Black Mexican-American soprano, Kristen Marie Gillis, opened her 23/24 season by making her professional debut with Central City Opera as a Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Studio Artist and joined Opera Ithaca’s Apprentice Artist Program in the Fall, performing in Rusalka as the First Wood-sprite and Turnspit. Notable credits include Eliza (Dark Sisters), Countess Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Second Lady (Die Zauberflöte), and the title role of Suor Angelica. As an avid competitor, Ms. Gillis has received prizes from the Career Bridges Grant Awards, the Mario Lanza Scholarship Competition, and The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Kristen is a Texas native and proud first-generation college graduate, holding degrees from Temple University and Abilene Christian University.

Kira Kaplan, soprano, hailed for her “youthful allure and charming tone” and “vocal power”, is a Global Talent Young Artist with the National Opera Studio of the United Kingdom working closely with opera companies across the UK. She has been the top grant recipient and winner of the prestigious Career Bridges Grant Competition, as well as three time Regional Finalist and District Winner of The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Council Auditions and First Place Winner of the Artist Division in the 2022 Camille Coloratura Competition. Her roles have included Violetta Valery (La Traviata), Alcina (Alcina), Emily Webb (Our Town), Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte), and Diana (If I Were You). Kira has worked with Brevard Music Center (Janiec Young Artist), and Ohio Light Opera. In Spring 2022 she made her Symphony Hall debut as the soprano soloist in the Brahms Requiem and Carmina Burana with the Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra.

Chicago-based mezzo-soprano Hailey Cohen joined Madison Opera as a Studio Artist for the 2023/2024 season, where she sang the roles of Dorthée in Anonymous Lover and Paquette and Old Lady (cover) in Candide. In 2023 Hailey joined Cedar Rapids Opera as a Smith Resident Artist, where she performed the roles of Hattie in American Gothical and Logan (cover) in Charlie and the Wolf. Additional role highlights throughout her career include K. in Would You Eat Me?, Sally in The Boy Who Wanted to be a Robot, Ember and Asintmah (cover) in Future Perfect, Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Orfeo in Orfeo ed Euridice, and Littler Daughter in Proving Up. Hailey graduated from University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance with her masters degree in 2021.

Revered by critics for his “strong clear tenor voice”, Nathan Schafer “sings with clarity and

warmth.” (KDHX). This season Mr. Schafer sang Rodolfo in La Bohème and Fernando in Cosi fan tutte at Shreveport Opera. Previously Mr. Schafer was a soloist for the 75th Anniversary Concert with the Shreveport Symphony. Last season, Mr. Schafer sang Alfredo in Verdi’s La traviata and also made his professional debut at Winter Opera of St. Louis as Ruggero in Puccini’s La rondine. Mr. Schafer has performed with prominent opera houses such as The Dallas Opera, Central City Opera, Tulsa Opera, and Fort Worth Opera. Mr. Schafer’s other roles include Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), Luigi (Il tabaro), Alfred (Die Fledermaus), Pirelli (Sweeny Todd), Hooker (Emmeline), and Beppe (Pagliacci).

Ethiopian-American baritone and Kansas City, MO native, Yonathan T. Astatke, is a rising interpreter of operatic and musical theater repertoire. Last summer he was a Festival Artist at Opera Saratoga. Yonathan has experienced success in his career at a number of voice competitions across America. At The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, he was an Arkansas District winner in 2024, and went on to take Second Prize at the Midwest Regional Competition. He also won an Encouragement Award from the Nebraska District of the competition in 2023. Some of his roles include Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Billy Bigelow (Carousel), Ford (Falstaff), Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), and Demitrius (Midsummer Night’s Dream). Yonathan studied at University of Missouri, Columbia for his undergraduate and is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Louisiana State University.

Bass-Baritone Jose Olivares is a recent M.M graduate of the University of Oklahoma, he also holds an undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University - Commerce in Music Education. He has been a young artist at the Seagle Festival and Des Moines Metro Opera, and seen as a soloist with The Norman Symphony. A few notable roles include: Simone (Gianna Schicchi), Dulcamara (The Elixir of Love), Coline (La Boheme), Uberto (La serva padrona), Germano (La scala di seta), Olin Blitch (Susannah) and Farfarllo (The Love for Three Oranges). In his current tenure as a resident artist at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Mr. Olivares will be covering Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana and Frere Laurent in Romeo et Juliette, as well as perform the role of Duke in Romeo et Juliette.

Brazilian pianist Érico Freire Bezerra is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music at the Eastman School of Music, under the guidance of Dr. Andrew Harley. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Rio Grande do Sul Federal University (UFRGS) in Brazil and his Master’s degree from Illinois State University. Since the beginning of his DMA, Érico participated in many music festivals, including the 2022 Toronto Summer Music Festival, and Music on Site.Inc (MOSI) 2022 where he served as Music Director in the opera Suor Angelica. Last summer, he attended the 2023 Aspen Music Festival and School as a fellow in the Vocal Collaboration program. Since 2015, he has served as a staff collaborative pianist at UFRGS in Porto Alegre/Brazil. Érico is a recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship and currently holds Graduate Assistantships in Studio Accompanying and Orchestral Keyboard at Eastman.

Dane Noble-Rosema is thrilled to be part of Finger Lakes Opera Summer Season collaborating with the young artists again. A native of South Africa, Dane moved to Rochester in 2004 after studying at Berklee College of Music on their main campus in Boston, MA. Now a naturalized citizen of the United States, he currently holds an adjunct collaborative pianist position at RIT, is Director of Music at St. Timothy Lutheran in Geneseo, and concertizes regularly at senior living facilities, small concert venues, and onboard cruise ships. He is also a section leader for Rochester’s very own First Inversion Choir, and collaborates with artists who travel to Rochester for recitals. Dane’s background in music has a strong focus both in musical theatre and traditional repertoire, and he is an avid composer currently continuing his education in composition of music for Film, Games and TV through Berklee.