Strawberry Fields/Trouble in Tahiti

Michael Torke's music has been commissioned by such orchestras as The Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the San Francisco Symphony; by such ballet companies as New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey, and the National Ballet of Canada; by such opera companies as the Metropolitan Opera, Théâtre du Châtelet, and the English National Opera; by such large ensembles as the London Sinfonietta, Lontano, and De Volharding; and such small ensembles as the Smith, Ying, and Amstel Quartets.

He has worked with such conductors as Simon Rattle, Kurt Mazur, Edo de Waart, and David Zinman; such choreographers as Christopher Wheeldon, James Kudelka, and Juri Kilian; and collaborated with such librettists as A. R. Gurney, Michael Korie, and Mark Campbell; and such directors as Des McAnuff, Bart Sher, and Michael Greif.

He has been commissioned by entities such as the Walt Disney Company, and Absolute Vodka; worked with such soloists as Tessa Lark, Christopher O'Reilly, and Joyce Castle; and written incidental music to such companies as The Public Theater, The Old Globe Theater, and Classic Stage Company; and been composer in residence with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Beginning his career with exclusive contracts with Boosey and Hawkes, and Decca Records, he now controls his own copyrights and masters through his publishing company, Adjustable Music, and record company, Ecstatic Records.

His music has been called "some of the most optimistic, joyful and thoroughly uplifting music to appear in recent years" (Gramophone). Hailed as a "vitally inventive composer" (Financial Times) and "a master orchestrator whose shimmering timbral palette makes him the Ravel of his generation" (New York Times), Torke has created a substantial body of works in virtually every genre.

Albert Ramsdell Gurney Jr. (November 1, 1930 – June 13, 2017) (sometimes credited as Pete Gurney) was an American playwright, novelist and academic.^[1][2][3] He is known for works including The Dining Room (1982), Sweet Sue (1986/7), and The Cocktail Hour (1988), and for his Pulitzer Prize nominated play Love Letters. His series of plays about upper-class WASP life in contemporary America have been called "penetratingly witty studies of the WASP ascendancy in retreat."^[4]

(Wikipedia)

Leonard Bernstein (/ˈbɜːrnstaɪn/ BURN-styne;^[1] August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Among the most important conductors of his time, he was also the first American conductor to receive international acclaim. According to music critic Donal Henahan, he was "one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history".^[2] Bernstein was the recipient of many honors, including seven Emmy Awards,^[3] two Tony Awards,^[4] sixteen Grammy Awards,^[5] including the Lifetime Achievement, and the Kennedy Center Honor.^[6]

As a composer he wrote in many styles, including symphonic and orchestral music, ballet, film and theatre music, choral works, opera, chamber music and works for the piano. His best-known work is the Broadway musical West Side Story, which continues to be regularly performed worldwide, and has been adapted into two (1961 and 2021) feature films. His works include three symphonies, Chichester Psalms, Serenade after Plato's "Symposium", the original score for the film On the Waterfront, and theater works including On the Town, Wonderful Town, Candide, and his MASS.

(Wikipedia)

Tenor, Albert Rudolph Lee’s performances have been described as “vocally sumptuous,” “musically distinctive” and even “acrobatically agile.” Having appeared with Opera Theater of Saint Louis, Palm Beach Opera, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia Orchestra, Saint Luke’s Chamber Orchestra, and the Caramoor International Music Festival, Dr. Lee’s recent performances include the tenor solo in Bruckner Te Deum with the Reno Chamber Orchestra, a performance of George Walker’s Lilac’s for Tenor and Orchestra for the opening concert of the African American Art Song Alliance 20^th Anniversary Conference, and performances with Cincinnati Opera. In his seventh year on the voice faculty of the University of Nevada, Reno, Dr. Lee’s upcoming activities include the tenor solo in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Jackson Symphony, an appearance with Opera Las Vegas in a tribute concert to African American Opera Legends, and a feature role in the world premiere of Douglas Buchanan’s opera Bessie and Ma.

Praised for his strong “sense of theatricality,” Baritone Kenneth Stavert has performed on operatic, concert and recital stages throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Some of his recent highlights include Silvio in Pagliacci, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, and Ping in Turandot (Dayton Opera), Harlekin in Ariadne auf Naxos (Palm Beach Opera), Yamadori in Madama (Santa Fe Opera), Renato in Un ballo in maschera, Scarpia in Tosca (Opera in the Heights) and Sharpless in Madama Butterfly (Pacific Opera Project). Kenneth’s orchestral credits include Berlioz’s Lélio, Fauré’s Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore. He has also been a featured recitalist throughout the United States specializing in less performed English art song. Upcoming performances include La Traviata, La boheme, Tosca and Into the Woods.

Erin Gonzalez has performed with UNLV Opera Theater, Pacific Symphony, Sin City Opera, Florentine Opera, Martina Arroyo Foundation, Opera Las Vegas, Nevada Opera Theatre, Eastman Opera Theatre, and Opera Chapman. Role highlights include Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), Hermia (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Orfeo (Orfeo ed Euridice), Secretary (The Consul), Angelina (La Cenerentola), and Dorabella (Così fan tutte).

Winner of the 2015 and 2016 Nevada District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Friends of Eastman Opera Voice Competition and Bramledge Opera Award and Robert Kuntz Scholarship, Erin received a Bachelor in Music from Chapman University Conservatory of Music and Master in Music from Eastman School of Music.

In July and August of 2017, Erin was a member of the Opera Studio at the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria. While in attendance, she won first place in the elite Meistersinger Competition.

In April 2019, Ms. Gonzalez was named the Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year for the College of Fine Arts.

She graduated with her Doctorate in Musical Arts; Voice from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in May 2019.

Claudia Affan is pursuing an MM in vocal performance at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She holds her BM in vocal performance from Auburn University, where she studied with Dr. Matthew Hoch. Her operatic roles include Jenny Slade in Roman Fever, Sam in Emily Clements’s Letters to Lily, The Daughter in Strawberry Fields, Madame Herz in Der Schauspieldirektor, Sophie in Werther, Kitty Hart in Dead Man Walking, Clorinda in La Cenerentola, Violetta in La traviata, Rosie in Royal Flush, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, Pamina in The Magic Flute, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Adina/Giannetta in L'elisir d'amore, Norina in Don Pasquale, L'Eternità in La Calisto, Carolina in Il matrimonio segreto, and Lady Saphir in Patience. Affan has received awards at the state, regional, and national level from NATS, the Vann Vocal Institute, MTNA, and Alabama Federation of Music Clubs. She studies voice with Dr. Linda Lister.

Valentine Baron, soprano, originally from France has been appearing on stages in both France and the United States. In 2014, she moved to New York to pursue a Master of Voice Performance and Pedagogy at New York University (NYU). While in New York, she made her operatic debuts as Second Lady (The Magic Flute) at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and Zerlina (Don Giovanni) at Opera America. Others performances include Gretel (Hansel und Gretel), La Fée (Cendrillon), Mlle Silberklang (Der Schauspieldirektor), Stella (La Fille du Tambour Major), Blanche de la Force (The Dialogues of the Carmelites), Eurydice (Orpheus in the Underworld) and the Vixen (The Little Cunning Vixen).

In July 2019, she gave a recital in France raising funds for research on Epilepsy. In 2022, she will sing to help the research on breast cancer. Ms. Baron is currently finishing her Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance in the studio of the soprano Dr. Linda Lister.

Soprano Marcie Ley has received critical acclaim for her performances across the United States and Europe.

Notable roles performed include Violetta in La Traviata, Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro, Fiordiligi in Così fan Tutte, Antonia in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Mimi in La Bohème, Liú in Turandot, Marguérite in Faust, and Nedda in Pagliacci, with numerous regional opera companies in the USA, and also in Europe at The Arena di Verona in Italy, Opéra National de Montpellier in France, and in Germany with Theater Dortmund, Oper Leipzig, and the Musiktheater im Revier.

A native of Edinboro, PA, Marcie now calls Las Vegas home, and she is happily sharing her years of experience by teaching private voice lessons.

Francisco Corredor is a Puerto Rican/Colombian tenor, composer, and director born and raised in New York City. His comedic and lively operatic interpretations have been praised by Opera News, The New York Times, El Diario, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and the Oklahoman. A former artist with Tony Bennett’s Exploring the Arts Foundation and Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance, he’s performed in some of New York’s most prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and Radio City Music Hall as well as abroad in France, Switzerland, Austria, and Israel. He’s also sung backup for Tony Bennett, Josh Groban, and Jennifer Hudson. As a singer songwriter, he’s performed throughout the New York piano bar scene and the famous Caveau de la Huchette in Paris, France. He is the composer and lyricist of “Happy Birthday David: The Musical!” which premiered at the People’s Improv Theater MainStage. His self produced EP, recorded in Paris as Frankie Amadeus, is currently available on music streaming platforms. Recently, he directed Vegas City Opera's The Ring Vegas! which won “Most Innovative Production” at the 360° of Opera 2020 Awards.

Doug, a native of Las Vegas, graduated from the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts and received a BM in Voice Performance from UNLV. He received a MM in Voice Performance from UCLA.  As a talented classical crossover performer, Doug has won both the American Traditions Competition (2011) and the Lotte Lenya Competition (2013). He has performed principal contracts on Equity National Tours, the Broadway Stage, and numerous regional equity theatres around the country. Currently, Doug teaches voice and musical theatre at UNLV, and has a cocktail jazz duo with his wife, Rachel.

Broadway: Nick in Beautiful The Carole King Musical. National Tour: Billy in Dirty Dancing. Regional: Cable in South Pacific (Papermill Playhouse), Joey in Most Happy Fella (Goodspeed, Dallas Lyric), Lancelot in Camelot (Pasadena Playhouse), Curly in Oklahoma (Penn Shakes, FCLO), Tony in West Side Story (FCLO), Prince in Cinderella (CLOSBC), Chris in Miss Saigon (Moonlight), Gatsby in Baz(Venetian Hotel Casino), Billy in Carousel(Musical Theatre West).

Baritone, Chase Orlando Gutierrez, a Las Vegas native young artist whose personable and charismatic singing has taken him from Las Vegas to Spain. Mr. Gutierrez has performed in numerous operas throughout the years: Don Alfonso in Così fan Tutte, Jupiter in Orpheus in the Underworld (English), The Notary in Don Pasquale, The Notary/Buoso Donati in Gianni Schicchi, Thierry in Dialogues of the Carmelites (English), Quartet Chorus of Dido and Aenaeus, Chorus of Pirates of Penzance, and Chorus of La Cenerentola. In concert Chase has performed as the baritone soloist in Charpentier’s Te Deum, and has sung spirituals throughout Spain and Portugal. Chase is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at UNLV under the supervision of Dr. Alfonse Anderson. Outside of the world of opera Chase is a multimedia specialist as the onsite audio engineer and photographer in his studio.

Clinton Smith spent his ninth summer on the music staff at Santa Fe Opera covering performances of the world premiere of John Corigiliano's Lord of Cries. His 2021/2022 season includes a return to Dayton Operato conduct L'elisir d'amore, a return to Opera Las Vegas to conduct Trouble In Tahiti & Strawberry Fields, and he will join the music staff of Sarasota Opera as cover conductor for Attila and Tosca. 

Recently, Clinton conducted Atlanta Opera's new productions of Der Kaiser von Atlantis, The Threepenny Opera, and performed a virtual recital for Opera Orlando's Summer Concert Series. His 2019/20 season included debuts at Florentine Opera conducting Le nozze di Figaro and Opera Birmingham conducting Cendrillon. He returned to Dayton Opera to conduct Cenerentola, and Tacoma Opera to conduct L'elisir d'amore.

Mr. Smith’s other recent conducting credits include Charlie Parker's Yardbird at Atlanta and Arizona Operas, Pagliacci/Pulcinella at Opera Orlando, Il barbiere di Siviglia at Dayton Opera and the University of Michigan, Le nozze di Figaro at Tacoma Opera, Alcina at Fargo-Moorhead Opera, Turandot, Norma,

and Hansel und Gretel with Pacific Northwest Opera, The Mikado for Kentucky Opera, and Noah's Flood with Opera Las Vegas. He has served on the music staff of Santa Fe Opera, Juilliard Opera, Minnesota Opera, Atlanta Opera, Portland Opera, Kentucky Opera, Ash Lawn Opera, and Skylark Operas and has included the preparation of over fifty operas in German, Italian, French, English, Czech, Russian, Latin, and Mandarin.

He/Him/His. Andrew Nienaber is an opera stage director and the Artistic Director of Permian Basin Opera. His productions of The Barber of Seville for Piedmont Opera and Hubbard Hall Opera have been called "a rousing success" by the Winston-Salem Journal, and “legitimately hilarious” by Berkshire Fine Arts, and his Elixir of Love for Resonance Works Pittsburgh, awarded the American Prize for "Best Opera Performance of the Year", was hailed as "utterly, fabulously engaging," and "...one of the most charming entertainment experiences you can have this season..." His other directing credits include Tosca for l'Opera de Montreal, Opera Idaho, Opera Birmingham and Permian Basin Opera; Rusalka for Resonance Works Pittsburgh; The Elixir of Love for Opera Idaho, Permian Basin Opera and Hubbard Hall Opera; Glory Denied for Penn Square Music Festival; and Don Giovanni and La Boheme for Opera Idaho.

Joseph Svendsen an American conductor, tenor, and academic with experience in a diverse array of vocal music performance, study, and leadership. He serves as Co-Director of Choral Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Director of Choirs and Devotional Music at Faith Community Lutheran Church in Summerlin. He is in his fifth season as chorus master for Opera Las Vegas.

Svendsen has performed or conducted professionally in Ireland, England, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Czechia, South Korea, and Canada, as well as many of the finest performance venues across the United States. A leggero tenor, he specializes in Baroque repertoire and chamber choir, performing with various professional ensembles across the United States and Europe.

Svendsen’s academic experiences are wide-ranging, teaching high school, college, church, and professional ensembles. He has presented at state, regional, national, and international professional conferences and symposia, with emphases in critical pedagogy in the choral rehearsal and sacred choral music. Svendsen specializes in repertoire from before 1800 and sacred music from a variety of faith and spiritual traditions, particularly Lutheranism.

Svendsen holds a Doctor of Music in Conducting from Texas Tech University, a MM from the University of Illinois, and BAs from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.