In 2018, Finger Lakes Opera created a Young Artist Program to feature up-and-coming musicians around the Finger Lakes region and beyond. The Young Artists performed in community outreach events and in the chorus of FLO's main-stage productions. The excellence of FLO's Young Artist Program caught the attention of a local benefactor, who pledged to support the program and facilitate its expansion. Named after one of the donor's dear friends, the Grandmaster Mutsuo Tomita Young Artist Program was transformed; due to this generous support, Finger Lakes Opera was able to begin providing weekly stipends, travel allowances, and housing to all the Young Artists. To learn more about this major gift and its impact, please read the press release announcement.
Today, the Tomita Young Artist Program has flourished into one of Finger Lakes Opera's greatest strengths as a company. Chosen from nearly 450 applications from all over the world, the Tomita Young Artists come to Rochester for a month-long summer residency program with numerous training and performing opportunities. In addition, the Young Artists get the chance to work alongside industry professionals in Finger Lakes Opera's main-stage productions. Alumni of the Tomita Young Artist program frequently return to Rochester to be a part of community outreach events and educational programming. As the program continues to grow, Finger Lakes Opera is proud to be a launching point for these amazing musicians' careers.
Today, the Tomita Young Artist Program has flourished into one of Finger Lakes Opera's greatest strengths as a company. Chosen from nearly 450 applications from all over the world, the Tomita Young Artists come to Rochester for a month-long summer residency program with numerous training and performing opportunities. In addition, the Young Artists get the chance to work alongside industry professionals in Finger Lakes Opera's main-stage productions. Alumni of the Tomita Young Artist program frequently return to Rochester to be a part of community outreach events and educational programming. As the program continues to grow, Finger Lakes Opera is proud to be a launching point for these amazing musicians' careers.
Meet the 2022 Tomita Young Artists
You won't want to miss these incredible artists during FLO's 2022 season.
Read the press release announcing the Tomita Young Artists for more information.
Read the press release announcing the Tomita Young Artists for more information.
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Danielle Beckvermit, sopranoSoprano Danielle Beckvermit, born and raised in Kingston, NY, was named a Grand Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and made her mainstage Carnegie Hall debut in 2018. She made her international debut singing at The Kurt Weill Fest in Dessau, Germany singing alongside Rolando Villazón. A graduate of the Mannes School of Music and SUNY Fredonia, Beckvermit has sung a wide range of roles, including Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Alice in Falstaff and the title role in Susannah. Beckvermit has been recognized by several major competitions including being an award winner in The George London Foundation Competition (2020), a 2021 Jensen Foundation Finalist and Grand Prize Winner in both The Orpheus Vocal Competition & The Annapolis Opera Competition (2021). Beckvermit just completed a two-year residency with the Minnesota Opera and has recently joined The Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s Resident Artist Program.
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Kayla Oderah, sopranoSoprano Kayla Oderah is an emerging young artist and graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. While completing her master’s at Michigan, she performed the role Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She also performed in masterclasses led by world-renown sopranos Reri Grist and Hila Plitman. In 2016 she attended the Aspen Music Festival as a studio artist. Oderah is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance with a minor in artistic entrepreneurship. At UNC she studied with Dr. Louise Toppin and was the recipient of the prestigious four-year Kenan Music Scholarship. As an undergradute, she performed opera roles including Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Servilia in La clemenza di Tito, and Mary in Highway #1 USA.
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Erika VasaLlo, mezzo-sopranoCuban-American mezzo-soprano Erika Danielle Vasallo recently sang the Fledermaus Champagne Trio with Orchestra Miami in their New Year’s Eve Celebration Concert. She was a soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Treasure Coast Community Singers and Chamber Orchestra. Vasallo also recently sang as a soloist in the orchestral world premiere of Ernesto Lecuona’s Rumba-Rhapsody along with the FIU Symphony Orchestra, pianist Tomas Tirino, the FIU Concert Choir, Encantus Voices, and Miami Children’s Chorus. She debuted the role of Luisa in the romantic zarzuela Luisa Fernanda with La Zarzuela, Inc. Vasallo performed as a soloist in Rossini’s Stabat Mater with the Treasure Coast Community Singers and Chamber Orchestra. Other highlights of her last few seasons include the roles of La Zia Principessa and Zita in Opera Fusion’s double bill of Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi, the role of Dorabella in Mozart’s Così fan tutte and the role of Third Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with New York Opera Conservatory’s 2018 Summer Program for Developing Opera Singers.
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Robert Hartfield, tenorRobert Hartfield is a tenor originally from the farmlands of Kansas and Missouri. He possesses a highly personal singing style, carefully developed since birth under the mentorship of his father, former opera singer Paul Hartfield Sr., and the collegiate teachings of legendary baritone professor Kim Josephson. Hartfield earned a number of prestigious awards early on in his singing career, including winning six National Association of Teacher of Singing (NATS) competitions. Soon after, he was performing leading roles with opera companies such as Opera in the Ozarks, Cimarron Opera, and the Collegium Musicum. Hartfield recently earned his master’s degree in opera performance from the University of Oklahoma immediately jumping into his career as a fully contracted singer. His latest engagements include performing with the Central City Opera, Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra, Music on Site Opera, and Pensacola Opera. Hartfield is currently Artist-in-Residence with Pensacola Opera.
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Geoffrey Schmelzer, baritoneBaritone Geoffrey Schmelzer is a native of Skokie, IL. He is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Voice and Opera Performance at Northwestern University, where he studies with W. Stephen Smith. He holds a B.M. in Voice from the University of Illinois, where he studied with Jerold Siena and Nathan Gunn. Schmelzer's Northwestern Opera Theater credits include Mr. Gobineau in Menotti’s The Medium, Jonathan in the Midwest premiere of Jake Heggie’s If I Were You, and Schaunard in La bohème. His credits with Lyric Theatre at Illinois include the Old Doctor in Vanessa, and Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance. An avid oratorio, art song, and choral singer, he also sings in the Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble under Dr. Donald Nally. In 2021, Schmelzer sang the title role in Gianni Schicchi with the Janiec Opera Company. In 2020, he was set to sing Pa Joad in The Grapes of Wrath for the inaugural year of Renée Fleming’s Aspen Opera Theatre and VocalARTS program. Schmelzer has previously performed roles such as Mozart’s Papageno from Die Zauberflöte and Count from Le Nozze de Figaro.
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JEremy Harr, bassBass Jeremy Harr spent the past two years as a Resident Artist at Pittsburgh Opera, where he performed Don Alfonso (Così fan tutte), Cadmus/Somnus (Semele), Zuniga (Carmen), The Brother (The Rose Elf), and the Speaker (The Magic Flute) as well as covering for the role of Sarastro. Earlier this summer, Harr appeared at Opera Saratoga as Don Basilio (Il barbiere di Siviglia). Other recent engagements included his debuts with Berkshire Opera Festival as Pistola (Falstaff), Opera NexGen as Don Alfonso, and his return to Wolf Trap Opera covering Judge Turpin (Sweeney Todd) and Death (Sāvitri). Harr is a former District Winner and Regional 3rd Place Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a recent Encouragement Award Winner in the Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition, and a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and the Maryland Opera Studio.
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Jenny Choo Kirby, pianoFrom Dr. Andrew Harley's studio, Jenny Choo Kirby is currently pursuing the DMA in Accompanying and Chamber Music at the Eastman School of Music. At Eastman, she is the graduate assistant for both accompanying and opera departments, where she was recognized with an award for Excellence in Accompanying in 2021. Her most recent projects include Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra's Hansel and Gretel and Rochester Summer Opera’s Die Fledermaus as music staff and Jessie Kneisel Lieder Competition, where she was awarded the second prize, adjudicated by Mr. Martin Katz. Before starting her program in Rochester, Kirby held the position as the Collaborative Pianist and the Coordinator of Accompanying at her alma mater, Southern Illinois University Carbondale. During her time at SIUC, she was the Music Director and Assistant Music Director for the School of Music and the Department of Theater, for multiple productions including Boys from Syracuse, Little Night Music, Musical of Musicals, Pippin, Spring Awakening, and Sunday in the Park with George.
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Past Young ARtist Rosters
2021 TOmita Young ARtists
Veena Akama-Makia, mezzo-soprano
Danielle Beckvermit, soprano
Nathaniel Catasca, tenor
Jongwon Choi, baritone
Imara Miles, mezzo-soprano
John Allen Nelson, baritone
Robert H. Riordan, baritone
David Soto Zambrana, tenor
Robin Steiz, soprano
Natasha Talukdar Elam, piano
Edward Forstman, piano
Danielle Beckvermit, soprano
Nathaniel Catasca, tenor
Jongwon Choi, baritone
Imara Miles, mezzo-soprano
John Allen Nelson, baritone
Robert H. Riordan, baritone
David Soto Zambrana, tenor
Robin Steiz, soprano
Natasha Talukdar Elam, piano
Edward Forstman, piano
2020 Tomita Young ARtists
Sydney Anderson, soprano
Matthew Campisi, tenor
Nathaniel Catasca, tenor
Jongwon Choi, baritone
Nicholas Danker, baritone
Stephanie Doche, mezzo-soprano
Robert H. Riordan, baritone
David Soto Zambrana, tenor
Robin Steiz, soprano
Victoria Thomasch, mezzo-soprano
Brock Tjosvold, piano
Matthew Campisi, tenor
Nathaniel Catasca, tenor
Jongwon Choi, baritone
Nicholas Danker, baritone
Stephanie Doche, mezzo-soprano
Robert H. Riordan, baritone
David Soto Zambrana, tenor
Robin Steiz, soprano
Victoria Thomasch, mezzo-soprano
Brock Tjosvold, piano
2019 Tomita Young ARtists
Rachel Abrams, mezzo-soprano
David Fournie, baritone
Julianna Grabowski, soprano
Rose Kearin, soprano
Anders Namestnik, tenor
Starletta Noll-Long, soprano
Evan Stenzel, tenor
David Fournie, baritone
Julianna Grabowski, soprano
Rose Kearin, soprano
Anders Namestnik, tenor
Starletta Noll-Long, soprano
Evan Stenzel, tenor
2018 Young ARtists
Jordan Bachmann, baritone
Caryn Crozier, soprano
Caroline Nielson, mezzo-soprano
Susannah Thornton, mezzo-soprano
Evan Stenzel, tenor
Alison Wahl, soprano
Caryn Crozier, soprano
Caroline Nielson, mezzo-soprano
Susannah Thornton, mezzo-soprano
Evan Stenzel, tenor
Alison Wahl, soprano
