The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University

DAVID ARTZ MM1

KATIE ASCANI MM1

Soprano Katherine Runkel has enjoyed a cross country performance career including Opera, Art Song, Classical Musical Theater and Choral Works.  A native of California, Katherine has flourished making a home for herself in classical music.  

 Currently, Katherine is a 1^st year Master’s student at the Peabody Institute studying under William Sharp. She performed in the Fall 2011 Opera Potpourri performance and looks forward to participating in the Opera Etudes project in the spring of 2012. Katherine thoroughly enjoys growing as a communicator and an artist at the Peabody Institute.

 Katherine graduated Magna Cum Laude from Chapman University where she studied with the head of the vocal department, Margaret Dehning. While at Chapman she participated in the choral and opera departments. She performed extended scenes as Violetta in La Traviata and Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus in Opera Chapman’s 25^th Anniversary Opera Gala, performing on the same stage in the same production as international artists Carol Neblett and Milena Kitic. In years past she has performed countless scenes with Opera Chapman from Thais, La Rondine, Les contes d’Hoffmann, Orpheus in the Underworld and Die Fledermaus. She was pleased to perform the role of Miss Sweetsong in The Impresario in 2009 as well as The Badessa in Suor Angelica in 2008, both with Opera Chapman. Katherine had the pleasure of working under the direction of Dr. Peter Atheron, Dr. Cheryl Lin-Fielding, Dr. Janet Kao and internationally known artist Carol Neblett.

 While at Chapman she was honored with the 2010 Steven W. Dunham Scholarship, the 2009 Byron Rhodes Scholarship, and the 2008 Stanley Scholarship. Katherine was awarded a Choir Award in 2011 for her hours of dedication and hard work as a choir officer and leader.

 Katherine feels that being well versed in culture is a strong part of developing as a growing artist. She has participated in numerous summer programs all over the globe. Most recently Katherine went to the University of Miami at Salzburg, Austria program. Katherine was selected as a winner of their Recital Competition and was given the distinction of performing a recital in the Schloss Mirabell Gold Recital Hall, the same recital hall Mozart performed in as a child. She studied under Patricia Wise and coached with Thomas Enman, Mary Dibbern, and Mutsumi Moteki. Katherine also enjoyed working with Ester Jane Hardenbergh, Sylvia Greenberg and David Aronson in master classes.

 Katherine also had the opportunity to “break outside of her box” during the 2010 Emerging Artists OperaWorks summer program. She worked with innovative coaches and teachers to break down her barriers and find true inner calmness. The program, run by the truly genius Ann Baltz was full of innovative improv that formed Katherine into a more well rounded performer and musician both on stage and off stage. Their truly unique theater project was full of intrigue and energy.

 Katherine was a dedicated artist from the beginning of her training. She began her vocal training as a young adult with her mother, Lori Ascani. She continually entered competitions during high school and was honored as one of two Grand Prize Finalists in the 2006 Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards, in the Classical Voice Division. She had the privilege of performing on the same stage where countless opera legends have left their mark; the Los Angeles Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Stage. She was not only awarded scholarship money for college, but also free tuition to the prestigious Aspen Music Festival where she studied under Ed Berkley, Irene Gubrud, and Sylvia Plyler.

 She also won 1^st place in the 2008 Los Angeles NATS Collegiate Vocal Competition in the Freshman Category, 2^nd place in the California Women’s Chorus Competition, 1^st place in the 2006 Riverside District Rotary Club Finals, and 1^st place in the 2006 Temecula Valley Vocal Competition.

 Throughout her years of study, Katherine has had the pleasure of coaching with the late Richard Miller as well as gifted artists Linda Watson, Milena Kitic, Bo Skovhus, Ann Baltz, Carol Kimbell, Barbara Hohn, and Dale Moore.

 Katherine is recently married and lives in Baltimore with her husband David Runkel.

EMMA CAFFREY BM2

DIANA CANTRELLE MM 2

Mezzo-soprano Diana Cantrelle is at home in opera, oratorio, TV and film.  Critical reviews say her deep warm voice gives new meaning to the words and her roles have vibrant vocal color & style.  Her French repertoire, love of Verdi & oratorio interpretation provide high points to performances where she shows delicate vocal warmth as well as her acting talent.  “…she is a smart choice with her ability to give emotional depth to the opera’s score.”

Diana Cantrelle has performed at the Lyric in Baltimore, Wolf Trap, NYC Harmonia Opera, Peabody Opera Theatre, Washington Savoyards, L’Alliance Française, Silesian State Theatre (Czech Republic), Cincinnati Opera, Townsend Opera Players (California), Elysium (German Tour), Opera Santa Barbara & Opera Pacific.  Some favorite roles are Baba – The Medium, Azucena – Il Trovatore, Suzuki – Madame Butterfly, Witch – Hänsel & Gretel, Charlotte – Werther, and Martha - The Secret Garden.

Recent performances - Mother Goose in The Rakes Progress at the Lyric in Baltimore, Contralto Soloist in Handel’s Messiah in Canada with Divertimento Orchestra – Maestro Slater, Contralto Soloist in Beethoven’s Mass in C and The Lord Nelson Mass with Peabody Orchestra & Chorus – Maestro Polochick, Zita in Gianni Schicchi with Peabody Opera Theatre, Maddalena in Rigoletto with NYC Harmonia Opera, sharing the stage with MET Star Lucine Amara.

Miss Cantrelle has created a new children’s opera Le Chat Botté (Puss in Boots) © 2010 based on the original Charles Perrault beloved fable, with a New Orleans Jazz twist. She studies composition with Judah Adashi & is a recipient of a Peabody Career Development Grant to produce this opera. Her CD – Vive la France will be released in 2012 includes several of her own compositions.

Upcoming roles are Mother in Amahl & the Night Visitors with Opera Seabrook in NJ, Journey A Thousand & One Nights © 2011 – Peabody Graduate Recital, Tituba in The Crucible with Peabody Opera Theatre, a concert version 2012 premiere of her children’s opera - Le Chat Botté © 2010 (Puss in Boots) and Maurya in Vaughan-Williams’ Riders to the Sea with Halifax Summer Opera Theatre in Nova Scotia.

Contralto Cantrelle studies with International Baritone William Sharp at Peabody Conservatory of Music, coaches with François Loup, Robert Muckenfuss & James Harp and studies acting with John Astin, Roger Brunyate & Garnett Bruce.  She is a Masters candidate in Voice Performance/Vocal Pedagogy – 2012. 

www.dianacantrelle.com    Visit my site for sound clips & updates!

http://www.youtube.com/dianacantrellediva  - Live performance clips!

ALISON CLENDANIEL BM4 

JANNA CRITZ MM1

BRADY DEL VECCHIO BM3

NICHOLAS EMORY DOGAS MM1

Baritone Nicholas Emory Dogas is emerging as an astonishingly versatile and sensitive artist. At home in both art song and opera, he has been recognized for his engaging performances throughout much of the tri-state area, California and Montreal, Canada. Most recently, Mr. Dogas participated in the prestigious OperaWorks Emerging Artist Program in Los Angeles with nationally recognized pianist and coach, Ann Baltz. There, he took part in the production of Arias in Motion, a unique piece developed using improvisation, movement, dance and text analysis to create a new story through art songs and opera arias. Prior to his time in California, Mr. Dogas performed in countless productions with The Lyric Theatre of The College of New Jersey, assuming the roles of Don Basilio in Rossini's, Il barbiere di Siviglia (March, 2011), Guglielmo in Mozart's, Così fan tutte (November, 2009), and The Representative in Seymour Barab's comic opera, A Game of Chance (November 2008). Equally at home in music theatre, the versatile performer has also sung the roles of Rapunzel's Prince in Sondheim's, Into the Woods (November, 2010) and Padre in the classic favorite, Man of La Mancha (March, 2009). On the concert stage, Mr. Dogas has sung as baritone soloist in the Fauré Requiem and Distler's, A Little Advent Music. In addition, he was also involved in the 2011 North American premiere of Georg Friedrich Haas', Sieben Klangräume, a collection of sound fragments accompanying the incompleted Mozart Requiem, which was performed in both New Jersey and New York City.

Interested highly in research and historical studies, Mr. Dogas was recently invited to present a lecture recital entitled, “Liedkomposition im höheren Sinne: Gottfried Weber as Lieder Composer,” at the 2010 College Music Society Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference. Following this invitation, he was also recognized by The College of New Jersey and gave subsequent presentations of the same lecture recital on campus in Ewing, New Jersey.

Mr. Dogas' upcoming engagements include Shakespeare in the premiere of the new children's opera, Ariel's Tempest. Set to tour throughout Baltimore-area schools and performance venues, this fresh production was commissioned in conjunction with Peabody Opera Outreach and Annapolis Opera.

Currently a Master of Music candidate at The Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University, Mr. Dogas is studying with Grammy nominated baritone, William Sharp. A recent graduate of The College of New Jersey’s School of the Arts and Communication, Nicholas holds his Bachelor of Music in Vocal/Choral Music Education, and is a certified teacher of music in the state of New Jersey. While completing his undergraduate degree, he studied with soprano, and Chair of Vocal Studies at The College, Suzanne Hickman.

For further information, please visit www.nicholasemorydogas.weebly.com.

SARAH ERRICKSON BM4

JEFFREY GRAYSON GATES MM1

Baritone Jeffrey Grayson Gates is a Texas native who is quickly distinguishing himself as a talented young performer across the United States.  Most recently, Mr. Gates was selected as a winner of the Washington D.C. District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, previously having been a Regional Finalist in the Midwest Region.  Also in 2011, Mr. Gates received Third Place in The American Prize in Vocal Performance – Schorr Memorial Award in Art Song.  He was also named the Grand Prize Overall Winner at the 2010 Naftzger Young Artist Auditions in Wichita, Kansas – the first male vocalist to win the award since 1946.  Shortly after, Mr. Gates completed his Bachelor of Music degree as a student of Dr. William Nield Christensen at Oklahoma City University where he received The Steven Dickson Encouragement Award, sponsored by baritone Ron Raines.  Mr. Gates is currently studying under Williams Sharp at the Peabody Conservatory where he is pursuing his Graduate Performance Diploma.

Mr. Gates has a widespread repertoire of operatic roles. Most recently, he performed Nick Shadow in The Rake’s Progress with the Peabody Opera Theatre.  In the last few years Mr. Gates has performed many roles with the Oklahoma Opera and Music Theater Company, including: Don Giovanni in Don Giovanni, Count Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, Giorgio Germont in La Traviata, Horace Tabor in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, Rambaldo in La Rondine, Painter in Katarzyna Brochocka’s Happy Garden of Life (world premiere), Raul Perez in Pasatieri’s Hotel Casablanca (regional premiere), and Cajus in Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor. In 2011, Mr. Gates was an Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera, performing in La Boheme and Dialogues of the Carmelites. He made his debut with Tulsa Opera in 2009 in the Chorus of L’Elisir d’Amore. Mr. Gates performed with Light Opera Oklahoma in the summers of 2007 & 2008 performing various roles including: Samuel in Pirates of Penzance, Counsel and Usher in Trial by Jury, and features in Sweeney Todd, Candide, Naughty Marietta, Oh Coward!, and The Music Man.

In addition to opera and musical theater, Mr. Gates has extensive experience on the concert stage. He has performed as the baritone soloist in Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and excerpts of Vaughan Williams’ Hodie with the Oklahoma City University Symphony Orchestra and Choral Program. He has also been featured as the baritone soloist in Händel’s Messiah with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra and Canterbury Choral Society in 2008 and 2010.

Mr. Gates has twice received the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Young Artist Encouragement Award in Tulsa Oklahoma. He is a three-time 1^st place winner at Texoma NATS, a semi-finalist in the Crescendo Music Awards, a semi-finalist in the Lois Alba Aria Competition, a three-time recipient of the Texas State Solo & Ensemble Outstanding Performer Award, and also a three-time recipient of the Texas Music Merit Scholar Award.

Jeffrey Grayson Gates currently resides in Baltimore, MD with his wife, soprano Courtney Kalbacker.  For more information, please visit www.JeffreyGatesBaritone.com.

SHANA-JESSICA GROSSMAN BM4

JEREMY HIRSCH BM3

                  Jeremy Hirsch is a young, emerging operatic bass-baritone. Growing up in Los Angeles, he began vocal training at the Colburn School Preparatory later arriving at the Peabody Conservatory where he made his Peabody Opera Theater debut as L’arbre in L’Enfant et Les Sortileges and as Le Monsieur Barbu in Les Mamelles de Tiresias. 

                  Spending the past two summers in Malibu attending Songfest, Jeremy has had the privilege of singing in master-classes  Graham Johnson, Roger Vignoles, and Martin Katz among others.  This season at the festival, Hirsch performed scenes from Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Bottom and Nicolai’s Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor as Falstaff.  Following Songfest, he played Donizetti’s Don Pasquale in various scenes at the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in Alaska. 

                  Most recently, Jeremy sang as a chorister in the Lyric Opera of Baltimore’s debut production of La Traviata conducted by Steven White.  His upcoming roles include Il Commendatore in The Figaro Project’s production of Don Giovanni and Bottom in Britten’s  A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Halifax, Canada.

                  Jeremy currently studies in Baritone William Sharp’s studio while pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from Peabody and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Johns Hopkins University.  When not singing, Jeremy enjoys following film news, biking, hanging out with his dog Gigja, and slappin’ the bass.

  jeremyhirschmusic.com

SONYA KNUSSEN GPD1

ELIZABETH MERRILL GPD1

Elizabeth Merrill, mezzo-soprano, a native of St. Louis, MO, is known for her versatility across genres, from Early Music to standard repertoire.  She began her music studies at a young age while singing with the Saint Louis Children’s Choir, and since then, she has performed in everything from opera to oratorio, chamber music, concert solos, recitals, and church choirs on both the East Coast and in the Midwest. 

Most recently, Ms. Merrill appeared as Gerina in the Amherst Early Music Festival’s production of A. Scarlatti’s La Principessa Fedele.  In spring 2011, Ms. Merrill appeared with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (Marin Alsop, cond.) as the Second Knabe in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, where she and the rest of the trio produced “sweet sounds” according to Tim Smith of The Baltimore Sun. Ms. Merrill was also praised by Mr. Smith for her “vibrant presence” as Belinda in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and for her “vivid” performance as Senator Patrick Leahy in Melissa Dunphy’s The Gonzales Cantata in a double-bill production with American Opera Theater. In 2009, she appeared as Vénus in Rameau’s Adonis with Peabody Opera Potpourri, and as a soloist in Bach’s St. John Passion with the Baltimore Baroque Band.  Also with the Baroque Band, Ms. Merrill appeared as a soloist in the US premiere of a cantata by Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel, Du sollt Gott deinen Herrn lieben. Ms. Merrill has also performed with The Figaro Project, Concerto delle Donne, hexaCollective, the Federal Hill Parlor Series, Intermezzo: The New England Chamber Opera Series, the Hammond Performing Arts Series, and Union Avenue Opera.

Ms. Merrill received master’s degrees in both vocal performance and Early Music voice performance from the Peabody Conservatory in 2011, and she is currently enrolled in Peabody’s Graduate Performance Diploma program.  She completed her undergraduate music studies at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, where she received honors for her performance thesis of Claude Debussy’s Ariettes oubliées, and also received the Billings Performance Award in Music. In 2010, she was awarded the Eugene L. Cox Graduate Fellowship for research or study of Medieval and Renaissance history and culture. 

ALEX ROSEN BM2

BEN SHAVER BM4
 

Ben Shaver, a native of Richmond, VA, began his musical studies at age ten. Beginning as a pianist, Mr. Shaver began his study of voice at age 16 in the studio of William Gorton. He continued his studies in voice while studying under Deidra Palmour Gorton. He has previously attended in 2006 the Virginia’s Governor’s School for the Performing Arts and in 2007 as well as 2008 he attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute where he studied with George Case and attended the master classes of Stephanie Blythe, Heidi Grant Murphy, Marcus Haddock, Dr. Jerold Pope and Renee Fleming as well as Boston University Faculty such as Penelope Bitzas and Phyllis Curtin. Mr. Shaver has been the recipient of the Virginia Lions Club Bland Memorial Competition scholarship for the 3 years and was recently the first recipient of the Robert Stamback Award. He has also been awarded the title of the number one tenor in Virginia this past year and the number one tenor in the district for the past 2 years.  Ben Shaver is a first year Bachelor’s of Music candidate and is studying with William Sharp. Mr. Shaver is preparing for his upcoming Peabody Opera debut in Leoš JanáÄ�ek’s The Cunning Little Vixen as the Schoolmaster as well as a chorister in Verdi's La Traviata.

ORLANDO SPIKES MM2

MATTHEW SULLIVAN BM4

ERIC SWEENEY MM1