FaceBook

Angela Billings (Barbarina) Angela is thrilled to perform in her 2nd production with Brooklyn Repertory Opera. She will appear next month in Manhattan's Prince George Ballroom as entertainment for the ALS Charity Art Auction & Wine Tasting event on Dec 1st. Highlights include: Kathleen O'Leary in AFRAID, Sally in Die Fledermaus, Minerva in Orpheus in the Underworld (highlights), Rapunzel in Rapunzel, Stewardess Robinson in Titanic, Stephanie in Joe's Bar, Estelle in The Full Monty, White Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, Snow Queen in Holiday Magic, Francisca in West Side Story, and the Faure & Durufle Requiems w/ the Morris Conservatory Symphonic Chorus. www.BillingsInteriors.com.

Barrett Cobb (mezzo soprano) (Marcellina) was last heard with the Brooklyn Repertory Opera in the role of Mama Lucia in Cavalleria Rusticana.. Other opera roles include Azucena in Il Trovatore, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Enrichetta in I Puritani, and Gertrude in Romeo et Juliette She has performed as soloist with the National Chorale, the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, the Sine Nomine Singers and Baroque Orchestra, the Orchester des Landesteater Dessau, and the AIMS Orchestra., among others. She is the alto soloist on the Sine Nomine Singers' recording of Handel's Israel in Egypt, on the Newport Classic label. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory and a Master of Music degree from Yale University.

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Ms. Cobb began her musical career as a flutist. She has served as principal flutist with numerous orchestras, has toured the U.S. extensively under the auspices of Columbia Artists Management, and has frequently performed as soloist in concerti. Ms Cobb is also an award-winning portrait and landscape painter and has had three one-woman shows in New York galleries.

Soyoung Choi (Figaro) is recognized for his elegant tone and theatrical ability in his interpretation of Mozart roles. Mr. Choi is currently singing the title role of Le Nozze di Figaro for Brooklyn Repertory opera. He was presented by The Rabi Warner Concert series performing French and Italian art songs. He has taken master classes by Daniel Ferro, Charles Riekers, and Dalton Baldwin. Operatic roles he is studying include Belcore, Guglielmo, Harlekin, and Papageno.

Mary Jane Dingledy (Marcellina) a resident of Park Slope for the past 22 years made her operatic debut with B.R.O. as Rachel Stitcher in A.F.R.A.I.D. A retired attorney for the City of New York, Mary Jane has spent many years pursuing her singing talents, primarily as soprano soloist for the choir at St. John's Episcopal Church of Park Slope, where she performed many solos such as 'The Virgin Slumber Song.' Also, she sang in duets including 'Recordare' from the Verdi Requiem. In the summer 2005 she was invited to perform in concert in Germany for the churches at Neunkirchen and Dilsberg singing the Bach cantatas 'Jesu bleibet meine Freude (Jesu Joy)' and 'Dir, Dir Jehova will ich singen,' and the English Elizabethan songs, 'The Lowest Trees Have Tops' and 'Now What is Love,' accompanied by the organ. Mary Jane studies voice in Manhattan, and is a graduate of Empire State College and SUNY Buffalo Law School.

Christopher Fecteau (Conductor) enjoys a multi-faceted musical life in New York City as a vocal coach, pianist, conductor and arranger. He specializes in the Italian operatic repertoire and role-preparation for singers at all professional levels. He has prepared singers for engagements at many of the major companies in the United States, including the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and LA Opera. In 2000 he founded dell'Arte Opera Ensemble, dedicated to providing quality experiences for young singers. To date, dell'Arte has produced almost 30 workshop readings of mostly standard repertoire, as well as staged productions of Ariadne auf Naxos and Der Rosenkavalier. Conducting engagements have taken him to Opera Illinois, Opera Theatre of Philadelphia, Harrisburg Opera, and a tour of the Czech Republic. He was Associate Music Director of New Yorks venerated Amato Opera for three seasons, and counts over 50 different operas in his repertoire, including several world and regional premieres. As a pianist, he has recitalized with Sherrill Milnes and Matthew Polenzani, appeared on the New York Philharmonics Salon series, performed a Valentines program for Mississippi Opera and two programs with the Longmeadow (MA) Chamber Music Society with his wife Karen Rich. The couple also performed a recital in Innsbruck, Austria, including settings of the poetry of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and works of Alma Mahler and Arnold Schoenberg. In 2003, Mr. Fecteau was commissioned by Skylight Opera Theatre (Milwaukee, WI) to create a new performing version (2004) of Gounod's Romeo et Juliette, adapting the original music and Shakespeare's text and story line into one another in a compelling two-act format which the Milwaukee Sentinel called a miracle. Other arranging projects have included chamber music reductions of Ariadne auf Naxos for dell'Arte and I Capuleti e i Montecchi for Corleone Opera (just six and seven players respectively). Recently he contributed numerous arrangements for an international lullaby album by soprano Courtenay Budd.

Melissa Gerstein (Public Relations)In addition to being a gifted mezzo-soprano, who last sang with Brooklyn Repertory Opera as Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana, Melissa has taken on the huge task of Public Relations for our fledgling opera company. Many thanks Melissa!

Luis Gonzalez (Count) makes his company debut with Brooklyn Repertory Opera in The Marriage of Figaro. Recent operatic credits include Lorenzo in Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Peter in Humperdinck's Hansel & Gretel, Guglielmo in Mozart's Cosi fan Tutte and Ruggiero in Handel's Alcina. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Gonzalez made his professional debut as a Guest Artist with Opera San Jose, singing the roles of Cheever (The Crucible) and Servo d'Amelia (Un Ballo in Maschera) while appearing in additional productions of Don Giovanni, La Boheme, Der fliegende Hollaender, Carmen, Tosca and Le Nozze di Figaro. He has been a Young Artist with Bel Cantanti Summer Opera Theater and a member of the AIMS Opera Studio in Graz, Austria. He holds degrees in music from San Jose State University and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he recently received an Honorable Mention at the 2008 NATS Study Awards. Praised for his diligent musicianship and linguistic fluency, Gonzalez continues to garner attention with a magnetic stage presence and unique vocal artistry.

Jay Gould, Bass-Baritone (Bartolo), has a career in opera, oratorio and musical theater. He has appeared as a soloist in Avery Fisher Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York City and other major concert venues, in performances of Handel's The Messiah and the St. John's and St. Matthew's Passions of Bach, the Requiems of Faure, Mozart and Brahms, and Orff's Carmina Burana. He has performed as soloist with the Masterwork Chorus, Long Island Choral Society and the Taghkanic Chorale. He has also appeared as bass soloist in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the Japanese Beethoven No. 9 Society in Carnegie Hall. Mr. Gould appears as soloist on a recording of the Grand Mass in B-flat minor of Amy Beach, re-creating his solo appearance in that work at Carnegie Hall. His opera repertory includes the roles of Amonasro (Aida), Renato (Un Ballo in Maschera), Marcello (La Boheme), Sharpless (Madama Butterfly), Alfio (Cavalleria Rusticana), Rodrigo/King Philip II/Grand Inquisitor (Don Carlo), Dr. Frodhi (The Eglantine), Enrico (Lucia di Lammermoor), Tony (The Most Happy Fella), Oroveso (Norma), Tonio (I Pagliacci), Scarpia (Tosca), Sarastro/First Priest/First Slave/Man in Armor (Die Zauberflote), and the title role in Falstaff (Martina Arroyo's "Prelude to Performance" production in June, 2006, conducted by Willie Anthony Waters). In July 2007 he sang the role of Fafner in Das Rheingold with the Mannes Wagner Theater Project conducted by David Gilbert. In August 2007 he played the title role in Gianni Schicchi with Empire Opera. His first appearance with BRO was as Rocco in FIDELIO (Fall 2007), followed by Alfio in CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA last spring; in May he appeared with Raylynmor Opera in Keene, New Hampshire as the Commendatore in DON GIOVANNI.

Scott Andrew Hutchins (Bass-Antonio) earned his Master's Degree in Cinema Studies from the College of Staten Island in 2005. Previously, he appeared as the Second Prisoner in Fidelio, in the chorus of Cavalleria rusticana, and crewed Hansel & Gretel, all with the BRO. He was chorus and cover for Dr. Grenvil in the Bronx Opera's La Traviata in 2004. He has also sung the Brahms Requiem with Collegium Westchester and is involved in his church choir, Voices in Unity. He has written three stage plays, four screenplays, and a novel, as well as reviews for Film Score Monthly, and has begun work on an opera of his own. His film work includes producing documentary material for PBS, and he is currently under contract to write a screenplay for director Uzo (Walls & Bridges; Better than Ever starring William Hickey and Frank Gorshin). In theatre, he has directed such plays as Alice Gerstenberg's Overtones and David Williamson's Emerald City. His voice teacher is David Friedman. He is originally from Indianapolis, lives on Staten Island, and is a tutor at Boricua College in East Williamsburg.

Stefanie Izzo (Susanna) is a Long Island native soprano who has appeared in operatic and musical theater productions throughout the NY metro area. She has previously performed with BRO in Fidelio and Hansel & Gretel (Dew Fairy). This summer, Stefanie participated in the Dell'Arte Opera Ensemble's summer readings project, for which she performed the role of Peaseblossom in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Other recent credits include: The Magic Flute (Pamina), HMS Pinafore (Josephine), Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortileges (La Princesse), Dido and Aeneas (Belinda), and Sweeney Todd (Johanna). She has appeared in numerous concerts and recitals as well. An avid Italian enthusiast, Stefanie spent two summers studying Italian opera at the Florence Voice Seminar, and was chosen as the first-ever recipient of the National Italian American Foundation's Andrea Bocelli Music Scholarship. Stefanie holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from New York University.

Kathleen Keske (Countess & Artistic Director) A native of Chicago, Ms. Keske has sung with opera companies and symphony orchestras over wide areas of the United States and abroad. Her operatic appearances have included such leading roles as Bruennhhilde in Siegfried and Goetterdaemerung, Ariadne, Leonore (Fidelio), Sieglinde, Desdemona, Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, and a wide range of other roles in five languages. Kathleen sang Senza Bliss with BRO in their previous production of AFRAID. Ms. Keske now resides in New York City and was a semi-finalist in The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and a finalist in the Liederkranz Foundation Competition. Kathleen is very happy to have worked with such a fine and dedicated cast in this production.

"Three gave outstanding performances... Soprano Kathleen Keske eased her way into a remarkable rendition of the title role (Fidelio). She and Ward received numerous bravos for their efforts."

Anchorage Daily News

Karmen Kluge, Soprano (Susanna) is thrilled to be back on the Lyceum stage as Susanna, having last appeared with BRO as Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana and previously as Kathleen O'Leary in A.F.R.A.I.D. Karmen is a graduate of New York University and received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. She has also appeared with the Bronx Opera and OperaOggiNY and performed this summer in the Midtown International Theatre Festival in a new production, "Don't Cry Butterfly: Puccini's Unwritten Opera." Other stage credits include Massenet's Sapho, Carmen, La Traviata, Camelot, Oklahoma!, Fiddler on the Roof, Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado about Nothing, among many others. Her recent film and television credits include Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, Baby Mama, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Wedding Date, Law and Order: CI, and 30 Rock and is a proud member of both Actor's Equity and the Screen Actor's Guild. Karmen is a former Miss Five Boroughs and was 4th runner up to Miss New York, in addition to being the overall state talent winner. This past year, Karmen was a semi-finalist in the 2008 Licia-Albanese Puccini Foundation Competition and the Harlem Opera Theatre Vocal Competition. She studies voice with Myra Cordell, whom she would like to thank for her unending support and encouragement in pursuing her dream of performing.

Ilberto Lagana (bass) (Figaro) , is very happy to return for Brooklyn Repertory Opera's third season since performing Don Fernando in Fidelio last season. Recently he could also be heard as Sparafucile in Rigoletto with Ardamore Chamber Opera and Mephistopheles in Gounod's Faust with dell'Arte Opera Ensemble. Some favorite roles include: Don Giovannni with Opera Company of Astoria; Kecal in the Bartered Bride and Tristram in Martha with Liederkranz Opera Theatre; Zuniga in Carmen and Crespel in Tales of Hoffmann with Hudson Opera; and Ramfis in Aida with One World Symphony. Ilberto is a graduate of the Sarasota and DiCapo apprentice programs. He is originally from the Washington DC area and holds a Bachelors degree in Voice and Computer Science.

Francis Liska,(Graphic Artist) is a gifted heldentenor who has done several roles with Brooklyn Repertory Opera. In addition to his vocal gifts Mr. Liska is an accomplished cartoonist and is responsible for the "Marriage of Figaro" artwork on posters, banners, and programs.

Jonatan Lonnqvist, (Don Curzio and Basilio) is a Swedish tenor holding a University Diploma Degree from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. He has worked professionally in several Swedish opera choirs as well as in the Swedish Radio Choir and the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir. At Skaeret - Sweden's largest opera festival - he took part in the production of the reconstructed 18:th century opera The Bailiffs were he was hailed by critics and audience for his presentation of not less than three different comic characters. He created the part of the painter in the world premiere of Daniel Boertz's opera Magnus Gabriel at Lackoe Opera. Mr. Lonnqvist has received several scholarships and for the academic year of 2008/2009 he is a Fulbright Scholar and pursues a Master's Degree at Mannes College of Music in New York where he studies with Dan Marek.

Roger Malouf (Conductor) is an Assistant Conductor with the Metropolitan Opera, where he has worked on productions led by James Levine, Valery Gergiev, Julius Rudel, Marco Armiliato, and Sir Andrew Davis, among others. He is Music Director of the Mannes College of Music Extension Division Opera Workshop, and has served on the staff of New York City Opera and as an accompanist for the Juilliard School. Music Director and Conductor of the West Side Opera, which has presented opera in concert for the past nineteen years, he has conducted staged productions for the Natchez Opera Festival and the Little Opera Theatre of New York. For the concert series at Trinity Church on Wall Street, he has conducted performances of Mozart's Zaide, Rossini's Il Signor Bruschino, J. Strauss' Die Fledermaus, and Massenet's Don Quichotte. As a vocal coach and pianist, Mr Malouf has taught at the Bel Canto Institute in Italy, the International Vocal Institute in Croatia, the American Institute for Musical Studies in Austria, Portland State University, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has had the pleasure of accompanying master classes given by Anna Moffo, Martina Arroyo, Sherrill Milnes, Martial Singher, and Gerard Souzay.

Toby Newman, (Cherubino) is a versatile artist who is at home singing both opera and new music. Credits include Tisbe in La Cenerentola with Connecticut Opera, Dinah in Trouble in Tahiti with Anchorage Opera, Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro with the Bay Area Summer Opera Theater and Amato Opera, and Meg Page in Falstaff with the Natchez Festival of Music (cover) and Amato Opera. Recent concert credits include the alto soloist in Bach's St. Matthew Passion and Handel's Messiah with the Mostly Baroque Players in Connecticut, and a concert of operatic highlights with the Waterbury Symphony. Ms. Newman works regularly with Meredith Monk and has performed Ms. Monks' work at Carnegie Hall and in the starring role in Ms. Monks' feature length film, Book of Days, among many other settings. She has been featured in such diverse venues as the International Festival of Sacred Music, NPR, a national tour of /Asunder, a collaborative piece by composer Robert Een and choreographer Yin Mei, and the recent world premiere of Robert Een 's opera The Escape Artist at the REDCAT theater at Disney Hall in Los Angeles. In 2006, Ms. Newman won first place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing, New York region's annual vocal competition. Upcoming performances include a return to the Mostly Baroque Players to sing the role of the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors.

Jessica Sandidge, soprano, (Countess) was cast in Brooklyn Repertory Opera's production of A.F.R.A.I.D. as Constance Purity right before it closed. She is looking forward to performing the Countess in the Brooklyn Lyceum Theater. Her recent performances include Mozart's Cosi fan tutte (Fiordiligi), Puccini's Gianni Schicchi (Nella), and Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro (Countess). She has worked with such companies as Chelsea Opera, Quisisana Opera, and the Remarkable Theater Brigade. She is a graduate of New England Conservatory and UC Santa Cruz and is enjoying her fourth year in New York. She currently studies with Michael Paul. She is looking forward to performing the Countess with Brooklyn Repertory Opera.

Mary Silverstein, soprano, (Barbarina and Dance Mistress) holds a BA in Vocal Performance and minor in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. In her career, she has performed such roles as The Screaming Woman: "Cavaleria Rusticana" ( Brooklyn Repertory Opera Co.), Suor Osmina: "Suor Angelica" in where she participated in the Operafestival di Roma in Rome, Italy, as well as ensemble work in such productions as; "Hansel and Gretel" "Cavaleria Rusticana" "Fidelio" ( Brooklyn Repertory Opera Co.), and The Magic Flute (Operafestival di Roma). As well as opera, Mary is a frequent guest soloist with such liturgical groups as, The New York Cantata Singers under the direction of the late MET conductor David Lubovitch, The National Cathedral Choir for the Consecration of the Right Reverend Shannon Johnson , and has appeared on the nationally syndicated TV program, "The Hour of Power" at the Crystal Cathedral. Mary also studied ballet at the Washington School of Ballet. She joined the Washington Ballet company in 1997, and danced for 4 years as a company member performing such roles as, Little Mouse, Big Mouse, Soldier and Candy Cane in productions of "The Nutcracker". In 2004 during the Operafestival Di Roma, she danced the role of the flame dancer in "The Magic Flute". After graduation Mary was hired by Virginia Commonwealth University as the choreographer for the opera department, choreographing numerous dance scenes for many opera productions. As well as choreographing, Mary has enjoyed teaching ballet and ballroom dance in Virginia as well as NYC at such schools as, The Rigby's Jig Studio and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Matthew Smedberg, (Antonio) is a graduate student at City College of New York. He received his undergraduate degree from Notre Dame, where he studied with Laura Portune, Mark Beudert, and the late John Riley-Schofield. Matthew's operatic roles include Mars in "Orpheus in the Underworld" and Mr. Kofner in "The Consul". This is his second production with BRO.

Leslie Tay, (Basilio & Curzio)a Singaporean tenor, has performed in opera, oratorio, musical theater, theater, a cappella and choral music. With the Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater, he sang in Griffelkin (Foss), Street Scene (Weill) and was cast in the role of "Thaddeus Davenant" in Gregg Wramage's Death in Summer, a part of "New American Opera Previews (2008)". With the Singapore Lyric Opera, he sang "Boy 1" in excerpts from Trouble in Tahiti. With Artyfakt (Singapore), he sang "Bastien" in Mozart's Bastien und Bastienne and was the tenor soloist for Saint-Saens' Oratorio de Noel. He has participated in masterclasses with Rudolf Knoll, Krisztini Laki, Andrew Parrott and Rachelle Gerodias. He is currently pursuing graduate studies at the Manhattan School of Music in the studio of Arthur Levy.

Jocelyne O'Toole (Cherubino) is delighted to return to Brooklyn Repertory Opera. Ms. O'Toole recently graduated from the masters program at the Manhattan School of Music. At the Manhattan School, she covered the role of First Statue in Grifflikin by Lucas Foss. During her graduate studies, she was a young artist with the Center City Opera Theater in Philadelphia, as well as the Connecticut Lyric Opera. With the Connecticut Lyric Opera, she sang Cherubino from Le Nozze di Figaro in their main stage production. In their Opera Outreach program. Jocelyne sang Third Lady from The Magic Flute. Ms. O'Toole would like to thank her loving family and friends for their constant support.

W. Allen Wrede, bass-baritone, (Bartolo) made his opera debut last spring as Le Grand-pretre de Dagon in Saint-Saens' Samson et Dalila. He has amassed a diverse background in theatre including dancing, acting, improvising, and directing. Once he even worked at a casino playing Bing Crosby. His choreography for The Fairy Playz won an award from Spotlight On Theater Company. He is on the board of the Music Salon program which performs semi-monthly at the LGBT Community Center and also the chair for the music committee at the Fourth Universalist Society.

Brett Wynkoop (Executive Director) - Before starting on the path of computer consulting with Wynn Data Limited, www.wynn.com, he was part of the the New York Renaissance Festival in the early 1980's, ran lights and video at Chippendales & took a turn at screen acting in "The Squeeze", 1987 (Michael Keaton). He was Technical Director for the world premier of A.F.R.A.I.D at the New York Fringe Festival, where he made his musical debut by playing the first note of the opera on computer generated bells. He is pleased to be working with such a wonderful group of artists.