Champion Arias

Champion Arias is a Vocal Performance major at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute, studying under the guidance of Dr. Carl DuPont. A California native, Champion discovered a profound passion for classical and choral music in middle school. By his freshman year in high school, he was touring France with his school’s most competitive choirs, which included a featured performance at Notre Dame Cathedral.

Champion quickly spread his wings into film, where he starred in and wrote screenplays for multiple 64-hour Film Festivals. He also took to the stage, where he appeared in A Christmas Carol, Dracula, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and in the lead role of Bob in Beau Jest.

Most recently, Champion has appeared in Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus and Mozart’s Don Giovanni. He has placed first two years in a row in the MD/DC chapter of NATS vocal competition.

In addition to a B.M. in Vocal Performance at the Peabody Institute, Champion is pursuing a B.A. in Creative Writing at the Johns Hopkins’ Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.

Yihang Cheng

My name is Yihang Cheng, you can call me Johnny, and I am a freshman Vocal performance major at Peabody. Unlike any of my peers who might have been playing around with music since they were young, I started actively singing during my sophomore year at my high school. During 10th grade, I asked my choir teacher “Why don’t we have our opera theatre if we have drama theatre?” So, we created our elective class called Opera Theatre and we were able to pull out a few productions. We did ACT I from the marriage of Figaro, Cendrillion, and La Serva Padrona. For my senior year, we were able to pull out Hansel and Gretel. I love nature so I love going outside either biking, hiking, or anything else. I am crazily interested in hearing all sorts of music. Hence, Peabody is like paradise to me (because I am surrounded by awesome artists and musicians).

Hannah Davis

Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, skilled coloratura soprano, Hannah Davis began her operatic studies at the Canady College of Creative Arts at West Virginia University. Under Dr. Hope Koehler, her repertoire expanded from 90’s gospel and jazz to the romantic and classical period of opera and art songs. Her talents have also covered the world of musical theatre and has held several lead roles such as “The Witch” from Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim, and “Irene” in Mark Bramble’s 42nd Street. Her operatic collegiate debut as “Noemie” in Massenet’s Cendrillon sealed her future as a lyric coloratura soprano. Currently in pursuit of her master’s at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University, she is studying with esteemed baritone Dr. Carl Dupont and projected to graduate in the spring of 2025. In June of 2023 she was named the new soprano vocalist of the United States President’s Own Marine Corps Band. During her time with the band, she has already performed at the White House for the President of the United States, Joe Biden, and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. She was a featured soloist with the President’s Own Combo at the Capital Turnaround and has sung countless National Anthems at Vietnam’s Veterans Memorial, and World War II Memorial. She also performed as a ringer for the winter 2023 Gridiron Dinner and will be a featured performer for the spring 2024 Gridiron Dinner.

Abigail DeYoung

Abigail DeYoung, a coloratura soprano, was born in 2003 and grew up in Albany, Oregon. Abigail learned to love music with the help of her parents, who were her music teachers until she graduated in 2021. Abigail made her opera debut in November of 2023 as a part of the Chorus in Riders To The Sea by Vaughn Williams. Most recently, she gave a solo junior recital at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in March of 2024. She also gave an extended version of that recital in Albany as a benefit concert for her high school’s choral program in June of 2024.

At age 14, Abigail began competing in vocal competitions through The National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and The Oregon Music Education Association (OMEA). She won the NATS Cascade Chapter musical theatre competition in 2019 and moved on to the regional level multiple years in a row. She also won the NATS Cascade Chapter classical in 2021 and moved on to regionals where she got first place as well. She continued to compete with NATS when she came to Baltimore and won the DMV Chapter classical in 2022 and 2023, as well as the musical theatre round in 2023. Abigail also competed in the OMEA District 11 Solo and Ensemble and won in 2020 and 2021.

She is now singing in the choral program at Peabody under the direction of Dr. Beth Willer. Abigail DeYoung is currently working towards her BM in Vocal Performance and Music Education at The Peabody Institute of Music at Johns Hopkins University where she is studying with Dr. Carl Franklin DuPont Jr.

Lulu Hassanein

Lulu Hassanein is a Maryland-based, versatile storyteller, performing across many genres: classical and contemporary, operatic, musical, and straight theatre. Lulu is an empathetic and emotive performer, who seeks to create an intimate relationship with her listeners so they are able to engage in and enjoy the story and performance. She is praised for her thorough attention to detail in her craft. Having grown up speaking Arabic at home, Lulu is passionate about language and language learning. The beauty of cultural and human connection, not only through music but through language, inspires her. Roles she has portrayed include Rapunzel (Into the Woods, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival), Yasha (The Cherry Orchard, JHU Theatre), and Madge (Picnic, JHU Barnstormers). Lulu is an undergraduate at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, pursuing degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education.

Josua Kim

Kyubin Kwon

Joshua Larsen

Joshua Larsen is a vocal performance undergraduate at The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. He has a clear passion for classical music and a powerful baritone voice with a distinctive and engaging rich tone.

Hailing from Bellingham, Washington, Larsen knew from an early age that singing was his calling. He has competed and placed first and second in many regional solo vocal competitions. This success led to Larsen’s acceptance into the Boston Conservatory’s summer vocal intensive program, where he cemented his conviction to pursue classical voice at the conservatory level. In 2024, Larsen was awarded the Northwest regional Encouragement award at the Schmidt Vocal competition.

Choral activities have also been pivotal to Larsen’s passion for music, and he has proudly served as section leader in his school’s chamber and concert choirs. Recently, Larsen was honored to be invited to join the Chorus at the Bellingham Festival of Music where they performed Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor.

Larsen believes in the power of music to reach across borders and to inspire at a deep level. He believes that the classical genre should be accessible to all and looks forward to working towards this goal during his time at Peabody and beyond.

Daniel LaRue

My name is Daniel LaRue. I’m 25 years old, and I’m a tenor from Lebanon County, PA. I had the privilege of performing all summer at a camp located right in the middle of New York’s Adirondack National Park, from oratorio to opera to arena rock. I am overly fond of baseball (go Phils) and football (go Steelers – can I say that in Baltimore?) and perhaps overly fond of listening to romantic-era Russian symphonic music.

I fell in love with music as an undergraduate student at Lancaster Bible College and transferred within one semester there into music education. I love all sorts of singing, whether in the group setting of a choir, a smaller chamber ensemble, leading worship in front of a church congregation, or singing an operatic aria solo on stage. I feel blessed to have been able to do what I have in music already and look forward to a life of continuing musical experience – but my heart truly is toward sharing music, not just experiencing it on my own. Sharing music through both performance and pedagogy is where I see light and joy in life.

Elizabeth Lentz

Elizabeth Lentz’s engaging performances and unshakable commitment to her practice have set her apart from the very beginning, from her upbringing on a small dairy farm in central Pennsylvania to the world of classical music. Elizabeth is passionate about making high level performance art accessible to students in underserved rural communities and hopes to someday contribute to the artistic development of her hometown.

Elizabeth fostered her musical ambitions from a young age, playing the piano, violin, and flute. Classical singing, though, is where she found her niche, particularly the operatic genre. Elizabeth hopes to promote opera’s accessibility to a wide variety of audiences.

Elizabeth has been featured as a soloist in the Peabody Camerata and NEXT ensembles. Recently, Elizabeth has received accolades by competing in NATS at state, regional, and national levels. In 2020, Elizabeth had the transformative opportunity to work with mezzo-soprano, Denyce Graves, after which she solidified her goal of attending her current school, The Peabody Institute at The Johns Hopkins University. Elizabeth is pursuing a BM in Vocal Performance with a minor in Opera Studies under the instruction of Baritone, Dr. Carl DuPont, and is pursuing performance opportunities at home in central Pennsylvania.

Michaela Marin

Born and raised amidst the vibrant culture of the Philippines, Michaela Marin emerges as a rising soprano in the world of classical music and opera. At the age of 7, her family embarked on a transformative journey, immigrating to the United States in search of new opportunities. This early experience shaped Michaela’s worldview and planted the seeds of her unwavering commitment to resilience and artistic expression.

Currently pursuing her studies at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Michaela Marin stands as a testament to the power of art to transcend borders. Under the expert guidance of Dr. Carl DuPont, Michaela hones her operatic craft with dedication and passion, weaving her unique narrative into the rich tapestry of classical music.

Beyond the soaring notes of her operatic performances, Michaela is a resilient spirit, navigating the world of classical music as an undocumented student. Her journey is not only one of musical prowess but also a testament to her strength and perseverance in overcoming obstacles. As a survivor of domestic abuse, Michaela channels her experiences into her art, creating performances that resonate with authenticity and emotion.

Michaela’s artistic mission is a powerful force propelling her performances and advocacy alike. Her aim is to tell her story, giving voice not only to herself but to countless others whose life stories mirror hers. Through her art, Michaela strives to represent and illuminate the shared experiences of those facing similar challenges.

From the age of 17, Michaela has graced the prestigious stages of the Kennedy Center, captivating audiences with her extraordinary talent. Her performances have not only garnered acclaim but have also resonated in the halls of power. Michaela has had the honor of singing for senators and governors, using her voice to bridge the gap between art and public service.

A passionate advocate, Michaela dedicates herself to spreading awareness on immigration issues, domestic abuse, and broader social justice causes. Her art becomes a vessel for change, a platform to shine a spotlight on the stories that often go unheard. Michaela believes that through the power of opera, she can contribute to fostering understanding, empathy, and action.

Known for her captivating performances, Michaela Marin takes center stage with a voice that transcends borders and a spirit that defies expectations. Her interpretations of classic and contemporary repertoire are infused with a depth that resonates with audiences, capturing the essence of her unique journey.

As Michaela continues her studies and artistic journey at the Peabody Institute, audiences can anticipate witnessing the evolution of an operatic luminary with a purpose. Her commitment to art, resilience, and advocacy promises to leave an indelible mark on the world of classical music.

Valarie Miles

With rich and warm vocals paired with engaging portrayals on-stage, mezzo-soprano Valarie Miles speaks to souls throughout concert halls, churches, and opera houses in the United States, Europe, and Africa. Sought after as a meticulous performer, Valarie has hailed the stages of Tasos Opera Institute, Baylor Opera Theatre, Brevard Music Center, and Amarillo Opera Theatre. During the 2022-23 season at Baylor Opera Theatre, she will perform the role of Angelica in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience. Last season, she performed the roles of La Ciesca in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Mrs. Splinters in Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land.

Valarie made her debut with the Amarillo Opera as Ruthless the Ugly Stepsister in Seymour Barab’s Cinderella. She starred in several Amarillo Opera productions, including Evita, La Traviata, Dream of the Pacific, Brundibar, and The Ballad of Baby Doe. While there, she grew under the direction of Dean Anthony, Craig Schulman, and Linda Hughes.

While at the Taos Opera Institute, Miles represented the group of young artists as a Santa Fe Opera Guild featured artist and received praise for her “mastery of languages.” She also had the pleasure of performing various roles in Michael Ching’s production of Speed Dating Tonight and the partial role of Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, where her performances were praised as “excellent” and “hilarious.”

Miles has sung in many national competitions, placing as a finalist in the 2022 Texoma Region National Association of Teachers of Singing auditions and a finalist in the 2019 Schmidt Vocal Competition.

Valarie holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Baylor University, where she studied with Dr.Jamie Van Eyck. Valarie is currently pursuing her Master of Music at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University, where she studies under Dr. Carl Dupont. She is the proud recipient of the institution’s Pathways to DMA Fellowship.

Christina Roberts

Christina Roberts is a versatile mezzo-soprano vocal artist fluent in various musical styles, from Gregorian chant to contemporary vaudeville, with her main focus being traditional liturgical music. Christina’s voice has been described as “flutelike,” “ethereal,” and “like a shaft of moonlight” (Eve Tushnet for Patheos).

She has worked as a cantor in churches throughout the Boston and Baltimore areas for several years, prioritizing community music-making and traditional hymnody, as well as choral and polyphonic repertoire. She seeks to engage congregations and audiences in the beauty of music, ancient and new.

Christina holds a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from the Boston University College of Fine Arts, where she studied under Professor Sharon Daniels, as well as recognition from the Kilachand Honors College where she completed a Keystone project in Ethnomusicology. She is currently pursuing her degree in Historical Performance from the Peabody Conservatory under Dr. Carl DuPont.

Amelia Taylor

Amelia Taylor just finished her seventh year singing with the Children’s Chorus of Washington, and three years ago, she began studying classical voice with Diane Atherton. During the summer of 2023, she attended Interlochen’s Classical Voice Intensive, and she spent the summer of 2022 as part of the Boston University Tanglewood Institute’s Young Artists Vocal Program.

In the fall of 2023, Amelia placed first in the senior voice division of the AAMS International Competition, and in December she sang the opening solo from “Once in Royal David’s City” as part of the Cathedral Choral Society’s annual Joy of Christmas concert at the Washington National Cathedral. Other highlights include being part of the Street Kid Chorus in the Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary production of Leonard Bernstein’s MASS and singing in Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 with The Thirteen in the fall of 2022.

Amelia has also had roles in musical theater productions inside and outside of school, and she has studied ballet, jazz, and modern dance. In addition, she is a compulsive reader and story writer. She is starting her first year at Johns Hopkins as a dual degree student studying voice performance at Peabody and writing seminars at the Homewood campus.

Christina Thompson

Christina Thompson is currently a Vocal Performance major at Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. From the age of four she started piano and voice lessons, as well as shows in musical theatre and ballet, and went on to perform in recitals for her local town. In 2017, she was awarded acceptance into Bak Middle School of the Arts as a vocal major where she continued learning the fundamentals of music theory and classical voice. In 2019, she performed at Carnegie Hall with her middle school choir and was later accepted into Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts for classical voice the following year. During her time at Dreyfoos, Christina was able to learn various songs in many languages such as Italian, German, and French, and was able to continue studying advanced music theory while also performing. In her senior year of high school, Christina was accepted into her school’s Jazz ensemble as a leading vocalist and went on to do many performances throughout the year in various venues with the jazz band. At Peabody Institute, Christina is also recently involved with the jazz ensemble, as she continues to hone her abilities as a vocalist, musician, and performer while further trying to develop her various skills in each genre.