The Cleveland Institute of Music
Opera Theater presents
Opera Scenes & Arias followed by a complete performance of
Gilbert & Sullivan’s
Trial By Jury
David Bamberger, Director
John Simmons, Music Director & Accompanist
Alison Garrigan, Costume, Wig & Makeup Designer
Paul & Kathleen Zweifel, Supertitles
Kulas Hall
April 15 & 16, 2011
8:00 p.m.
April 17, 2011
3:00 p.m.
The CIM Opera Program is supported in part by
a generous grant from the John P. Murphy Foundation
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Scenes
*Friday/Sunday +Saturday
(more)
THE BARTERED BRIDE (1866)
Music by Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884)
Libretto by Karel Sabina
English version by Marion Farquhar
“Marie Warns Vašek”
Introduced by Margaret Kazan
Vašek David Fair *
Michael John Talerico +
Marie April Martin *
Agostina Migoni +
MIGNON (1866)
Music by Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896)
Libretto by Michael Carré and Jules Barbier
“Connais-tu le pays”
Introduced by Kellie Rumba
Mignon Elizabeth Frey *
Alicia Bousner +
GIUDITTA (1934)
Music by Franz Lehár (1870-1948)
Libretto by Paul Knepler and Fritz Löhner
“Meine Lippen, sie küssen so heiss”
Introduced by Jacquelyn Mouritsen
Giuditta Jilda Farias
The Gypsies Troy Bruchwalski, Armando Contreras,
Raymond James Irwin, Adam Matonic
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(more)
COSI FAN TUTTE (1790)
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte
Trio: “Soave sia il vento”
Introduced by Kevin Simmons
Fiordiligi Catheryne Shuman *
Laura Anne Valles +
Dorabella Stacey Van Vossen *
Stephanie Kreutz +
Don Alfonso Ryan Downey *
Andrew G. Manea +
FIDELIO (1805)
Music by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Libretto Joseph Sonnleithner
“O wär' ich schon mit dir vereint”
Introduced by Pamela Torrey
Marzelline Alexandra Schiano
ROMÉO ET JULIETTE (1867)
Music by Charles Gounod (1818-1893)
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
“The Poison Aria”
Introduced by Raymond James Irwin
Juliet Marilyn Reid Smith
RUSALKA (1901)
Music by Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Libretto by Jaroslav Kvapil
“The Hymn to the Moon”
Introduced by Alyssa Hensel
Rusalka Helen Wyatt
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(more)
IL TROVATORE (1853)
Music by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano
“Stride la vampa”
Introduced by Veronica Ward
Azucena Rebecca Skirpan
DON PASQUALE (1843)
Music by Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)
Libretto by Giovanni Ruffini
Staged by Ms. Hamm
“Quel guardo, il cavaliere...So anch'io la virtù magica”
Introduced by Kathleen Raab
Norina Megan Hamm
FALSTAFF (1893)
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Arrigo Boito
“The Merry Wives Receive a Letter” (Act I, Scene 2)
Introduced by Alexandra Schiano
Mrs. Meg Page Kjira Robinson *
April Martin +
Mrs. Alice Ford Laura Anne Cotney *
Marilyn Reid Smith +
Nannetta (Anne Ford) Kellie Rumba *
Anjin Stewart-Funai +
Dame Quickly Alicia Bousner *
Elizabeth Frey +
Fenton Kevin Simmons *
David Fair +
~ INTERMISSION ~
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The Usher Andrew G. Manea *
Ryan Downey +
Edwin, The Defendant Jake Andricks *
David Fair +
The Learned Judge Mark Wanich *
John Gray Watson +
Counsel for the Plaintiff Marisa Buchheit *
Jacquelyn Mouritsen +
Angelina, The Plaintiff Sarah Mossman *
Ashley R. Close +
Foreman of the Jury Troy Bruchwalski *
Armando Contreras +
Other members of the Jury Javier Enrique Ferrer, Raymond James Irwin,
Joseph Lenehan, Adam Matonic,
Kevin Simmons, Michael Talerico,
Reid Taylor
Ladies of London Laura Ann Cotney, Jilda Farias, Alyssa Hensel,
Hillary Huebler, Margaret Kazan, Erica Koch,
Stephanie Kreutz, Agostina Migoni,
Kathleen Raab, Nicole Rodriguez,
Jessika Roy, Pamela Torrey,
Veronica Ward, Helen Wyatt, Rebecca Zaner
Chorus of Bridesmaids Carson Dorsey, Stephanie Klock,
Kathryn Middleman, Annie Reilly,
Gillian Terminiello, Stacey Van Vossen
TRIAL BY JURY (1875)
Words by William S. Gilbert (1836-1911)
Music by Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900)
Introduced by Marilyn Reid Smith
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Voice Department
Production Staff
Stage Managers…Catheryne Shuman, Reid Taylor, Laura Anne Valles
Assistant Stage Managers …Kellie Rumba, Elizabeth Tredent
Production Manager/Properties Mistress … Sarah Stewart
Costume Designer …Alison Garrigan
Wig/Makeup Assistant … Krista Tomorowitz
Wardrobe Assistants …Kathleen Raab, Jan Wolf
Supertitles … Paul & Kathleen Zweifel
About the Staff
David Bamberger (Artistic Director) has staged some 200 productions on
three continents in styles from grand opera to musicals. A founder of Cleve-
land Opera, he was the company’s General Director from 1976 to 2004, build-
ing it into one of America's major regional opera companies. He secured The
Three Tenors in Concert to celebrate its 25th anniversary. At the insistence of
Jerome Robbins, Mr. Bamberger staged the dialogue scenes for West Side
Story, thus gaining permission for Cleveland Opera to be the only opera
company in the Western hemisphere permitted to re-create Robbins’ original
choreography. Mr. Bamberger’s work from coast to coast ranges from The
Barber of Seville at Lincoln Center (New York City Opera) to The Ballad of
Baby Doe (Los Angeles Music Center), with such stars as Roberta Peters, Bev-
erly Sills and Sherrill Milnes. For Santiago, Chile, he staged Rigoletto and Lu-
cia di Lammermoor and, for the Israel Vocal Arts Institute, La Bohème and La
Cenerentola. In 1990, he represented the opera industry before Congress, testi-
fying in a successful effort to garner support for the National Endowment for
Opera Theater
Artistic Director. . . David Bamberger
Music Director & Conductor. . . Harry Davidson
Opera Coach & Chorus Master. . . John Simmons
Opera Theater Administrator . . . Claire Connelly
Production Manager . . . Sarah Stewart
Mary Schiller, Head
Clifford Billions
Vinson Cole
Jung Eun Oh
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the Arts. He has served on the Board of Directors of OPERA America and of
the National Alliance for Musical Theater, of which he was a founder. At
home on the non-musical stage, Mr. Bamberger directed the first major New
York production of Sophocles’ classic tragedy Oedipus at Colonus and a
national tour of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. His writings include
several articles for Opera News and best-selling textbooks for religious
schools. His two-volume history of the Jews based on Abba Eban’s My People,
banned in the former Soviet Union, has been used in Russian translation in
both Russia and Israel. Mr. Bamberger’s many honors include the Ohio Gover-
nor’s Award for Arts Administration and honorary doctorates from Swarth-
more College (his alma mater), Cleveland State University and CIM.
John Simmons (Music Director) has appeared in numerous recitals in Austria,
the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy and in the U.S. at Weill Recital
Hall and Merkin Hall in New York City. A student of Yoheved Kaplinsky, he
received a Master of Music degree in piano performance from Peabody Con-
servatory. He also holds a diploma in piano performance from the Hochschule
für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna, Austria, where he studied with
Paul Badura-Skoda. Mr. Simmons has coached, taught and performed at the
American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria, the Spoleto
Festival USA, the Centro Studi Italiani, the Amalfi Coast Festival, the Shaker
Mountain Festival and the Lincoln Center Festival. He was on the coaching
faculty at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University, was appointed mu-
sic director of the Elysium Festival in Bernried, Germany in 2004, and was in
residence at Rutgers University as guest professor of collaborative piano for
2004-2005. Mr. Simmons was music director and pianist for New York Opera
Project’s production of Samuel Barber’s Vanessa in spring 2004. He has col-
laborated in recital with tenor John Aler, and has performed with the London
Symphony Chorus, the Westminster Choir, the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago and
was featured as a soloist with the Spoleto Festival Orchestra. He was on the
coaching faculty of Juilliard Opera Center and worked with tenors John Aler
and Jonas Kaufmann.
Alison Garrigan is now enjoying her fifth year working with CIM Opera
Theater. Aside from designing numerous scene programs here (The Orient
Expressly was her first) her work may be remembered from Die Fledermaus,
Ariadne auf Naxos and Xerxes. Elsewhere, she is the resident designer at
Cleveland Public Theater, where her designs include Boom, Pulp, Our Town, A
Bright Room Called Day, The Rocky Horror Show and Hedwig and The Angry
Inch. She also designs at such venues as Theatre Ninjas (Anna Bella Eema),
Cleveland State University (The Alchemist, The Oresteia), CSU Summer
Stages (The Shadow Box, Chekhov In Yalta, Return To Forbidden Planet),
Beck Center (Little Shop Of Horrors,The Diary Of Anne Frank, Jekyll and
Hyde The Musical, The Seagull, Hamlet), Dobama (Trestle At Pope Lick
Creek, Fuddy Meers), Great Lakes Theater Festival/CMSD (Guys and Dolls,
Hot Mikado, South Pacific) and most other area theatres.
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About the Cast
Jake Andricks (tenor) is a second-year master’s student studying with Vinson
Cole. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Voice and Church
Music at Indiana Wesleyan University in 2009, where his performances in-
cluded Tamino in Die Zauberflöte. In December 2009, Mr. Andricks was in-
vited to return to his alma mater to perform the tenor arias from Handel’s Mes-
siah. In his first year at CIM, Mr. Andricks appeared as Max in Der Freis-
chütz and Ferrando in Così fan tutte in the opera scenes productions, and as
Scaramouche in the Cleveland premiere of the complete Ariadne auf Naxos.
Alicia Bousner (mezzo-soprano) is a first year Master of Music student study-
ing with Mary Schiller. Ms. Bousner is a 2010 graduate of the University of
Mount Union where she earned her bachelors degree in Psychology. Ms.
Bousner made her CIM debut as Princess Amastre in Xerxes. She has been a
featured vocal soloist with the Mount Union Marching Band and Mount Union
Repertory Strings. In addition, she has been the featured alto soloist for the
Mount Union Alliance Chorale, performing Mozart’s Missa Brevis in D Major
and Mozart’s Requiem. In 2010, Ms. Bousner performed the leading role in
Mount Union Opera Workshop’s production of Rossini’s La cenerentola.
Troy Bruchwalski (baritone) is a junior undergraduate studying with Clifford
Billions. In 2008, he won “Classical Singer” magazine's regional competition
at CIM, moving on to compete in the national convention in New York
City. Mr. Bruchwalski placed 2nd in the Buckeye State NATS competition in
2009 and 3rd in 2010. In his first year at CIM, he performed in the chorus of
Beatrice and Benedict and also portrayed Phantis in a scene from Gilbert and
Sullivan's Utopia, Limited. This past year, Mr. Bruchwalski portrayed the
Marquis (La Traviata) as part of CIM’s Opera Gala.
Marisa Buchheit (soprano) is a senior studying with Jung Eun Oh. While at
CIM she has performed in many opera productions, in which she has portrayed
A Lay Sister in Puccini’s Suor Angelica and the title role (cover) in Gilbert and
Sarah Stewart (Production Manager) joined the CIM Opera Theater staff
three seasons ago after five years at Playhouse Square Center, where
she worked as Line Producer and Production Stage Manager for seven long-
running musicals in the Hanna Theatre (including Love, Janis and Forbidden
Broadway). Previously, she completed a 20-year tenure at Cleveland Opera as
Director of Production and Artistic Administrator, while also serving as a
member of Opera America's Production/Technical Committee for eight
years. Local credits also include work at The Cleveland Play House, Great
Lakes Theatre Festival, Ohio Ballet, Cleveland Ballet, Dance Cleveland, and
Cain Park, as well as other special projects such as the Tall Ships Festival, the
Police Memorial Tatoo, and live broadcasts from the Hanna Theatre. Ms.
Stewart has been proud to be a member of Actor's Equity for over 25 years.
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Sullivan’s Patience. She has also performed leading roles in Carousel, The
Sound of Music, Chicago, and West Side Story. In 2008, Ms. Buchheit
performed in Puccini’s hometown with the Opera Festival of Lucca, Italy, and
in 2009 studied German Lieder at AIMS in Graz, Austria. Recently crowned
Miss Greater Cleveland, she will be competing for Miss Ohio 2011 this June.
Ashley R. Close (soprano) is a graduate student studying with Jung Eun
Oh. Last summer, Ms. Close sang Suor Dolcina in Suor Angelica with the
Italian Operatic Experience. Last year at CIM she performed in scenes from
La Traviata, Patience and La Vie Parisienne. Ms. Close earned a Bachelor of
Music degree at the Crane School of Music SUNY Potsdam. There she played
the lead role of Kate in the world premiere of scenes from The Highway-
man, and covered the role of the Falcon in the world premiere of the opera The
Sailor Boy and the Falcon starring Stephanie Blythe.
Laura Anne Cotney (soprano) is a first-year graduate studying with Mary
Schiller. She earned her Bachelor of Music from the UNC School of the
Arts. This summer, she attended the American Institute of Musical Studies in
Graz, where she was a semi-finalist in the Meistersinger Competition. Past
teachers, coaches, and master class clinicians have included Glenn Siebert,
Sharon Stephenson, Karen Peeler, Patricia Craig, Barbara Bonney, Arthur
Fagen, and Harry Bickett. She has been seen on stage as Pamina and Susanna
in scenes and in the roles of Bastienne in Mozart’s Bastien und Bastienne and
Don Ettore in Haydn’s La Canterina.
Armando Contreras (baritone) is a freshman studying with Vinson Cole. A
singer since elementary school, he was a member of the Grammy Award
winning Phoenix Boys Choir for six years and, in 2002, made his Carnegie
Hall debut with the choir. In high school, he performed the roles of Edward
Rutledge in 1776, Olin Britt in The Music Man, and General Cartwright in
Guys and Dolls. He was also a soloist in Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester
Psalms and was the bass section leader at his church. He made his professional
debut with Phoenix Opera, performing in the operas Aida and Carmen.
Carson Dorsey (soprano) is a freshman studying with Mary Schiller at CIM.
She was a member of various choirs in North Texas and a frequent soloist at
Preston Meadow Lutheran Church. Prior to CIM she appeared as Miss Doro-
thy in Thoroughly Modern Millie and Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast. She
attended Interlochen Arts Camp in 2009 where she performed Mercedes in
scenes from Carmen and chorus in selections from Die Fledermaus and The
Tender Land. Recently she appeared in the chorus of CIM’s production of
Xerxes in addition to serving as an assistant stage manager.
Ryan Downey (baritone) is pursuing his master’s degree at CIM with Clifford
Billions. Mr. Downey graduated from Arizona State University with his bache-
lor’s degree in Voice Performance. At ASU, Mr. Downey sang the bass solos
in Fauré’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah. With the Lyric Opera Theater at
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ASU he played the role of Betto in Gianni Schicchi. Mr. Downey has
performed in Rome with Operafestival di Roma, singing scenes and roles
including Antonio in Le nozze di Figaro. At CIM, he has performed Gerneral
Ariodate in Xerxes, The Musiklehrer and Truffaldin in Ariadne auf Naxos, and
scenes from La Traviata and Così fan tutte.
David Fair (tenor) is in the first year of the Professional Studies program. He
made his CIM debut last fall in the title role of Handel’s Xerxes. Last summer,
Mr. Fair performed the role of Gastone in La Traviata with Undercroft Opera,
where he also sang Parpignol in La Bohème in 2008. Other roles include Nanki
-Poo in The Mikado with the Pittsburgh Savoyards, the Crab Man in Porgy and
Bess with Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Mayor Upfold in Albert Herring and
Beppe in Pagliacci with Opera in the Ozarks. He has a B.A. in Theater from
the University of Maryland College Park. Mr. Fair is a student of Clifford Bil-
lions, with whom he will be studying at the University of Miami Frost School
of Music in Salzburg, Austria, this summer.
Jilda Farias (soprano) is pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree at CIM where
she is studying under the direction of Mary Schiller. Ms. Farias is an alumna of
Interlochen Arts Academy, where she appeared as Mimi in Act II of La
Bohème and The Mother in a condensed version of Hansel and Gretel.
Throughout her time at CIM she has had performance opportunities such as the
role of the Nursing Sister in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, the title role in a scene
from Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience, and covering the role of Flora in Verdi’s
La Traviata.
Javier Enrique Ferrer (tenor) is a first year student in the Voice Department
at CIM, being taught by Vinson Cole. He studied voice for over four years
under the guidance of Oscar Diaz, Jr., in Miami, Florida. With this training he
was able to participate in and win a number of state competitions. Among
these are the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and Miami Music
Teachers Association. Mr. Ferrer has performed in a number of ensembles of
operas such as Die Zauberflӧte, Die Fledermaus and Dido and Aeneas.
Elizabeth Frey (mezzo-soprano) is a master’s student at CIM, studying with
Mary Schiller. She has performed the role of Arsamene in the CIM production
of Handel's Xerxes, the role of Dryad in Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos, as well as
scenes from Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito and Monteverdi's L'incoronazione
di Poppea. She also performed the role of Cherubino in Mozart’s Le nozze di
Figaro with the Maryland Opera Society. A native of California, Ms. Frey ap-
peared as the Mother in UC Davis’ production of Menotti’s Amahl and the
Night Visitors, and received the UC Davis Vocal Recognition award.
Megan Hamm (soprano) has been praised for her “gleaming” and “affecting”
performances. During her time at the Cleveland Institute of Music, she has
performed the roles of Romilda in Handel’s Serse, Violetta in La Traviata and
Suor Genevieve in Suor Angelica. Having received her master’s degree in
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2010, she is now finishing her Professional Studies Certification studying with
Mary Schiller. In her native Oklahoma, Ms. Hamm performed The Dew Fairy
in Hänsel und Gretel and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte. She is a frequent guest
soloist, her credits including a nationally broadcast concert from the Kennedy
Center and an appearance at Severance Hall with famed composer-conductor
Marvin Hamlisch.
Alyssa Hensel (soprano) is a freshman at CIM studying with Jung Eun Oh.
Her performance experience includes Chorus in Xerxes, Meg March in Little
Women, Elsa Schraeder in The Sound of Music, Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the
Rain and Miriam in Come to the Well written by Pittsburgh local Jim Lueers.
She attended summer programs at the University of Michigan and Eastman
School of Music. She represented her high school in eight Pennsylvania Music
Educators Associations (PMEA) Chorus festivals. Miss Hensel was awarded
the Constance T. Rockwell Scholarship by the Pittsburgh CLO Guild.
Hillary Huebler (soprano) is a sophomore, studying with Mary Schiller. In
2009, she placed first in her division at the Regional NATS competition and
was given the Most Promising High School Singer Award. She has performed
with the Saginaw Bay Symphony and Bijou Orchestra. She has been in many
productions, notably as The Empress in Obama, written and produced by the
Detroit Theatre for the Dramatic Arts and performed at the Kennedy Center
during inauguration week. Her favorite operatic role is Monica (The
Medium). During her freshman year at CIM she participated in scenes from
several operas, including La Traviata.
Raymond James Irwin (tenor) is a sophomore from Sacramento, California,
studying with Clifford Billions. He has performed leading roles in productions
ranging from Disney to Sondheim including Albert in Bye, Bye Birdie and
Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd. Last year, Mr. Irwin was featured in all CIM
Opera productions including scenes from La Traviata, Ariadne auf Naxos and
La Vie Parisienne. In the fall of 2011, Mr. Irwin performed in the chorus of
Xerxes by Handel, also with CIM Opera. Mr. Irwin has been heard on
“Catholic Radio” and appeared on "Good Day Sacramento."
Margaret Kazan (soprano) is a sophomore at CIM, studying with Jung Eun
Oh. In high school, she performed with the Chamber Singers and Danvers
Academy Theatre where she won numerous awards. Past stage credits with
North Shore Music Theatre, The Methuen Young People’s Theatre, and CIM
include leading roles in The Mikado (Katisha), The Gondoliers (Tessa), and the
ensembles of The Pirates of Penzance, Patience, The Mystery of Edwin Drood,
and Aida. She performed The Magic Flute and Dido and Aeneas with the
Treble Chorus of New England, and trained in New England Conservatory’s
Youth Chorale and Voice Department.
Stephanie Klock (soprano) is a sophomore at CIM studying with Jung Eun
Oh. Ms. Klock’s credits include major roles in Fiddler on the Roof, The Boy
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Friend, Les Misérables, and The Mikado. At CIM, she has performed in Xerxes
and Ariadne auf Naxos, as well as scenes from Patience and Porgy and Bess.
She has attended Interlochen Arts Camp, Illinois Summer Youth Music Work-
shop, and Austin Lyric Opera Vocal Workshop. In 2009, she received the
Outstanding Vocalist Award at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest,
and the Book Award for high achievement in Italian at Case Western.
Erica Koch (soprano) is a freshman at CIM studying with Jung Eun Oh. She
has performed as Consuela in West Side Story and has also appeared in
Princess Ida and Singin’ in the Rain. Ms. Koch attended Blue Lake Fine Arts
Camp in 2008 and, in 2009, Interlochen Arts Camp, where she studied as a
voice major. For the past four years, she has volunteered helping instruct
young singers at a church in her hometown near Chicago. Ms. Koch received
second place in the Society of American Musicians Competition in 2009 and
won her High School Concerto Competition in 2010.
Stephanie Kreutz (soprano) is a graduate student at CIM where she studies
with Clifford Billions, and appeared in Mozart’s La finta giardiniera. She
received a BA in Music and English from Tufts University in 2009. She at-
tended the Summer Intensive Workshop at San Diego Opera, and spent a se-
mester studying opera in Milan, Italy. Ms. Kreutz has performed the roles of
Emily in Our Town (a new opera by Ned Rorem), Belinda in Dido and Aeneas,
and Leonora in Captain Lovelock. Other roles in scenes programs include
Despina in Così fan tutte, Mrs. Gobineau in The Medium, and First Lady in Die
Zauberflöte.
Joseph Lenehan (baritone) is a freshman studying with Clifford Billions. At
CIM, in the fall of 2009, he performed in La Traviata in the role of Marquis
D’Obigny, and last February appeared in La finta giardiniera. He was a final-
ist in the high school Classical Singer Competition at CIM in the spring of
2009. He was a cast member of the Ohio Light Opera in Wooster, Ohio,
during the summers of 2006, 2007, and 2008, singing in the ensemble of such
works as Oklahoma!, The Desert Song, The Cabaret Girl, Der Vogelhändler,
Bluebeard, Princess Ida, The Queen’s Lace Handkerchief, and The Music
Man. Mr. Lenehan is from Mansfield, Ohio. Andrew G. Manea (baritone) is in his second year of the Bachelor of Music
program at CIM, studying with Clifford Billions. He is from Troy, Michigan,
where he attended Bethany Christian School from preschool through senior
year. He began singing when he was in seventh grade and began taking private
lessons at the age of fifteen. He has performed in CIM’s 2009-2010 season as
Baron Douphol in Verdi’s La Traviata, the Lackey in Strauss’s Ariadne auf
Naxos, Guglielmo in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, and Ariodate in Handel's Xerxes.
He has also stage managed, most recently for La finta giardiniera. In 2010 and
2011, he won 1st place in the Buckeye NATS Competition.
13
April Martin (soprano) was the maid Serpetta in La finta giardiniera, and was
praised by the Plain Dealer for her “freshness ready for such Mozart heroines
as Susanna and Pamina.” A master’s student studying with Mary Schiller, Ms.
Martin attended the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz,
Austria, in the summer of 2008. In June 2010, in Urbania, Italy, she performed
a duet from Rita and the role of Sister Genovieffa in Suor Angelica. She has
been coached by Benton Hess, Bob Cowert and Hugh Murphy. At CIM, she
has sung Naiad in Ariadne auf Naxos, and scenes from Hansel and Gretel,
Werther and La clemenza di Tito. Adam Matonic (tenor) is a freshman studying with Clifford Billions at CIM,
where he made his stage debut in La finta giardiniera. He was an active mem-
ber of his high school theatre department, as well as of various community
theatres in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Favorite roles include Marius in Les
Misérables, Douglas Panch in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,
John the Baptist in Godspell, Pen Denning in 42nd Street and the Prince in
Sleeping Beauty. Mr. Matonic studied at Pittsburgh CLO’s Academy of Musi-
cal Theatre. As a high school junior he attended Oberlin Conservatory’s Vocal
Academy for High School Students. Kathryn Middleman (soprano) studied at the New England Conservatory of
Music in Boston for two years under the tutelage of Kathryn Fields before
coming to CIM to study voice with Jung Eun Oh and complete her Bachelor of
Music degree. Ms. Middleman performed with the 2009 All State Chorus of
Massachusetts and starred as Hope Harcourt in Cole Porter’s Anything
Goes. She interned at the Children’s Chorus of Springfield and worked with
students and alumni of McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, raising
five-thousand dollars for her high school music program. She served as stage
manager for both Handel's Xerxes and Mozart’s La finta giardiniera.
Agostina Migoni (soprano) is in her second year of the Bachelor of Music
degree at CIM, studying with Mary Schiller. She made her solo concert debut
with the Irving Philharmonic Orchestra singing “Donde lieta uscì,” Mimi’s aria
from La Bohème. She has appeared as Gretel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and
Gretel and, in CIM’s most recent scenes production, as Ella in Gilbert & Sulli-
van’s Patience. In addition to her leading roles, she has participated in
performances of Verdi’s Aida and La Traviata, Bernstein’s Candide, and
Bizet’s Carmen in various theatre venues throughout Dallas.
Sarah Mossman (soprano) is in her second year of the Bachelor of Music
degree at CIM, studying with Mary Schiller. Her many leading roles include
Marian in The Music Man and Lucy in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Ms. Mossman made her CIM stage debut in 2009 singing in the chorus of La
Traviata, and debuted as a soloist as Ella in Patience in the 2010 scenes
program. She was also one of the charming “Transformers” in Handel’s
Xerxes. Her awards include an Honorable Mention in the 2008 National Foun-
dation for Arts Advancement Young Arts Competition, and in 2009, the
Cincinnati Overture Award as a vocalist.
14
Jacquelyn Mouritsen (soprano), a first year Master of Music student, is study-
ing with Jung Eun Oh. Her recent credits include Abdus in M. Ryan Taylor’s
opera The Other Wise Man with Utah/Idaho Performing Arts Company
(UNIPAC), Henry Penny in Thomas Benjamin’s short opera Chicken Little
with Brigham Young University’s Opera Ensemble, as well as chorus roles in
Dido and Aeneas with UNIPAC, and in Les Contes d’Hoffmann and Suor An-
gelica with BYU. Roles in opera scenes at Crittenden Opera Workshop in-
clude Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, and Fourth
Friend in The Ballad of Baby Doe.
Kathleen Raab (soprano) is a sophomore in the Bachelor of Music program at
CIM. She studies with Jung Eun Oh. Her onstage experience includes Mabel in
The Pirates of Penzance, Geraldine in A Hand of Bridge, Marian Paroo in The
Music Man, and Katharine in Kiss Me, Kate. Last year she appeared in the CIM
opera Ariadne auf Naxos and in the spring opera scenes program. She has also
performed at Walt Disney World and with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra.
Annie Reilly (soprano) is a freshman at CIM, studying with Jung Eun Oh. She
has performed extensively in musical theater and received two nominations in
the Best Actress category at the 2009 New Hampshire Theater Awards for her
roles as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and Madame Dubonnet in The Boy
Friend. Last fall, Ms. Reilly debuted at CIM in the chorus of Xerxes. She at-
tended the Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Drama program in 2008 and Music
program in 2009. She has sung with the Manchester Choral Society, NH All-
State Chorus, and All New England Choral Festival.
Kjira Robinson (soprano) is earning her Master of Music in Vocal Performance
from CIM, studying with Mary Schiller. Ms. Robinson made her CIM debut as
The Mother in Hansel and Gretel. She has performed in several productions with
Bay Shore Lyric Opera and Opera San Jose. Her roles with the University of the
Pacific Conservatory include The Countess in Le nozze di Figaro, Ottavia in
L’incoronazione di Poppea, Cat in Brundibar, and Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus.
She was a soloist with the Opera, Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy, and
in the Oregon Bach Festival Youth Choral Academy.
Nicole Rodriguez (soprano) of Berkeley, California, spent most of her life in
the Young Musicians Program at The University of California Berkeley as a
double major in voice and violin. Her achievements include winning the
Mondavi Competition 2008 and performing at the San Francisco War Memo-
rial Opera House with such internationally known artists as soprano Hope
Briggs. Ms. Rodriguez sang with Frederica von Stade on three concerts, most
recently on the January 16th edition of “A Prairie Home Companion” singing
“The Lakmé Duet.” Now attending CIM, Ms. Rodriquez majors in voice,
studying with Mary Schiller.
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Jessika Roy (soprano), born in Montreal, Canada, is a sophomore studying
under Jung Eun Oh. She has performed since the age of seven. She was
member of The Young Singers of the Palm Beaches and her high school elite
choir for four years. In the summer of 2006, she performed at the American
Celebration of Music for Mozart’s 250th Anniversary in Austria. Her featured
role at CIM was Zephyra in Patience. She was also in the chorus for La
Traviata. Her musical theatre debuts were Lady Thiang in The King and I and
Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn in The Music Man.
Kellie Rumba (soprano) is a second year Master of Music student at CIM,
studying with Mary Schiller. Ms. Rumba has performed such varied repertoire
as Atalanta in Handel’s Xerxes, Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Sesto in
Handel’s Julius Caesar in Egypt, Norina in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, Echo in
Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos, and Angela in Gilbert and Sullivan’s
Patience. Ms. Rumba enjoys choral and oratorio repertoire, and has sung as a
soloist in Haydn’s Lord Nelson’s Mass and John Rutter’s Requiem, as well as
in choruses of Verdi’s Requiem and Mendelssohn’s Elijah.
Alexandra Schiano (soprano) is in the first year of her master’s degree, studying
with Mary Schiller. This February, she sang the title role in La finta giardiniera.
She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Iowa. Ms.
Schiano has performed as Despina in Così fan tutte, Papagena in Die Zauberflöte,
Angelina in Trial by Jury, and Edith in The Pirates of Penzance. Partial roles
include Adina (L’elisir d’amore), Marzelline (Fidelio), both Susanna and Countess
Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Pamina (Die
Zauberflöte), Servilia (La clemenza di Tito), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Rosaura (Le
donne curiose), and Carolina (Il matrimonio segreto).
Catheryne Shuman (soprano) is a professional studies student of Clifford
Billions. At CIM, she starred in the title role of Ariadne auf Naxos, as Agathe
from Der Freischütz, and most recently, as Arminda in Mozart’s La finta
giardiniera. In 2010, she was awarded the prestigious Irvin Bushman Memo-
rial Vocal Prize at CIM, and won the Bellini Award and Audience Choice
Award in the Orpheus Competition’s student category. This year, she
competed as a Young Artist and won the Mozart Award. Next year, she will
be working towards a Professional Diploma in Opera at Roosevelt University
CCPA and will be performing with Chicago Opera Theater as a young artist.
Kevin Simmons (tenor) is in his second year at CIM studying with Clifford
Billions. Two months ago, he sang the role of the frantic Mayor in Mozart’s
La finta giardiniera. Mr. Simmons’ oratorio performances include solos in
The Creation and Messiah. His diverse opera roles include Monsieur Birdsong
in The Impresario and Martin in a scene from The Tender Land. In his first
year at CIM, he was cast as Jaquino in the opening scene from Fidelio. Since
then, he has appeared on CIM’s stage as Ferrando in a scene from Così fan
tutte, and as both Scaramouche and An Officer in last year’s highly praised
Cleveland premiere of Ariadne auf Naxos.
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Rebecca Skirpan (mezzo-soprano), a native of Brownsville, Pennsylvania, is
in the third year of the Bachelor of Music program at CIM, studying with Mary
Schiller. She started singing at age seventeen when she attended Carnegie
Mellon’s pre-college program for voice. Her first opera performance was in
The Adventures of Sharp Ears the Vixen in the hen's chorus and general chorus
at Peabody Opera. She also performed in its chorus for La Traviata. Ms.
Skirpan was recently a semi-finalist at the Maryland Opera Society Competi-
tion. She made her CIM debut as Princess Amastre in Handel’s Xerxes.
Marilyn Reid Smith (soprano) received her Bachelor of Music degree from
Brigham Young University and is completing master's study at CIM with Mary
Schiller. Her roles include Violetta, Mme. Herz, Donna Elvira Rosalinda, Mimi,
Konstanze, and the international premiere of Rosewa in M. Ryan Taylor's Abinadi
(2003, subsequently televised internationally). She has been featured in three other
televised productions and has won three-time District and twice Regional Finalist
in the Metropolitan Opera National Competition. Other awards include first place
winner in the Ohio Buckeye NATS competition, the Max Berman Prize, BYU
Singer of the Year, Second Prize in the AIMS Meistersinger Competition, and
Young Artist with the Utah Valley Symphony.
Anjin Stewart-Funai (soprano) is a first year professional studies student of
Mary Schiller. In February, she sang the title role in La finta giardiniera. She
has recently sung leading roles in two Handel operas: Romilda in Xerxes at
CIM and, last summer, the title character in Partenope with the Italian Operatic
Experience program in Urbania, Italy. During 2009-2010, she was seen at CIM
as the Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos and Violetta in La Traviata. Other
complete roles include Adina (L’elisir d’amore), and Pernille (Captain Love-
lock). In 2010, she won 2nd place at the NATS Buckeye competition. Last fall,
she sang Violetta in the school production of the Opera Western Reserve
Young Artist program.
Michael John Talerico (tenor) is in the first year of the master’s program at
CIM, studying under the direction of Vinson Cole. In February, he was seen in
the comic role of the Mayor in La finta giardiniera. He is a native of Pitts-
burgh, Pennsylvania. He received his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia
University, where he studied with Augusto Paglialunga. Mr. Talerico has been
seen recently as Pluton in Orphée aux enfers with the Franco-American Vocal
Academy, and Fritzchen in Lichen and Fritzchen with the Boston Metro
Opera. Other roles include Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore and Basilio in Le
nozze di Figaro with the American Singers Opera Project in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina.
Reid Taylor (baritone) is a freshman studying with Clifford Billions. He has
appeared as the baritone soloist in such works as Fauré’s Requiem and
Kodaly’s Missa Brevis with the Junior Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh.
Awards he has won include first place in the high school and freshman catego-
ries of Pittsburgh’s regional NATS competitions. Mr. Taylor attended Carnegie
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Mellon’s Pre-College Program in 2008 and the Boston University Tanglewood
Institute in 2009. He also served as assistant to the conductor for Pittsburgh
Opera’s 2009/2010 season for the company’s productions of The Rape of Lu-
cretia, Carmen, and Le nozze di Figaro.
Gillian Terminiello (soprano) is a sophomore at CIM, studying for her Bache-
lor of Music Degree in performance with Jung Eun Oh. Ms. Terminiello sang
in Manhattan with the City Wide Youth Opera in roles such as Carolina in
Cimarosa’s Il matrimonio segreto, the Countess in Mozart’s Le nozze di Fi-
garo, and Beatrice in Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict. She performed in many
choirs in New Jersey including the Ridgewood Choir of New Jersey and the
Ramapo College Chorale. Ms. Terminiello also performed in Florence, Italy,
with Westminster Choir College’s Florence Voice Seminar.
Pamela Torrey (soprano) is a sophomore at CIM studying with Jung Eun Oh.
Her performance credits include Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Constance in The
Sorcerer, The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Adela in The House of
Bernarda Alba, Gwendolen in The Importance of Being Earnest, The Jester in
Once Upon a Mattress, and Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense. At CIM, she has
been seen in the chorus of La Traviata and Patience. She placed second in the
NATS competiton in 2010 and was awarded an Honorable Mention in the
Barbara Staropoli Voice Competition at Nazareth College in 2009.
Laura Anne Valles (soprano) was cited by Donald Rosenberg in the Plain
Dealer for her “singing with full throated ardor” and for the “enormous voice”
she displayed as Ariadne in CIM’s production of Ariadne auf Naxos. Previ-
ously she brought these assets to Agathe in Der Freischütz and the title role in
Suor Angelica. She is a third year master’s student, studying with Mary
Schiller. A native Texan, Ms. Valles received her Bachelor of Music degree
from Capital University. Her performances at Capital University included Kat-
isha in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado and the First Lady in Mozart’s The
Magic Flute.
Stacey Van Vossen (soprano) is a first year Master of Music student at CIM,
studying with Mary Schiller. When at home in Michigan she works with
Nicholas Loren. Ms. Van Vossen received second place in the Opera Grand
Rapids Collegiate Vocal Competiton. She sang in master classes led by Neil
Semer, Michelle DeYoung, and Frederica von Stade. Her latest performances
include “Transformer” in Xerxes at CIM and Bargirl #2 in The Drunkard at
Heritage Theater in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She also attended The Wesley
Balk Opera/Music-Theater Institute in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, where
she played Hades in After the Light and Polyxena in Trojan Women.
Mark Wanich (baritone) is an Artist Diploma student at CIM, studying with
Clifford Billions. He is a graduate of CIM (PS), Middle Tennessee State Uni-
versity (MA) and Georgia Southern University (BM), all in Vocal Perform-
ance. At CIM, he has been heard as Nardo (La finta giardiniera), Elviro
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(Xerxes), Harlequin (Ariadne auf Naxos), Claudio (Béatrice et Bénédict) and
Papageno (Die Zauberflöte). Mr. Wanich frequently performs German lied,
recently having sung Schubert’s Winterreise. He has been a member of Nash-
ville Opera's Fellowship program and Opera Cleveland's Short-Term Resi-
dency. He recently sang with the Ashland Symphony as the baritone soloist in
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
Veronica Ward (soprano) is from Bridgewater, NJ. She has won many awards
including 1st place in both the classical and musical solo divisions of the 2007
Mid-Atlantic Teachers Conference and in the voice division of the 2009
Russian Music Festival, where she performed a solo in Carnegie Hall for the
first time. In 2010, she received a rating of “high honors” in the Westminster
Honors Recital Competition. During her senior year she received the music
departmental award of “Overall Outstanding Achievement in Music.” She is
currently an undergraduate at CIM studying with Jung Eun Oh, and appeared
in La finta giardiniera.
John Gray Watson (baritone) is a native of Northeast Ohio. He made his
professional debut as Antonio in Le nozze di Figaro with the Duke Symphony
Orchestra. Mr. Watson attended the American Institute of Music Studies in
Graz, Austria, and has sung in Austria, Italy and Slovakia. His CIM roles
include Nardo (La finta giardiniera), Elviro (Xerxes), Musiklehrer and Harle-
quin (Ariadne auf Naxos), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Peter (Hänsel und Gre-
tel), Frank (Die Fledermaus), Somarone (Béatrice et Bénédict), and the Poet
(Salieri’s Prima la musica…). Mr. Watson is currently earning a Professional
Studies Degree at CIM. He studies with Clifford Billions.
Helen Wyatt (soprano) is a senior from Flushing, Michigan. This summer, she
attended the Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute in San Francisco, Cali-
fornia, where she performed the role of Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte and
the partial roles of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Alice in Falstaff, Agathe in
Der Freischütz, and Mercedes in Carmen. While there, she also sang in a mas-
ter class for renowned soprano Patricia Racette. Her roles with CIM Opera
Theatre include Anna in Puccini’s Le Villi, The Monitor in Suor Angelica, and
Flora in La Traviata. She is a student of Mary Schiller.
Rebecca Zaner (soprano) is a freshman performance major studying with Mary
Schiller, having begun vocal lessons with Mary Sue Hyatt in January 2007. In
2008, Ms. Zaner traveled to Italy, where she was selected to participate as the only
high school student in the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca. She has
performed in several concerts and competed in many vocal competitions. Ms.
Zaner has had the opportunity to study privately with such coaches as the late inter-
nationally-known Lorenzo Malfatti and Teatro alla Scala’s Gianfranco Cosmi. She
recently coached the role of Zerlina in its entirety.
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Richard Miller Award for Outstanding Singing-Overall Competition Winner
Samantha Renea Gossard
Advanced Women Samantha Renea Gossard, First Place
Megan Hamm, Second Place
Advanced Men Jake Andricks, Third Place
Senior Women
Elizabeth Tredent, Second Place
Senior Men Kevin Simmons, Third Place
Junior Women
Rebecca Skirpan, Second Place Jilda Farias, Third Place
Sophomore Women
Agostina Migoni, First Place Sarah Mossman, Fourth Place
Sophomore Men
Andrew Manea, First Place
Freshman Men Javier Ferrer, First Place
Armando Contreras, Fourth Place
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Our production of Trial by Jury was made possible by
a generous donation from:
Dr. Francis R. Gross and Dr. Jane Sembric Gross
Along with the generous donors who made gifts in support of capital
improvements for the opera productions:
David and Inez Myers Foundation
Northern Ohio Opera League
We also thank the following for their support of the CIM Opera Program:
Drs. David and Carola Bamberger (David and Carola – HDMA 2004)
Drs. Nathan and Sosamma Berger
James and Betty Blue
Mr. David Brooks
Mrs. Elizabeth A. Chesko (BM 1956)
Mr. Steven L. Coombs
Mr. Harry L. Davidson
Mr. and Mrs. David Deioma
Mrs. Marvin Evenchik
Mr. and Mrs. Marc Freimuth
Mr. James L. Harkins
Mr. Alan Hart
Laura Reisch Itzkowitz (BM 1985)
Ronald and Barbara Leirvik
Dr. and Mrs. Chien-Wei Liao
Ms. Cathy Lincoln
Mrs. Sheldon S. MacLeod
John P. Murphy Foundation
Marcine Behm Petrea (MM 1973)
Miss V. Lillian Politella
Ms. Sylvia Profenna
Ms. Irene M. Roberts (MM 2008)
Mr. and Mrs. Barry Sands
Dr. Gerard Seltzer and Phyllis Seltzer
Ms. Lucy Toledano
Dr. Paul Zweifel and Kathleen Zweifel
CIM Opera Theater gratefully acknowledges the assistance of:
Dr. Lisa Kish and Opera Cleveland
Terry Martin and Great Lakes Theatre Festival
Andrew Ferrell and The Cleveland Play House
The Pieter Bouterse Studio
The CIM Opera Theater expresses its gratitude to:
All members of the CIM faculty and staff who have made possible our
two full productions each year. We realize that many of you
have gone above and beyond your normal duties to make this happen.