Biographies

Corinne Costell

Ivy Sweet

Corinne Costell is a soprano from Port Jefferson Station, New York currently finishing her second year with the Chicago Opera Theater/Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University Professional Diploma and Young Artist Program. Most recently, Corinne premiered the role of Wren #1 in The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing while also covering the role of Sara Turing in the same production in March 2023. She also performed the role of Emmie in Albert Herring this past January, while also covering the role of Miss Wordsworth in the same production. Previously, Corinne premiered the role of Phoebe in The Beekeeper, composed by Wang Lu and libretto by Kelley Rourke with the Chicago Opera Theater in March 2022. She has covered multiple roles so far with the Chicago Opera Theater, such as Micaëla in their September 2021 production of Carmen, and Yan the elf in Mark Adamo’s Becoming Santa Claus in December 2021. Corinne is excited to continue this season as Ivy in the Vanguard production of The Cook-Off composed by Shawn Okpebholo and written by Mark Campbell.

Karlos Piñero-Mercado

Álvaro Mendez

Puerto Rican tenor Karlos Piñero-Mercado (they/them) is a Chicago-based performer and new music enthusiast. They are delighted to be a part of the Chicago Opera Theater/Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University Professional Diploma and Young Artist Program. They are passionate about performing the overlooked music of Latine composers, especially the music of Puerto Rico, and bringing it to the mainstream audience. They are part of the newly formed quartet, Liederspiel Society, that allows them to explore the works of marginalized people, works that highlight social justice, as well as the underrepresented works by well-known and obscure composers.