1 minute read
Biographies
from The Cook-Off
Pauline Tan
Beryl Bennett
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A deep love for poetry and song has taken Filipino-Chinese contralto Pauline Tan across the globe to pursue a career in music. She uses her 'plush' and 'acrobatic' voice (Chicago Tribune) not only to open channels of honest communication with her audiences, but also to create artistic bridges to little-known musical worlds. Currently in her second season as a Young Artist at Chicago Opera Theater, Pauline will be appearing in their 2022-’23 season as Beryl Bennett in the première of The Cook-Off, in addition to covering Joan Clarke in the première of The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing, Florence Pike (Albert Herring), and the Deaconess (King Roger).This season she is joining LYNX Project as a resident artist, and she has appeared in concerts with non-profit organizations such as Collaborative Arts Institute Chicago, Aural Compass Projects, and Wear Yellow Proudly. This summer, she will be joining the Glimmerglass Festival as a young artist, covering the role of Gertrude (Roméo et Juliette).
Veena Akama-Makia
Kendra Smith
Cameroonian/Ugandan-American MezzoSoprano Veena Akama-Makia will be a Jette Parker Artist at The Royal Opera House for their 2023-25 seasons. For her 2022-2023 season, she will complete her final season as a Chicago Opera Theater/CCPA Young Artist. While at COT, she made her role debut as Nancy in Albert Herring (Britten), as Wren 2 in the world premiere of The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (Chen), as Kendra in the world premiere of The Cook-Off (Okpebohlo/Campbell) and as Tawny Betty in the World Premiere of Quamino’s Map (Wallen/Brevoort). Ms. Akama-Makia has participated in the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program, the Des Moines Metro Opera Program, the Finger Lakes Opera Program, and the Si Parla Si Canta Summer Music Festival. Ms. Akama-Makia has also been honored with several awards, most recently the winner of the 2023 American Opera Society of Chicago Best Vocal Artist Award, being a Finalist in the 2023 Butler International Opera Competition, and a 2023 Annapolis Opera Voice Competition Semi-finalist.
