Cast & Artistic Team

Opera in the Park 2024 Cast

ANGELA BROWN

Soprano ANGELA BROWN’s multi-genre career has been lauded on the front page of The New York Times, CNN, CBS, in Oprah Magazine and Reader's Digest. With classical and pops engagements spanning six continents, Angela has graced the leading opera and symphonic stages of the world.

Her vocal artistry is featured on the two-time Grammy Award® winning recording “Ask Your Mama.” Her voice is the inspiration for new works including a symphonic song cycle and two principal opera roles. American composer Richard Danielpour set the poetry of Dr. Maya Angelou to create the work “A Woman’s Life” that Angela has performed with Pittsburgh Symphony and Philadelphia Orchestra and recorded for the Naxos label with Nashville Symphony Orchestra. The opera roles of Addie Parker in Daniel Schneider’s Charlie Parker’s Yardbird and Cilla in Richard Danielpour’s Margaret Garner were both written for, premiered by, and reprised many times by Angela.

Angela’s most recent endeavor is the founding of Morning Brown, Inc., a nonprofit with the mission of bridging the gap between accessible, live-music programs and underserved individuals, schools, and communities. Drawing on the success of Angela’s groundbreaking show, Opera…from a Sistah’s Point of View©1997, Morning Brown, Inc., works to bring cultural experiences and awareness to cultural deserts. She is the co-host of Melanated Moments in Classical Music, an award-winning podcast from Classical Music Indy with an international subscriber base. She is featured in the 2022 PBS documentary on the life of Marian Anderson, The Whole World in Her Hands, produced by American Masters, and in the 2021 PBS documentary on the life of Marian Anderson, Voice of Freedom, a production of the most-watched documentary series American Experience.

MAESTRO ALFRED SAVIA

Recently appointed Artistic Advisor and Principal Guest Conductor of the Indianapolis Opera, ALFRED SAVIA is no stranger to the Indianapolis musical scene.

Savia served as Associate Conductor of the ISO and Artistic Director of Symphony On the Prairie from 1990 to 1996. In 2019-20, Maestro Savia celebrated his 31st and final season as Music Director of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. Under his leadership the Orchestra added a Youth Orchestra program, Philharmonic Chorus, and Eykamp String Quartet. He initiated many new programs including Messiah, Nutcracker, Music Alive residencies, and fully staged opera presentations.

Savia’s American guest conducting appearances include the Orchestras of Saint Louis, Detroit, Phoenix, Columbus, Memphis, San Antonio, Louisville, New Orleans and Naples (FL). Internationally, he has conducted orchestras extensively in Europe (Florence, Belgrade), Central and South America (Santiago, Montevideo, Quito; Toluca, and Jalapa in Mexico), and Asia (Korea Philharmonic). Festival appearances include Chicago’s Grant Park Symphony and the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival. He recorded Russell Peck’s The Thrill of the Orchestra with London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and, with pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi and the Evansville Philharmonic, Respighi’s Piano Concerto.

A native of Livingston, New Jersey, Savia graduated from Butler University. Conducting studies at the ASOL Institute of Orchestral Studies and the Tanglewood Music Center led to his first professional appointment as Assistant Conductor of The Omaha Symphony. Subsequently, he served as Resident Conductor of the Florida Philharmonic and New Orleans Symphony Orchestra, Associate Conductor of the Florida Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the Orlando Opera.

GANSON SALMON tenor

Noted by the New York Times as a "dashing lyric tenor", GANSON SALMON has gained recognition for his "powerful and nuanced" performances in New York City and abroad. Most recently, Mr. Salmon appeared as Rodolfo in La bohème with First Coast Opera in St. Augustine, Florida. Earlier this year, he returned to NYC to sing as Prince Karl Franz in Romberg’s The Student Prince with Regina Opera. Last summer, Salmon returned to Tel Aviv, Israel to sing Don José in Carmen with Tel Aviv Summer Opera, where he also jumped in as Rodolfo in La bohéme.

In recent seasons with Indianapolis Opera, Salmon debuted as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, as Mr. Rushworth in the American premiere of Jonathan Dove's Mansfield Park, and sang in concerts previewing the world premiere of Richard Clark's Happy Birthday Wanda June. Also in Indiana, he appeared as Ernesto in Don Pasquale and soloist in Beethoven's 9th Symphony with the Ball State Symphony Orchestra, Recently, he was a fellow at Ravinia's Steans Music Institute and a Gerdine Young Artist with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. Other recent appearances include his role debut as Romeo in Romeo et Juliette, Pong in Turandot, First Armored Man and Second Priest in The Magic Flute, and covers of the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto and Beppe in Donizetti's Rita with Sarasota Opera; Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with the Tel Aviv Summer Opera; and Rodolfo in La bohème with the Algonquin Arts Theatre in New Jersey and Pittsburgh Festival Opera.

Salmon received his Master's in Music from Mannes School of Music, where he performed as Tom Rakewell in The Rake's Progress, Roderick Usher in Philip Glass' The Fall of the House of Usher, and Anatol in Vanessa. While at Mannes, he also performed Schumann's Dichterliebe at the Consulate of Germany in NYC. An Italian art song devotee, Salmon was a New York Finalist of the 2016 International Tosti Competition in Ortona, Italy. Summer of 2017 found him in Novafeltria, Italy where he appeared in concerts with Classic Lyric Arts, and returning to Ortona where he studied closely with Rolando Panerai.

JEREMIAH SANDERS baritone

JEREMIAH SANDERS started singing in church choir with their madea (great grandmother) in Marion, IN. Now an operatic baritone, Sanders has found success as an Indiana District Winner in the prestigious Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, 1st place winner in the Opera Ebony Competition, 1st place with the Friends of the Symphony (Lima Symphony Orchestra) Young Artist Competition, 2nd place with the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Collegiate Scholarship Competition, as a finalist in the Opera Mississippi John Alexander Vocal Competition, as a finalist and Raphael Bundage Young Artist Award recipient in the Orpheus National Vocal Competition, and an Encouragement Award recipient from the Metropolitan Opera National Council.

A budding Verdi Baritone, Sanders's training has centered on an Italianate, Bel canto style. Their/his repertoire includes 25 roles across the canon. Notable previous roles include: Falstaff and Ford in Falstaff, Father in Hänsel und Gretel, and the title role in in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. Jeremiah has a substantial interest in 20th and 21st century music, living composers, and composers of marginalized identities. They/he regularly participate in workshops and premieres for new operas and songs. Sanders recently sang the role of Bob in the historic IU Jacobs School of Music production of Highway 1, USA and appeared as the Four Villains in Union Avenue Opera's award-winning production of Les Contes d'Hoffmann.

A native Hoosier, Sanders received their Performer's Diploma in Voice from Indiana University, Master's degree in Vocal Performance from Butler University, and Bachelor of Arts degree at Manchester University. Currently, they/he studies with Jane Dutton. Most recently, Sanders was a Resident Artist with Minnesota Opera for the 2023-2024 season.

LYNDSAY MOY mezzo-soprano

Mezzo-soprano LYNDSAY MOY is an Indianapolis native and serves as the Director of Education & Community Engagement of Indianapolis Opera. Lyndsay is a leading artist with the company, an alumna of the IO Resident Artist Program, and has appeared in several IO productions, most recently as Netter Fowler in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel. With IO, she has also portrayed Bloody Mary in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific, Kate Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, the Housekeeper in Leigh’s Man of La Mancha, and has appeared in multiple large-scale concert presentations. An avid performer of new works, Lyndsay recently had the honor of presenting the world premiere of Lori Laitman's "Into Eternity" in partnership with Indianapolis Opera and in honor of dear friend and holocaust survivor, the late Frank Grunwald.

Other operatic roles include Maurya (Vaughan-Williams' Riders to the Sea), Marcellina (Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro), Fidalma (Cimarosa’s Il matrimonio segreto), Mère Marie (Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites), Zita (Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi), L’Architecture (Charpentier’s Les Arts Florissants), L’écureuil (Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges), and La Badessa (Puccini’s Suor Angelica), among others. Lyndsay holds a Master of Music in Voice from The Cleveland Institute of Music, as well as a Bachelor of Music in Voice and Bachelor of Arts in Painting from DePauw University.

Regionally, Lyndsay has also regularly appeared as an alto soloist in concert works, including Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Beethoven’s Mass in C Minor and Choral Fantasy, and most recently, Christopher Tin's The Drop That Contained the Sea. She currently serves as Education & Community Engagement Director for Indianapolis Opera, resides locally with her husband and two border terriers, and, also a sought-after painter in her other life, Lyndsay specializes in oil painting and portraiture.

RACHEL PURVIS soprano

Rachel Purvis, soprano, is a native of Indianapolis, IN, where she made her professional debut as Papagena in Die Zauberflöte with Indianapolis Opera in May of 2023. Recently, Purvis was also seen in Puccini’s Tosca (Chorus) with Indianapolis Opera, and sang the title role in Dvořák’s Rusalka under the direction of Luke Housner of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. Purvis has performed internationally with La Musica Lirica and the International Opera Performing Experience singing the title role of Suor Angelica, Mimì (La Bohème) and Alice Ford (Falstaff) as well as in choruses of Verdi’s La Traviata and Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites. Purvis earned her Performer Diploma (2021) and Master’s degree (2020) in Vocal Performance under the tutelage of Jane Dutton at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. At IU, she performed the role of Mrs. Grose (The Turn of the Screw) and appeared in the choruses of La Traviata and Wagner’s Parsifal. During this time, she also was the second prize winner with the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Competition. She earned her undergraduate degree in voice at Butler University, where she performed the roles of Edith (Pirates of Penzance), First Witch (Dido and Aeneas), Madame Pompous (Too Many Sopranos), and the title role in Suor Angelica.

TZYTLE STEINMAN mezzo-soprano

Tzytle Steinman, once described as, "Wickedly funny and talented" by The Fargo Forum, is a mezzo-Soprano originally from San Diego, CA. She has performed with multiple companies including Ohio Light Opera, Fargo-Moorhead Opera, San Diego Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Sarasota Opera and Florentine Opera, and she is looking forward to joining the Glimmerglass Festival this summer as a young artist. Her roles include L’enfent in L'enfant et les sortilèges, Buttercup in HMS Pinafore, Venus in Orpheus in the Underworld, Rosina in the Barber of Seville (Tour), Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, Dinah in Trouble in Tahiti, Tisbe in La Cenerentola, Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, Stephano in Roméo et Juliette and Mercedes in Carmen. Tzytle was recently a Grand Prize Winner at the Patricia Crump Vocal Competition and has won three Encouragement Awards from the Laffont Competition. She received her MM in Voice and Opera from Northwestern University and her BM from Boston Conservatory. She also has a large background in dance, musical theatre, and choreography. Her choreography has been seen in many productions including Carmen (Opera NEO) and La Cenerentola (Fargo-Moorhead Opera). In 2021, she was a contestant on the Price is Right. When she isn’t singing, Tzytle loves take her rescue dog, Golde, to her favorite dog beach.

GAVIN HUGHES tenor

Gavin Hughes is a native of Jackson, Mississippi where he sang in churches throughout the region from childhood through college. He began his classical journey in 2015. In 2017, Hughes debuted his first role as “Cephus” at the Thalia Mara Hall with the Mississippi Symphony orchestra in Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha. In 2021, Hughes graduated from Jackson State University with his Bachelor’s of Music Education and began the pursuit of his masters degree under Russell Thomas at IU Jacobs where he debuted his first lead opera role as Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with the IU Jacobs Opera Theater. In February 2023, he sang his first flamenco role with the IU Jacobs Opera Theater as Ruiz Alonso in Ainadamar. That following May, Hughes made his professional title role debut in Charles Lloyd, Jr.’s Emmett Till with Opera Southern Company. In the following month, he was featured in a video and audio recording presenting Kenyan folk songs for Carnegie Hall’s “Musical Explorers” program. In October, Hughes will sing the role of the Count Belfiore in Mozart’s La finta giardiniera, in his final show with the IU Jacobs Opera Theater, and in the Spring of 2024, Hughes will serve as tenor resident artist with Indianapolis Opera for their 50th season, appearing as Count Almaviva in Rossini's The Barber of Seville.

JAKE SURZYN baritone

Born and raised near Detroit, baritone Jake Surzyn has performed with many of Michigan’s opera companies including Detroit Opera. With Detroit Opera he performed in Yuval Sharon’s production of Ragnar Kjartansson’s Bliss as Antonio and Rodríguez’s Frida as Mr. Rockefeller. Throughout Michigan he has sung the roles of Der Lautsprecher in Der Kaiser von Atlantis, Dandini in La Cenerentola, King Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, and Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance. Jake was an emerging artist at Opera Idaho during the 2022/2023 season, covering the roles of Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Macbeth (Macbeth), Jim Crowley (An American Dream), and Vodník (Rusalka) while performing as Fiorello, il Medico and il Servo, and the Hunter. In the 2021/2022 season he was a studio artist with Madison Opera where he covered Jupiter in Orpheus in the Underworld and Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor. Jake has been a developing artist with Central City Opera and an emerging artist with Charlottesville Opera, having performed as Samuel in Pirates of Penzance, Mr. Jones in Street Scene, Herr Zegler in The Sound of Music, Sir Lionel in Camelot, and covered Danilo in The Merry Widow, Franz in The Sound of Music, Marcello in La bohème, Lancelot in Camelot, and Escamillo in La tragédie de Carmen. An avid performer of oratorio, Jake has been a soloist in works ranging from the Baroque to the contemporary. These engagements include Mendelssohn’s Elijah, J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion, Haydn’s The Creation, Vaughan Williams’ Dona nobis pacem, and Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle. As Indianapolis Opera’s baritone resident artist Jake will sing the role of Fiorello and cover Figaro in their fall production of Il barbiere di Siviglia.

JESSICA BURTON director

As a military brat, Jessica likes to say she is from everywhere and no where. Most recently she is from Austin, Texas, where she received her Doctor of Musical Arts in Opera Direction from the University of Texas. She also has a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Technical Theatre from West Texas A&M University. During the pandemic, she taught private voice and musicianship classes at Orpheus Academy of Music in Austin. She has worked in almost every aspect of theatre, as director, performer, designer, and administrator. Past directing credits include Gallantry, Veteran Journeys (IO), Little Women, At the Statue of Venus, Speed Dating Tonight, Das Lied von der Erde (UT Austin), Cendrillon, Pomme d’api (FAVA France), Angels in America, The Laramie Project, Bent (Avenue 10) and numerous scenes programs. She has assistant directed at Austin Opera, Amarillo Opera, LOLA (Local Opera Local Artists), UT Austin, Spotlight on Opera, FAVA France, and now Indianapolis Opera. As a performer, notable past roles have included the Witch in Into the Woods (Stage Right Theatre, Amarillo), Fastrada in Pippin, and Morgana in Alcina (West Texas A&M University). Past costume designs have included The Magic Flute, Dido and Aeneas, Suor Angelica (Texas State University), Metamorphoses, The Who’s Tommy, and Aida (Amarillo Little Theatre). Jessica’s passion is cultivating community engagement among the next generation of opera goers. Jessica would also love to thank Emily Hancock for being a wonderful host and all around fabulous human being during her time in Indianapolis! This past March with IO, Jessica directed the Indiana debut of Charlie Parker’s Yardbird at the historic Madam Walker Legacy Center to great acclaim, and in November, she will direct Rossini’s The Barber of Seville at the Booth Tarkington Theatre.

MARIA LYAPKOVA piano

An exceptionally versatile pianist, keyboardist, educator, and sought-after collaborative pianist, Maria Lyapkova has graced international stages in the United States, Europe, and Russia. Her wide-ranging repertoire encompasses five centuries of music, from baroque to contemporary, with a special interest in historical performance.

Maria has collaborated with leading musicians across the globe performing with principals from major orchestras such as the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra and Bolshoi Theatre and vocalists from various opera houses. Before joining faculty at DePauw University, she served as a full-time collaborative pianist at Stephen F. Austin State University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Ever exploring, she has worked with eminent composers Gunther Schulle, Joseph Schwantner, and Lori Laitman, performing a world premier of Laitman’s work "Into Eternity" with Indianapolis Opera mezzo-soprano Lyndsay Moy in 2023.

An inspirational pedagogue, Maria’s guest appearances include residencies and masterclasses at music schools across the US including Northern Kentucky University, University of Central Florida, and the University of Tampa. As a vocal coach and collaborative pianist for the Indianapolis Opera, she imbues rising voices with world-class finesse.

With top accolades from a Master’s of Music in Piano and Historical Performance from Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Collaborative Piano from the University of Texas-Austin, Maria Lyapkova continues to inspire audiences through her musical finesse, technical prowess, and impassioned musical leadership.

PAMELA AJANGO oboe

Pamela Ajango is a tenured member of the oboe section of the ICO and teaches at Butler University. She began playing with the ICO in 2002. As a full-time oboist for over 25 years, she has performed with many professional orchestras, for Broadway shows, with international touring artists, on numerous recordings, and as a chamber musician and soloist.

From 1996-2002, Pam lived and worked in NYC. After completing school, she quickly began playing with the area’s top ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, the New Jersey Symphony, and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; for the Broadway shows Ragtime, Cats, and Les Miserables; and as a commercial recording artist. She also worked part-time for various arts organizations, skills she has utilized more recently as a long-serving member of the ICO’s Orchestra Committee.

Professor Ajango has served on the faculties of University of Virginia, Earlham College, Anderson University, and the University of Indianapolis, prior to her appointment at Butler. She has taught at summer music festivals at Butler and IU, as well as internationally. She has been an invited performer and lecturer at the International Double Reed Society’s conferences since 2008. In June of 2025, Pam will co-host this society’s annual conference at Butler University, with the ICO serving as its resident orchestra.

An Indianapolis native, Pam was fortunate to study with oboists Malcolm Smith, Ralph Gomberg, Joseph Robinson, and Stephen Taylor. She received her degrees from Boston University and the Manhattan School of Music.

DEREK REEVES viola

Derek Reeves is the Principal Violist of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and Violist of the Freimann String Quartet.

As soloist, Derek Reeves has appeared with many orchestras, including The Bryan Symphony Orchestra, The Erie Chamber Orchestra, The Niagara Symphony Orchestra, The Fort Wayne Philharmonic, The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, The Indianapolis Philharmonic Orchestra, The Carmel Symphony Orchestra and The Gateways Festival Orchestra, as well as having performed concert tours in Europe and Japan.

He has appeared in concert with Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, The Eagles, Josh Groban, Lindsey Stirling, Evanescence, Disturbed, Aretha Franklin, “Weird Al” Yankovic and many others. He has scored music for film, written and performed music for the albums Addison Agen and Christiana Danielle.

A passionate advocate of music education, Mr. Reeves is an adjunct professor of viola at Purdue University Fort Wayne, has lectured and taught masterclasses at many institutions, including Tennessee State University, Ball State University and The Juilliard School. He is also a member of the viola faculty of the Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina.

Mr. Reeves performs on a viola made Jon Kouwenhoven and resides in Fort Wayne with his wife Patricia and son Preston.