2008 Young Artists

Hallie Silverston, soprano, is a native of Los Angeles, California.  She received a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Oregon and a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music.  Her roles at these schools included Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Anne Egerman in A Little Night Music, Belinda in Dido and Aeneas, Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, and Sandrina in La finta giardiniera.  Ms. Silverston made her professional debut in 2006 as Adina in Mercury Opera Rochester’s production of L’elisir d’amore, and returned there this past summer to sing Magnolia in Showboat.  She also performed the role of Julie Jordan in Carousel with the Bay View Music Festival.

Jennifer Feinstein, mezzo-soprano, is from Cranston, Rhode Island.  She received both her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.  Roles there included Flora in La traviata, Martha in The Secret Garden, Mama McCourt in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Ilona Ritter in She Loves Me, the title role in La Cenerentola, Rosina in The Barber of Seville, and Katisha in The Mikado.  She has performed with the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the Spoleto Vocal Arts Symposium, and Brevard Music Center.  This past summer she was a Studio Artist with Chautauqua Opera.  She made her IO debut as Third Lady in the company’s September 2007 production of The Magic Flute.

Clayton Hilley, tenor, is from Atlanta, Georgia.  He received his Bachelor of Music degree in music education from the University of Georgia and his Master of Music degree in vocal performance from Georgia State University.  Roles performed include Hoffmann in The Tales of Hoffmann, Alfredo in La traviata, Fenton in Falstaff, Mayor Upfold in Albert Herring, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Leon in Signor Deluso, and Marco in The Gondoliers.  He has appeared as tenor soloist in Bach’s Magnificat, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, and Mozart’s Requiem and Coronation Mass.  This past summer Mr. Hilley was a Studio Artist with Chautauqua Opera.  He makes his IO debut as Spoletta in Tosca in March 2008.

David Swain, baritone, is from Round Rock, Texas.  He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Texas Tech University and is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.  Mr. Swain has performed with Cedar Rapids Opera Theater, Central City Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Opera North, and Opera Colorado.  His roles include Masetto in Don Giovanni, El Gallo in The Fantasticks, Colline in La bohème, Alidoro in La Cenerentola, and Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia.  He has performed with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Philharmonic, and Anderson Symphony.  Mr. Swain makes his IO debut as Angelotti in Tosca in March 2008.

Coach/Accompanist Douglas Sumi is a native of Tulare, California.  He received a Bachlor of Arts degree in piano performance from Fresno Pacific University and a Master of Music degree in classical accompanying from the Manhattan School of Music.  In addition, Mr. Sumi studied German and accompanying in Salzburg, Austria, and while there he performed recitals at the Leopoldskron and the Petersbrünhof.  In summer 2007 he was part of the coaching staff at the Ash Lawn Opera Festival, and prepared the company’s productions of La bohème and The Sound of Music.  He recently made his Metropolitan Museum of Art recital debut.