PARTICIPANTS
Alana Glover, USA
Alana Glover moved from the suburbs of Houston to downtown Houston to attend the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. Alana is now a sophomore Vocal Performance major and has performed in the Opera The Bartered Bride, and the Musical little shop of Horrors.
Cam Michalak, USA
Cam Michalak, Bass-Baritone, is currently finishing his undergraduate studies in Vocal Performance at the University of Houston. He sings under the baton of Dr. Betsy Cook Weber in University of Houston Concert Chorale and has participated in several Moores Opera Center Productions, including “Orpheus in the Underworld,” “Amelia Goes to the Ball,” and “A Little Night Music.” He will also be singing with Operativo Houston as Dulcamara in their production of “L’elisir d’amore” and in the ensemble of Ars Lyrica’s “Dido and Aeneas.”
Deborah Edquist, USA
Mezzo soprano, Deborah Paola Edquist, studies Music Education at the University of Houston. She currently sings with the Concert Chorale and studies voice under Alicia Gianni. Edquist is also a Choral Scholarship Singer at Moody Methodist Church in Galveston, Texas.
Dominika Majdanova, Slovakia
At 25, Dominika Majadanova has studied opera since the age of 15. She has studied opera in Bratislava, Bergen (with Hilde Haraldsen Sveen) and Stuttgart. She has performed as soprano soloist at several occasions and is currently studying the role of Walter in Catalani’s opera La Wally at the Opera Academy in Stuttgart She received a special prize for Interpretation at the Dvorak Competition in Karlovy Vary in 2021.
Evan Gray, Switzerland
Evan Gray, from Zurich, Switzerland, entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2019 and studies voice with Mark Schnaible, adjunct faculty. All students at Curtis receive merit-based, full-tuition scholarships, and Mr. Gray is the Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Annual Fellow. Mr. Gray studied at the Pre-College of the Konservatorium Winterthur. His previous teachers include Konrad von Aarburg and David Thorner. Mr. Gray has performed as soloist in Haydn’s Missa in tempore belli, Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Mozart’s Mass in C minor, K. 139 and Monteverdi’s Laudate Pueri.
Frida Augusta Gudim, Norway
23-year-old Frida Augusta Gudim is a lyric soprano who has studied voice with Margrethe Ek, Åshild Skiri Refsdal, Anna Sundström Otervik, Matthew Mark Marriot and Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz. She has received Fredrikstad municipality’s cultural scholarship. She debuted as a soloist as Cherubino in Mozart’s “Le nozze di Figaro” at the age of 20. She has since sung Ciesca in Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi”. Ms. Gudim will continue her master studies with Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz and Matthew Marriot at the University of Stavanger next semester.
Ian Marcus Bjørsvik, Norway
Ian Marcus Bjørsvik is a 20-year-old tenor from Askøy outside Bergen. He has studied voice with Tore Johannessen, Hilde Haraldsen Sveen and Tuva Semmingsen. He has been a member of several renowned choirs, such as: Bergen Filharmoniske Kor and Norges Ungdomskor, with whom he has performed both at the Norwegian Opera in Oslo and at the Royal Festival Hall in London. He is at present a member of Solistkoret UNG and studies for a B.A. in classical singing at the Royal Danish Conservatory in Copenhagen with Tuva Semmingsen.
Ida Eid Tunestveit, Norway
Ida Eid Tunestveit is a 20-year-old Soprano studying classical singing with Solveig Kringlebotn at Barratt Dues musikkinstitutt in Oslo. She has before her present studies studied voice with Sigrun Baar and Barbro Grenersen. She har performed on many stages, e.g. the Norwegian Opera and Salzburger Festspiele. Her aim is to become an internationally renowned opera singer.
Jordan Martinez, USA
Jordan Martinez is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Houston. He currently performs under the direction of Dr. Betsy Cook Weber in UH’s Concert Chorale. He has also performed many large works, such as the famous “Carmina Burana”. Along with this, Jordan has made an impact in the opera program at the University of Houston, with roles in operas such as the mayor in Benjamin Britten’s “Albert Herring”, Little Victor Harrell in Kevin Puts’ “Elizabeth Cree”, and the Ringmaster in Bedrich Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride”.
Katelynn Watson, USA
Katelynn Watson is an energetic soprano from Caldwell, Texas, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. In her four years as a music student, Katelynn has served as soprano section leader and student director for UH Concert Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Betsy Cook Weber. In addition, she has sung with and directed both choral and contemporary a cappella groups at the school, and she has completed elective studies in orchestral conducting. Katelynn is very passionate about performing and teaching, and excited to compete in her first international competition with the UH Concert Chorale!
Lara Twerenbold, Switzerland
A young mezzo-soprano born in 1997, Lara Twerenbold has been studying classical singing at the Geneva Conservatory of Music (CMG) with Juliette Galstian since 2018. One year after her entrance to the Conservatory, she joined the pre-professional program. Since the beginning of her studies, she regularly performs as a soloist, both in recital with piano and in concerts with orchestra. She also had the opportunity to work in masterclasses with renowned teachers such as James Alexander and Martina Janková. In three singing competitions organized by the CMG, she was awarded the first prize with congratulations of the jury.
Louise Engeseth, Norway
21-year-old Louise Engeseth from Volda (Norway) is a student of classical singing at the Grieg Academy in Bergen with Hilde Haraldsen Sveen and Tuva Semmingsen. She has performed as a soloist on many occasions, e.g. the world premier of Magnar Åm’s opera “Kimen”, and has received several scholarships for her singing.
Melanie McCreary, USA
Melanie McCreary, mezzo-soprano, is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music education and vocal performance at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. During her time at Moores, she has had the opportunity to perform with the award-winning Concert Chorale under the direction of Dr. Betsy Cook Weber, and currently serves as alto section leader. Melanie has also performed with various choirs in the Houston area including the Montgomery County Choral Society and the Missouri City Chamber Singer. She also teaches
voice and piano to beginners and intermediate students.
Maddie May, USA
Maddie May is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston where she studies voice with Cynthia Clayton. With the Moores Opera Center, Ms Mayhas appeared in the chorus of Smetana’s The Bartered Bride. After completing her degree, Maddie plans to pursue a career as a voice teacher and choral music educator.
Malin Kjelven Kristoffersen, Norway
Malin Kjelven Kristoffersen is a soprano from Horten. She started her career singing in a children’s choir and has since won a singing competition and received a scholarship. Currently she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Barratt Due Institute of music under Professor Solveig Kringlebotn. She is member of two choirs: the Oslo Chamber choir and the Norwegian Youth Choir.
MiaRose Hanberry, USA
Grove, TX. She has performed in numerous operas such as Orpheus in the Underworld, The Bartered Bride, and Pinocchio. She has also performed internationally at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia.
Margot Plantevin, Switzerland
Margot Plantevin (born 1997) is a singer and harpist studying at the Conservatory of Geneva. She has performed in many concerts and performances organized by the conservatory and has won numerous awards. She is now studying in the intensive section Lirico for gifted students at the conservatory in the class of Juliette Galstian. In 2019 she won the Bourse Marescotti competition in Geneva. Margot also continues her studies as a harpist.
Rita Fernandez, Spain
Rita Fernández has performed in Italy, the Netherlands, France and Spain. She has made several recordings in Spain and abroad and has presented a TEDx talk on opera. After having studied with Claire Lefilliâtre and Rita Dams, she is currently under the guidance of Catrin Wyn-Davies at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. Ms. Fernández is also a voice teacher at YMCA Scheveningen. Rita holds a degree on Business Administration at IE, speaks six languages, and has placed twice second of Madrid of chess.
Scott Rogers, USA
Scott Rogers is a non-binary countertenor from Houston, Texas. In May of 2022, they will graduate from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance and music education. As a member of the University of Houston’s Concert Chorale, Scott has performed as a soloist with the ensemble in multiple international choral competitions across Europe. Scott made their operatic debut with great success this past January as Nireno in the Moores Opera Company’s production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto. Scott hopes to one day make a career for themselves singing opera and oratorio.
Sean Holshouser, USA
Sean Holshouser is a 22-year-old American baritone from the city of Houston, Texas. A multi-time soloist with the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera and Grand Teton Music Festival, Sean currently attends the University of Houston and is a part of the Moores School of Music Concert Chorale. He has over a decade of experience in both musical theater and classical vocal performance.
Synne Larsen Mariussen, Norway
Synne Larsen Mariussen is a 24-year-old soprano from Oslo. She has developed her singing skills through prestigious choirs such as the Oslo Cathedral Youth Choir, Schola Cantorum and the Norwegian Youth Choir. At Toneheim folk high school she studied with Matthew Marriot. She is currently studying vocal performance at the University of Tromsø with Professor Anne-Lise Sollied and Carlo Allemano. Ms Mariussen plans to pursue a career where she can combine her passion for the stage with her developing voice.
Þórhildur Steinunn Kristinsdóttir, Iceland
Þórhildur Steinunn Kristinsdóttir is a 23-year-old mezzo-soprano from Reykjavik, Iceland. She is currently in her third year of the classical singing bachelor programme at the Universität Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, where she studies with Professor Bernd Valentin. She has performed in many operas, e.g. second Knabe in Die Zauberflöte and Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus. She has also been granted a scholarship from the Vilhjálmur Vilhjálmsson memorial fund for voice students. She has taken part in masterclasses with Gitta-Maria Sjöberg, David Jones, Janet Williams, Kristinn Sigmundsson, Ulrike Sych and Arttu Kataja.
Viktoria Anchissi Joner, Norway
22-year-old Viktoria Anchissi Joner is a Norwegian-Peruvian Soprano who started her career at the age of 8 in the children’s choir at the Norwegian Opera. She has received voice training from Solveig Kringleboth, Susanna Rigacci and Cristiano Manzoni. She is now taking an M.A. at Oslo Opera College. She has received several awards and performed in many operas and on many stages with different musicians. Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte / Mozart, Antonia in Les contes d ’Hoffmann av Offenbach and Persephone «Mellom de levende og de døde» av Benjamin Knudsen among others.