cast

THE FIREBRINGERS​
A New ROK Commission

Composed ​by Chappell Kingsland
​Libretto by Ben Allen-Kingsland​
Stage and Music Directed by Amanda Russo

DIDO AND AENEAS​
A ROK Adaptation

Composed ​by Henry Purcell
​Libretto by Nahum Tate​
Stage Directed by Laurie Staring
​Music Directed by Sarah Hoffmeister

aleksey artemyev
piano, the firebringers

Aleksey Artemyev started his piano studies at the age of six in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.  At age 14, he was admitted to the Uspensky School of Special Musical Talents in Tashkent.  In 2003, he entered Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan on full scholarship, where he began studying piano with Dr Stephen Perry and Yoshikazu Nagai.  Mr. Artemyev earned the Academy’s Piano Achievement Award and the Fine Arts Award in Music.  He performed at the Northwestern University of Chicago’s “From Vienna to Harlem” Piano Festival and was an Honorable Mention award recipient at MTNA Yamaha Senior Piano Competition in Lansing, MI, in 2003.   In 2005, he was a semifinalist at the Viardo International Piano Competition in Belmont, CA, and in 2006 won the top Keyboard Educators Prize at the 24th Annual San Francisco Young Pianists’ Competition.  In 2010 he won the top 1st prize at the San Jose Music Study Club Competition.

Mr. Artemyev received his B.M. and Professional Study Diploma at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Professor Mack McCray.  After completing his M.M. at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University with Professors Edward Auer and Evelyne Brancart, he was admitted to the doctoral program at the school, where he is currently an Associate Instructor of Piano studying under the tutelage of André Watts.

zachary arneson
sorcerer, dido and aeneas

Zachary Arneson is a countertenor from Rice Lake, Wisconsin.  He graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Arts in voice studying with Keith Brautigam.  His last opera role at Indiana Wesleyan was as Katisha in The Mikado.  He is currently in his second year of study at Jacobs School of Music pursuing a Master of Music degree in Historical Performance.  At Jacobs he has studied with Paul Elliott and currently studies with Patricia Havranek.  This is his first year performing with ROK.

austin babb
super, the firebringers

Austin is delighted to be back working as a super in ROK’s production of The Firebringers.  When Austin is not causing destruction and mayhem performing as The Elements, he enjoys eating Chinese food.  When he is not stuffing his face with exotic spiced dishes, he enjoys working on his own venture, GSR Advance Biofuels Limited.  Some may find a businessman participating in opera weird.  However, Austin himself is all kinds of weird.  Austin is so weird, he considers performing in ROK as “a creative solution to improving my public speaking and performing abilities in my business.”  

sarah bullock
mezzo-soprano, the firebringers and dido and aeneas

Bullock is a native of Nashville, TN as well as a graduate student at Indiana University, pursuing a Master of Music in vocal performance in the studio of Patricia Stiles.  She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music at Austin Peay State University where she studied voice performance under Sharon Mabry, PhD, a nationally celebrated performer and professor of voice as well as a featured writer for the NATS journal of singing.  Bullock’s roles included Second Lady and Papagena in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Mrs. Shem in Britten’s Noye’s Fludde, and Amahl’s mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors.  Bullock sang for the Nashville Symphony Chorus, the Nashville Opera Chorus, and was the liturgical song leader for the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville.  Bullock has also performed with the opera theater of Belmont University as Ernestina in Rossini’s L’occasione fa il ladro with Rossini expert, Phillip Gossett.  She has appeared as Mercedes in Bizet’s Carmen, Frau Reich in Nicolai’s Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor, and the Sorceress in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas in IU opera workshop scenes.

rafael campos salles
aeneas, dido and aeneas

Brazilian tenor Rafael Campos Salles studied voice with soprano Martha Herr in São Paulo.  He was part of the Opera Studio class of Abel Rocha, the conductor of the acclaimed Municipal Theatre of São Paulo.  He also sang in Italy, where he studied with Susanna Rigacci and Alessandro Luongo.  Rafael was one of the six singers selected to take part in the International Winter Festival of Campos do Jordão, the largest music festival in Latin America.  Campos Salles was a soloist in the opera productions of  Promethée (as Hermes) by Gabriel Faurè,  The Gondoliers (as Francesco) by Gilbert and Sullivan, and The Fairy Queen (as the Autumn) by Henry Purcell, all produced by NUO.  Rafael, recipient of the Young Artist Award Scholarship, started his undergraduate program in Voice Performance at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in August of 2012, studying with Dr. Robert Harrison.  He was part of IU’s 2012 production of The Merry Widow as a member of the chorus.  Rafael was the lead role in the original musical “Em Pedaços” in Brazil.  He is also a member of the ensemble “The Singing Hoosiers” under the direction of  Dr. Steve Zegree, where he is becoming acclimated with varying genres of music. 

daniel carlo
flutist, the firebringers

Flutist Daniel Carlo is a second year masters student at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, studying with Thomas Robertello.  He has had the privilege of working with other distinguished faculty members including Maestros Paul Nadler, David Effron, and David Dzubay, and chamber coach Dale Clevenger.  Daniel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and music minor from Wheaton College in Illinois, studying flute with Jennie Brown.  He was awarded the Donald Traub Tribute Award in Instrumental Music as a winner of the 2014 National Society of Arts and Letters Competition, Bloomington Chapter.  He was a finalist in the 2013 Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition as well as the 2012 Masterworks Festival Concerto Competition.  He has performed in masterclasses and summer festivals, allowing him to work with many different flutists including Carol Wincenc, William Bennett, Jim Walker, Bonita Boyd, Marianne Gedigian, Mary Stolper, and Jennifer Gunn.

anne chester
dido, dido and aeneas

Mezzo-Soprano Anne Chester completed her undergraduate studies at Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music in 2014.  Originally from Cleveland, OH, Anne now calls San Francisco, CA home.  She performed the roles of Olga is Lehar’s Merry Widow, Amastre in Handel’s Xerxes and Cherubino in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro with IU Opera, as well as being a member of the choruses of La Boheme, Falstaff, and Candide.  She was a soloist in the Indiana University Oratorio Christmas Concert in 2013 as Gabriel in Shutz’s Sei gegrüßet Maria and was the alto soloist in Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb in 2014.  This summer, she was the alto soloist for the IU Summer Chorus in the Mozart Requiem.  Chester performed Dorabella in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutti with the Toronto Summer Opera Workshop in May, and Third Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with the Blooming Voce Summer Opera Workshop in June.  Anne is a first year MM student under the instruction of Patricia Havranek.

martha eason
fire, the firebringers

Martha Eason, Soprano, is currently pursuing her Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.  She took her bachelor’s degree in Music and Arts Administration from the University of Virginia where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the McIntire Department of Music’s Distinguished Majors Program.  She has performed as the Second Spirit in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with Ash Lawn Opera, and Eurydice in Offenbach’s Orfée aux Enfers with University of Virginia Opera Viva.  Her recent credits at IU include Vespetta in Telemann’s Pimpinone, Sophie in Massenet’s Werther, Ms. Silverpeal in Mozart’s The Impresario, Serpina in Pergolesi’s La Serva Padrona, and Atalanta in Handel’s Serse.  In July, she enjoyed her first performance of Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate under the direction of Dr. Betsey Burleigh for the IU Summer Music Festival.

Martha has also performed as a featured soloist with the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra and the Oratorio Society of Virginia, most recently in a concert featuring BWV 140 and Handel’s Coronation Anthems.  At IU, she has been heard as a soloist on several works including Mozart’s Exultate, jubilate, Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, Zelenka’s Misere Mei, Deus with Pro Arte, and Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor with the IU Summer Music Festival.  Martha is also a member of IU’s premiere vocal ensemble, NOTUS.  She recently performed as a soloist with the group under the direction of Dominick DiOrio at their concert of new works at Carnegie Hall in March.  Martha is a student of Costanza Cuccaro. 

miles edwards
cello, the firebringers and dido and aeneas

Miles Edwards received his bachelor's degree in cello with an outside field of math from Indiana University in 2013.  He has studied with Benjamin Karp and Susan Moses.  An avid performer of new music, Miles received the first prize of the Mrs. Hong Pham Memorial Recognition Award for New Music Performance in 2013.  He has performed concert music, film music, dance music, and opera by living composers.  Miles was previously a cellist in Mooch the Magnificent, and he is happy to be returning to ROK for another season.

rachel k. evans
mezzo-soprano, the firebringers

Southern Californian Rachel K. Evans (mezzo-soprano) is in her third year of doctoral studies at IU studying with Patricia Havranek.  At Indiana University, Rachel is an Associate Instructor of Voice.  She has also performed several roles at IU, such as Charlotte (Werther - Massenet).  She earned her B.A. and M.M. at UCLA where she appeared as Zita (Gianni Schicchi - Puccini), La Badessa and La Maestra Delle Novitzie (Suor Angelica - Puccini), Dorabella (Così fan tutte - Mozart), Nancy (Albert Herring - Britten), "L'Enfant" and "L'Ecureuil" (L'enfant et les Sortileges - Ravel), and Ramiro (La Finta Giardiniera - Mozart).  She reprised the role of Zita with the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival in 2011.  Roles with the Lyric Opera of Los Angeles include Armelinde (Cendrillon - Viardot) and Suse Blunt (Der Vampyr - Marschner).  She sang four seasons in the Los Angeles Opera chorus, and has appeared as a soloist with the Pasadena Symphony.

amanda fish
belinda, dido and aeneas

This is Amanda's first season with ROK.  Hailing from Martinsville, Indiana, she is beginning her undergraduate degree at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in pursuit of a Vocal Performance Degree.  She has been studying voice with Laurie Staring and will be transitioning to Alice Hopper when the school year begins.  In her free time, Amanda likes to read, watch movies, and eat sushi.  Amanda is excited to join ROK and looks forward to all of the adventures JSOM has to offer.

erik franklin
clarinet, the firebringers and dido and aeneas

Erik Franklin holds positions with the Terre Haute Symphony (2nd clarinet), the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic (bass clarinet) and is a founding member of The Novacane Quartet.  He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Clarinet at the Jacobs School, where he earned his Masters degree in 2013, studying with Howard Klug.  Prior to IU, Erik attended Furman University in Greenville, SC, winning the Biennial Concerto competition in 2009 and graduating magna cum laude in 2011.  As a teacher, Erik has coached middle and high school students to receive top chairs in their schools, top prizes at local and state competitions, and positions in the Indiana Honor Band and Orchestra.  He has also coached chamber groups that perform locally and compete at the state level.

​www.erikfranklin.net.

grace golden
super, the firebringers

Grace Golden, an eighth grader at St. Charles Borromeo, is excited to be a part of her second ROK production after appearing in Maria de Buenos Aires last season.  Grace has been a member of the Indiana University Children’s Choir for the 8 years and has performed in a variety of IU operas including La Boheme, Cendrillion, Falstaff, Werther, and Hansel and Gretel.  Grace studied violin for five years and now studies voice with Sarah Miller.  In her free time, she enjoys theatre and cooking.

edward e. graves
aeneas, dido and aeneas

Edward E. Graves, baritone, is a native of Oxon Hill, Maryland.  He made his IU Opera Theater debut in the 2013-14 season as Brühlmann in Werther.  This season, he will be performing the role of Haly in L’italiana in Algeri.  Recent performances have included singing Baritone solos in the world premiere of Gonçolo Lourenço’s oratorio From the Ashes, Raymond Wise’s Afro-American Suite: A Song of Freedom, H. Leslie Adams’ Hymn to Freedom, and the title role Gianni Schicchi in Carol Vaness’ Opera Workshop.  He is pursuing his Master of Music in Vocal Performance degree at the Jacobs School of Music, where he is a recipient of an Artistic Excellence Fellowship.  He received his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance degree from Towson University where he studied with Aaron Sheehan.  While at Towson, he performed the roles of Calandrino in Mozart’s The Goose of Cairo, Cinderella’s Father in Into the Woods, Dudley in John Davies’ children’s opera Little Red’s Most Unusual Day, and Gabriel von Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus.  He also participated in the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in 2011 and in the Princeton Festival this summer singing in the ensemble of Porgy and Bess.  He is a student of Patricia Havranek.

natalie hart
clarinet, dido and aeneas

Natalie Hart is a junior at the Jacobs School of Music pursuing clarinet performance.  She is from Ottawa, Canada.  While in high school, she gained a principle position in the Ottawa Youth Orchestra and toured Italy with this ensemble.  It was on this tour that Natalie decided that she wanted to pursue music.  Natalie studied at the Conservatory of Music in Gatineau, Quebec for a year and was a finalist in the Bravissimo Competition held at the conservatory.  Natalie has won awards from the Kiwanis Music Festival held in Ottawa.  She has participated in summer programs such as Interlochen and the New York Summer Music Festival.  In addition to her love of performing, Natalie also enjoys teaching.  After graduation, she hopes to gain a position in an orchestra and also have a private teaching studio. 

sarah hoffmeister
piano and harpsichord, dido and aeneas

Sarah Hoffmeister, pianist and harpsichordist, began studying at the Jacob’s School of Music in the fall of 2012.  A native of Southeast Missouri, she received an undergraduate degree in harpsichord and piano studies from Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO).  Having finished a MM of music this year at the Jacob’s School of Music, Sarah is beginning her doctoral studies this fall in harpsichord performance.  

At JSoM, she is a Graduate Assistant in the Opera Department as a vocal coach and harpsichordist.  Her most recent performance with IUOT was last season in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro and with Joshua Bell as he performed Bach’s Violin Concerto in E with chamber orchestra at IU.  Sarah is also a local piano and voice teacher and is often collaborating as a pianist and harpsichordist with singers and instrumentalists.  She is excited for the future of opera and ROK and has enjoyed very much being involved in this year’s production of Dido and Aeneas! 

samantha johnson
clarinet, the firebringers

Samantha currently serves as the Principal Clarinet of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra in Terre Haute, Indiana.  She has also had the opportunity to perform with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra.  In addition to orchestral performances, Samantha enjoys performing with The Novacane Quartet, a clarinet quartet founded by Erik Franklin in January 2014 focused on creating new avenues for art music and encouraging composers to write high-quality new works for the clarinet quartet repertoire.  This will be Samantha’s third season with Reimagining Opera for Kids, previously performing in Mooch the Magnificent and Maria de Buenos Aires.    

emily klink
belinda, dido and aeneas

Emily Klink is a soprano from the small town of Baraboo, WI.  She began studying classical singing at age 14, and did her undergraduate studies in vocal performance at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, under the tutelage of Mitra Sadeghpour.  She is now in her second year of her Master's degree at IU, studying with Patricia Havranek.  Emily has performed such roles as Papagena in Mozart's The Magic Flute, Jack's Mother in Sondheim's Into the Woods, and Rosalinde in J. Strauss' Die Fledermaus.  Also during her undergrad, Emily had the opportunity to travel to schools to perform the role of Cinderella in an abridged production of Rossini's La Cenerentola.  She was delighted to participate in the chorus of Gilbert & Sullivan's H.M.S Pinafore this last year with IU Opera Theatre, and is looking forward to performing her role as Leila in an all student-run production of another G & S production, Iolanthe.  This is Emily's first time participating in ROK here at IU, and she is very excited to share this music with you. 

michael linert
sorcerer, dido and aeneas

Michael Linert enjoys a varied musical career primarily as a singer in choirs, operas, and art song recitals, as a Baroque and modern cellist in solo, chamber music, and orchestral settings, and as a cello teacher.  He is known for his engaging, impassioned performances as well as his demanding, organized, and inspiring teaching approach.  Michael’s voice has been described as “ethereal, almost spooky,” “poignant”, and “gorgeously clarion” (The Hartford Courant) and has been heard recently in Bach’s B Minor Mass as alto soloist (CONCORA and Hartford Symphony), Handel’s Xerxes as Arsamenes (Indiana University Opera Theater), and in his newest recital program Veiled (John Waldron Arts Center).

Michael received a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance degree summa cum laude from The Hartt School and a Master of Science in Music Education degree from Indiana University.  Throughout his studies he has also worked with professors from many other schools including the Juilliard School, Eastman School, French National Conservatory, and the Royal College of Music.  He currently resides in Bloomington, IN, and is pursuing a Vocal Performance Diploma at Indiana University with Patricia Stiles in addition to his performing and teaching engagements.  More information can be found at www.michaellinert.com.  

alex lucas
super, the firebringers

Alexandra Lucas is excited to begin her second year with ROK, previously being the narrator in last year’s production of Ana y su Sombra and as the child Maria in Maria de Buenos Aires.  Alexandra studies voice with Heather Narducci, and has played piano for six years, currently studying with Susan Schoch.  She is also a member of Sounds of South, the award-winning choir at Bloomington High School South, where she is playing the role of Christine in their production of Phantom of the Opera.  Previously, she was a three-year member with the Indiana University Children’s Choir, appearing in the following IU operas: La Boheme, Der Rosenkavalier, Cendrillon, and Falstaff.  She has also appeared in theatre productions with Cardinal Stage, Bloomington Playwrights Project, and MCCT.  

sylvester makobi
tenor, the firebringers

Makobi hails from Nairobi, Kenya and working towards a Performer Diploma at the Jacobs School of Music.  He has been studying singing with Dr. Duncan Wambugu (Kenyatta University).  He has participated in many master classes, most recently with Prof. Stephanie Tingler (University of Georgia) and Prof. Kimberly Carballo (Indiana University). He has worked with various conductors amongst them Prof. Peter Bagley and Vijay Upadhyaya.

Makobi has appeared as a featured soloist a number of times: Safaricom Classical Fusion; ‘Kenya for Kenyans’ Concert; Voices of The Hospice Concert; Concert marking the conclusion of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union; ‘Music for Peace and Togetherness’ Concert organized by the Tunaweza Kimuziki project.

In the Orchestral arena, he has appeared in Mozart’s Mass in C Minor , Requiem Mass, Coronation Mass, Haydn’s Creation and a number of times in Handel’s Messiah.  His opera roles include ‘Elder/Villager’ in Ondieki the Fisherman by F. Chandler, ‘Don Basilio’ and ‘Don Curzio’ in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, ‘Ferrando’ in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte.  Makobi is now a student of Professor Marietta Simpson.  

emily mansfield
violin, dido and aeneas

Emily Mansfield is a junior at Indiana University.  She studies violin performance with Kevork Mardirossian and has also studied with Brenda Brenner.  This is her second year with ROK.  She is from Frederick, MD and studied under the tutelage of Phyllis Freeman and Rebecca Henry at the Peabody Preparatory in Baltimore before attending IU.  When she's not practicing, Emily loves playing soccer and doing other outdoor activities such as hiking and farming. 

elizabeth mcconnaughey
mezzo-soprano, the firebringers and dido and aeneas

Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Elizabeth McConnaughey attended Centre College in Kentucky intending to major in behavioral neuroscience.  However, after singing the title role in Amahl and the Night Visitors and performing as the soprano soloist in the Fauré Requiem her freshman year, she made the transition to music.  She was a featured soloist in Handel’s L’Allegro, Il Penseroso, ed Il Moderato performed at the 2009 American Handel Festival.  In 2010 she sang the role of Belinda in Centre’s production of Dido and Aeneas, and she was selected as a winner of Centre’s Concerto Competition.  Elizabeth continued her vocal studies with Dr. Wanda Yang Temko in Atlanta after graduating in 2011.  She participated as a young artist at CoOPERAtive summer 2012 and at SongFest in 2012 and 2013.  Elizabeth is currently beginning her second year as a master’s student at Indiana University under the tutelage of Marietta Simpson.

karisa millington
dido, dido and aeneas

Karisa Millington, a native of Ohio, is in her second year of Doctoral Studies at Indiana University.  She completed a Masters of Music in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College in 2013 and a Bachelor of Music Education from Cedarville University in 2004.  She recently spent the summer in St. John’s, Canada where she covered the role of Helena in Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and also sang in Puccini’s La Bohème.  Other recent credits include Antonia’s Mother in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Queen in The True Story of Cinderella, Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer, and Rachmaninoff’s Francesca da Ramini.  She has won several awards including the Madison Caroline Law Memorial Scholarship for “recognition of giftedness and promise as vocalist and educator.”  She is a student of Costanza Cuccaro.

nicole moody
mezzo-soprano, the firebringers

Nicole Moody loves collaborating in the arts and helping young people do this with excellence.  While maintaining a music studio in Bloomington, Renaissance Arts Studio, Nicole is the string coach for the Musical Arts Youth Organization and director for the Bloomington Boys and Girls Club violin program.  Well-versed in various musical styles (jazz, fiddle, classical, contemporary), Nicole arranges and performs music for the violin, viola, voice, and piano with local musicians in various locations throughout Bloomington.  She has received degrees in Violin and Voice Performance from the Jacobs School of Music and in Drama from the IU Department of Theatre and Drama.  Nicole has worked under the guidance of pedagogues such as Mimi Zweig, Brenda Brenner, and Julie Lyonn Lieberman, and studied performance with Scharmal Shrock (voice), Ik-wan Bae, Federico Agostini, and Albert Hirtz (violin).

jacquelyn mouritsen
soprano, the firebringers

Jacquelyn Mouritsen is pursuing a Doctorate of Music in Vocal Performance with minors in Music History and Theater with an emphasis in Directing at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University.  She received her Master of Music in Vocal Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music.  She most recently performed the roles of Cosmic Kay and Emily in the world premiere of Cosmic Ray and the Amazing Chris with New Voices Opera, Ana and Yeya in Ana y su Sombra with Reimagining Opera for Kids and the title role in Rita, which she directed, with Great Lakes Light Opera.  Other recent credits include Regan in King Lear at Olmsted Performing Arts, Mademoiselle Silberklang in The Impresario with Great Lakes Light Opera, and Counsel for the Plaintiff in Trial by Jury at Cleveland Institute of Music.

Chris neiner
horn, dido and aeneas

Chris Neiner is a composer and performer from the Greater Twin Cities.  His music has received performances by a variety of ensembles, including the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, the Minnesota Sinfonia, and the Copper Street Brass Quintet.  His recent awards include the James and Paula Nelson Young Composers Competition, and the Olga Klein Nelson Award from the National Federation of Music Clubs, and an honorable mention from the National YoungArts Foundation.  His commissions include the Cochran Chamber Commissioning Project, a Midwest consortium of fourteen high schools and four colleges.

As a performer, Chris Neiner served as principal horn for the 2011 and 2012 Minnesota Music Educators All-State Symphonic Band and as principal for the 2012-2013 Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies Symphony Orchestra.  He studied under Ellen Dinwiddie Smith of the Minnesota Orchestra and performed the Richard Strauss’ Horn Concerto No. 1 with the Burnsville High School Concert Band in 2012.  At Indiana University, he can be found performing the new music of his composer colleagues.  He is pursuing bachelor of music degrees in composition and horn performance at the Jacobs School of Music.  He studies composition with Claude Baker and horn performance with Richard Seraphinoff. 

francisco ortega
tenor, the firebringers

Francisco Ortega Huerta is a third year undergrad student at the Jacobs School of Music.  He studies with Dr. Robert Harrison and works constantly with Prof. Gary Arvin.  Francisco made his first appearance with ROK in the 2012-13 production of Mooch the Magnificent by Lauren Bernofsky, performing the role of the Lion.  In the 2013-14 season, he performed Roble, Pete and Asombro in Gabriela Ortiz's opera Ana y su Sombra.  He is very happy to perform for kids and is interested in expanding his interpretation of the roles in every performance.

Haley Paulin
super, the firebringers

Haley is an eighth grader at Jackson Creek Middle School and is thrilled to perform for a second year with ROK, having served as a narrator for Ana y Su Sombra last season.  As a four year member of the IU Children’s Choir, she previously appeared with the IU Jacobs School of Music in Cendrillon, La Bohème, Hansel and Gretel, and Carmina Burana (children’s chorus).  Other credits include: Seussical, Schoolhouse Rock Live! and Thoroughly Modern Millie with Stages Bloomington; Annie (Duffy), The Wizard of Oz (Munchkin), Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory (Oompa Loompa), and Into the Woods, Jr. (Rapunzel) with Cardinal Stage Company; Beauty & the Beast with Youth Theatre; and The Fantastic Mr. Fox with Shawnee Theatre. 

​Haley has studied voice for three years with Meredith Kiesgen Schilling, and she currently studies piano with Alissa Guntren and has played since the age of 7.  As a young opera fan, Haley is excited to help introduce opera to other young people in her community.    

kelsey randall
sorceress, dido and aeneas

Kelsey is a junior majoring in vocal performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she is a recipient the Premier Young Artist Award Scholarship.  She has participated in many local theatre productions including "Oliver!" with the Fairfield Summer Community Theatre and "Parade" with the Northern Kentucky Footlighters, for which she won an OCTA award.  In her time at IU, she has sung with the Symphonic Choir as well as in the opera choruses for the IU Opera Theatre productions of Cendrillon and Falstaff.

natalia sanchez
clarinet, dido and aeneas

Natalia Sanchez, a native of Gastonia, North Carolina, is currently in her third year pursuing a B.M. in Clarinet Performance at the Jacobs School of Music.  She studies with Professor Eli Eban, and in her time at IU has enjoyed performing with various ensembles, including the Indiana University Concert Band and Wind Ensemble.  This is her first season performing with ROK. 

keith schwartz
baritone, the firebringers

Keith Schwartz is a native of the Washington, D.C. area.  He is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Voice Performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music as a student of Timothy Noble.  This past summer he was seen as Antonio in Le Nozze di Figaro and Sprecher in Die Zauberflöte with the Miami Summer Music Festival.  Last year, he was seen as Johann in Werther, Marco in Gianni Schicchi, and Il Commissario in La Traviata at Indiana University.  His previous credits include Horemhab in Akhnaten both at IU and in collaboration with Indianapolis Opera.  He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Delaware, where he performed the title role in Don Giovanni and Count Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro with the University of Delaware Opera Theater.

jerome sibulo
aeneas, dido and aeneas

Baritone Jerome Síbulo is currently pursuing a Doctor of Music degree at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he also earned his Master and Bachelor of Music degrees.  He was last seen as the title role in Scott Perkins’ Charon with Intimate Opera of Indianapolis, where critics agreed that he sang “with conviction and intensity,” resulting in a “dynamic performance.”  Much of his recent work is in contemporary opera: Lý Trưởng in the world premiere of PQ Phan’s The Tale of Lady Thi Kinh and Louis in William Bolcom's A View from the Bridge with the IU Opera Theater, Ben in Menotti's The Telephone, and Orlando Spinks in the world premiere of Lauren Bernofsky's Mooch the Magnificent for Reimagining Opera for Kids, Jepson in Julian Livingston's Beau of Bath, and Lord Capulet in Don Freund's adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.  Other opera credits are Fasolt and Donner in Wagner’s Das Rheingold, Leporello in Don Giovanni, El Señor de El Paso in the world premiere of Gabriela Ortiz' ¡Unicamente la Verdad!, Kommissarius in Der Rosenkavalier, Grégorio in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette, Al in The Most Happy Fella, and numerous opera choruses. He has studied voice with Dale Moore and Antonio Hila, and is currently a student of Alice Hopper.

brooklyn snow
soprano, the firebringers

Brooklyn Snow is a native of Portland, OR, currently pursuing a Master of Music in Voice Performance at Indiana University.  With IU Opera Theater, Ms. Snow performed in Hänsel und Gretel as the Dew Fairy under Maestro Arthur Fagen and will be performing as Elvira in this fall's production of L’italiana in Algeri.  She was Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with IU’s Opera Workshop under the direction of Sylvia McNair and continues to be involved with the IU Opera Chorus.  Ms. Snow has appeared as a soprano soloist with the Indiana Opera Chorus, University of Oregon Chamber Choir, and performs the National Anthem regularly at multiple sporting events.  Ms. Snow attended the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance, receiving several scholarships and an Award of Excellence in Undergraduate Voice en route to receiving her Bachelor of Music degree.  While there, she studied with Milagro Vargas, performed as a soloist in Stabat Mater under the direction of Matthew Halls, and performed at the Bach Festival.  Ms. Snow currently studies with Carlo Vaness.

Danielle steg
belinda, dido and aeneas

Danielle Steg is an undergraduate voice student of Professor Patricia Havranek.  Danielle was recently heard as the soprano soloist in the Faure Requiem, at the Winter Harbor Music Festival in Maine, where she also sang repertoire of Mozart and Purcell at the Festival’s annual Side-by-Side concert.  She is extremely excited to be working with ROK!  A hug thank you Kim, Laurie and everyone who works so hard to make ROK happen, it is a wonderful program to be a part of.

Gabrielle stuart-davis
dido, dido and aeneas

Gabrielle Stuart-Davis, soprano, has called Tampa, Florida home for most of her life.  She is a second year graduate student at the Jacobs School of Music where she also completed her undergraduate studies in voice performance.  She recently appeared in Indiana University Opera Theater’s production of La Traviata as Annina.  Previously, she performed in IUOT’s productions of Xerxes and Cendrillon as a member of the chorus.  Ms. Stuart-Davis recently performed as the soprano soloist in Mozart's Missa Brevis in D and Missa Brevis in B♭.  She has been featured in scenes as Poppea in L’incoronazione di Poppea and Anita in West Side Story under the direction of Sylvia McNair and Richard Drews.  She is a student of Patricia Havranek. 

samantha thielen
mezzo-soprano, the firebringers

Samantha Thielen, soprano, is thrilled to be returning to ROK for her second year with the ensemble.  A native of Grayslake, Illinois, Ms. Thielen is in her third year of Undergraduate Studies at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, pursuing a double major in Vocal Performance and Choral Music Education.  Her previous involvement with ROK was performing the role “Sombra” in Ana y su Sombra.  Ms. Thielen enjoys traveling, photography, and working as an intern with the Red Rose Children’s Choir of Lake County, IL.  She is currently a student of Alice Hopper.

heng-ling wang
bassoon, the firebringers and ​dido and aeneas

Heng-Ling Wang is a Taiwanese bassoonist, currently working towards her Masters of Music degree under the tutelage of William Ludwig.  She started playing bassoon when she was ten years old.  After two years, Heng-Ling started playing in Kaohsiung City Youth Orchestra as principal bassoon.  In her college years, she studied with Hsien-Hui Chang (principal bassoon of the Taipei Symphony Orchestra).  She played second and third bassoon in the Tainan and Taipei Symphony Orchestras, and was also second bassoon of the Taipei Symphonic winds and Chanson Symphonic band, which toured in northern China.  She has had lessons with Carlo Colombo and Tomas Frantis, as well as Baroque bassoon training with Michael Mccraw.  Heng-Ling has also performed in master classes taught by Helman Jung, Keith Sweger, Bram van Sambeek, Karen Pierson and Martin Kuusmann. 

kelsea webb
soprano, the firebringers

Kelsea Webb is thrilled to begin her third season as a member of the ROK ensemble.  Hailing from the booming metropolis of Anderson, Indiana, Ms. Webb is currently a life-long student.  She is an active member of ROK, having performed the roles of Unicorn in Mooch the Magnificent and Ana/Yeya in Ana y su sombra.  This year, she is very excited to be performing the soprano roles in The Firebringers.  Her favorite past roles include the scheming mother in Falstaff,  the slightly-less-scheming, but much more terrifying mother in Hansel and Gretel, and the sad damsel-in-distress in Die Zauberflöte.  In her spare time, Kelsea enjoys coloring, writing poetry, and playing with her dog brother, Indiana Jones. 

​www.kelseawebb.com    

chao-jeng yu
piano, the firebringers and dido and aeneas

Chao-Jeng Yu is pursuing his Masters in Piano Performance under Professor Jean-Louis Haguenauer at Indiana University.  He previously studied with Chia-Wei Chung, Hsiu-Ting Wang, and Huei-Juen Yu.  He holds a Bachelors degree from the National Taiwan Normal University Music Department.  Mr. Yu is also a violinist, having played since the age of 8.  As a violinist, he has played with many orchestras and chamber groups, and was a prize winner in the 2005 Taiwan Violin competition.

Not Pictured

Abbey Curzon
Soprano, The Firebringers
​
James Maverick
​Piano, The Firebringers