COA Program 2025

REINNETTE AND STAN MAREK, CHAIRS

H O U STO N GR A N D O PE RA KHORI DASTOOR GEN ERAL D IRE CTOR AND CE O Margaret Alkek Williams Chair

PATRICK SUMMERS A RTI STI C AND MUSIC D IRE CTOR Sarah and Ernest Butler Chair

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HOUSTON GRAND OPERA AND REINNETTE AND STAN MAREK, CHAIRS WELCOME YOU TO THE 37TH ANNUAL

FRI DAY, JA NUARY 1 7, 2 0 2 5 7 P. M .

CULLEN THEATER, WORTHAM THEATER CENTER AND STREAMING LIVE TO AUDIENCES WORLDWIDE

CONCERT OF ARIA S

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Khori Dastoor at Concert of Arias 2024

It is a time of glorious expansion at Houston Grand Opera. The 37th Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers Concert of Arias will look decidedly different from years past. For the first time, our finalists—who have already distinguished themselves from among more than 1,000 hopeful artists around the world—will perform alongside our renowned HGO Orchestra, offering an entirely new experience for all of us here tonight in the Cullen Theater.

At the podium will be James Gaffigan, the General Music Director of Komische Oper Berlin, Music Director of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia, and Music Director of the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra in Switzerland. Maestro Gaffigan has made it his mission to help promising young musicians reach their full potential throughout his own impressive career, which took root right here in our city: he holds a master’s degree from the Rice University Shepherd School of Music. We are thrilled to welcome him back to Houston, and to HGO, for this milestone moment.

Serving as our guest judge this evening is another leader in our industry: Michael Heaston, the Deputy General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera and former Music Director of the Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio. Heaston will be lending his wonderful expertise as we seek to evaluate these young voices.

There is much at stake for the seven inspiring artists performing this evening. Those who take top honors could be invited to join the storied Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio, which has minted some of the biggest names in opera. They also stand to take home a larger cash award than ever before! As part of our efforts to discover, attract, and support the best young singers in the world, this year we have tripled the size of our prize purse, which is now on par with those awarded by the largest houses in the world.

I am proud to share that this year, as part of HGO’s commitment to expanding our global reach, we have formed a new partnership with Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu. Later this month, Butler Studio Director Colin Michael Brush will be representing HGO at that company’s 62nd Tenor Viñas International Singing Competition, where, thanks to the generosity of the Torras Foundation, he will award one artist a $25,000 prize—and automatic entry to the semifinal round of Concert of Arias 2026.

The future is shining bright at HGO. We will stop at nothing as we seek to invest in our artists and art form while making Concert of Arias one of the most exciting evenings in opera. Thank you for being here.

Khori Dastoor General Director and CEO Margaret Alkek Williams Chair

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Butler Studio alumna Emily Treigle with her underwriters, Jim and Molly Crownover

SUPPORT A MEMBER OF THE BUTLER STUDIO! If you’re interested in helping to support the artists of the Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio through underwriting or financial support, please contact Stephen Beaudoin at SBeaudoin@HGO.org or 713-546-0213.

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M E E T TH E J U DG E S KHORI DASTOOR

PATRICK SUMMERS

HGO General Director and CEO

HGO Artistic and Music Director

Margaret Alkek Williams Chair

Sarah and Ernest Butler Chair

MICHAEL HEASTON

ANA MARÍA MARTÍNEZ

Guest Judge

Soprano and Judge of the Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award

Deputy General Manager, Metropolitan Opera Former Music Director, Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio

LI V E S TR E A M H OS T

CO N DUC TO R JAMES GAFFIGAN

ERNIE MANOUSE

General Music Director, Komische Oper Berlin

Executive Producer and Host, Houston Public Media

Music Director, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, Valencia

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PROG R A M GEONHO LEE | BARITONE | “Si può?” from Pagliacci – Ruggero Leoncavallo LAUREN CARROLL | SOPRANO | “Come scoglio” from Così fan tutte – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart LUKE NORVELL | TENOR | “Tarquinius does not wait” from The Rape of Lucretia – Benjamin Britten MEG BRILLESLYPER | MEZZO-SOPRANO | “Svegliatevi nel core” from Giulio Cesare – George Frideric Handel ALEXIS SEMINARIO | SOPRANO | “Ain’t it a pretty night?” from Susannah – Carlisle Floyd LUKA TSEVELIDZE | TENOR | “Ah, la paterna mano” from Macbeth – Giuseppe Verdi DARIA LUPU | SOPRANO | “Ah, je ris de me voir” from Faust – Charles Gounod

I NTE R M I S S I O N LAUREN CARROLL | SOPRANO | “Ah, fors’è lui…Sempre libera” from La traviata – Giuseppe Verdi LUKE NORVELL | TENOR | “È la solita storia del pastore” from L’arlesiana – Francesco Cilèa MEG BRILLESLYPER | MEZZO-SOPRANO | “Werther... Qui m’aurait dit la place” from Werther – Jules Massenet DARIA LUPU | SOPRANO | “Era desso il figlio mio” from Lucrezia Borgia – Gaetano Donizetti LUKA TSEVELIDZE | TENOR | “Kuda, kuda, vi udalilis” from Eugene Onegin – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky GEONHO LEE | BARITONE | “Eri tu” from Un ballo in maschera – Giuseppe Verdi ALEXIS SEMINARIO | SOPRANO | “Du bist der Lenz” from Die Walküre – Richard Wagner

H OUS TO N G R A N D O PE R A O RCH E S TR A Overture to Der fliegende Holländer – Richard Wagner

A N N OU N CE M E NT O F WI N N E R S CE LE B R ATI O N D I N N E R

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Vote!

TEX T TO

SUPPORT ONE OF TONIGHT’S COMPETITORS WITH YOUR VOTE FOR THE AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD! One vote per mobile device will be accepted. Need assistance with voting? We’re here to help! Find an HGO staff member or usher for troubleshooting.

Text CONCERT to 832-501-9208 and follow the link to vote!

Or visit HGO.org/VOTE

NEW FOR 2025: TRIPLE THE PRIZE PURSE!

First Prize: $25,000 Sponsored by Valerie and Miguel Miro-Quesada

Second Prize: $15,000 Sponsored by Stephanie D. Larsen

Third Prize: $10,000 Sponsored by Kathleen Moore and Steven Homer

Audience Choice Award: $5,000 Sponsored by Jill A. Schaar and George Caflisch

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Are you experiencing connectivity issues? Access HGO’s wi-fi network.

Non-placing Finalists: $3,500 each Sponsored by Hon. Theresa and Dr. Peter Chang, Ms. Marty Dudley, Mr. Brian Faulkner and Ms. Jackie Macha, the Houston Grand Opera Guild, and Dr. Yin Yiu and Mr. Ron Domantay

Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award: $2,000

FINALISTS LAUREN CARROLL (United States) S O PR A N O This season, Lauren Carroll is a Young Artist with Palm Beach Opera, where she will make her company debut as Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro and cover the roles of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Violetta in La traviata. In summer 2025, she will return to the Aspen Music Festival as a Renée Fleming Artist and debut as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte. In summer 2024, she performed the role of Gretel in Hansel and Gretel at the Aspen Music Festival. Carroll was an Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera in 2021 and 2022, where she covered the roles of Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Frasquita in Carmen. She earned her Master of Music degree from Rice University and her Bachelor of Music degree from Drake University.

DARIA LUPU (Romania) S O PR A N O Daria Lupu is a member of the Experimental Studio in Musical Performing Arts “Ludovic Spiess” at the Bucharest National Opera. She has performed roles such as Mimì in La bohème, Marguerite in Faust, and La Bergère in L’enfant et les sortilèges at venues including the Bucharest National Opera, the Romanian Athenaeum, and Radio Hall. She was a finalist in the 2024 Sumi Jo International Singing Competition and represented Romania at the 2023 Voix Nouvelles Semifinal in Paris. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree at the National University of Music in Bucharest.

ALEXIS SEMINARIO (United States) S O PR A N O Alexis Seminario, a 2020 alumna of HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy, is currently a Young Artist with Palm Beach Opera, where she will debut as Annina in La traviata and cover the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro. In summer 2024 as a Renée Fleming Artist at the Aspen Music Festival, Seminario stepped in for Tamara Wilson as Sieglinde and sang Helmwige in Act III of Die Walküre, in addition to portraying Gertrud in Hansel and Gretel under the baton of Maestro Patrick Summers. In summer 2025, she will cover Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw and Ortlinde in Die Walküre with the Santa Fe Opera as an Apprentice Artist. During the 2022-23 season, Seminario was a Studio Artist with the Atlanta Opera and an Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera. She received 3rd Place in the Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition and is a Southeast Regional Finalist in the 2025 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. She holds a Master of Music degree from Bard College Conservatory.

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FINALISTS MEG BRILLESLYPER (United States) M E Z ZO -S O PR A N O Meg Brilleslyper is a 2022 alumna of HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy. Recent roles include Bradamante in Alcina, Mércèdes in Carmen, Bianca and Lucretia (cover) in The Rape of Lucretia, Filipyevna (cover) in Eugene Onegin, and Ruggiero in Alcina. Brilleslyper was a winner at the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition Houston District (2025), in addition to winning first place in the Jessie Kneisel Lieder Competition (2023) and first place in the Eastman Concerto Competition (2022).

She attended the Aspen Music Festival (2022, 2023) and the Music Academy of the West as a Lehrer Vocal Institute Fellow (2024). In early 2025, she will compete in the live rounds of the International Franz Schubert and Modern Music Competition in Graz, Austria. Upcoming roles include Cherubino in The Ghosts of Versailles at Rice University and Isolier in Le comte Ory at San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program. She is currently pursuing her Master of Music degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.

LUKE NORVELL (United States) TENOR

Luke Norvell is a fourth-year resident artist at Academy of Vocal Arts. Previous operatic highlights include the role of Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi and Buoso’s Ghost and serving as a tenor soloist in Verdi’s Messa di Requiem at Utah Festival Opera; Werther (Act III) with Opera Philadelphia; performing as Male Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia and as Alfredo in La traviata, Lensky in Eugene Onegin, and the Duke in Rigoletto (Act III) at Academy of Vocal Arts; Rodolfo in La bohème and Lensky in Eugene Onegin with Music Academy of the West; Anatol (cover) in Vanessa with Spoleto Festival USA; and Fenton in Falstaff with Puget Sound Concert Opera.

Upcoming engagements include the title role in Faust at Academy of Vocal Arts and Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with Opera Roanoke. Norvell has won prizes in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, as well as Opera Index, Young Patronesses of the Opera, and SAS Performing Arts competitions. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Master’s University.

LUKA TSEVELIDZE (Georgia) TENOR

Luka Tsevelidze is a student at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire. Tsevelidze made his operatic debut as Tamino in The Magic Flute with the Tbilisi State Conservatoire Opera Studio. In summer 2024, he performed in a concert in Kassel, Germany. He will soon take the stage as Alfredo in La traviata at the Tbilisi State Opera. He was

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introduced to classical music beginning at the age of 10, when he sang “O sole mio” with the Tbilisi Philharmonic Orchestra, sparking his passion for opera.

GEONHO LEE (South Korea) B A R I TO N E

Geonho Lee was a 2024 semifinalist in the renowned Operalia Competition. Lee is currently pursuing advanced studies at the University of Music and Theatre Munich, where he participates in frequent performances and productions. He is an active member of the August Everding Academy and holds a prestigious scholarship from the Bühnenverein. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from Seoul National University, where he won several prestigious competitions.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT Your donation makes events like tonight and HGO’s initiatives to support the future of opera possible.

For Butler Studio, email Stephen Beaudoin at SBeaudoin@HGO.org.

For all HGO programs, visit HGO.org/DONATE.

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R E I N N E T TE A N D S TA N M A R E K 2 02 5 E VENT CHAIR S

Reinnette and Stan Marek share a dynamic partnership rooted in a love for adventure, community service, and deep commitment to fostering future generations. Together, they embody the values of leadership, education, and philanthropy, which has inspired their long-standing support of Houston Grand Opera and Concert of Arias.

Reinnette, a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, began her career as a commercial litigator, practicing in Chicago and later in Houston. After receiving her master’s degree in international law from the University of Houston and MBA from Rice University, Reinnette transitioned into entrepreneurship. Most notably, she helped launch Dr. Richard Smalley’s company, which was founded following his Nobel Prize-winning discovery of the buckyball. An avid adventurer, she has summited high-altitude peaks across multiple continents and most recently walked 193 miles across England. Her commitment to service is equally impressive and includes serving on the boards of the Houston Food Bank, the Children’s Assessment Center, and the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

Stan, a Texas native, graduated from Texas A&M University with a BBA in Finance. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, he began his career in construction and later became President and CEO of the Marek Family of Companies, one of the largest interior contractors in the Southwest. Stan is a recognized leader in the construction industry and was inducted into the Texas A&M Constructors Hall of Fame in 2013. He is also a dedicated advocate for immigration reform, co-founding Texans for a Sensible Immigration Policy and serving as a frequent lecturer on the subject. His community involvement spans from service as a Trustee at St. John’s School to roles as Chairman of the St. Luke’s Foundation Board and board member at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School.

The Mareks are continually impressed by HGO’s Concert of Arias, as well as the organization’s larger commitment to arts education across Houston. They recognize that the company’s Community and Learning programs are already inspiring the next generation of artists and that the arts are essential to every child’s education. Reinnette and Stan’s shared dedication to their community aligns seamlessly with HGO’s mission, and they are honored to support this important work.

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E V E NT U N D E RWR ITE R S REINNE T TE AND S TAN MAREK , CHAIR S

P RES EN T E R

CONDUCTOR

Estate of Eleanor Searle McCollum

Christopher Bacon and Craig Miller Gudrun Becker

ORC H E S T R A P RES EN T E R

Astley L. Blair

Drs. Liz Grimm and Jack Roth

Molly and Jim Crownover

ConocoPhillips Marty Dudley

AWA R D S P R E S E N T E R Houston Methodist Official Health Care Provider of Houston Grand Opera

Frost Bank Claire Liu and Joe Greenberg Kirkland & Ellis LLP Beth Madison John P. McGovern Foundation

STAR

Novum Energy

Reinnette and Stan Marek

Matthew Ringel

Dian and Harlan Stai

John Serpe and Tracy Maddox Yuichi and Uny Watanabe

DIRECTOR Janet and John Carrig Teresa and José Ivo John G. Turner and Jerry G. Fischer

IMPRESARIO

Michelle Beale and Richard H. Anderson / Geraldine Gill / Drs. Liz Grimm and Jack Roth / Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau, Jr. / Hinda Simon / Helen B. Wils and Leonard A. Goldstein

Anne and Albert Chao

CHORUS

Matthew Healey

Carol and Paul Beck

Kathleen Moore and Steven Homer

Hon. Theresa and Dr. Peter Chang

The Petrello Family Foundation

John and Jeanette DiFilippo

The Evans-Portela Family

Drs. Rachel and Warren Ellsworth IV

Jill and Allyn Risley

Stephanie D. Larsen

Vitol

Amy and Mark Melton USI Insurance Services Vinson & Elkins LLP

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MAESTRO

Lexie and Dr. William Mitch

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

Jack Bell

Diane Morales

Kirk Hickey and Bill Maguire

Cindy and Les Fox

Terrylin Neale

Renee Margolin

Sandy and Lee Godfrey

Regina Rogers

Susan and Doug Paisley

Liz Travis and Jerry Hyde

Kathi Rovere

City Kitchen Catering

Marianne Kah

Roz and David Rowan

The Events Company

Diane Marcinek

Kathy and Richard Stout

Barbara and Pat McCelvey

Mary Lee and Jim Wallace

Jill Schaar and George Caflisch

Cyvia Wolff

Rhonda Sweeney

Rini and Edward Ziegler

Ellen and Bob Vladem

Ann Ziker

RÉPÉTITEUR

SOLOIST

Gloria and Robert Anderson

Larissa Bither

Susan Bloome

Adrienne Bond

Cheryl and Michael Clancy

Linda and Lester Burgess

Mathilda Cochran

Brenda Harvey-Traylor

Shelly Cyprus

Rita Leader

Mindy and Joshua Davidson

Jackie Macha and Brian Faulkner

Anna Dean

Dr. Susan Osterberg

Dr. Thomas DeNapoli and Mr. Mark Walker

Dr. Tatiana Sorkin

Nancy Dunlap

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL

Connie Dyer

Robert Anderson

Trish Freeman and Bruce Patterson

Emily Bivona and Ryan Manser

Lynn Gissel

Albert Garcia Jr.

Julia Gwaltney

Lori Harrington and Parashar Saika

Nancy Haywood

Anna Kovalenko

Patricia Hunt Holmes Ph.D, JD

Paul Muri and Stephanie Weber

Ellen and Alan Holzberg

Morgan Pfeil

Yolanda and Bill Knull

Constance Rose-Edwards

Stephanie and Richard Langenstein

Melanie Smith

Jackie Macha and Brian Faulkner

HGO also thanks those who pledged their support after January 10, 2025

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AT CONCERT OF ARIAS For the first time in company history, tonight’s finalists will perform accompanied by the HGO Orchestra, conducted by Maestro James Gaffigan.

HGO ORCHESTRA Linda Sanders*

CELLO

Oleg Sulyga†

Barrett Sills*, Principal

Melissa Williams*

Erika Johnson*, Assistant Principal

Zubaida Azezi

Dana Rath*

VIOLIN

Lucinda Chiu

Wendy Smith-Butler*

Denise Tarrant*, Concertmaster

Andres Gonzalez

Chennie Sung*

Sarah and Ernest Butler Concertmaster Chair

Kana Kimura

Chloe Kim*, Assistant Concertmaster

Mila Neal

DOUBLE BASS

Natalie Gaynor*, Principal Second

Jacob Schafer

Dennis Whittaker†, Principal

Rachel Shepard

Erik Gronfor*, Assistant Principal

Emily Zelaya

Carla Clark*

Patrick Summers, Artistic and Music Director Sarah and Ernest Butler Chair

Violin Carrie Kauk*, Assistant Principal Second Violin

Paul Ellison

Miriam Belyatsky*

VIOL A

Rasa Kalesnykaite†

Eliseo Rene Salazar*, Principal

FLUTE

Hae-a Lee Barnes*

Lorento Golofeev*, Assistant Principal

Henry Williford*, Principal

Chavdar Parashkevov†

Gayle Garcia-Shepard*

Tyler Martin*

Anabel Ramirez*

Elizabeth Golofeev*

Izumi Miyahara

Mary Reed*

Erika C. Lawson*

Erica Robinson†

Suzanne LeFevre† Matthew Weathers*

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The competition finalists will gain valuable experience performing with a full orchestra.

Maestro James Gaffigan at the podium

OBOE

HORN

TIMPANI

Elizabeth Priestly Siffert*, Principal

Sarah Cranston*, Principal

Alison Chang*, Principal

Mayu Isom†

Kimberly Penrod Minson*

Spring Hill

Spencer Park*

PERCUSSION

Pablo Moreno

Kevin McIntyre

Richard Brown†, Principal

Gavin Reed

Christina Carroll, Acting Principal

CL ARINET

Robert McCullagh

Eric Chi*, Acting Principal

TRUMPET

Justin Best

Tetsuya Lawson*, Principal

HARP

Molly Mayfield

Randal Adams*

Caitlin Mehrtens*, Principal

Gerardo Mata

BASSOON

HARPSICHORD

Amanda Swain*, Principal

TROMBONE

Quincey Trojanowski*

Thomas Hultén*, Principal

Micah Doherty

Mark Holley*

* HGO Orchestra core musician

Jordan Milek Johnson*

† HGO Orchestra core musician on

SAXOPHONE Scott Plugge

William Woodard

leave this production

TUBA Mark Barton*, Principal

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The current group of talented artists training with HGO’s Butler Studio, with program director Colin Michael Brush (top left)

BUTLER STUDIO ARTISTS 2024-25 Laura Bleakley, Pianist/Coach Ms. Lynn Des Prez/ Dr. and Mrs. Miguel Miro-Quesada Fellow Jenny Choo, Pianist/Coach Dr. Laura E. Sulak and Dr. Richard W. Brown Fellow Sam Dhobhany, Bass-Baritone Dian and Harlan Stai Fellow Alissa Goretsky, Soprano Nancy Haywood/ Susan Bloome/ James M. Trimble and Sylvia Barnes Fellow Navasard Hakobyan, Baritone Melinda and Bill Brunger/ Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Nickson/ Gloria M. Portela Fellow

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Elizabeth Hanje, Soprano Ms. Marty Dudley/ Amy and Mark Melton/ Jeff Stocks and Juan Lopez Fellow Ani Kushyan, Mezzo-Soprano Donna and Ken Barrow/ Barbara and Pat McCelvey/ Jill A. Schaar and George Caflisch Fellow Michael McDermott, Tenor Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson/ Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Mr. Milton D. Rosenau Jr. Fellow Shawn Roth, Tenor Drs. Liz Grimm and Jack Roth/ Drs. Rachel and Warren A. Ellsworth IV/ Kathleen Moore and Steven Homer/ Sharon Ley Lietzow and Robert Lietzow Fellow

Demetrious Sampson, Jr., Tenor Dr. Dina Alsowayel and Mr. Anthony R. Chase/ Dr. Eric McLaughlin and Mr. Eliodoro Castillo/ Alejandra and Héctor Torres/ Mr. Trey Yates Fellow Ziniu Zhao, Bass-Baritone Carolyn J. Levy / Jill and Allyn Risley/ Dr. Peter Chang and Hon. Theresa Chang and Friends / Dr. Ron Galfione and Carolyn Galfione Fellow

Cast Forward There is no better experience for an emerging opera artist than a major HGO production—and our current Butler Studio members are everywhere this season!

Elizabeth Hanje (right) with Ailyn Pérez in Il trovatore

Michael McDermott with Yaritza Véliz in La bohème

Verdi’s Il trovatore Demetrious Sampson Jr. – Ruiz Elizabeth Hanje – Ines Michael McDermott – Messenger Jenny Choo – Assistant Coach

Rossini’s Cinderella Alissa Goretsky – Clorinda Laura Bleakley – Assistant Coach

Alissa Goretsky (right) with Emily Treigle in Cinderella

Rossini’s Cinderella – Family Day

Mazzoli’s Breaking the Waves

Michael McDermott – Don Ramiro Ziniu Zhao – Don Magnifico Sam Dhobhany – Alidoro Alissa Goretsky – Clorinda Laura Bleakley – Assistant Coach

Sam Dhobhany – Terry Jenny Choo – Assistant Coach

Puccini’s La bohème Michael McDermott - Rodolfo Navasard Hakobyan – Schaunard Demetrious Sampson Jr. – Parpignol Laura Bleakley – Assistant Coach Jenny Choo – Assistant Coach

Wagner’s Tannhäuser Shawn Roth – Heinrich der Schreiber Ziniu Zhao – Reinmar von Zweter Ani Kushyan – Shepherd Laura Bleakley – Assistant Coach

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THE JOURNEY TO TONIGHT’S CONCERT OF ARIAS:

The Live Final Round of HGO’s Eleanor McCollum Competition

Butler Studio Director Colin Michael Brush shares a peek behind the scenes.

The view from Butler Studio Director Colin Michael Brush’s window as he set off in search of the finest emerging artists in opera.

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T

onight marks an exciting milestone for the Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers, as the final round features the wonderful Houston Grand Opera Orchestra for the first time. For those of you who have attended Concerts of Arias before, you may remember that the competition has always been performed with piano. Many of the world’s best competitions present their final round with full orchestra, and it’s a different process for both the singers and for us, the company. Executing a competition with orchestra instead of piano involves far more preparation but is a rewarding experience, as singing with full instrumental accompaniment is something not all young singers get to experience so early. This addition reflects HGO’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of opera stars while ensuring an extraordinary experience for the audience and performers alike. From its inception, this competition has required months of preparation, a global search for talent, and tireless dedication, but this year the process has been even more intense. Here’s a peek behind the scenes of how we got to the final round of the competition: tonight’s Concert of Arias.

SUMMER 2024 The process began even before the start of our season.

I launched our search for the most promising emerging artists out there by traveling to all the major summer opera apprentice artist programs in the United States, including Santa Fe Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, Wolf Trap Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, and San Francisco Opera. Additionally, I scouted singers in Europe, visiting conservatories, competitions, and training programs in Latvia, Lithuania, Georgia, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and more. HGO General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor and Director of Artistic Planning Richard Bado also heard singers across Europe. In the U.S., Butler Studio Music Director Dr. Maureen Zoltek scouted talent while teaching at the renowned Music Academy of the West, and Director of Vocal Instruction Dr. Stephen King joined Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers at the Aspen Music Festival.

JULY 1, 2024 The competition application officially opened, inviting singers from around the world to submit materials. Applicants provided biographical information, details about their training, and two contrasting video performances.

LATE AUGUST 2024 Applications closed, with nearly 1,000 singers submitting close to 2,000 videos. Over the next few weeks, the pre-screening process began, allowing us to narrow the pool of singers to the most promising candidates for live auditions. This critical step enabled us to determine the best potential fits for the competition and the Butler Studio, ultimately inviting 250 singers to the next phase.

LATE OCTOBER The live audition tour began with two days in Houston. The team—comprising Dr. Zoltek, Dr. King, and me—then traveled to Cincinnati, New York, and Philadelphia. We do a live audition tour every year to ensure we hear the best talent possible. Not everyone can travel to Houston, as many singers are in school, working, or performing, so we include stops in multiple cities to make it feasible for more applicants.

The tour takes lots of preparation, as we must find audition spaces in these cities, pianists for the auditioners, and audition staff, while navigating a hectic travel schedule for the judging panel. In total, we heard around 250 live auditions from the 1,000 applications submitted.

NOVEMBER 10 Following the auditions, 20 semifinalists were selected to move forward to the official live semifinal audition round in Houston on January 10.

MID-NOVEMBER TO MID-DECEMBER We began the next critical stage of preparations.

Unlike previous years, when piano accompaniment allowed for more repertoire flexibility, the addition of the HGO Orchestra required all aria selections to be finalized early. Each semifinalist submitted four arias for consideration, creating a pool of 80 possibilities for tonight’s program.

While only 14 arias will be performed tonight, the final program wasn’t determined until just under a week ago. Last week’s semifinal round determined which seven singers would advance to tonight’s final round, so the program was decided on Saturday evening.

With such a tight timeline, it’s impossible to prepare all orchestra parts at the last minute.

This meant that all 80 potential arias had to be prepared weeks in advance.

Our incredible Music Planning team, led by Director of Artistic Partnerships & Music Planning Monica Thakkar, worked with our artistic staff to pull the music for these 80 selections.

This Herculean task required gathering and organizing parts for every individual player in the orchestra—a process demanding extraordinary coordination and accuracy.

While this initial preparation for our first year hosting the competition with the HGO Orchestra requires significant effort, it also lays a strong foundation for future competitions. Once we prepare an orchestral aria for

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performance, we keep those parts, gradually building a comprehensive library of fully prepared orchestral repertoire. Over time, this process means that much of the standard audition repertoire will already be available, significantly reducing preparation time for future competitions. In just a few years, we will have a robust catalog of arias at the ready, streamlining this complex process.

careers. It has been an extraordinary and rewarding voyage to this moment, and we are delighted to share the artistry of these young talents with you tonight. And you never know—as epic as this journey has been for these artists, for some of them, tonight could mark the very beginning of an even longer relationship with Houston Grand Opera.■

Throughout this process, our Butler Studio Manager, Kiera Krieg, managed and coordinated the complex logistics—finalizing schedules, overseeing arrangements, and maintaining consistent communication—required to ensure every semifinalist was ready to arrive in Houston.

JANUARY 8–9 The semifinalists arrived in Houston, with five traveling internationally and the rest coming from across the U.S.

JANUARY 10 All 20 semifinalists performed two of their selected arias in the Cullen Theater, where you are sitting tonight, for members of the HGO Artistic team and Butler Studio and company leadership. From these, seven finalists were chosen to advance to tonight’s competition.

SEARCH WITHIN HGO’s Patrick Summers on the role of the judge.

Asked about his famous marble sculpture of David (now in the Accademia in Florence), Michelangelo famously said that “the sculpture is already complete within the marble block… I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.” This is quite an apt metaphor for what we are doing tonight.

JANUARY 11 The seven finalists performed their remaining two arias for our Artistic team, helping us determine which selections would best showcase their voices in tonight’s program.

The 14 arias featured tonight were selected with care, their performance order meticulously arranged, before final preparations were made to ensure every orchestral part was printed and ready for our incredible orchestra.

JANUARY 12–15 The finalists worked closely with tonight’s conductor, the incredible James Gaffigan, and participated in rehearsals with our HGO Orchestra. During this time, they also completed wardrobe fittings to ensure they look their best and recorded interviews so you can get to know them a little better tonight.

JANUARY 16 The finalists sang for the HGO Artistic team in the Brown Theater to give us a sense of how their voices carry in a larger space. That evening, they participated in a dress rehearsal, bringing all preparations to a close.

TONIGHT The journey comes to an end. The finalists take the stage in the Cullen Theater, performing two arias each, accompanied by the full HGO Orchestra.

For some, this marks their first opportunity to sing with an orchestra, a thrilling and formative milestone in their

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The primary thing audiences want to know is what we’re listening for. Firstly, we view all of the contestants as superlative winners simply for being here, which, as you can imagine is already an extremely competitive journey.

How much is subjective? Initially, not much: we first evaluate if the notes and words being performed are the same as those put there by the composer, and we note if the singing is in or out of tune. But then we look deeper, moving towards subjectivity, into an artist’s relationship with their own instrument and the music to which their artistic life will be devoted. We are often dreaming within tonight’s decisions about Houston Grand Opera in 2030 more than we are thinking about the present.

We are looking for leanings towards greatness rather than any attempt at perfection.

And we pointedly are not looking for the next Pavarotti. What we are ultimately seeking is the very thing at which Michelangelo chipped away on his own journey to David: the unique art that is already within any individual artist, those special ones who fit no mold, who sound like no one else, and who change the whole feeling of the very air their voices vibrate.

Classical music documentarian Veronika Emily Pohl, New York City Opera Executive Director and Music Director Constantine Orbelian, Kaunas Orchestra General Manager Algimantas Treikauskas, National Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre’s Vladimiras Prudnikovas, and Brush

Brush attended the semi-final round of the Sumi Jo International Singing Competition in the Loire Valley region of France.

Outside the Château de la Ferté-Imbault, during intermission for the Sumi Jo competition

CONCERT OF ARIA S

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PA S T WI N N E R S 1989

Eric Perkins

1st Place

2000

1990

Mark Oswald Bradley Garvin Jennifer Jones Roy Cornelius

1st Place 2nd Place 2nd Place 2nd Place

Barbara Quintiliani Joshua Winograde Anna Christy Anna Christy

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

2001

1991

Patricia S. Johnson Arturo Valencia Kelly Anderson

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place

Janette Zilioli Kristine Winkler Katherine Rohrer Janette Zilioli

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

1992

Mary Dunleavy Yvonne Gonzales Anita Krause

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place

2002

Laquita Mitchell Marjorie Owens Nicholas Phan Laquita Mitchell

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

1993

Margaret Lattimore Zheng Cao Olga Makarina

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place

2003

1994

Ana María Martínez Alicia Berneche Stephanie Blythe

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place

Arturo Chacón-Cruz Jennifer Black Jennifer Root Arturo Chacón-Cruz

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

2004

Helen Todd Gabriel González Juárez Nicole Heaston Nicole Heaston

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

Heidi Stober Alexander Tall Kyle Albertson Corey Bix Alexander Tall

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place 3rd Place A.C.

2005

Monique McDonald Joyce DiDonato Misha Royzen Arturo Rodriguez

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

Tamara Wilson Jordan Bisch Ryan McKinny Liam Bonner

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

2006

Karen Henrikson Alfred Walker III Jennifer Davison Tiffany Jackson Tiffany Jackson

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place 3rd Place A.C.

Maria Markina Alicia Gianni Cortez Mitchell Alicia Gianni

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

2007

Chen-Ye Yuan Alexandra Deshorties Troy Cook Chen-Ye Yuan

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

Faith Sherman James J. Kee Jamie Barton James J. Kee

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

2008

Michael Maniaci Kyle Ketelsen Twyla Robinson Kyle Ketelsen

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

Caitlin Lynch Joélle Harvey Octavio Moreno Caitlin Lynch

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

2009

Rachel Willis-Sørensen Catherine Martin Michael Sumuel Jung Nan Yoon Nathaniel Peake

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place 3rd Place A.C.

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

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2010

Anthony Roth Costanzo Devon Guthrie Boris Dyakov Anthony Roth Costanzo

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

2011

Mark Diamond Thomas Florio Lauren Snouffer Adam Lau

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

Andrea Carroll Natalya Romaniw Peixin Chen Andrea Carroll

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

2013

Thomas Richards Sydney Mancasola Sarah Larsen Sydney Mancasola

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

2014

D’Ana Lombard Amanda Woodbury Sofia Selowsky Amanda Woodbury

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.C.

2015

Mané Galoyan Chris Bozeka Federico De Michelis Yongzhao Yu Yongzhao Yu

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.M.M.E.A. A.C.

2016

Madison Leonard Zoie Reams Alexandra Razskazoff Yelena Dyachek Sol Jin

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.M.M.E.A. A.C.

2017

Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen Nicolette Book Thomas Glass Siphokazi Moltena Siphokazi Moltena Geoffrey Hahn

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.M.M.E.A. A.C. O.V.C.

2018

Leia Lensing Dorothy Gal Lindsay Kate Brown Liv Redpath Liv Redpath Leia Lensing

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.M.M.E.A. A.C. O.V.C.

2019

William Meinert William Guanbo Su Nicholas Newton Yunuet Laguna Elena Villalón Katherine DeYoung

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.M.M.E.A. A.C. O.V.C.

2012

2020

Sun-Ly Pierce Cory McGee Angel Romero Tatiana Carlos Angel Romero Laureano Quant

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.M.M.E.A. A.C. O.V.C.

2021

Key’mon W. Murrah Eric Taylor Emily Treigle Ángel Vargas Brittany Olivia Logan

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.M.M.E.A. A.C.

2022

Navasard Hakobyan Amanda Batista Jongwon Han Olivia Smith Jongwon Han Olivia Smith

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.M.M.E.A. A.C. O.V.C.

2023

Natalie Lewis Demetrious Sampson, Jr. Michael McDermott Gabrielle Turgeon Demetrious Sampson, Jr. Natalie Lewis

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place A.M.M.E.A. A.C. O.V.C.

2024

Elizabeth Hanje Ziniu Zhao Alissa Goretsky Sam Dhobhany Jazmine Saunders Jouelle Roberson

1st Place 2nd Place 3rd place A.M.M.E.A. A.C. O.V.C.

A.C. — Audience Choice A.M.M.E.A. — Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award O.V.C. — Online Viewers’ Choice

CONCERT OF ARIA S

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WITH APPRECIATION 2024-25 BUTLER STUDIO FACULTY & STAFF

2024-25 BUTLER STUDIO COMMITTEE

CONCERT OF ARIAS 2025 PRODUCTION STAFF

Colin Michael Brush, Director Sponsored by Christopher Bacon and Craig Miller, Mr. Jack Bell, and Lynn Gissel

Robin Angly

LIGHTING DESIGNER Michael James Clark

Maureen Zoltek, Music Director Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Alkek Chair

Michelle Beale, Vice Chair Melinda Brunger Patrick Carfizzi Molly Crownover

Kiera Krieg, Butler Studio Manager

Lynn Des Prez

Stephen King, Director of Vocal Instruction Sponsored by Jill and Allyn Risley, Janet Sims, and the James J. Drach Endowment Fund

Dr. Warren Ellsworth, Chair

Patrick Summers, Conducting Instructor and Coach Sarah and Ernest Butler Chair

Brenda Harvey-Traylor

Peter Pasztor, Principal Coach Sponsored by the Mr. and Mrs. James A. Elkins Jr. Endowment Fund Madeline Slettedahl, Assistant Conductor William Woodard, Assistant Conductor Brian Connelly, Piano Instructor

Lynn Gissel Sandy Godfrey Dr. Ellen R. Gritz

Nancy Haywood Steve Homer Marianne Kah Stephanie Larsen Richard Leibman Carolyn J. Levy Tracy Maddox

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & INSTITUTIONAL PROJECTS Christopher Staub VIDEO DIRECTION Ben Doyle LIVESTREAM PRODUCTION BEND Productions STAGE MANAGER Annie Wheeler ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Meghan Spear SUPERTITLES Alexa Lietzow PROGRAM EDITOR Catherine Matusow PROGRAM DESIGNER Rita Jia

Beth Madison

Mo Zhou, Showcase Director and Guest Acting Faculty

Amy Melton

Stephen Neely, Dalcroze Eurhythmics Instructor

Valerie Miro-Quesada

Miguel Miro-Quesada

Adam Noble, Movement Instructor

Kathleen Moore

Christa Gaug, German Instructor

Charlene Nickson

Enrica Vagliani Gray, Italian Instructor Sponsored by Marsha Montemayor

Gloria Portela

Neda Zafaranian, English Instructor

Jill Risley

Margo Garrett, Guest Coach

Dr. Jack A. Roth

Warren Jones, Guest Coach

John Serpe

Hemdi Kfir, Guest Coach

Janet Sims

Matthew Piatt, Guest Coach

Dian Stai

Leon Major, Guest Acting Faculty

Harlan Stai

Alley Theatre’s Resident Acting Company, Guest Acting Faculty

John G. Turner

Allyn Risley

Bob Wakefield Trey Yates

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LIVESTREAM EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Monica Thakkar

MUSIC PUBLISHER CREDITS "Ain't it a pretty night?" from Susannah, music and libretto by Carlisle Floyd, performed by arrangement with B&H Music Publishing, Inc. "Tarquinius does not wait" from The Rape of Lucretia, music by Benjamin Britten, libretto by Ronald Duncan after the play by André Obey, performed by arrangement with B&H Music Publishing, Inc.

A BOUT TH E BUTLE R S TU D I O The Eleanor McCollum competition is a crucial recruitment tool for the Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio, one of the most highly respected and prestigious young artist programs in the world. Since 1977, the Butler Studio has served young singers and pianist/coaches who have completed their academic training and are preparing to embark on full-fledged operatic careers. Each year after an exhaustive international search, a hand-selected group of the most exceptionally talented individuals is brought here to Houston to work on the mainstage and in recital alongside the best in the business at Houston Grand Opera. During a residency of up to three years, each performer collaborates with an expert team while gaining invaluable experience at the highest professional level. Alumni of the Butler Studio perform at the best opera houses around the world—and internationally renowned artists such as Joyce DiDonato, Jamie Barton, Ana María Martínez, Ryan McKinny, and Tamara Wilson still regularly return to their home stage at HGO. For many, the Butler Studio is just the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the company.

BUTLER STUDIO SUPPORTERS The Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio is grateful for the underwriting support of Ms. Marty Dudley, Ms. Stephanie Larsen, and Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Langenstein.

The Butler Studio is also thankful for the in-kind support of the Texas Voice Center and for the outstanding support of the Magnolia Houston hotel.

Additional support for the Butler Studio is provided by the following funds within the Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Inc.:

The Gordon and Mary Cain Foundation Endowment Fund

Marian and Speros Martel Foundation Endowment Fund

Marjorie and Thomas Capshaw Endowment Fund

Erin Gregory Neale Endowment Fund

James J. Drach Endowment Fund The Evans and Portela Family Fund Carol Lynn Lay Fletcher Endowment Fund William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship Fund Charlotte Howe Memorial Scholarship Fund Elva Lobit Opera Endowment Fund

Dr. Mary Joan Nish and Patricia Bratsas Endowed Fund John M. O’Quinn Foundation Endowed Fund Shell Lubricants State Company Fund Mary C. Gayler Snook Endowment Fund Tenneco, Inc., Endowment Fund Weston-Cargill Endowed Fund

CONCERT OF ARIA S

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AT

OPERA BALL MAR G AR ET AL K E K WIL L IAM S , C HAIR DIAN AN D HARL AN STAI, HONORE E S

APRIL 5, 2025 Featuring special cameo appearances from surprise celebrity guests

For information, email SpecialEvents@HGO.org or contact Allison Reeves at 713-546-0277.

HGO.org/OperaBall