally Doederlein, Properties Run Crew
Mia Elias, Audio/ Video
Alexandra Riascos, Costumes
Lexie Scott, Properties Run Crew
Jay Sexton, Electrics
Kendell Swartz, Costumes
Beka Underhill, Stage Crew
Lily Weigand, Audio/ Video
The mission of the Santa Fe Opera is to advance the operatic art form by presenting ensemble performances of the highest quality in a unique setting with a varied repertory of new, rarely performed and standard works; to ensure the excellence of opera’s future through apprentice programs for singers, technicians and arts administrators; and to foster an understanding and appreciation of opera among a diverse public.