Eden Bartholomew

Originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, soprano Eden Bartholomew (they/she) is passionate about the ranges of expression and collaboration in vocal performance. Eden is most at home when interpreting literature and music by performing art song; they recently placed in the Sylvia Green Competition for orchestrated art song (second place) and the Art Song Competition (third place) at the Peabody Institute. She also greatly enjoys dramatic interpretation in opera: past operatic performances include Le nozze di Figaro (Susanna), Svadba (Danica) by Ana Sokolović, L’incoronazione di Poppea (Poppea), L’Orfeo (Musica), Die Zauberflöte (Papagena), and Speed Dating Tonight! by Michael Ching. They were also recently featured as the soprano soloist with the Greenwich Choral Society in Mozart’s Vespers (K.339) and Vivaldi’s Magnificat. When not singing, Eden can be found mountain biking, journaling, or watercolor painting! They received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vassar College where she majored in Music and studied with Drew Minter. At Vassar, they won the Competition for Soloists and the Lucia V. Torian ‘69 Award (2021, 2022). She is currently pursuing her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins where she studies with Professor Elizabeth Futral.

Zoey Carlos

Zoey is a soprano in her sophomore year at Peabody Conservatory. Most recently she was part of the AIM Paris Music Festival, and performed the National Anthem at the Veteran’s Memorial Opening in Alexandria, Virginia.

Hannah Cipriana

Soprano Hannah Cipriana’s performance has been praised as “beautifully embellished” as she has brightened the stage in a wide variety of roles. Growing up in Las Vegas, she learned to love the limelight and has continued honing her passion for singing.

She has graduated from the University of Tennessee with her BM in Vocal Performance, and was cast as La Feé in Massenet’s Cendrillon, Mrs. Gobineau in Menotti’s The Medium, and The Dew Fairy in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel along with several other roles. She was the Soprano Soloist in UT Chamber Singers performance of Händel’s Messiah, and collaborated with Knoxville Opera to perform as a grisette, Lolo, in their performance of Lehar’s The Merry Widow.

She served on the executive board of VolOpera, an undergraduate-run initiative to create innovative performances for young singers, performing as the Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas, Parasha in their modernized production of Stravinsky’s Mavra, and premiering the role of the Newscaster in their worship cast of Mikeila McQueston’s Horned and Hidden Child. Hannah Cipriana is a true artist, and is delighted by every opportunity to perform, so she is thrilled to continue her musical journey at Peabody Conservatory in the studio of Elizabeth Futral!

Nathalie Friederich

Nathalie Friederich is a distinguished soprano from Phoenix, Arizona, known for her passionate and dedicated approach to vocal performance. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University under the mentorship of Elizabeth Futral.

Ms. Friederich’s recent performances include The Taumänchen in Indiana University Opera Theatre’s production of Hansel und Gretel, the ensemble in Die Lustige Witwe, the ensemble in Sweeney Todd, and Erste Dame in the Trentino Music Festival’s production of Die Zauberflöte.

Her achievements in vocal competitions are notable, with first-place wins in the 2019 Atlanta Music Club Competition, the 2021 National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition, and the 2022 undergraduate division of the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale.

Sarah Kent

Sarah Kent is a classical voice major at Peabody Conservatory, where she hones her craft in vocal performance. With a passion for both classical and jazz music, Sarah has showcased her versatile talent in a variety of settings. She has performed for Ecclesia NYC in Times Square and has taken the stage at the Museum of the Bible for a group event. In addition to these high-profile engagements, Sarah has brought her musical touch to more intimate occasions, such as weddings, where her performances have been a highlight for the special day. Whether in a grand venue or a personal gathering, her love for music shines through.

Julie Knott

Julie Knott is an American Soprano from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and a first-year Masters of Voice, Historical Performance at the Peabody. She is an avid performer of Opera, Oratorio, and Art Songs with a specialization in Early Music and Plainchant. Julie recently completed an undergraduate degree in Vocal Performance at Messiah University.

In her last year of undergrad, Julie was actively concertizing and performed with two symphonies in March of 2024. She was the soprano soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana with the West Shore Symphony Orchestra and made her debut with the Hershey Symphony Orchestra as the soprano soloist in Poulenc’s Gloria. In November of 2023, she performed on Messiah University’s “High Center Concert Series” with the Messiah University Wind Ensemble as the soprano soloist for Three American Hymns by Luigi Zaninelli. In that same month, Julie presented her senior thesis: Performance and Pedagogy: The Music of Barbara Strozzi and Baroque Vocal Chamber Works, which included a performance of selections from Strozzi’s Diporti di Euterpe and a presentation on Baroque vocal technique and performance practice. A performer and researcher of Renaissance and Baroque vocal music, Julie is committed to the delivery and preservation of the music of centuries past, through a modern and socially relevant lens. In addition to her performance endeavors, Julie is an emerging voice teacher. In her studio, students train in a variety of styles, build healthy technical practices, and are guided in their preparation for auditions and school/community performances.

Sunwei Li

Sunwei Li, a Chinese lyric soprano, performs actively across the United States, Europe, and China. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory and a Master of Music degree from the Mannes School of Music. Currently based in Baltimore, MD, she is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in vocal performance at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.

Recent highlights of her operatic repertoire include roles such as La Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro, the Governess in The Turn of the Screw, and Zina in Dark Sisters. An ardent advocate for contemporary music, Ms. Li regularly appears at the Mannes School of Music Composer Guild Concerts, premiering new works by her colleagues. In 2024, she showcased contemporary compositions in Shenzhen, China, as part of the Coherence Sound Theater Series. Ms. Li’s passion for the art song repertoire is evident in her performances at the Mannes Sounds Festival in New York and at various venues in China and Europe. Her recitals feature a diverse range of art songs spanning from the Baroque period to contemporary works in multiple languages, captivating audiences worldwide.

Mariela Palencia

Mariela Palencia is a second year BM vocal performance major at Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University and studies under Elizabeth Futral. Mariela has competed in a few competitions recently including 1st place VANATS lower college classical division, 3rd place lower college musical theatre, 2nd place in Vocal Artists Management Young Vocalist Competition, and traveled to New York City to compete in Music International Grand Prix and was awarded 3rd place. Mariela was also a part of the debut of The Cecili Collective Treble Ensemble(started by Marjorie Sheiman (MM ’24) and Sophie Clarke (MM ’24)) and sang 2 German lieder pieces by Josephine Lang.

Erin Perry

Soprano Erin Perry (she/her) is a graduate voice performance student at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. She currently studies with Prof. Elizabeth Futral. In the spring of 2024 Erin received her B.M. in voice performance at Baldwin Wallace University, where she studied with Prof. Nancy Maultsby. 

Erin has performed in many operas throughout her young career, including Giulio Cesare (Cleopatra) at Playhouse Square and Orfeo ed Euridice (Euridice) with Chicago Summer Opera. Other credits include the Midwest premiere of Nkieru Okoye’s We’ve Got Our Eye on You (Deino), Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea in BWVP’s Playhouse Square debut (Drusilla), the world premiere of Griffin Candey’s La Casa de Bernarda Alba (Magdalena), and Händel’s Alcina (Oberto). This February Erin will make her debut with Peabody Opera singing the role of Diana in Cavalli’s La Calisto.

Along with opera, Erin is passionate about musicology. During the summer of 2023 she participated in Baldwin Wallace University’s Summer Scholars Fellowship Program, during which she studied and presented on musical exoticism in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Erin aims to use her passion for music history and research to inform her career as a historically-informed performer.

Emily Pope

A native of McKinney, Texas, soprano Emily Pope is dedicated to sharing her love of opera and music with audiences around the world.

During her 2023-24 season, she performed with The University of Oklahoma, The Garvin County Choral Society & Sinfonietta, and Opera in the Ozarks. In addition, she was an apprentice with Miami Music Festival for their 2024 season where she performed the role of The Queen of the Night in their Main Stage production Die Zauberflöte. Other opera credits include Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, Amore in Orfeo ed Euridice, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, and Beth in The Tender Land.

Emily has achieved many awards and scholarships during her college experience. Some of these include third place 2023 Oklahoma regional NATS, finalist 2022 Texoma Regional NATS, and first place 2021 Oklahoma Regional NATS.

Emily Pope graduated from The University of Oklahoma in 2024 with a Bachelor of Music. She now studies under Elizabeth Futral at The Peabody Institute and expects to graduate with a Master of Music in 2026.

Ashley Schumacher

Ashley Schumacher is a lyric coloratura soprano from Lynnfield, MA, and is pursuing a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy at Peabody Conservatory. Recently she performed with Opera Lucca in Lucca, Italy singing the role of Nella in Gianni Schicchi by Puccini, singing in their scenes program, composer’s concert, and their aria concert. She was recently cast in the opera The Classical Style by Steven Stucky singing the role of Dominant Chord with the Peabody Conservatory Opera Department which will be showing in November. She is preparing for her upcoming master’s recital in the spring to finish up her studies at Peabody and is currently sending out auditions and applications to opera companies, summer programs, and outreach programs to begin her career as a young artist.

Zoë Spangler

Zoë Spangler is a soprano from Salem, Oregon, though she is currently based in Baltimore, Maryland. Most Recently, Zoë made her role debut as Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni with PLU Summer Opera. In 2023 she performed the role of Antonia in Les Contes d’Hoffmann with Canto Vocal Programs and was the soprano soloist with the Miami City Ballet under the baton of Maestro Gary Sheldon in the company’s production of West Side Story. She performed the role of Tytania in Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Miami Music Festival in 2022 and was seen as La fée (Cendrillon) with Miami Music Festival the previous year.

During her graduate studies at the University of Denver, she performed the role of Pamina and covered the Queen of the Night in Lamont Opera Theatre’s production of Die Zauberflöte and was awarded the Sherry Shepherd Sargent Award in the Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition for Colorado Singers.

This fall, Zoë will be performing the role of Miles in Benjamin Britten’s opera, The Turn of the Screw, with Opera Roanoke. She is currently pursuing a Graduate Performance Diploma at the Peabody Institute where she studies with Elizabeth Futral.

Mariana Weaver

Mariana Weaver, a soprano from New York, is double majoring in classical voice performance and music education at Peabody. Her curiosity and willingness to try anything has given her the ability to successfully perform a wide range of repertoire, ranging from early to new music.

Her opera credits include her upcoming performance in Maurice Ravel’s L’Enfant et les sortilèges as une pastourelle, as well as her role as Nada in Svadba by Ana Sokolovic.

On the recital stage, she performed the entirety of Robert Schumann’s Dichterliebe. She additionally performed and recorded two pieces by Josephine Lang on a recital organized by The Cecelia Collective (recordings are soon to be released on spotify). Beyond solo performing, Mariana has extensive experience with choral music. Before entering Peabody, she had the pleasure of being a key singer in the Brooklyn Youth Chorus for 12 years, getting opportunities to perform at iconic New York City venues such as Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Late Night Show with Jimmy Fallon, in addition to venues around the world. She has been on 5 albums as a part of this choir, working with artists like Arcade Fire, The National, and Wye Oak. She has also worked directly with prolific modern composers such as Caroline Shaw, Nico Muhly, Missy Mazzoli, and many more.

Mariana hopes to continue exploring vocal repertoire and storytelling throughout her time at Peabody, and looks forward to sharing her voice with the world.

Hannah Grace Winston

Hannah Grace Winston is a first-year graduate student studying with Elizabeth Futral. While originally from Michigan, she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre from Long Island University in 2023. Some favorite theatre performance credits include Violet Karl(Violet), Emma Goldman Ragtime, Clara and Franca u/s(The Light In The Piazza), and Much Ado About Nothing. For the past two summers, Hannah has been a participant in the Vocal Arts Festival through Opera Theatre of the Rockies where she has gotten the chance to perform roles in scenes such as Fiordiligi(Cosi Fan Tutte), Beatrice(Beatrice et Benedick), and a featured soloist performing “Embraceable You” in a Gershwin Cabaret. This Summer she had the opportunity to attend the Respiro Opera young artist program in New York City where she performed Dvorak’s “Song To The Moon”, as well as the “For I Declare This Is Too Bold!” Scene from The Merry Wives of Windsor at Opera America, for the culminating performance of the 10-day intensive.

Yingying Zong

Yingying Zong, a lyric soprano from Shanghai, is pursuing a Graduate Performance Diploma at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University under soprano Elizabeth Futral. Renowned for her melodious voice and strong technique, she has excelled in leading roles such as Musetta and Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème, Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and Nedda in Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci in 2024. Her diverse repertoire also includes Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro, Despina in Così Fan Tutte, and Tong Axiang in Wenpei Ju’s Sentries under the Neon Lights. Notably, she participated in the Chinese premiere of Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress and was the soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria.

Yingying’s accolades include First Prize at the 2022 Swiss International Vocal Competition, Third Prize at the 2023 Vincero International Vocal Competition (China Zone), and Third Prize at the 2023 Macon International Vocal Competition. She holds a Master’s in Vocal Performance from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, has taught at Xianda College of the Shanghai International Studies University,Shanghai Sanda University, and was a member of the inaugural Vocal Institute at Tianjin Juilliard School.