Michael David Gray is currently a Doctoral Candidate at the University of South Carolina and a resident company member of Opera Carolina (NC). Michael has appeared as a mainstage artist with Charlottesville Opera (VA), Opera Omaha (NE), Opera Southwest (NM), Tidewater Opera (VA), Capitol Opera Richmond (VA), South Carolina Bach Choir, Spoleto Festival (SC), and Palmetto Opera (SC). This season, Michael is schedule to perform with Capitol City Opera (GA), Palisades Opera (NJ), and the Florence Symphony Orchestra (SC).
Read moreHeather Jones
Heather Jones is an American mezzo who blends seamless technique with “mischievous freshness and enthusiasm” to create vulnerable and relatable characters across languages and eras. To that end, Heather recently performed contemporary works in collaboration with Opera Fayetteville (2018 Contemporary Opera Festival), the Albany Symphony (“Preach Sister, Preach” by Evan Mack), Sign & Sing ASL (world premiere of “Universal Drum” by Brad Balliet for singers, 27-piece percussion, and Deaf Actors), and American Lyric Theatre (opera workshops facilitated by Mark Adamo); and brought new life to old favorites with Opera Company of Middlebury (L’elisir d’amore set in a 1920s speakeasy), Opera Philadelphia (Carmen), and Opera Louisiane (The Magic Flute). Heather has received training from Opera Saratoga, Seagle Music Colony, Bel Canto at Caramoor, The CoOPERAtive Program, Westminster Choir College, and Mannes School of Music, and is thrilled to work with Cantanti Project again after joining them for their 2018 summer retreat.
Heather Jones es una mezzo estadounidense que combina una técnica perfecta con "frescura y entusiasmo traviesos" para crear personajes vulnerables y contables en todos los idiomas y épocas. Con ese fin, Heather realizó recientemente obras contemporáneas en colaboración con Opera Fayetteville (2018 Contemporary Opera Festival), Albany Symphony ("Preach Sister, Preach" de Evan Mack), Sign & Sing ASL (estreno mundial de "Universal Drum" de Brad Balliet para cantantes, percusión de 27 piezas y actores sordos, y American Lyric Theatre (talleres de ópera facilitados por Mark Adamo); y trajo una nueva vida a los viejos favoritos con la Opera Company of Middlebury (L'elisir d'amore ambientada en 1920), Opera Philadelphia (Carmen) y Opera Louisiane (The Magic Flute). Heather recibió capacitación de Opera Saratoga, Seagle Music Colony, Bel Canto en Caramoor, The CoOPERAtive Programme, Westminster Choir College y Mannes School of Music, y está encantada de trabajar nuevamente con Cantanti Project después de unirse a ellos en su retiro de verano de el 2018.
Read moreWilliam Lewis
William Lewis, pianist/accompanist, vocal coach, arranger, and performer is beginning his fiftieth year as a professional musician. In 2014, he earned two nominations in the Charleston Theater Awards for his performances in “The Piano Man and the Diva” (Best Musical Director and Best Actor in a Musical) for the 2013-2014 season. In Savannah, Georgia, he won the People’s Choice Award during the American Traditions Competition. Mr. Lewis regularly appears with Irish tenor Ronan Tynan in concert and also plays for Marcello Giordano and violinist Gregory Harrington. He has served as vocal coach for the Santa Fe Opera, Lake George Opera Festival, Opera Omaha, Texas Opera, Opera Music Theater International with Jerome Hines, Central City Opera House Festival and Natchez Opera Festival. As a teacher, Mr. Lewis has served on the faculties of both the Boston and New England Conservatories and at Rutgers University. He has taught master classes across the U.S. and is presently an Artist in Residence at the University of Kentucky with Dr. Tynan.
Principal Music Advisor
William Lewis, pianista / acompañante, entrenador vocal, arreglista y artista está comenzando su quincuagésimo año como músico profesional. En 2014, ganó dos nominaciones en los Premios de Teatro de Charleston por sus actuaciones en "El hombre y la diva del piano" (Mejor director musical y Mejor actor en un musical) para la temporada 2013-2014. En Savannah, Georgia, ganó el Premio People´s Choice durante la competencia American Traditions. El Sr. Lewis aparece regularmente con el tenor irlandés Ronan Tynan en conciertos y también toca para Marcello Giordano y el violinista Gregory Harrington. Se ha desempeñado como entrenador vocal para la Ópera de Santa Fe, el Festival de la Ópera de Lake George, la Ópera de Omaha, la Ópera de Texas, el Teatro Internacional de Música de Ópera con Jerome Hines, el Festival de la Ópera de la Ciudad Central y el Festival de la Ópera de Natchez. Como profesor, el Sr. Lewis ha servido en las facultades de los conservatorios de Boston y Nueva Inglaterra y en la Universidad de Rutgers. Ha impartido clases magistrales en los EE. UU. Y actualmente es Artista Residente en la Universidad de Kentucky con el Dr. Tynan.
Read moreLaura Mitchell
Operations Director Laura Mitchell holds a B.A. in Music and minor in Mathematics from UC San Diego and an Artist Diploma from the prestigious University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music. Her administrative background includes IT Project Management, Business Analysis and Systems Analysis & Integration. Her personal mission as an administrator of an arts organization is to create a space that celebrates the singer as much as the company; to create a space where singer’s opinions matter and where they can learn to make their own decisions as musicians. Laura is passionate about leveraging the booming market of free technologies to enhance the experience for both singers and productions in a cost-effective way.
At CCM, she performed the roles of Fiordiligi, Musetta, Susanna, and the title roles in Alcina and Manon. Laura has worked with Lyric Opera Virginia, Sarasota Opera, San Diego Opera, New York Lyric Opera Theater, along with programs in several other countries. Her performances are often praised for “captivating” performances (Classical Singer Magazine), and “nuanced delivery” (Oberon’s Grove).
Core Artist and Operations Director
Read moreLaura Snyderman
Soprano Laura Snyderman prides herself in performing a variety of styles, from Aperghis to J.S. Bach. Laura sang Gilda in an excerpt of Rigoletto with the Ashdod Symphony Orchestra in Jerusalem. She debuted Julia in the world premiere of Moshe Zorman’s opera Albert, and Chloe in an “outstanding performance” of Thomas Whitman’s revised chamber opera, Sukey in the Dark. Other credits include Suor Dolcina in Suor Angelica with Bel Cantati Opera, Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro under the baton of Keith Chambers, and Papagena in Die Zauberflöte under the direction of Benoit Renard with Manhattan Opera Studio. She was a featured artist with the Smithsonian Institute Fabergé Egg and Russian Romance Seminar, the Union Square Chamber Art Series, the Sowebo Arts and Music Festival, and Blank Space Baltimore. Recently, Laura’s performance of Alban Berg’s “Die Nachtigall,” was presented twice on Maryland PBS. Laura recently completed her education at the Peabody Conservatory in the studio of Elizabeth Futral.
Read moreJoyce Yin
Soprano Joyce Yin, praised by New York Concert Review for singing with an “otherworldly quality,” brings a committed physicality and depth of emotional connection to the stage. This season, Joyce sings the Pergolesi Stabat Mater, Libby Larsen’s Try Me Good King, and Clara Schumann’s Sechs Lieder. A performer whose “deft characterization” is “matched by her fearless singing” (Entertainment Hour), Joyce particularly enjoys exploring the nuances of determined women such as Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Morgana (Alcina), and Gilda (Rigoletto). Recent highlights include Ines in Donizetti’s La Zingara with Amore Opera, Linfea in La Calisto with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, the title role in Caccini’s Euridice with Cantanti Project, and her debut with the Buffalo Philharmonic as the soprano soloist in the Messiah. Joyce is a winner of the Met Auditions Audience Choice Award and the Musical Merit Foundation of San Diego. She graduated with her M.M. in Opera Performance from Arizona State University. Please visit www.joyceyin.com and @joycesings for updates.
Core Artist and Artistic Director
Read more