IO's Black Opera History

This Black History Month, we shine a light on some of the many incredible Black leading artists who have tread the boards at Indianapolis Opera, artists across generations who have each helped shape our story.

Opera is an artform for artists and audiences of all races, and for over fifty years, Indianapolis Opera has produced works which celebrate the diversity of our community with an eye to artistic equity and excellence. Diverse representation brings beauty and power to all we do, and it is essential that we continue to lift up and showcase Black voices across all art forms.

Indianapolis native Angela Brown, soprano, first appeared with IO in 1991 as Lily in Porgy & Bess when she was a student, and subsequently starred as Serena (Porgy & Bess, 2000), Aida (2001), Ariadne (2009), Tosca (2022), & Addie Parker (Charlie Parker's Yardbird, 2024). Ms. Brown has lead an impressive career over six continents, gracing the world greatest stages in the greatest leading roles. She serves as IO Artistic Cultural Ambassador, maintaining her private studio at the Basile Opera Center. Ms. Brown recently appeared in IO's 50th Anniversary Legacy Opera Gala (2025), and every year, she hosts our annual Opera in the Park concert, and she will join us once again in March for a special appearance at Libiamo!

Internationally acclaimed Verdi baritone Mark Rucker cut his teeth at Indianapolis Opera in 1987 in his company debut of the title role of Rigoletto, and this past November, we were delighted to showcase his talents once again in a signature role so central to his storied career. We all watched as this titan of opera took up the Rigoletto mantle one final time to deliver jaw-dropping performances that left our audiences breathless! Rucker has built an impressive reputation through his portrayal of the doomed court jester and other leading roles across the globe, from the Met to Covent Garden.

Kevin Short, bass-baritone, debuted with IO in the role of Sparafucile in Verdi's Rigoletto in 1994, followed by Raimondo in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, Figaro in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, Méphistophélès in Gounod's Faust, and the title role of Wagner's The Flying Dutchman. Mr. Short recently appeared in IO's 50th Anniversary Legacy Opera Gala (2025) and boasts an international career of leading performances in the world's most famous opera houses and last season he appeared at the Met as Angelotti in Verdi's Tosca and Lepidus in Adam's Anthony & Cleopatra.

Eric McKeever, baritone, debuted with IO as a Resident Artist in 2002, during which he played a Notary and covered Malatesta in Don Pasquale and Second Philistine in Samson & Delilah. He later appeared as Prince Yamadori in Madame Butterfly (2011), and most recently starred in the title role of Don Giovanni (2021) and IO's 50th Anniversary Legacy Opera Gala (2025) to great acclaim. Eric is in-demand and building an impressive career singing coast to coast with major American opera houses and symphonies in leading roles and concert work.

Celebrated soprano Brandie Inez Sutton joined us in November to portray Gilda, the daughter of Rigoletto. Sutton as performed to great acclaim in concert halls and on opera stages across the country, from Seattle Opera to Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, and has been praised by the New York Times for her "warm, ample voice" and "raving performance." A versatile vocalist, Sutton is equally at home & sought-after in multiple genres and has appeared in concert with Andra Day, Jean Batiste, and John Legend.

Acclaimed baritone Jorell Williams, most recently appeared as Dizzy Gillespie in IO's Charlie Parker's Yardbird (2024) and will join us this May as Count Almaviva in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro! Williams has built an impressive international career, gracing the world’s most prominent concert and opera stages, portraying characters like the title roles in Don Giovanni and Don Pasquale, Escamillo (Carmen), Belcore (L'elisir d'amore), Schaunard (La boheme), and Jake (Porgy & Bess).

Tenor Martin Bakari has received wide acclaim for his performances across the US and abroad. Most recently with IO, Bakari portrayed the title character in Charlie Parker's Yardbird (2024), a challenging role for with which his name has become synonymous. He has also taken on numerous other leading roles, including Count Almaviva (The Barber of Seville), Tamino (The Magic Flute), Frederic (Pirates of Penzance), Sportin' Life (Porgy & Bess), Goro (Madama Butterfly), and Beppe (I Pagliacci), among many others.

Damien Geter, internationally-acclaimed American composer and bass-baritone whose rapidly growing body of work includes chamber, vocal, orchestral, and full operatic works, joined IO in several featured roles in Madame Butterfly (2004), Il Trovatore (2008), and The Girl of the Golden West (2014). IO had the distinct pleasure of working with Damien again in October of 2024, this time under his baton, for Beethoven's 9th Symphony, in a collaboration between Indianapolis Opera and Carmel Symphony Orchestra.

World-renowned & Indianapolis-born tenor George Shirley debuted with IO in 1979 in the title role of Beatrice & Benedict. Shirley made history as the first black high school music teacher in Detroit, the first black member of the United States Army Chorus, and the first black tenor to sing leading roles with the Metropolitan Opera, where he sang for 11 years.

Michael Dixon served as Chorus Master with IO in the early 80s for productions of ll Trovatore, Madama Butterfly, The Magic Flute, Elixir of Love, and HMS Pinafore. He went on to serve as a conductor & music director for CATS across Europe and now resides in Berlin, working as singer, teacher, & conductor/director for various film and musical projects.

Kofi Hayford, bass, appeared in IO's 2023 production of The Magic Flute as the commanding Sarastro and is in demand at venues across the United States. Other major roles include Mephistopheles (Faust), Bartolo (The Marriage of Figaro), Commendatore (Don Giovanni), Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor), and Sparafucile (Rigoletto), among others.

Accomplished mezzo-soprano Melody Wilson has gained recognition for her talents across the United States and Europe. She joined IO in 2021 in the role of Suzuki in Madame Butterfly at the Indianapolis Zoo. She has recently gained substantial attention as a Wagnerian, appearing as as Fricka in Das Rheingold, Mary in Der Fliegender Holländer, & Roßweiße in Die Walküre.

A graduate of Indiana University School of Music, Marla Maples, mezzo-soprano, first appeared with IO in Pagliacci and as Flora in La Traviata in 1978. She went on to star as Rosina in The Barber of Seville followed by the title role of Carmen in 1979, both opposite baritone Robert McFarland. Marla went on to perform with several other major American opera companies.

Priscilla Baskerville, soprano, debuted with IO as Elisabetta in Verdi's Don Carlo in 1990 and has performed in major opera houses across North and South America and Europe, including a 1985 debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera, where she performed the title roles in Verdi’s Aida and Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess, as well as Musetta in Puccini’s La boheme.

Rosemarie Gore-Bigbee, soprano, is a fixture in the Indy music scene and graduate of Crispus Attucks, University of Indianapolis, University of Michigan, & Interlochen. She is an IO Opera Ensemble alumna who built a career spanning opera & gospel. At IO, she portrayed the title role in The Wise Woman (1976), Mercedes (Carmen, 1977), First Lady (The Magic Flute, 1982), and Emilia (Otello, (1984).

Rising tenor and IO Resident Artist alum, Gavin Hughes, took on the leading role of Count Almaviva in last season's The Barber of Seville (2024), treating us all to some incredible vocal fireworks. He also covered the title role in IO's production of Charlie Parker's Yardbird (2024), and is already receiving national attention in roles like the title role in Charles Lloyd, Jr.’s Emmett Till.

The late great Arthur Woodley, bass, starred in 10 leading roles with IO, from with Leoporello (Don Giovanni, 1990) to the Four Villains in The Tales of Hoffman (2008). In addition to frequently returning to IO, where he performed the title role in Porgy & Bess twice, Woodley built a great career of excellent performances in major opera houses across the globe.

Internationally-acclaimed soprano, Othalie Graham, joined IO in 2014 in the title role of our production of The Girl of the Golden West. She has built a career around the great heroines of opera including the title roles of Turandot, Aida, Ariadne auf Naxos, Tosca, & Elektra, as well as Freia (Das Rheingold) & Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana).

Baritone Thomas Cannon, debuted with IO as Sharpless in Madame Butterfly in 2021. Cannon has gained an impressive international reputation in opera halls and on concert stages in roles like Porgy (Porgy & Bess), Amonasro (Aida), Scarpia (Tosca), Germont (La Traviata), Enrico (Lucia di Lammermoor), Conte di Luna (Il Trovatore), and the title role in Gianni Schicchi.

Gregg Baker, baritone, appeared as Amonasro opposite Angela Brown in the title role in IO's 2001 production of Aida. This commanding singer boasts a career spanning spanning the globe, with many appearances at the Met, including High Priest (Samson et Dalila), Amonasro (Aida), Escamillo (Carmen), Silvio (I Pagliacci), Donner (Das Rheingold), and Belcore (L’elisir d’amore).

Mary Elizabeth Williams, heralded soprano, appeared with IO in Il Trovatore in 2008 as Leonora, one of her signature roles. Willams' nuanced interpretation of many of the great spinto roles in opera has earned her international acclaim, with characters like Tosca, Aida, Norma, Leonora (Il Trovatore), Isolde (Tristan und Isolde), Lady Macbeth (Macbeth), and Abigaille (Nabucco).

Boasting 47 roles in his repertoire, bass-baritone Darren K. Stokes, remains in demand in concert and opera venues across the United States. With IO, he has performed the roles of King Balthazar (Amahl and the Night Visitors, 2012 - 2013), Ferrando (Il Trovatore, 2008), The Bonze (Madame Butterfly, 2011), and Escamillo (The Tragedy of Carmen, 2011).

Kishna Davis, soprano, debuted with IO in Porgy & Bess in 2002 as Bess, a role for which she is known and has performed countless times on international stages. She retuned to IO in 2002 to sing the role of Norina in Don Pasquale. Other operatic highlights include the roles of Aida, Tosca, Nedda (I Pagliacci), and Musetta (La boheme).

Bernice Fraction, soprano, was a celebrated Indianapolis artist who sang in opera and symphony halls nationwide. In addition to singing with the Indianapolis Symphony & Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, she joined IO in our very first season as Lucy in Menotti's The Telephone (1976) and returned to the company in 1980 to star in the title role of Verdi's Aida.

Cynthia Clarey, mezzo-soprano, enjoyed an international opera career which brought her to six continents in leading roles for major opera houses around the globe, most notably the title role of Carmen. She made her IO debut in 2002 as Delilah in Samson & Delilah and now lends her incredible talents to the cabaret world.

Gregory Rahming, baritone, debuted with IO in 1991 as Jake in Porgy & Bess and went on to star as Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte, 1992, and Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, 1993. Rahming has gone on to build a career around the world as an international opera singer, star of Broadway in New York City, noted voice teacher, and music educator.

Stephen Salters, baritone, debuted with IO in 2000 as Jake in Porgy & Bess and returned in 2002 to star as Dr. Malatesta in Don Pasquale. He boasts an international career singing leading roles including Count Almaviva (The Marriage of Figaro), Escamillo (Carmen), Belcore (Elixir of Love), Silvio (I Pagliacci), and many more.