2010 - 2011 Alumni
Sara Michael Jacobi, Soprano
Sara Michael Jacobi, soprano, has operatic and concert credits which include Suor Angelica in Suor Angelica, Laetitia in Menotti’s Old Maid and the Thief, Ruth in Dr. Issac Van Groves Ruth, Corigilano’s Fern Hill, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, and scenes from Der Rosenkavalier as the Marchallin, Micaëla inCarmen, and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni.
Ms. Jacobi was a member of the Fort Worth Opera Chorus for three years from 2007 to 2010.
Andrea Arias-Martin, Soprano
Andrea Arias-Martin, soprano and native from Long Island, is a graduate of the Master's program at Manhattan School of Music and the Bachelor’s program at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. While at Manhattan, Ms. Arias-Martin performed Mother in Griffelkin and Anna Maurrant in Street Scene.
Ms. Arias-Martin was part of the Chautauqua Opera Studio Artist for the 2009 and 2010 season. While at Chautauqua Opera, Ms. Arias-Martin covered the roles of Foreign Woman in The Consul and the title role of Norma. Upcoming engagements include Glimmerglass Young American Artist Micaela (cover) and Elaine in John Musto’s Later the Same Evening.
Courtney Ross, Soprano
Courtney Ross, soprano, is a graduate of the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and has since performed with companies such as the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth Opera, Bell Cantanti Opera, the Fort Worth Symphony, the National Philharmonic, the National Opera association, the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra, West Bay Opera, Opera San Jose, the La Jolla Symphony, Waterford Concert Series, Ensemble Monterey, and the Santa Cruz Chamber Symphony.
Most recently, Ms. Ross was heard in the world premiere of Before Night Falls,singing the role of the Moon with the Fort Worth Opera.
Roles of note include Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Giulietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Antonia in Les Contest d'Hoffmann, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte as well as Hanna in The Merry Widow.
Angela Christine Smith, Soprano
Angela Christine Smith, soprano, most recently sang the title role in Jules Massenet’s Cendrillon with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre. Other credits include performances with the Belleayre Opera Festival, Martha Cardona Theater, Light Opera of New York, Vocal Arts Symposium in Colorado Springs, Opera Avanti, Lake George Opera, St. Bonaventure Quick Center for the Arts, Pine Mountain Music Festival, South Carolina Opera, Delaware Opera, Caramoor Opera, and Liederkranz Opera.
Ms. Smith has performed as a principal artist for many seasons with the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP) at New York City Center, Wolf Trap, and on
extensive tours from coast to coast and Canada. Ms. Smith has also appeared at the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Buxton, England, and is a recipient of the
Isaac Asimov Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement.
Originally from Minnesota, Ms. Smith is a graduate of St. Olaf College with a Bachelor’s
degree in Music.
Gina Vanacoro, Soprano
Gina Vanacoro, soprano, has appeared as Musetta, Micaëla and Pamina (outreach) with The Opera Company of Brooklyn, as well as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro outreach with New York Street Opera, directed by Cynthia Edwards. She has been a Resident Artist with Opera Company of Brooklyn, a participant at the Westchester Summer Vocal Institute, and has performed in masterclasses with Catherine Malfitano, Louis Burkot, John Douglas, and Ashley Putnam.
Educated at Peabody Conservatory and Shenandoah Conservatory, Ms. Vanacoro graduated magna cum laude while performing the roles of Monica inThe Medium, Sandman/Dew Fairy in Hansel and Gretel outreach, as well as numerous scenes programs, recitals, and masterclasses.
Ms. Vanacoro is also a violinist and has performed as concertmaster and section leader with numerous symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras, and pit orchestras. She made her independent film debut as ‘Random Opera Singer’ with Pasquinade Films in 711 - The Hit Musical! and played the violin solo on Jordon Knight’s 2005 album The Fix.
Upcoming projects include Adina (cover) in L’elisir d’amore with Garden State Opera, and chorus in Mahler’s 2nd Symphony with the New York Philharmonic.
Caitlin McKechney, Mezzo-Soprano
Caitlin McKechney, mezzo-soprano, is a recent New York transplant, venturing from her hometown of Chicago to take a bite out of the Big Apple. In Chicago, Ms. McKechney has been seen in Chicago Opera Vanguard's acclaimed productions of No Exit by Andy Vores, and Greek by Mark-Anthony Turnage, as well as the Witch in Hansel and Gretel with Opera Play-House and Tessa in The Gondoliers with The Savoyaires. Other credits include the title role in Cendrillon, Meg Page in Falstaff, Nancy in Albert Herring, Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, Lilli Vanessi/Katherine in Kiss Me Kate and Carmen in an outreach performance of Bizet's masterpiece. Ms. McKechney has been apprenticed with Sarasota Opera, Opera Santa Barbara and Cedar Rapids Opera Theater.
When not performing Ms. McKechney enjoys teaching and painting, often incorporating her musical interests in her artwork.
Frances Mitchem-Diago, Mezzo-Soprano
Frances Mitchem-Diago, mezzo-soprano, received her Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia where she performed various roles in numerous GMU Opera Scenes Workshop productions including Mademoiselle Pernelle in Meachem’s Tartuffe, the Mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Carmen in Bizet’s Carmen. Frances has studied and performed in voice workshops and master classes in Sweden, Germany and France.
Ms. Mitchem-Diago's most recent role was as Katisha in Gilbert and Sullivan’sThe Mikado at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop in Washington, DC. Ms. Mitchem-Diago currently studies with Muriel Von Villas and Ed Roberts in their McLean, VA studio.
Blas Canedo, Baritone
Blas Canedo is a Graduate Artist Certificate in Voice Performance recipient from the University of North Texas. Mr. Canedo has appeared in full productions at UNT as Marcello in Puccini's La Boheme, Germont in Verdi's La Traviata, Gugliemo in Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte, Il Conte in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, and Krussina in Smetana's Bartered Bride.
Mr. Canedo received his Master’s degree at Texas Christian University in voice performance, where he performed the roles of Escamillo in Brook's The Tragedy of Carmen, The Poet in Salieri's Prima la Musica poi le Parolle. With the Fort Worth Opera-TCU Institute, Blas performed Passatieri’s Signor Di Luso(title role) , Prince and Falada in The Goose Girl.
In 2004, Mr. Canedo was named Young Male Voice Winner of the National Competition for Young Artists sponsored by the Republik Bank of Colombia and in 2005 the Opera al Parque Young Artist.
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