Singers Listing

William Amory, Baritone

William Amory, baritone, sings the dramatic roles that require a consummate musician as well as an excellent actor. Among the complex characters that he has inhabited on stage are many from the Verdi canon: Renato in Un Ballo in Maschera, Germont in La Traviata, Ford in Falstaff, Di Luna in Il Trovatore, and the title role in Rigoletto; as well as roles such as the tormented Riccardo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and the formidable Scarpia in Tosca.

William Amory began his musical education in the San Francisco Boys Chorus under the direction of Madi Bacon. He continued his studies at the Vienna Conservatory, where he studied Lied and Oratorio, and at the Britten-Pears School for Advanced Musical Studies, in Aldeburgh, England, in master classes in opera and song. It was in Aldeburgh that Mr. Amory made his European opera debut as Ford in the Britten-Verdi Aldeburgh Festival’s Falstaff, under the baton of Steuart Bedford. Internationally, Mr. Amory has also performed as Eurymaque in Fauré’s Pénélope in Sydney and has toured Austria in recital. California audiences have heard Mr. Amory perform with Pocket Opera, Berkeley Opera, and Pacific Repertory Opera, among others, in such roles as Rigoletto, Germont, Basilio, Di Luna, Figaro (Mozart), Dandini, Belcore, Lescaut, Scarpia, Gérard, and Dulcamara.

Mr. Amory’s recent appearances have included King in Strauss’s Die Liebe der Danae at Avery Fisher Hall with the American Symphony Orchestra under Leon Botstein; Renato in Un Ballo in Maschera, Germont in La Traviata and Dr. Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with the Opera Company of Brooklyn; and Beckmesser in Berkeley Opera’s Die Meistersinger. Die Liebe der Danae is recorded on the Telarc label.

As a concert singer, Mr. Amory has appeared in oratorio as bass soloist in The Messiah, The Creation, Brahms’ Requiem, and The B Minor Mass. He has also appeared in recital, and has had the honor of working closely with composers Ernst Bacon, Martin Halpern, and Matthew Owens in preparing and performing their works.

Mr. Amory is managed by James Dietsch of Dietsch Artists International: dietsch@dietschartists.com

Nina Berman, Soprano

Coloratura soprano Nina Berman grew up in Great Neck on Long Island. She was a 2009 winner of the Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition and the 2008 second prize winner of the Five Towns Young Musician Competition. Most recently, Nina has performed the roles of The History Teacher in Gregory Spears’ 2009 opera Paul’s Case (American Opera Projects), Erato in Gluck’s Il Parnaso Confuso (Ridotto Arts Organization), Mrs. Vixen in Britten’s The Beggar’s Opera (Manhattan School of Music) and Poussette in Massenet’s Manon (New York Lyric Opera Theatre).

A contemporary music lover, Nina has performed numerous contemporary works including the premieres of a number of song-cycles by David Noon, Reiko Füting, and Evan Antonellis. She has appeared in recital for Bruce Adolphe’s Garden City Chamber Music Society and as soloist with the North Shore Symphony Orchestra and C.W. Post Symphony Orchestra.

Nina has participated in master classes with Marilyn Horne and Stephanie Blythe, among others. She currently studies with Joan Patenaude-Yarnell at the Manhattan School of Music. Upcoming projects include a recording on the Naxos label of works by Salvatore Di Vittorio.

Jill Dewsnup, Soprano

Known for her "eloquent and moving" singing (Deseret News), Jill Dewsnup possesses the rare type of voice that has power and agility combined. Her committed acting was praised by Salt Lake City Weekly: "In an art form that too often suffers from wooden acting, Dewsnup gave a surprisingly subtle and riveting portrayal."

Miss Dewsnup performed the compelling title role of Anna Bolena in January 2010 with dell'Arte Opera Ensemble in New York City. During the summer of 2009, she was selected from national auditions to be one of thirty artists involved in OperaWorks' Advanced Artist program. She also performed “Martern aller Arten” at a showcase concert in Beverly Hills.

Miss Dewsnup performed the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor with Maestro Joseph Rescigno, and Mimì from Puccini's La Bohème, with Maestro Louis Salemno in Pesaro, Italy. She sang Donna Anna in Don Giovanni at the 2005 Astoria Music Festival. Other operatic roles include: Angelica in Puccini's Suor Angelica, Mrs. Maurrant in Weill's Street Scene, Matilda in William Tell, Mařenka in The Bartered Bride, and the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute.

Her concert performances include: the soprano soloist in Elijah, Verdi's Requiem, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Mozart's Coronation Mass, and Handel's Messiah. She also appeared as a guest soloist with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and as a guest recitalist for the Temple Square Concert series.

Miss Dewsnup currently studies voice with Mignon Dunn.

Lauren Haber, Soprano

Lauren Nicole Haber, Soprano, graduated with a Master’s of Music Degree from the Manhattan School of Music in 2006. Her scene performances included Fiordiligi from Cosi Fan Tutte, the Countess from Le Nozze di Figaro, and Donna Elvira from Don Giovanni. Lauren earned her Bachelor of Music degree from C.W. Post, Long Island University in 2004, where she performed the soprano solos from the Mozart Requiem and Carmina Burana with the Long Island Youth Symphony. She is also a winner of the C.W. Post Concerto Competition, and the recipient of the Jeannette Walters Memorial award in music excellence.

In addition to being an Artist in Residence, Lauren recently made her Carnegie Hall debut as Il paggio with New York Lyric Opera Theatre. In the summer of 2009, Lauren was a participant at the International Vocal Arts Institute, Canada, under the direction of Joan Dornemann, where she performed the third act quartet in the role of Mimi from La Boheme for the final performance. In 2008, she attended the four week intensive OperaWorks program in California under the direction of Ann Baltz. Lauren is also a recurring participant of the Martina Arroyo Foundation Role Performance Seminar, where she has learned the roles of Amelia from Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra, the Countess from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Desdemona from Verdi’s Otello, and Mimi from Puccini’s La Boheme.

This summer (2010) Lauren will once again participate at the OperaWorks program in California. She will also be a participant in the Westchester Summer Vocal Institute under the direction of Dr. Sherry Overholt.

Bridget Hogan, Soprano

Canadian lyric Soprano Bridget Hogan has been praised for her shimmering sound, and versatility of repertoire. Her operatic credits include Micaëla of Bizet’s Carmen, Violetta of Verdi’s La Traviata, Donna Anna of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and Pamina of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. She has been lauded for her interpretation of music of the 20th and 21st century, particularly the one woman show “Stratas” written for her by Canadian composer Peter Skoggard, and librettist David MacFarlane.

A highly sought after recitalist, Ms. Hogan has appeared singing various programs across Canada and the United States. Her solo concert appearances have brought her to the Toronto Sinfonia, New York City Ballet, Elmer Iseler Singers, New Jersey Opera and Windsor Symphony Orchestra.

Ms. Hogan’s traditional oratorio credits include Handel’s Messiah, Brahms’ Requiem, and Honnegar’s Le Roi David, alongside several world premieres of new compositions. She remains an active performer and teaching artist in Canada and the United States. She remains in the New York Area, with her husband, choral conductor and pianist Charles F. Prestinari, where she performs regularly and maintains a private voice studio.

Samantha Jeffreys, Soprano

Samantha Jeffreys, native New Yorker, “reveals a beautiful, easy high register balanced by a firm and substantial low voice” Barrett Cobb, NY Concert Review. This past May, Ms. Jeffreys made her Carnegie Hall Solo Recital Debut presented by Artists International, Inc. and returned in June with The Accadia Foundation for the Arts. A 2008-2009 season member of Nashville Opera’s Young Artist Program, she sang Pamina in The Magic Flute. This season, she is a member of New York Lyric Opera’s Artist in Residence Program and will sing 1st Spirit in Die Zauberflote at Symphony Space. Ms. Jeffreys will also perform in the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s Masterly Singing Series. This summer she will perform with the dell’Arte Opera Ensemble. She is a student of Arthur Levy and recipient of numerous awards and distinctions including: 2007-2008 Metropolitan Opera National Council Encouragement Award, winner in both the 2008 Connecticut Opera Guild and National Opera Association vocal competitions, and 2007 Florida Grand Opera Competition Finalist. Ms. Jeffreys sang Contessa Almaviva with the Martina Arroyo Foundation Young Artist Program’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Alice Ford in Intermezzo Opera Festival’s Falstaff and Donna Elvira with the Martina Arroyo Foundation Young Artist Program’s Don Giovanni. She performed in concert with The Queens Opera Association. Ms. Jeffreys earned her Master’s Degree from the Manhattan School of Music in 2007 and Bachelor of Music, from Purchase Conservatory in 2005. She performed leading roles in National Opera Association award winning productions of Dialogues of the Carmelites (New Prioress), Hansel and Gretel (Mutter), Amahl and the Night Visitors (Mother) and The Merry Widow (Olga) with Purchase Opera. Scenes include La Boheme (Mimi), Cosi fan tutte (Fiordiligi), Pagliacci (Nedda), The Rape of Lucretia (Female Chorus) and Ariadne auf Naxos (Naiad).

www.samanthajeffreys.com

Maryann Mootos, Soprano

Soprano Maryann Mootos will be performing the role of Micaëla in Carmen with Regina Opera in June 2010. She has also performed leading roles with Miami Lyric Opera, Chelsea Opera, Chorus pro Musica and Amato Opera. Roles include Donna Anna, Marguerite, Nedda, Mimi, Pamina and Violetta. Soloist appearances also include performances with Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Riverside Opera and Reading Symphony Orchestra, Easton Chamber Orchestra, and the Newton Community Chorus.

Ms. Mootos was selected as a Finalist in Lakes Region Opera Company’s Opera Idol competition in Concord, NH in 2008. She was also the recipient of the Marquis Award in the Emerging Professional Division of the 2006 Classical Singer AudComps Competition. In 2005, she studied and performed abroad in Spoleto, Italy with the Spoleto Arts Symposia.

Ms. Mootos received a Bachelor’s degree in Voice from the Eastman School of Music, and her Master’s degree in Opera Performance from Temple University where she attended on a full scholarship.

Nils Neubert, Tenor

Tenor Nils Neubert recently made his debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall as a First Prize Winner of the 2010 Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition. He was also a finalist in both the 2010 Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition where he was recognized with an encouragement prize, and the Liederkranz Foundation Vocal Competition, a semifinalist in the Oratorio Society of New York’s Lyndon Woodside Competition, and a winner in the 2009 Friday Woodmere Vocal Competition.

He has performed with the Opera Company of Brooklyn, Pocket Opera of New York, Amore Opera, the New Jersey Association of Versimo Opera, and Encompass New Opera Theatre, and will also be singing the title role in Rameau's Pygmalion with Underworld Productions and Sinfonia New York at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre at Symphony Space in May 2010. His operatic roles include Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte), Tamino (Magic Flute), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), and Alfred (Die Fledermaus). Nils Neubert has performed at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium and Weill Recital Hall, Steinway Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall, Yamaha Hall, Boston's Jordan Hall, Sanders Theatre at Harvard University, the Bergen Performing Arts Center, the United Jewish Appeal Headquarters of New York, and as soloist with the Queens College Choral Society and 4x4 Baroque Music Festival.

Mr. Neubert holds a Master of Arts from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Music from the Juilliard School. He is also a graduate of the Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Massachusetts. Summer studies have included the International Summer Academy at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Festival De Musica Clasica in Puigcerda, Spain, and language studies at the Scuola Leonardo Da Vinci in Florence, Italy. As a translator, he has worked for several companies and individuals including the Juilliard School and the musicologist and Brahms expert Michael Musgrave. He has also been featured as a speaker, reading the libretti of German oratorios and choral works as part of a new choral diction project by the Berkshire Choral Festival. He is on the voice and chamber music faculties of the International Academy of Music in Italy and the Burgos International Music Festival in Spain, where he has been a regular guest in past seasons.

Born and raised in Hamburg, Germany, Mr. Neubert resides and teaches in New York City where he continues to study with Dr. Robert C. White, Jr., and performs frequently with pianist Yuri Kim.

Patricia Risley, Mezzo-Soprano

Opera News hails Patricia Risley for “her voice…luscious and agile, her characterization both boisterous and tender” as well as her beautiful “singing with ease and certainty.” Frequently sought after on national and international stages, Patricia Risley’s 2009-10 season includes her return to Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Arizona Opera and her first performances of Sharon Falconer in Elmer Gantry with Florentine Opera. She also returned to the Metropolitan Opera to reprise Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi and for its production of Il barbiere di Siviglia as well as creates the role of Evvy Powers in the workshop of Machover’s Death and the Powers at the American Lyric Theatre in preparation for the work’s world premiere.

In the 2008-09 season, she reprised her portrayal of Miranda in Thomas Ades’ The Tempest at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and Tisbe in La cenerentola at the Metrropolitan Opera as well as sang Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro with Palm Beach Opera, Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel with Cleveland Opera. She also presented a recital under the auspices of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.

Ms. Risley is a frequent guest at the Metropolitan Opera where she made her debut as Tebaldo in Don Carlo and has returned for Tisbe in La Cenerentola, Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi, and Mercedes in Carmen. Additionally, she enjoys a strong relationship with the Lyric Opera of Chicago as a former member of the company’s prestigious Ryan Opera Center (formerly Lyric Opera Center for American Artists) and has since performed thirteen roles with the company, including Siebel inFaust, Stephano in Roméo et Juliette, Meg Page in Falstaff, Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby, Diana in the world premiere of Bolcom's A Wedding, and Moglie in the American premiere of Berio's Un Re in Ascolto.

The winner of a 2001 Aria Award was recently heard as Sesto in Giulio Cesare and Stéphano in Roméo et Juliette with Houston Grand Opera, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro at the Ravinia Festival, Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia and further performances of Sesto in Giulio Cesare at the Opera Colorado, Angelina in La cenerentola and Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos with Utah Opera, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro and Musetta in La bohème with Arizona Opera, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro with the Israeli Philharmonic under the baton of Zubin Mehta, and the title role in Carmen with Palm Beach Opera. Other engagements in America include Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier for Opera Pacific, Siebel in Faust with Opera Company of Philadelphia, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Minnesota Opera, Meg Page in Falstaff with the Minneapolis Orchestra, Flowermaiden in Parsifal with Los Angeles Opera, Diana in La Calisto, and the title role in Cesti's Orontea with Music of the Baroque in Chicago, and Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel with the Omaha Symphony Orchestra. She also sang Kara Söndstrom in the world premiere of Pasatieri’s Frau Margo with Fort Worth Opera in the company’s inaugural festival season.

Her German debut took place at the Staatsoper Berlin as Cherubino in a new production of Le nozze di Figaro, conducted by Daniel Barenboim, performances of which were televised and released on DVD. She returned to Berlin for Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, which was subsequently followed by performances at Madrid’s Teatro Real. Ms. Risley added the role of Dorabella to her repertoire in a new production of Così fan tutte with the same company, and returned for more performances as Donna Elvira. Ms. Risley also made her debut with the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich singing La Musica/La Speranza in Monteverdi’s Orfeo and later returning to that company to sing Meg Page in their new production ofFalstaff conducted by Zubin Mehta.

A frequent guest at the world’s most noted opera festivals around the world, Ms. Risley was recently heard in the demanding role of Miranda in Ades’ The Tempest as well as Dorabella in Così fan tutte and Varvara in Kátya Kabanová with the Santa Fe Opera. With both the Spoleto Festival U.S.A. and Lincoln Center Festival, she sang sang the roles of the Cat and Cuckoo in Respighi's La bella dormente nel bosco. She appeared as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, and Farnace in Mitridate with Wolf Trap Opera as well as Dorabella in Così fan tutte and Estella in Argento’s Miss Havisham’s Fire with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. She also sang Ernesto in Haydn’s Il Mondo della Luna (a co-production of the Berlin Staatsoper and Innsbruck Festival, under Rene Jacobs) and made her Italian debut as Anna in Die Sieben Todsünden at the Teatro Maggio Musicale in Florence.

Noted for her performances on the concert stage, she has joined the New York Philharmonic for Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream and the Los Angeles Philharmonic for Miranda in scenes from The Tempest. She has also sung Mozart’s C Minor Mass with Boston Baroque, Israel Philharmonic, and Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival

Shirley Ritenour, Soprano

Shirley Ritenour was born in California and raised in Georgia and Virginia. She began her musical career at a young age – first by accompanying herself with guitar and then as part of the singing group, Two Dots and a Dash with her older and twin sisters.

A trained classical musician and honors graduate of Catholic University in Washington D.C., Shirley has performed and studied in Graz, Austria and completed graduate studies at the Boston Conservatory. She has performed in a variety of venues, notable among them, classical recitals for various Ambassadors in Washington D.C., as a concert performer in Manhattan and proudly sings our National Anthem for the WNBA’s New York Liberty at Madison Square Garden.

Today, Shirley has left the corporate world behind and returned full-time to her classical roots. Shirley also enjoys teaching and giving back by sharing her music to benefit her favorite charities. Her debut CD, Both Sides Now, is currently in release and 20% of the proceeds from the sale of this CD will be donated to Gilda’s Club New York City.

Roza Tulyaganova, Soprano

Soprano Roza Tulyaganova is a native of Uzbekistan. Since moving to the United States in 2000, she has traveled extensively, performing major and supporting opera roles in cities across the country. Miss Tulyaganova performed roles with many opera companies throughout the east coast. These include Fiordiligi in Cosi Fan Tutte with Hubbard Hall Opera Theater and Stony Brook University, Donna Anna in Stone Guest with Stony Brook University. Nella in Gianni Schicchi with Rockland Opera, La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi with Chelsea Opera, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi with Mississippi Opera, Musetta in La Bohème with Cantiamo Opera Theatre in New York and Tribeca Opera, Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro with Capital Opera, Albany, NY, and Micaëla in Carmen with the Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory. Miss Tulyaganova performed in numerous scenes with Opera Las Vegas, including Mimí in La Bohème, the title role in Lakmé, and Frasquita in Carmen. With the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, she has sung the roles of Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus and Lola in Gallantry.

Miss Tulyaganova pursued and completed her Master of Music degree at the Manhattan School of Music from 2005-2007. At MSM, she performed the roles of Livia in L'Italiana in Londra and La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi. Miss Tulyaganova has appeared as a soloist in many concert engagements, and is the winner of multiple notable awards.

Danielle Walker, Soprano

American soprano Danielle Walker is in her second year of the Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program at Los Angeles Opera. During her tenure at LA Opera, Danielle performed the roles of Suor Dolcina in Suor Angelica and Das Madchen in the American premier of Die Gezeichneten. She also covered Adina in L'elisir d'amore, Freia in Das Rheingold and Ortlinde in Die Walkure. Earlier this spring she performed solo concerts and youth performances with the LA Philharmonic and last summer she performed Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Basileiras with the Pasadena Pops.

Ms. Walker received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati where she performed the roles of Mimi in La Bohème, Madame de Tourvel in Susa’s The Dangerous Liaisons, Semele in Cavalli’s L’Egisto, Appolonia in Haydn’s La Canterina, Greta in Drattel’s The Festival of Regrets, and the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Vesperae solemnes.

Ms. Walker’s professional engagements have included the role of Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro with the Opera Festival of Lucca 2006, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Central Ohio Symphony. Ms. Walker is a featured soprano on the Hal Leonard companion CD recording of the Menotti Aria Anthology.

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