Pasta & Puccini

Dr. Sheronda McKee, soprano, originally from Phoenix, Arizona has been appearing on stages in both the United States and Europe. Recently she finished her Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas under the guidance of Dr. Alfonse Anderson. She is currently performing with Opera Las Vegas and Opera On Tap Las Vegas. Most recent roles performed with UNLV Opera include Countess Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro) and Ariadne (Ariadne auf Naxos). She has also performed the title role in Puccini’s "Suor Angelica" for the International Lyric Academy during the Tuscia Opera Festival. In concert and in scenes she has played Violetta (La Traviata), Nedda (I Pagliacci), Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor) and others.

Sheronda has been a featured soloist in Handel’s Messiah as well as Mozart’s Requiem. She has traveled to Viterbo and Tarquinia in Italy with the International Lyric Academy and Graz, with the AIMS Program (American Institute of Musical Studies) where she was an alternate in the 2010 Meistersinger Vocal Competition. Recent awards include the Pasadena Opera Guild Scholarship, the Encouragement Award from MONC (Metropolitan Opera National Council) as well as First place in NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing). She most recently appeared with Opera Las Vegas in Opera Legends in Black.

Soprano, Olivia Yokers is well regarded for her thrilling voice and versatility onstage. Her most notable roles include Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance (Dayton Opera, Tulane Summer Lyric, Utah Festival Opera), Zerlina in Don Giovanni (Dayton Opera, Chance Opera Theatre), and Miss Honey in Matilda (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma). Miss Yokers has performed as a solo artist with companies such as Virginia Opera, Dayton Artist Alliance, and Oklahoma City’s Canterbury Voices. Performing in oratorios such as the Haydn’s Creation, Handel’s Messiah, and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem. As an advocate for new music, Ms. Yokers was a part of the debut of Before the Night Sky presented by Opera America New Opera Showcase. With Opera Las Vegas in 2022 Miss Yokers performed the role of Lily in the debut of Letters to Lily composed by Emily Clements.

Arnold Livingston Geis, tenor, is a Southern California based international artist and performer. Recent appearances include Mr. Erlanson in A Little Night Music (Pasadena Playhouse), Carmina Burana (Oregon Symphony, LA Philharmonic), Faust in La damnation de Faust (Boston Youth Symphony), Rodolfo in La bohème (Greensboro Opera, Pacific Opera Project), Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore and Tamino in The Magic Flute (Pacific Opera Project), Shepherd in Tristan und Isolde, tenor soloist in Steve Reich’s Traveler’s Prayer, tenor soloist in Chris Thile’s Attention! (LA Philharmonic), Haydn’s Creation (LA Master Chorale), and Mr. Marks in Intimate Apparel (Lincoln Center Theater). Geis has also been a featured soloist in popular film and TV shows like Disenchanted, Tom & Jerry, and Family Guy. Upcoming performances include Josef in Émigré (Shanghai Philharmonic, NY Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic), Carmina Burana (Phoenix Symphony, Erie Symphony), and The Last Days by Oliver Leith conducted by Thomas Adés (Los Angeles Philharmonic).

Baritone André Chiang has been described as “vocally commanding” (Oregonian), “handsome of voice” (Opera News), and lauded with “let’s hear more from this singer” (Washington Post). Chiang’s recent engagements include Gianni Schicchi (Gianni Schicchi) with Opera Mississippi, Captain Smith (A Capacity for Evil) with Opera Las Vegas, and Clint (Fearless (workshop)) with Opera Delaware. Previous companies include Portland Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and the Glimmerglass Festival to name a few. Competition honors include Winner of the 2017 NFMC Biennial Young Artist Award and the 2018 NATS Artist Awards Competition. Chiang’s Carnegie Hall debut came as the Baritone soloist in the World Premiere of Martin Palmeri’s Gran Misa. Upcoming company engagements Landlocked Opera, Opera Las Vegas, Opera Western Reserve, Mobile Opera, and Opera Philadelphia.

As an educator, Chiang was a 2018 NATS Intern and a part of the first cohort of Pan American Vocology Association – Recognized Vocologists (PAVA-RV) in 2022. Upcoming presentations include the PAVA National Conference and the CMS National Conference both in Miami, FL. Chiang was the Artistic Director of Opera NexGen and currently Chairs the NFMC Young Artist Competition for Man’s Voice, Chairs the NATS Art Song Coalition and is Vice President of the Las Vegas Chapter of NATS, and is a board member of the Asian Opera Alliance. Chiang is an Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, an Instructor of Voice at the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp, and runs a private online and in-person studio teaching acoustic and amplified styles. www.andrechiangbaritone.com

Deborah Gordillo, originally from New York City, is a winner of the Prix D’Excellence, France, and the New York Artists International Competition. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, for President George W. Bush at the White House, and has served as accompanist for studios of Metropolitan Opera tenor Nico Castel and cellists Gary Hoffman and Timothy Eddy.

Mrs. Gordillo sang in the choir of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, where she became its sole Composer-In-Residence in history after winning the competition to compose the New York Archdiocese’s bicentennial hymn. Commissions include orchestral arrangements for the New York Papal masses in 2008, a Spanish mass, additional mass parts, anthems, and orchestrations. Her choral works were performed throughout New York State and at the Vatican.

Mrs. Gordillo served on the faculties of her alma mater, the Mannes College of Music, and Eugene Lang College. She teaches music theory, piano, ear training, and has written textbooks for beginner through undergraduate music theory levels.