We welcome back Geoffrey Gear

Geoffrey Gear has been singing and enjoying music for as long as he can remember. Whether he was listening to his grandmother play the piano for him as a young boy, performing in choirs and musicals in his teens, or studying and performing opera in college; music has always been a crucial part of his life. 

A graduate of Otterbein University, Geoffrey earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance, where he studied under Dr. Helen Allen. On stage, he has performed with Opera Project Columbus and in workshops with Opera Columbus and other various Columbus theatre companies. He also teaches private voice & piano lessons to students of all ages through his private studio.

A resident of Westerville, Ohio, he has studied and practiced many forms of singing for nearly a decade -- from jazz, pop, musical theatre, opera, and even scat singing; Geoffrey does a little bit of everything. In the future, he hopes to continue his passion for performance and pass on the joys of music to the next generation of his studio students.

Brian Alvarado joins OPC as Tom

Brian J. Alvarado "sings with a liquid baritone of great charm," "a highly attractive legato," and "precise patter elocution” (Parterre Box). His “sardonic” portrayal of Leporello in Don Giovanni (IndieOpera Podcast) has been heard at Bronx Opera, Long Island Lyric Opera, Lighthouse Opera, and Light Opera of New Jersey (Cover).

Other credits include both The Magic Flute’s Papageno (Opera Theatre of Montclair) and Speaker (Barn Opera), Dandini in La Cenerentola (Bay View Music Festival, Opera Theatre of Montclair), Schaunard in La bohéme (Regina Opera, Amore Opera), the Badger/Parson in Cunning Little Vixen and Le Baron de Pictordu in Cendrillon (dell’Arte Opera Ensemble), and the title roles in The Sorcerer (Utopia Opera, G&S Society of NY), Venus and Adonis (New Camerata Opera; Cover), and Sweeney Todd (City Island Theatre).

His solo concert work includes Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s BWV 147, Keiser’s Markuspassion, Haydn’s Nicolaimesse, Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore, Schubert’s Mass in G, and Gounod’s Messe solennelle de Sainte-Cécile. He has appeared chorally in Juilliard/New York Philharmonic’s co-production of Mother of Us All at the Met Museum of Art, Center for Contemporary Opera’s workshop of Niloufar Nourbakhsh’s We, the Innumerable at National Sawdust, and the New York Philharmonic’s performance of Adolphus Hailstork’s Done Made My Vow in David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. He makes debuts this season as Frank in Die Fledermaus with New Rochelle Opera, and Betto in Gianni Schicchi with SAS Concert Opera.

Steve Valenzuela returns to OPC

Connecticut native Steve Valenzuela has been described as a “Committed actor with a voluptuous baritone” - Opera News.

He has performed in numerous operas, musicals, and concerts with such companies such as The Florentine Opera (Baumgartner Studio Artist), Shreveport Opera, City Lyric Opera, Opera Project Columbus, The New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra / New Paradigm Theater.

He received his Master of Music degree from Louisiana State University and his Bachelor’s of Music from Western Connecticut State University. Past roles performed include: Howard in Dog Days, Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro, Nick Shadow in The Rake’s Progress, Don Giovanni in Don Giovanni, Count in Le nozze di Figaro, Marcello in La Bohéme, Danilo in The Merry Widow, and Sam Trouble in Tahiti.

We are excited to have Steve join us on the OPC stage once again.

Returning to the Role of Ulrica is mezzosporano, Ola Rafalo

Ola Rafalo, dramatic mezzosoprano, has been called a “Vocal Powerhouse”, and “the next Cossotto”. She has earned critical acclaim in a variety of roles and venues with her “voluptuous”, “deep contralto-like sound” and mesmerizing acting. Ola is the recipient of a career grant for young dramatic voices from the Olga Forrai foundation, as well as the winner of the Maria Callas prize at the Giulio Fregosi competition in 2019, and Second Prize in the Altamura-Caruso Competition. Ola has performed Azucena in Il Trovatore, Maddalena in Rigoletto, Fenena in Nabucco, as Amneris in Aida, and Ulrica in Un Ballo in Maschera. Her most celebrated role is Carmen, which she has sung with Syracuse Opera, the Lyric Orchestra, Gulfshore Opera, New Jersey Verismo Opera, and highlights with the Pacific Symphony. Other roles performed include Charlotte in Werther, Fricka in Die Walkure, Brangaene in Tristan und Isolde, La Frugola in Il Tabarro, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, and Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana. Notable concert works performed have been DeFalla’s El Amor Brujo, Brahms 2 songs for voice and viola, Verdi Requiem, Beethoven’s 9th, and Vivaldi’s Gloria.

She has been featured at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Opera Tampa, Springfield Symphony, Orlando Opera, Baltimore Lyric, Opera Carolina, Teatro Curci di Barletta, Paderewski Symphony, Opera Festival Chicago, Chicago Opera Theater, Florentine Opera, the Eugene Symphony, and the Evanston Symphony Orchestra.  

Upcoming, will sing the role of Brangaene in Tristan und Isolde, with the Eugene Symphony, the role of Ulrica in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, with Opera Project Columbus, and then return to Oregon to sing the Alto solo in Mahler’s 2nd Symphony. 

Introducing Christopher Holmes as Renato

With over 40 operatic roles to his credit, baritone Christopher Holmes has been featured by companies such as Austin Lyric Opera, Central City Opera, Eugene Opera, Opera Idaho, Phoenix Opera, Juneau Lyric Opera, and San Antonio Opera. 

A "powerful, melodious baritone" with "soul and passion" is a small sample of enthusiastic reviews being received by Holmes.  As a full-lyric baritone, Holmes is beginning to make his mark in the Verdi repertoire.   As IAGO with Winter Opera St. Louis critics commented, Holmes sings Iago “with clarity and power, and with a skilled actor's ability to convey mood and character" and with “control and subtlety.”  As RIGOLETTO at St. Petersburg Opera a critic indicates that Holmes “had me crying at points-- an incredibly beautiful lyric baritone with a very clear understanding of who this humiliated and terribly wronged man is.”  His GERMONT was praised as “with crystal clear enunciation, truly polished, controlled, professional and superb.”  But his versatility continues to make him adept at the bass-baritone roles of Mozart and Rossini such as DON ALFONSO in Così fan tutte and BARTOLO in Il barbiere di Siviglia.

Over the pandemic Holmes was able to support virtual efforts of opera organizations through performances with Intermountain Opera Bozeman and Ohio Light Opera.  Additionally he recorded the role of ANSELMO in a new opera by William Call entitled El Curioso Impertinente and MICHELE in Il tabarrowith Social Distance Opera/Barn Opera.  Activities in 2022 so far have included singing MARCELLO (Boheme) in the Noorda Center for the Performing Arts at Utah Valley University’s first inclusion of an opera in their professional concert/theater series, the baritone soloist in Dwight Bigler’s Mosaic for Earthperformed by the choirs and orchestras at Virginia Tech, and covering SCARPIA at Utah Symphony & Opera.    

In 2018/19 he was seen as BARONE DOUPHOL in Utah Opera’s La traviata, CONTE ALMAVIVA in Utah Festival Opera’s Figaro, BELCORE in Opera Company of Middlebury’s production and subsequent tour of L'elisir d’amore, BARTOLO in Il barbiere di Siviglia atWestern Plains Opera, ESCAMILLO in Carmen with the Pine Mountain Music Festival, and the PIRATE KING in The Pirates of Penzance at Rimrock Opera/NOVA. Previously he was seen with Cleveland Opera Theater as FIGARO in Le nozze di Figaro and made a return to Gulfshore Opera in their production of Speed Dating (M. Ching) and in their tour of "Grand Opera Nights" singing the roles of FIGARO (Il barbiere di Siviglia), MARCELLO (La Boheme), GERMONT (La Traviata), and the title role of RIGOLETTO.  

Mr. Holmes remains active as a concert artist having sung such works as Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and St. John Passion, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Brahms' A German Requiem, Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Handel’s Messiah, Orff’s Carmina Burana, the Faure Requiem, Mozart's Mass in C Minor and Requiem, Schubert’s Mass in G Major, Vaughan Williams’ Dona nobis pacem, and Verdi's Messa di Requiem.

We welcome back to the Opera Project Columbus stage, American soprano Megan Santora.

American soprano Megan Santora is a versatile and dynamic performing artist. This year, Ms. Santora covered the role of Nella in Gianni Schicchi as a member of the Manetti Shrem Opera Program with Festival Napa Valley (Napa Valley, California). She also returned to Opera Project Columbus (Columbus, OH) as Miss Pinkerton in The Old Maid and the Thief and covered the role of Norina in Don Pasquale with Opera MODO (Detroit, MI).

The 2020 season began with the role of Adele in Die Fledermaus with Opera Project Columbus. Recent engagements include Anna Gomez in The Consul with Opera MODO and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi with Opera Project Columbus.

Ms. Santora graduated from The University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music (CCM) with an Artist Diploma in Opera in 2016. She also completed a Master of Music in Voice Performance at The University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music (CCM), a Master of Music in Opera Theatre at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance at Oberlin Conservatory of Music. At The University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music (CCM), Ms. Santora performed the roles of Vixen Sharp Ears in The Cunning Little Vixen, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Giannetta in L'elisir d'amore, Princesse Laoula in L'etoile, and Thibault in Don Carlos. She was also the soprano soloist in Stravinsky's Les Noces and was featured in a Kurt Weill Cabaret.

In 2013, Ms. Santora was the soprano young artist with Opera Saratoga (Saratoga Springs, NY) and Opera Columbus (Columbus, OH). She has participated in Cincinnati Opera's Opera Fusion (Cincinnati, OH): Champion, Meet John Doe, and Shalimar the Clown. Ms. Santora also performed the role of Serpina in La Serva Padrona with the Cincinnati Chamber Opera (Cincinnati, OH). Other opera performances include Cugina in Madama Butterfly, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Miss Jessel in Turn of the Screw, Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro, Elisetta in Il Matrimonio Segreto, Diana in A Wedding, Lola in Gallantry, Lady Macbeth in Lady Macbeth by Pasatieri, and the narrator in Sweet Betsy from Pike.


Lucas Levy Returns to the OPC Stage

Described by Opera News as having “dominated the scene vocally,” American tenor Lucas Levy brings “operatic power” (Tampa Bay Times) to his portrayals, is “a joy to watch” (Broadway World), and was praised by The Wall Street Journal for being “remarkably loud." The 2022-2023 season sees Mr. Levy in recital for the Joy in Singing Art Song Competition, perform Scriabin’s Symphony No.1 with the Columbia Bach Society, join the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra for Cavalleria rusticana, return to Maryland Lyric Opera for Otello, return to Opera Project Columbus for Un ballo in maschera, return to Opera Company of Middlebury for Fidelio, and join Teatro Nuovo for Poliuto.

His 2021-2022 season began with debuts at Berkshire Festival Opera as Dr. Caius in Falstaff, Opera Company of Middlebury as Raymond in The Maid of Orleans, and Opera Project Columbus in a concert of Verdi scenes. Later in the season, he joined Maryland Lyric Opera for Turandot and returned to Opera Company of Middlebury where the The Times Argus praised his “rich dark voice” as Pluto in Orphée aux enfers.

The 2019-2020 season saw Mr. Levy in an immersive production of Rigoletto at infamous New York City nightclub The Box. His COVID cancellations included a debut with Maryland Lyric Opera as Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi and performances of Carmina Burana. The 2018-2019 season featured his return to St. Petersburg Opera as Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, and to Opera Maine for their 25th anniversary season as Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte, where Opera News noted his “vocally forward and strong” performance. He was also seen in performances of Haydn’s Creation, Schubert’s Mass in G major, and Mozart’s Requiem.

His 2017-2018 season included his debut at Opera Omaha as Dr. Caius in Falstaff. Later on in the season, Levy returned to St. Petersburg Opera, where Broadway World said he was, “loads of fun,” as Marcellus Washburn in The Music Man, and the Tampa Bay Times remarked on his, “operatic power,” as Gastone in La traviata.

In the 2016-2017 season, Mr. Levy joined LoftOpera as Doge in their production of Rossini’s rarely heard Otello. In the spring, he made his debut with St. Petersburg Opera as the four Servants in Les contes d’Hoffmann, for which the Tampa Bay Times praised him for, “displaying the kind of tenor one would more likely find in a leading role.” He returned to St. Petersburg in Sondheim’s Into the Woods, with Broadway World saying, “Best in the Cast belongs to Lucas Levy as Rapunzel’s Prince,” which he performed while also portraying with The Baker in family performances.

During the 2015-2016 season, Mr. Levy was an Apprentice Artist with Sarasota Opera, where he performed Araldo in Verdi’s La battaglia di Legnano, the final opera of Sarasota Opera’s 28-year Verdi Cycle. For their Verdi Grand Finale Concert, he was one of the few soloists chosen to participate. He concluded the season with a return to Opera Maine (then PORTopera) as a principal artist in the role of Le Remendado in Carmen.

The 2014-2015 season saw Mr. Levy join Sarasota Opera in their fall production of Pagliacci to cover the leading role of Canio. He was immediately reengaged for their Winter Festival to cover Prince Gvidon in Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Golden Cockerel. His season continued as a Young Artist with PORTopera in his second season with the company. He portrayed the Trio Tenor in performances of Trouble in Tahiti in several locations around Maine, followed by Spoletta in Tosca opposite James Morris as Scarpia. The Portland Press Herald singled out his performance, saying, “Levy brought a sadistic edge to Spoletta, a henchman of Scarpia’s who is usually not worth noting.” In the summer of 2014, he made his debut with PORTopera. He portrayed Gherardo in the Young Artist production of Gianni Schicchi, and appeared as Borsa in the mainstage production of Rigoletto.

He made his professional debut with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in the spring of 2012. He sang the role of Duck in Jury in the North American premiere of Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland, while also being responsible for covering the tenor roles of Mouse, Dormouse, and Invisible Man.

No stranger to the concert stage, Mr. Levy has performed as soloist with varied orchestras and ensembles for such seminal works as Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Mozart’s Requiem. An avid recitalist, he enjoys the intimacy of presenting song repertoire not afforded to the operatic stage.

An alumnus of the young artist programs of Sarasota Opera, Opera Maine, and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, he received his Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin Conservatory, and his Master of Music degree from Westminster Choir College.

Mr. Levy currently resides in New York City.

Award-Winning Conductor, William Boggs joins OPC for "Un Ballo in Maschera"

Leading the March performances of Un Ballo in Maschera will be the award-winning conductor, William Boggs. Praised by critics as ‘daring’, ‘enlightened’ and ‘superbly musical’, Boggs is the former General Director of both Opera Columbus and Columbus Light Opera, with whom he has been involved in over 200 performances.

He has been involved in several major recording projects, having conducted the double-Grammy Award-winning recording of Robert Aldridge’s Elmer Gantry  and most recently conducting Carlisle Floyd’s Prince of Players for Naxos, which received 2 Grammy Award nominations including Best Opera Production. He has worked with companies including Opera Carolina, Mississippi Opera, Nashville Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas, Cincinnati Opera, Fresno Grand Opera, and Florentine Opera, and with the Symphony Orchestras of Columbus, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Nashville, Newark, Granville, Dayton, Honolulu, and Charlotte, as well as the Macau Festival Orchestra and Hong Zhou Symphony in China.   

OPC Executive Director, Greg Eldridge, says of Boggs, “It's a huge thrill for OPC to invite Maestro Boggs to the podium for Un Ballo in Maschera. A true veteran of this challenging repertoire, we're all very much looking forward to seeing William share his considerable experience with our orchestra, chorus, and principals. With towering choruses and hugely dramatic music composed by one of the true geniuses of the artform, this promises to be a concert not to be missed!"

Un Ballo in Maschera will be Maestro Bogg’s debut with Opera Project Columbus. 

OPC Names New Executive Director, Greg Eldridge

Opera Project Columbus welcomes the announcement from the OPC Board of Directors that internationally acclaimed stage director Greg Eldridge has been named their new Executive Director. 

Mr. Eldridge trained at The Opera Studio Melbourne in Australia before completing specialist study in Opera Directing at the Accademia Europea di Firenze in Italy.  He is a graduate of the two most prestigious training programs for opera directors in the world - the Merola Program in San Francisco, and the Jette Parker Young Artist Programme at the Royal Opera House in London.  In 2015, Covent Garden created the position of Jette Parker Associate Director for Greg. 

Eldridge has worked on over 70 productions in 9 countries and served for 3 years as a board member of the industry body Stage Directors UK. A former Bayreuth Scholar, Greg has been a speaker at Regent’s University, London, and St. John’s College, Cambridge, as well as serving as a host, interviewer, and panelist for The Royal Opera, Covent Garden. He has worked in conservatories and young artist programs in Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and the United States.  

Currently, Eldridge is a Professor of Opera Directing at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. 

OPC Board President, Michael Smith, says of Eldridge’s appointment, “Opera Project Columbus is poised to take the next step in the evolution of the organization.  The continued transformation of expanding the board and support committees will bring valuable resources into the organization to continue to grow, enrich, and engage the community through performance arts, education, and continue to offer a platform for exposure to emerging artists throughout the region.  The hiring of Greg Eldridge as Executive Director brings an experienced Director and Educator into our fold.  Greg is an extremely unique talent, with international experience as a Director and Professor of Opera Directing at the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati.  Establishing stability in our operations space will allow for the planned growth in new spaces.”

Eldridge has assumed his new functions in the role of Executive Director as the company prepares for the presentation of Un Ballo in Maschera this March of 2023.


Laura Pedersen joining OPC as Amelia in "Un Ballo in Maschera"

We are thrilled to welcome to the OPC stage in "Un Ballo in Maschera" in the role of Amelia, Laura Pedersen.

The internationally acclaimed American singer Laura Pedersen brings to opera houses and concert halls an intense lyric soprano voice, beauty of line, and a rare ability to make each role come alive.

Coming up this season, Ms. Pedersen will reprise the Covid postponed role of Tosca and debut the roles of Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera, as well as Anna in Le Villi. Laura returned to BlueWater Chamber Orchestra with Mozart’s Concert Aria “Misera, dove son! - Ah! Non son io che parlo”, broadcast by NPR. Her appearances with orchestras, symphonies, operas, bands, and Harp and Heels duo continued; she just returned from her second season with the Texas Bach Festival, live and virtual which can be found on YouTube, “Appassionata II”.

Highlights from last season include: Ms. Pedersen debuted excerpts from Othello (Desdemona) and Fidelio (Leonore) with the newly formed Snowbelt Symphony Orchestra, rejoined BlueWater Chamber Orchestra, this time with Beethoven’s concert aria “Ah, Perfido” Op. 65, appeared in Orchestra galas singing Madame Butterfly, Violetta, as well as crossover favorites. Harp and Heels brought numerous concerts and masterclasses, uplifting and entertaining. Laura also brought back Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus, sang in Opera orchestral galas showcasing her with Puccini’s Tosca and Mimi, both Verdi Leonoras, and Beethoven’s Leonora. Laura continues to inspire as featured soloist,Texas Bach Festival, BlueWater Chamber Orchestra, Cleveland Pops,Firelands Symphony, and Opera Project Columbus.

Ms. Pedersen has sung leading roles with Indianapolis Opera, Cleveland Opera, Di Capo Opera, Opera Delaware, Florida Opera, Sacramento Opera, Panama Opera, Atlantic Opera, Opera Project Columbus, Opera Shorts Troupe. The roles include: Tosca, Donna Anna, Nedda, Santuzza, Hanna Glawari (Broadcast live for Public Radio), Mimi, Musetta, Violetta, Susannah, Juliette, Rosalinde, Donna Elvira, Musetta, Antonia, Giorgetta, and Micaela.

During her four years as fest soprano in Bremen, Germany, she sang countless performances, at least six leading roles each season, all in the original language, running the gamut from well known beloved operas like Don Pasquale, Die Fledermaus, Carmen, Marriage of Figaro, Orpheè, Un Ballo in Maschera to musicals such as West Side Story, and a yearly premiere of commissioned Operas. Symphony appearances include soprano soloist in Beethoven Ninth, Verdi Requiem, Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Faurè Requiem (Carnegie Hall), Mozart Requiem, Brahms Requiem, Beethoven’s Ah, Perfido. She appeared as featured soloist with Cleveland Orchestra’s Blossom Music Festival for five years, soloist with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the Owensboro Symphony, the Lima Symphony, Firelands Symphony Orchestra, BlueWater Chamber Orchestra and Orchestra Miami.

Ms. Pedersen was honored to sing with the Cincinnati Pops under the baton of the late Maestro Erich Kunzel.

Ms. Pedersen’s talent for contemporary opera shone in many world premieres in Germany, Scotland, and Carnegie Hall.

March 24 @ 7:30 p.m.

&

March 26 @ 3 p.m.

The Lincoln Theatre

Columbus, Ohio

tickets

https://my.cbusarts.com/events/4978

Welcome Bass-Baritone, Calvin Griffin

Acclaimed for his “darkly lustrous voice” (South Florida Classical Review), Calvin Griffin, of Columbus Ohio, just finished an exciting 2021–2022 season. Mr. Griffin made his debut with The Metropolitan Opera as well as Lyric Opera of Chicago in the role of Adult Robert in Fire Shut Up in My Bones. He also made his debut with Spoleto Festival USA as Colline in La Bohème, and returned to Opera Columbus as Tommy McIntyre in Fellow Travelers. Other recent engagements include his debut at Florentine Opera as Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, covering Lesbo in Agrippina with The Metropolitan Opera, returning to Atlanta Opera to sing Der Lautsprecher in Der Kaiser Von Atlantis and El Dancaïro in Carmen, debuting at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as Teacher 2/Grandma/Father in On the Edge, and returning to Wolf Trap Opera to sing Death in Sāvitri. This season, Mr. Griffin will return to The Metropolitan Opera to cover Leader of the King’s Guards in Medea, Doctor Grenvil in La traviata, and Young Emile Griffith in Champion. In concert, Mr. Griffin has sung with the Richmond Symphony as the bass soloist in Handel’s Messiah, and as soloist in Opera Columbus’ Opera Swings Jazz concert. He made his Houston Symphony debut as First Apprentice in the Grammy Award winning production of Wozzeck. Other solo performances include Bach’s B Minor Mass with Choral Artists of Sarasota, and the baritone soloist in Brahms’s Ein Deutsches Requiem at The Ohio State University, as well as Worthington United Methodist Church. In competition, Mr. Griffin won 1st Place in the 2017 Dorothy Lincoln Smith Voice Competition. He was the 2015 winner of the Igor Gorin Memorial Award, was awarded a Western Region Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Encouragement Award in 2014, 1st Place winner in the 2012 Tuesday Musical Club Competition in San Antonio, 1st Place winner in the 2011 Hal Leonard Vocal Competition, and was awarded a Central Region Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Encouragement Award in 2010. He was also a winner in the Cincinnati College-Conservatory’s Corbett Competition and was awarded the Linda Candler Award at the Brevard Music Center.


We Welcome to the OPC Stage, Justin T. Swain

We are thrilled to welcome Justin T. Swain to join us in "Rediscovered Works: I, Too, Sing America - Part 2".

Columbus native, baritone Justin T. Swain serves as Adjunct Professor of Voice (Classical, Contemporary, Musical Theatre) and Lyric Diction at Ohio University in Athens, OH and has served as Opera Columbus’ Teaching Artist (2018-2020), in concert with the McConnell Chamber Orchestra (2021), the Lincoln Theatre (Arias and Ebony 2021), been featured in the Columbus Italian Festival (2012 & 2018), in concert with Harmony Project Columbus (2015), with the New Albany Symphony Orchestra (2016 & 2018), with Opera Project Columbus (Maestro Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi 2017), has given a number of public and private recitals, and has performed four world premiere works. Additionally, Swain has performed numerous times with Opera Columbus as a chorister, on the main stage (Davids and Ulysses in Vanqui, 2022), (Senator Joe McCarthy, Interrogator, Estonian Frank in Fellow Travelers 2022), (Baron Duophol in La Traviata 2016), as a member of their touring Education Outreach program for two seasons (2015 & 2017), Opera On The Edge (Marcello in La Bohème 2016), as a member of The Voice of Freedom touring performance group (2018-2020), and in Twisted 3, a collaboration with BalletMet and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (Pinellino in Gianni Schicchi 2019). Swain has also appeared with the Denison University Wind Ensemble performing Armando Bayolo’s Last Breaths (2021). Recent engagements include a solo Cabaret of Gender Bent Musical Theatre selections in Athens, OH, and the premiere of Roy Swanson's Journey to the Birth of Jesus in Cincinnati, OH.

Swain will be singing the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, selections as well as some selections from Shirley Graham DuBois.

Join us for this amazing performance, Sunday, January 15, 3 P.M., at The Lincoln Theatre.

Bennett Returns for Second "I, Too, Sing America" Performance with OPC

OPC Welcomes Dione Parker Bennett to join us in "Rediscovered Works: I, Too, Sing America - Part 2". Bennett appeared with us in the inaugural award-winning program in 2021, and we are thrilled to have her back with us.

Dione Parker Bennett's voice has been described as rich, fluid, silvery, and powerful. Her interpretative qualities and stage presence consistently enchant audiences. She made her Carnegie Hall debut with composer and conductor Stacey Gibbs and recently was featured with the Akron Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Christopher Wilkins singing Nkeiru Okoye's "I Am Harriet Tubman". Her ongoing performance career includes oratorio such as Handel’s Messiah, Fauré’s Requiem, Weill’s Cry the Beloved Country and Tippett’s A Child of Our Time. Her opera performances include the roles of Nedda in Pagliacci, Mimi in La Bohéme, Micaela in Bizet’s Carmen, and Bess in Porgy and Bess sung with many of the great symphony orchestras of the area. She continues as a recitalist, and an artist in appearances across the United States. She can be heard also as the soprano soloist in the premier recording of The Selfish Giant with the Erie Chamber Orchestra. She received her Doctor of the Musical Arts from the University of Illinois. and her Bachelor and Master of Music from the University of Akron. Since that time, she has taught at both university and center for the arts levels. While maintaining a thriving voice studio at Capital University Conservatory of Music, she is also the Director of Vocal and Choral studies at Ohio Christian University.

You can purchase your tickets HERE https://www.operaprojectcolumbus.com/

for the January 15 performance at the Lincoln Theatre.

Thank you Greater Columbus Arts Council!

Photo courtesy of GCAC

Opera Project Columbus is thrilled to be among several outstanding Central Ohio arts organizations to have received general support from The Greater Columbus Arts Council. We thank you GCAC. We would also like to thank the City of Columbus and Franklin County for this investment in the arts.

Representing OPC in the photo are Cynthia Ruccia, board president; and Tiana Samuels, board member representing the OPC Diversity Project.

#gcacgrants

#artmakescbus

For Complete Press Release, Click Here.

What A Show!

Thank you, Columbus!

We are thrilled that “Don Pasquale: Love or Deception?” was so well received by our Columbus audiences. The Southern Theatre was a magnificent space for this production and the staff and ushers were delightful to work with. Our amazing cast, Jason Budd who was an outstanding Don Pasquale had the audience laughing at all of the right moments, Chelsea Hart Melcher was made to play the role of Norina with her remarkable acting and voice, Benjamin Boskoff was a talent we are sure to see more of and his portrayal of Ernesto was superb, and Bernardo Merdeiros was amazing in the role of the scheming Dr. Malatesta and we can’t wait to see where his career takes him.

Thank you to our Chorus and amazing orchestra! We are so lucky to have such talent in Columbus. To our Maestro Alessandro Siciliani, you are a talent beyond words and watching your energy while conducting is a treat to all!

Some feedback from Don Pasquale…

Lesley Fogle

Remarkable soprano! All of it was so well done and the acoustics at the Southern were great for sound. Impressive show. Bravo!

Leslie Miller

First time to the Southern Theatre and first Opera! Wonderful experience! Thanks Opera Project Columbus!

Gail Heffner

I was at the Friday evening performance. Such lovely singing in a lovely venue! Thank-you!

Michael Smith

Amazing performance. Bravo! 

Sheldon TaftGreat singing and acting. Super show. Sheldon & Becky

MaryLou Casanta

We thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this outstanding production. Everything from the casting, singing, music, score, sets, musical director, Siciliani and costumes. It was uplifting. Looking forward to next season.

Medeiros as Malatesta Once Again!

Bernardo Medeiros as Malatesta, Baritone


Brazilian-American baritone Bernardo Medeiros performed multiple roles during his recent studies at the University of Houston, including personal favorites like Dottore Malatesta (Don Pasquale), Rabbi David (L’amico Fritz), and Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro). He has since performed Malatesta twice professionally and is shaping his early baritone career with performances of the memorable Rigoletto (Rigoletto) with Central City Opera in the summer of 2021, along with Jigger Craigin (Carousel) and Masetto (Don Giovanni) with Indianapolis Opera. Bernardo is incredibly grateful to work with Opera Project Columbus and perform the scheming Malatesta once again!