JTVA 2023 Competition Program

JAMES

JULY 8 – 9, 2023

THE WILSEY CENTER FOR OPERA SAN FRANCISCO

COMPETITION WEEKEND

MASTER CLASSES

Saturday, July 8, 2023

3:30 pm — Tier II Master Class with Michele Patzakis

Break

6:00 pm — Tier I Master Class with Patricia Racette

8:30 pm — JTVA Board of Directors Hosted Reception

10TH

ANNUAL COMPETITION

Sunday, July 9, 2023

Master of Ceremonies Michael Colbruno

3:30 pm — Tier II Vocal Competition Finals & Awards Presentation

Break

Food & beverages available for purchase

7:00 pm — Tier I Vocal Competition Finals & Awards Presentation

No-host Reception with Finalists

*We respectfully request no photography or video during competition events

James Toland Vocal Arts

James Toland Vocal Arts was established to encourage and cultivate, through competition and education, the emerging talents of singers who aspire to a professional career in vocal performance, and to broaden the search for and exposure of new voices within the arts community. Achieving success as a vocalist in the performing arts world is a complex and challenging task. JTVA’s mission is to provide encouragement for singers early in their careers, offering the opportunity for further development, primarily through the annual vocal competition which provides exposure to expert judging, performance opportunities before a live audience, and monetary prizes.

Advisory Council

Jamie Barton | Patricia Craig | Robin Fisher | Ronny Michael Greenberg | Jake Heggie | Michael Hix | Brandon Jovanovich | Susanne Mentzer | José Luis Moscovich | Michael Nutter | Brian Staufenbiel | Deborah Voigt | Frederica von Stade

www.JamesTolandVocalArts.org

Nurturing the dreams, talents and careers of emerging vocal artists since 2014

WELCOME!

It is with heartfelt joy that I welcome you to our Tenth Annual Vocal Competition. It is wonderful to see that what was once just an idea in the back of my mind has evolved into such a nurturing, supportive event for talented artists at the start of their careers. For supporting them is at the heart of all we do from providing a range of monetary awards and performance opportunities, to offering airport runs, homestays, and valuable feedback from judges after the event.

All of these things matter and have earned us a reputation among singers as a competition worth aspiring to. I’m thrilled when I hear from some former finalists what a difference participation made for them, and we watch with awe as their stars rise. Everything you do to help matters too. We would not be here today if it were not for you. Follow our latest news, attend events, respond to our fundraising appeals. By supporting us, you’re supporting them … and building a future filled with the magic of their transcendent voices!

JAMES TOLAND VOCAL ARTS

Board of Directors

Helen Sheaff, Chair

James Gee, Vice Chair

Debbie Bennett, Secretary

Peter Mendiara, Treasurer

Kevin Brown

Judith Grove

Michael Nutter

Patrick Ritto

Mark Wilhelm

James Toland, Founder & General Director

Emeritus

Dorian Kingman Chong

Leslie Krikorian

Frank Sperling

Dr. Paul F. Starrs

Operations Manager

Paige Patrick

Assistant Operations Manager

Stefan Miller

Marketing & Communications

Roberta Emerson

2415 San Pablo Dam Road

Suite 106-333

San Pablo, CA 94806

JAMES TOLAND Founder & General Director

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

In 2010, Founder James Toland conceived of the idea of a Bay Area voice competition to support emerging singers in their efforts to achieve professional success. The idea met with considerable enthusiasm, including that of then Oakland Symphony Music Director and Conductor Michael Morgan, who agreed to grant the first-place competition winner the opportunity to perform with the Oakland East Bay Symphony. Operations began the following year and JTVA’s initial fundraising goal of $20,000 for first-year competition prize money was met by 2012.

The organization incorporated in the State of California in 2012 and was granted federal 501(c)3 tax-exempt status the following year. The inaugural JTVA Vocal Competition was held on June 21, 2014, at Holy Names College in Oakland, with seven finalists competing in each tier, selected from a total of more than 125 applicants from around the country.

The competition has continued to grow, building positive awareness among singers, and the number of applicants has risen and expanded internationally. In 2015, the Bonnie Bell Encouragement Awards were added, providing a monetary award for each finalist who did not finish in the top three to support their ongoing efforts. General Director Awards have also occasionally been granted to encourage a notable applicant who did not advance to the next round. In 2021, JTVA inaugurated the Elizabeth Greenfield Award for an outstanding Black singer in the early stages of their career. The organization continues to look ahead, developing plans to continue to grow the competition, as well as offer other events and opportunities for singers.

2023 COMPETITION PRIZES

JTVA offers prizes in two tiers. Rather than specific age or educational requirements, these tiers are distinguished primarily by the level of ability, vocal experience, and readiness to begin a professional career.

TIER I

Singers at the beginning of their careers:

1st place — $10,000

2nd place — $6,000

3rd place (Karen Reiter Award) — $5,000

TIER II

Study awards for voice students considering a professional singing career:

1st place — $4,000

2nd place — $3,000

3rd place — $2,500

AUDIENCE FAVORITE AWARDS

Awards are based on a tally of votes by the audience for each tier of the competition.

Tier I — $2,000 Tier II — $1,000

THE BONNIE BELL ENCOURAGEMENT AWARDS

An Encouragement Award of $2,000 will be given to each finalist in the two tiers who does not win a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd prize. These awards are underwritten through the wonderful generosity of Jim Bell, in memory of his late wife Bonnie. Jim has long been recognized for his leadership and support of the Bay Area arts community, including JTVA, where Bonnie was a valued board member from 2018 to 2019.

THE ELIZABETH GREENFIELD AWARD

JTVA recognizes that Black singers have historically faced inordinate barriers to establishing classically-based singing careers. These barriers have deprived the world of great voices for generations. Elizabeth Greenfield (1809-1876) was born into slavery in Mississippi. Emancipated in the early 1820s, she was a self-taught soprano who became known as “The Black Swan”, the first African-American singer to gain recognition in Europe and the United States. The Elizabeth Greenfield Award was conceived to honor a trailblazing Black singer and recognize outstanding present-day Black singers by providing meaningful financial assistance to further their careers. JTVA encourages singers in the early stages of a professional operatic and/or concert career who identify as Black to apply. There are no age or repertoire requirements, although applicants are encouraged to highlight performances of music by Black composers. Applications are expected to open this July for the 2023 Elizabeth Greenfield Award. The winner will be announced on November 5.

MASTER CLASS: TIER II

Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 3:30 pm

RYAN BLANKENBURG

• “Oh, Those Faces!” from The Consul by Gian Carlo Menotti

HANNAH CHO

• “Je marche sur tous les chemins” from Manon by Jules Massenet

DEMETRIOUS SAMPSON

• “Kuda, kuda vi udalilis” from Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Tchaikovsky

CLARA REEVES

• “I Want Magic!” from A Streetcar Named Desire by André Previn

LINDSAY MARTIN

• “Nocturne” by Samuel Barber

SEONGBEOM CHOI

• “A te, o cara” from I puritani by Vincenzo Bellini

ANNA KELLY

• “Wie du warst” from Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss

PIANIST— HADLEY MCCARROLL

MICHELE PATZAKIS, DMA is a teaching artist with the Los Angeles Opera and serves on the voice faculty at Azusa Pacific University. She received critical acclaim as a lyric soprano with companies including the New York City Opera, the Thèâtre de la Monnaie, and Spoleto Festivals. She most recently created the roles of Maria/Church Lady in the world premiere opera Polymnia by Theodosia Roussos. Michele received her Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) at the USC Thornton School of Music and holds an M.M. with Distinction in Performance from the New England Conservatory. Her training included fellowships with the Tanglewood Music Center, and apprenticeships with the Opera Pacific Overture Company and Central City Opera. Michele currently serves on the board of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, is a member of the Voice Foundation, the College Music Society, and the American Guild of Musical Artists. A former National Winner of the Loren L. Zachary Awards, she is currently vice president-secretary of the Loren L. Zachary Society for the Performing Arts and has served as a semi-final and finals judge for their vocal competition since 2005.

MASTER CLASS: TIER I

Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 6:00 pm

RAVEN MCMILLON

• “Presentation of the Rose” from Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss

VICTOR CARDAMONE

• “O wie ängstlich” from Die Entführung aus dem Serail by W. A. Mozart

JAZMINE OLWALIA

• “Composer’s Aria” from Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss

BEN REISINGER

• “Per me giunto…io morrò” from Don Carlo by Giuseppe Verdi

KAYLA HARRIOTT

• “Caro nome” from Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi

MOISÉS SALAZAR

• “Ah si, ben mio” from Il trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi

CAMILLE SHERMAN

• “Smanie implacabili” from Così fan tutte by W. A. Mozart

PIANIST — BARRY TAN

PATRICIA RACETTE’s illustrious career spans more than three decades. An internationally acclaimed soprano and gifted stage actor, she has frequented the major stages of the world from the Metropolitan Opera to Covent Garden, Bayerische Staatsoper, the Paris Opera and beyond. She began her career at San Francisco Opera in the Merola and Adler programs and went on to sing 32 leading lady roles with the company. Patricia made her mark in the iconic leading lady roles of Puccini, Janácek, and Verdi as well as championing 20th and 21st Century composers, including Tobias Picker, Carlisle Floyd, and John Corigliano. She earned a Grammy for her portrayal of Marie Antoinette in Corigliano’s Ghosts of Versailles. She also has performed in cabaret shows “Patricia Sings Piaf” and “Diva on Detour” which she has performed over 50 times in the U.S. and abroad since 2012. Singing cabaret lies at the heart of Patricia’s passion and gives outlet to the versatility of her voice. She currently splits her performance time with her other newer roles: stage director, master teacher, and director of the Gerdine Young Artist Programs at Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

RYAN BLANKENBURG (Mezzo-Soprano, Rochester, MI) graduated this spring from Rice University with a double major in vocal performance and psychological studies. She performed in the Shepherd School Opera’s productions of Street Scene La clemenza di Tito and Don Giovanni and has appeared as a soloist with the Rice Chorale in Vivaldi’s Gloria and Handel’s Messiah. This fall, Ryan will begin pursuing her master’s degree in music at The Royal College of Music in London.

HANNAH CHO (Soprano, Seoul, South Korea) is a young artist from Kumho Asiana Foundation. She was featured as the soprano soloist in G.F. Handel’s Messiah, A.R. Thomas’ Plea for Peace, and K. Andre’s Magnificat. Ms. Cho has been awarded the Michael Sisca Opera Award and the Goldsmith Award, received First Prize at the Beijing International Singing Competition, Lied Association Competition, and Daejeon Opera Competition, and the Gold Prize in the Korea National Opera Competition.

SEONGBEOM CHOI (Tenor, Seoul, South Korea) obtained his bachelor’s degree from Sejong University and is studying for his master’s at the Manhattan School of Music. As a member of the Korea National Opera Young Artist program, he made his debut as Tebaldo (I vespri siciliani) for Korea National Opera in 2022. He was awarded first prize in the 2021 Korea National Opera Vocal Competition, Second Prize in the 2021 Deagu Voice Competition and participated in the Belvedere Competition Final Round in Dortmund, Germany.

ANNA KELLY (Mezzo-Soprano, Atlanta, GA) covers Athamas (Semele) and Siebel (Faust) for Wolf Trap Opera this summer. As a Palm Beach Opera apprentice, she appeared in scenes as Cendrillon and Zerlina and covered Meg Page (Falstaff) and Dorabella (Così fan tutte). Anna was a guest soloist with the Waterbury and Mid-Atlantic Symphonies and made her debut recital at the Metropolitan Club of Washington D.C. In 2022, she was a Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition National Semifinalist and Florida Grand Opera Competition junior division winner.

LINDSAY MARTIN (Mezzo-Soprano, San Diego, CA) will be attending the Aspen Music Festival as a studio artist this summer. She recently received her bachelor’s degree in music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and is now attending the University of Southern California in pursuit of her master’s in vocal performance. Lindsay has performed several lead roles including Minkswoman in Flight, the title role in Giulio Cesare, Annio in La clemenza di Tito and Adelberto in Ottone.

CLARA REEVES (Soprano, Greenville, NC) will attend Songfest as one of two Young Artist Colburn Fellows this summer, before returning to Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music for her master’s degree. She received the Richard I. Lauf Memorial Award in the 2023 Corbett Competition, placed second in the 2021 Matinee Musicale competition, and won the Dieterle Vocal Arts Award from 2019 to 2022. Clara has sung Morgana (Alcina), Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Speranza (L’Orfeo), and Despina (Così fan tutte).

DEMETRIOUS SAMPSON, JR. (Tenor, Albany, GA) is a 2023 San Francisco Opera Merolini. He made his professional debut with Atlanta Opera at the age of 20 as Crab Man in Porgy and Bess, a role he reprised at Des Moines Metro Opera last summer as an apprentice artist. This past spring, he made his Kennedy Center Debut as the Tenor Soloist in Undine Smith Moore’s Scenes from the Life of a Martyr. A 2022 alumnus of Houston Grand Opera’s Young Artists Vocal Academy, he won the Georgia District in the 2023 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.

HADLEY MCCARROLL (Pianist) has performed internationally with numerous groups including Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, Festival del Sole, Concerts in the Barn (formerly Olympic Music Festival), and with KRONOS Quartet violist Hank Dutt. She has served on the musical staff of the Royal Danish Opera, San Francisco Opera, San Diego Opera, West Edge Opera, and Utah Festival Opera. As a soloist, Hadley has appeared around the Bay Area, including with Santa Rosa Symphony and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

TIER II COMPETITION FINALS

Sunday, July 9, 2023 at 3:30 pm

RYAN BLANKENBURG

• “Werther! Werther! Qui m’aurait dit la place” from Werther by Jules Massenet

• “Oh, Those Faces!” from The Consul by Gian Carlo Menotti

HANNAH CHO

• “Piangerò la sorte mia” from Giulio Cesare by G. F. Handel

• “Je marche sur tous les chemins” from Manon by Jules Massenet

DEMETRIOUS SAMPSON

• “Addio, fiorito asil” from Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini

• “Kuda, kuda vi udalilis” from Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Tchaikovsky

CLARA REEVES

• “I Want Magic!” from A Streetcar Named Desire by André Previn

• “Comme autrefois” from Les pêcheurs de perles by Georges Bizet

LINDSAY MARTIN

• “Nocturne” by Samuel Barber

• “Una voce poco fa” from Il barbiere di Siviglia by Gioachino Rossini

SEONGBEOM CHOI

• “A te, o cara” from I puritani by Vincenzo Bellini

• “Ah! mes amis” from La fille du régiment by Gaetano Donizetti

ANNA KELLY

• “Werther! Werther! Qui m’aurait dit la place” from Werther by Jules Massenet

• “Wie du warst” from Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss

PIANIST — HADLEY MCCARROLL

VICTOR CARDAMONE (Tenor, Pittsburgh, PA) is a second-year San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow, where he sang the role of Apparition of Youth (Die Frau ohne Schatten). He has performed with Cincinnati Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Opera Columbus, and Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera. A graduate of University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Victor is a four-time Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and a threetime Corbett Competition award winner.

KAYLA HARRIOTT (Soprano, Queens, NY) received her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Shorter University. She has appeared as Violetta (La traviata) and Clara (Porgy and Bess) for Capitol City Opera, and Rosina (The Barber of Seville) and Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance) for Atlanta Opera. She placed first at the Georgia State Metropolitan Atlanta Music Competition and the Rome Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition, and was a finalist for the JTVA Elizabeth Greenfield Award last year.

RAVEN MCMILLON (Soprano, Baltimore, MD) was named a 2021 Grand Finals Winner of the Metropolitan Opera’s Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition and a 2022 Sullivan Grant Recipient. As a Houston Grand Opera Studio Artist, she appeared as Frasquita in Carmen, Peter in Joel Thompson’s The Snowy Day, and Papagena in The Magic Flute. She made her house and role debut at Opera Philadelphia as Gilda in Rigoletto, appeared as Frasquita for Cincinnati Opera and made her role debut as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia at Opera Steamboat.

JAZMINE OLWALIA (Mezzo-Soprano, Ft. Worth, TX) is currently a Resident Artist at Pittsburgh Opera, where she performed Girl in Denis and Katya, Third Wood Sprite in Rusalka, Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro, and the title role in Ariodante. She will return for a second year, performing Priestess in Iphigénie en Tauride, Littler Sister in Proving Up, and Phoebe in The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson. Jazmine was a semi-finalist for the 2021 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

BEN REISINGER (Baritone, Rochester, NY) is a first-year member of the Detroit Opera Resident Artist Program and made his professional debut in 2022 with Detroit Opera as Wagner in Gounod’s Faust, as well as covering Valentin in the production. In 2023, Ben performed the role of Maestro in Ainadamar and covered the role of Elviro in Xerxes. He is a two-time District of Michigan winner in the Metropolitan National Council Auditions and a two-time Encouragement Award winner and recipient of the Dr. David DiChiera award.

MOISÉS SALAZAR (Tenor, Santa Ana, CA) is a first year Adler Fellow with San Francisco Opera, following his appearance as Pinkerton in Merola Opera Program’s 2022 Grand Finale concert. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Toledo and joined Opera Theater of St. Louis in 2021 as a Gerdine Young Artist. Previously, he was a Palm Beach Opera Benenson Young Artist, where he performed such roles as Remendado (Carmen), 1st Priest and 1st Armored Man (Die Zauberflöte), and Tebaldo (I Capuleti e i Montecchi).

CAMILLE SHERMAN (Mezzo-Soprano, Petaluma, CA) made her debut as Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Pensacola Opera and Opera Idaho in 2022, and as Angelina (La Cenerentola) with Tri-Cities Opera and Syracuse Opera Company. She has been part of resident artist programs with Portland Opera, Pensacola Opera, and Des Moines Metro Opera, and holds degrees from San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Boston Conservatory. Camille will join the OperAvenir Studio at Theater Basel for the 23/24 season.

BARRY TAN (Pianist) has performed at Tanglewood Music Center, Primrose International Viola Competition, Interlochen Summer Arts Camp, and Chan Center of the Performing Arts. As a soloist, he has appeared with the Vancouver Metropolitan, Vancouver Philharmonic and others. Barry completed his doctoral studies at the USC’s Thornton School of Music, where he was musical director for the Thornton Undergraduate Chamber Opera. He is staff pianist at the Colburn Conservatory and on the piano faculty at California Baptist University.

TIER I COMPETITION FINALS

Sunday, July 9, 2023 at 7:00 pm

RAVEN MCMILLON

• “Caro nome” from Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi

• “Presentation of the Rose” from Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss

VICTOR CARDAMONE

• “Cercherò lontana terra” from Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti

• “Kuda, kuda vi udalilis” from Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Tchaikovsky

JAZMINE OLWALIA

• “We Had One Room” from Elizabeth Cree by Kevin Puts

• “O ma lyre immortelle” from Sapho by Charles Gounod

BEN REISINGER

• “Per me giunto…io morrò” from Don Carlo by Giuseppe Verdi

• “Hai già vinta la causa” from Le nozze di Figaro by W. A. Mozart

KAYLA HARRIOTT

• “Ach, ich liebte, war so glücklich” from Die Entführung aus dem Serail by W. A. Mozart

• “Depuis le jour” from Louise by Gustave Charpentier

MOISÉS SALAZAR

• “Torna ai felici dì” from Le villi by Giacomo Puccini

• “Nessun dorma” from Turandot by Giacomo Puccini

CAMILLE SHERMAN

• “Una voce poco fa” from Il barbiere di Siviglia by Gioachino Rossini

• “Composer’s Aria” from Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss

PIANIST — BARRY TAN

MASTER OF CEREMONIES

MICHAEL COLBRUNO is the founding partner of the Milo Group of California, a Bay Area government affairs firm. He is currently a board member of the Merola Opera Program in San Francisco, serves on the Opera Parallèle Advisory Board, and is a former board member of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and the UC Theatre in Berkeley. He has commissioned three new works by New York-based composer Clint Borzoni and a new song cycle from award-winning composer Brittney Boykin. He also produced Beer & Baroque, BooM BooM Baroque, the West Coast premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon’s opera Green Sneakers and a concert and CD of works by living American composers.

THE JUDGING PROCESS

For the JTVA Vocal Competition, judging is a multi-step process and interest in the competition has increased each year. For 2023, applications were submitted by 309 singers from around the US and more than a dozen countries. A preliminary panel of five judges viewed and evaluated two videos from each applicant — a total of 618 videos — and selected 55 singers who advanced to this year’s semifinals. A second panel of six judges were then tasked with narrowing the field down to seven finalists for each tier using a numeric overall scoring system to assess the singers on vocal quality, vocal technique, musicianship, dramatic interpretation, diction, and stage presence. The seven finalists in each tier with the highest scores were invited to this weekend’s competition, where they will demonstrate the outstanding talents that launched them to the top.

FINAL ROUND JUDGES

ELIZABETH HYNES holds the Stephen H. Crocker Endowed Professorship in Music at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music where she served as chair of the Vocal Arts/Opera Department from 2005-2012. She was awarded the Ramo Music Faculty Award in 2015. Elizabeth is faculty emeritus at the renowned Aspen Music Festival and School and has also taught at the Oberlin in Italy program in Arezzo, Italy. She continues to adjudicate regularly for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and is in demand as a master class presenter around the country.

JOSÉ LUIS MOSCOVICH has been general director of West Bay Opera since 2006 where he has premiered productions of Samson et Dalila, Turandot, Salome, Fidelio, Pikovaya Dama, Otello, and others. He was music director of the San Francisco Camerata, principal guest conductor of the ARTEA Orchestra, assistant conductor of the San Francisco Choral Society, and guest conductor for Opera Idaho, Opera Santa Barbara, and Teatro El Círculo Opera. His recording of Carlos Franzetti’s opera Corpus Evita, for which he wrote the libretto, was nominated for a Grammy Award.

MICHELE PATZAKIS, DMA is a teaching artist with Los Angeles Opera and serves on the voice faculty at Azusa Pacific University. She has been critically acclaimed as a lyric soprano with companies including the New York City Opera, Zurich Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, and Spoleto Festivals. A former National Winner of the Loren L. Zachary Awards, she serves as vice president-secretary of the Loren L. Zachary Society for the Performing Arts and has served as a semi-final and finals judge for their vocal competition since 2005.

FREDERICA VON STADE’s rich mezzosoprano has been acclaimed on the stages of the world’s great opera houses and concert halls. She started at the top, receiving a contract from Sir Rudolf Bing during the Metropolitan Opera auditions and, since her debut in 1970, has sung nearly all of her great roles there. She has performed with every leading American opera company including San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Los Angeles Opera. She has appeared in productions mounted for her at Teatro alla Scala, Royal Opera Covent Garden, the Vienna State Opera, and the Paris Opera, as well as with the world’s leading orchestras.

JAMES TOLAND, founder and general director for JTVA, is on the faculty of the Collinsworth School of Performing Arts at California Baptist University teaching voice and opera production. He has taught voice for the past thirty-five years and served on the vocal coaching staff of the San Francisco Girls Chorus, the Bay Area-based Young Women’s Choral Project, and the Piedmont Choirs. From 2014-2020, he was director of the Pacific Masterworks Chorus (now Chorus Eclectic) based in Dublin, California. He served as chorus master of Festival Opera in Walnut Creek from 2007-2012, where he also served on the board of directors. Prior to moving to the Bay Area, James was the artistic director of Oregon’s Eugene Opera for more than a decade, as well as the company manager of Texas Opera Theater, the touring arm of Houston Grand Opera. He has been a frequent adjudicator for numerous vocal competitions, including the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

SEMIFINAL JUDGES

Juan Castaneda | Riverside City College, California Baptist University

Carl Halvorson | Tenor, recording artist, teacher

Jean Kellogg | Merola Opera Program

Michael Nutter | Capitol City Opera Company

Kirsten Kunkle | Wilmington Concert Opera

James Toland | JTVA Founder & General Director, California Baptist University

A SALUTE TO SUPPORTERS

JTVA’s ability to nurture aspiring singers depends on the many donors whose generous support funds prizes, events, and ongoing operations, and whose donations of service, gifts, and volunteer time have made this competition possible. We extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation to them for their dedication to making “something wonderful” happen! This donor list includes all donations made to JTVA between January 1, 2022 and June 15, 2023.

Anonymous (3)

Martha Ambrosini

Susan Baumann & Bill Hendrickson

Melissa Beidler

James Bell

Debbie & Michael Bennett

Ellena Bloedorn

Gwendolyn Booze

Pat & Ray Branstetter

Kevin & Barbara Brown

Paula Marchese-Caccamo & Paul Caccamo

Robert Cashion

James & Lily Chiao

Dorian Kingman Chong & Gordon Chong

Michael Colbruno

Casey Criste

Ellen & Joffa Dale

Jayne & Peter Davis

Dina DiBattista

Mirjam Dijkxhoorn & Vinod Muthukrishnan

Peter Dinerman

Niles Dolbeare

Joanne & Mike Drumm

Karin Eames

Rachel Eidbo

Timothy & Paula Ellis

Roberta & Mark Emerson

Colleen Enfantino

Stacey & Guy Estes

Phoenix & Joshua Feinbloom

Danny Floyd & Johanna Kyrkland

Laura Floyd

Marie Foster

James Gee & Susan Pon-Gee

Mia Georgiu & Bruce Harland

Judy & Phillip Grove

Irene Haggerty

Bruce John Haines

Kimberley Haines

James Hansen

Krista & Eric Hanson

Susie Hanson

Gina Harris

Gretchen Hayes

Nicholas & Ashley Hengl

Lynn Huntsinger & Paul Starrs

Gary Jones

Bruce Kaufman & Nancy Gilbert

Louanne Klein & Dave Radosevich

Leslie & Hratch Krikorian

Yannick Lambrecht & Ariel May

Serenella Leoni

Bernice Lindstrom

Michael McGrady

Ellen & Paul McKaskle

Cynthia McMillen

Matthew Jordan Meadors

Peter Mendiara & Steven Morris

Michele & Alan Miller

Stefan Alexander Miller

Dr. Gene & Theresa Moon

Sara Nealy

Dennis Neilson

Jessie Neilson

Michael D. Nutter

Opera Club of Rossmoor

Frances Owre

Paige & Jason Patrick

Heather & Michael Peri

Dr. Gene Peterson

Mia & Dan Peterson

Marian Ponte

Timothy Quock

Steve & Desiree Ralph

Marti & Patrick Ritto

Barry Rodgers

Amon Rogers

Richard Rossi & Kimberly Mark Webb

Bob & Terri Ryan

Melanie Sakoda

Rosana Scolari & Chris Mendiara

Helen & Peter Sheaff

Benjamin Simmons

Patricia Smith

Shelby & Frank Sperling

Kate Sterns

John Stevens

Deb Strong

Alex Taite

James Toland

Sheila Trachtman

Anna & Nathan Watt

Mark Wilhelm & Victor Libbey

Ann Williamson

Laura Woodman & Garrett Sanderson III

Renay Wright

Kathleen & Gary Yellin

S. Shariq Yosufzai & Brian E. James

Luba Yudasina

Florentino Zarate Ramirez

Corporate Donors

Amazon Smile

C’era Una Volta Italian Kitchen & Catering

Lam Research

Nonprofits Insurance Alliance of California

Pride Foundation

Wells Fargo Foundation

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

At the Competition: Debbie Bennett & Judy Grove, Backstage/ Reception | David Gustafson, Stage Manager | Kristen Loken, Photography | Wyatt Mitchison, Transportation | Mark Wilhelm, Videography | Chris Rasmussen, Cinematography

Homestay Hosts: Kevin & Barbara Brown | The DeanWashington Family | Jean Kellogg | Leslie & Hratch Krikorian | Michele & Alan Miller

The Wilsey Center: Logan Hehn | Timothy Tunks | Ariel Wyatt

Others: Kevin & Barbara Brown, Riggers Loft | Mark Brown, J. Lewis CPA | Nicholas Hengl, HFG Trust | Kevin Parr, Piedmont Piano Company | Cheryl Principato & Rudy Duran, C’era Una Volta Catering | Clifford Wiens, Pennbrook Insurance Services

In addition, JTVA acknowledges the many behind-the-scenes volunteers who have been invaluable in making this competition weekend possible. Whether transporting our singers to events, providing backstage and front of house support, or assisting our catering staff, these individuals are true heroes for whom we could not be more thankful.

HELP FUND THEIR FUTURE

JTVA could not exist without your support. Our primary goal every year is to raise the funds for the competition’s annual cash prizes. So even as we celebrate our Tenth Annual Competition, we’re already looking ahead to 2024 and beyond.

Can you help fund their future? We gratefully welcome donations of any size. Contribute online or mail a check to:

James Toland Vocal Arts 2415 San Pablo Dam Road Suite 106-333 San Pablo, CA 94806

www.JTVA.org

You can also donate stock or other resources. Please contact Paige Patrick info@jtva.org for questions or more information.

JTVA is a California-based 501(c)3 non-profit Federal Tax ID 46-1431151