ANGELA BROWN     soprano
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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     ​conductor

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.
CARA COLLINS   ​soprano

Praised for her “sweet and seductive” tones of her voice, soprano Cara Collins is known for her passionate portrayals of characters on stage. One of her most notable performances at the internationally acclaimed Merola Opera Program (San Francisco, California), was Brittomara, the shape shifting and seductive devil, in the world premiere of If I Were You by American composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer. She received acclaim for her "power and dark hued radiance, and her patter aria in disguise as a ditsy hairdresser" by Opera News. In the 2022-2023 season, Collins covered the role of Giovanna in “Ernani” at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and sang in the esteemed chorus under Chorus Master Michael Black in productions of “Ernani,” “Le comte Ory,” “Don Carlos,” and “Carmen.” She portrayed Zweite Dame in “Die Zauberflöte” at the Northern Lights Music Festival and was a soloist in the Amarillo Opera Gala Concert conducted by Jorge Parodi. In addition to her stage performances, Collins has also been recognized in opera competitions. She was awarded District Winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2021 and received an Encouragement Award in the Met Regionals. In 2018, she earned an Encouragement/Audience Favorite Award at The New York International Vocal Competition. Collins holds a Bachelor of Music degree from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music. Other training includes young artist programs with The Merola Opera Program, Palm Beach Opera, Sarasota Opera, Opera on the James, and Opera North.
RAFAEL PORTO   ​bass-baritone

Brazilian bass-baritone Rafael Porto recently performed the role of Guard in David Lang’s world premiere of prisoner of the state with the New York Philharmonic led by Jaap van Zweden and Putnam in Jake Heggie’s world premiere of If I Were You conducted by Nicole Paiement with San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program. During the 2021-22 season, Mr. Porto will reprise the role of Leporello in Don Giovanni led by Patrick Summers at Aspen Music Festival; sings Dancaïre in Carmen with Opera San José under the baton of Joseph Marcheso; and performs with Amarillo Opera on their spring Gala. Recent roles include Alisdoro (La Cenerentola), Leporello (Don Giovanni), Belcore (L'elisir d'amore), Sacristan, Jailer (Tosca), Bonze, Commissioner (Madama Butterfly), Luther, Crespel (Les contes d’Hoffmann), Don Basilio, Bartolo (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Bartolo (Le Nozze di Figaro), Capitán (Florencia en el Amazonas), Dr. Grenvil (La Traviata), and Billy Jackrabbit, José Castro (La Fanciulla del West) with Florida Grand Opera, Nashville Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Northern Lights Music Festival, and Philharmonia Orchestra of New York. In concert, he has appeared with orchestras in the works of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Vaughan Williams. Mr. Porto has worked under the baton of Raymond Leppard, Alberto Zedda, Ramón Tebar, Joseph Rescigno, Timothy Myers, among others. He participated as a Young Artist at The Glimmerglass Festival; Apprentice Artist at the Merola Opera Program; Young Artist at La Musica Lirica; and a Studio Artist at Florida Grand Opera. Mr. Porto received his education from the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and Butler University in Indianapolis.
ASHLEY RUCKMAN   soprano​
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Originally from Overland Park, Kansas, soprano Ashley Ruckman recently earned a Master of Music at the Jacobs School of Music under the instruction of Carol Vaness, and is the proud recipient of the 2024-25 Georgina Joshi Graduate Fellowship. Her notable roles with Indiana University Opera Theater include the title role in Suor Angelica and Tatiana in Eugene Onegin. Her professional credits include the roles of Musetta in La bohème and Berta in Il barbiere di Siviglia, both at Wichita Grand Opera. This past year, Ashley was the Soprano Soloist in Dallas Opera’s Hart Institute for Women Conductors Showcase, and sang the role of Karolina in Martin Hennessy’s Swimming in the Dark at The Studios of Key West. She earned a Bachelor of Music from Wichita State University where she performed roles including Hester in Lori Laitman’s The Scarlet Letter, Arminda in La finta giardiniera, Esther in The Path to Heaven, and Despina in Così fan tutte. Her 2025 awards include winner of the St. Louis District Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, and 1st place in the Indiana Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters Competition. She won 2 nd place in the 2023 Naftzger Young Artist Competition, 1st place and selected soloist for the 2023 Wichita State Concerto-Aria Concert, and 1st place of the 2022 Rondelli Vocal Competition soprano division.
​LUISANA RIVAS   mezzo-soprano
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Mezzo-soprano Luisana Rivas has been praised for her “heart-rending expression” (Music City Review) and her dedication to championing the music of Latinx composers, which she regularly showcases in recitals and festivals across the United States. During the 2024-2025 season, Luisana looks forward to portraying Consuela and covering Anita in West Side Story at Indianapolis Opera. She has appeared with Houston Grand Opera, OPERA San Antonio, Opera Steamboat, Ópera Panamá, and others. Some of the roles in her repertoire include Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Dido in Dido and Aeneas, La Zelatrice in Suor Angelica, and L’enfant in L’enfant et les sortilèges. She frequently performs contemporary works for young audiences and has toured extensively throughout the Houston metropolitan area and other Texas cities, presenting operas by Kamala Sankaram, Carlos Simon, and Faye Chiao. Luisana holds dual citizenship in Venezuela and France and has pursued studies in Panama and the United States. In addition to her work as a performer, she is a seasoned community arts educator who finds joy in uplifting communities through opera, theater, and the visual arts.

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ALEX GUSHROWSKI   tenor
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Through his journey as a young artist, Alex Gushrowski has been praised for his warm vocal timbre as a lyric tenor, his captivating stage presence as an actor, as well as his dedication and commitment as an artist. Currently based in Cincinnati, Alex has recently finished his engagements with Cincinnati Opera’s 2025 season. Both in the chorus of Tosca but also his principal artist debut as Matteo Borsa in Rigoletto. He is not only excited to be returning to the role of Borsa, but is thrilled to be covering for the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto with Indianapolis Opera. He has made several other appearances with opera companies both in solo and opera chorus work in the Midwest. Of which included his chorus involvement with Cincinnati Opera, Kentucky Opera, and his Young Artist/Principal Artist debut with Cedar Rapids Opera. January of 2025 found him as the Master of Ceremonies in Cedar Rapids Opera’s production of Massenet’s Cendrillon. During his time as a masters student with the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, Alex has been fortunate to have had a wide array performance opportunities, which included his debut as the Chaplain of the Convent in the CCM Opera Theatre’s production of The Dialogues of the Carmelites, as well as his soloist engagements in masterworks such as Bach’s Magnificat and Saint Matthew Passion. All through that time, has thrived under the tutelage of Grammy Award Winning baritone, Elliot Madore. He has also been recognized for his performances in roles such as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, and the title role of Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring during his undergraduate degree at Ball State University.
RYAN HENRY   baritone
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Lauded for his commanding stage presence and rich, expressive baritone, Ryan Henry is emerging as a compelling voice in opera. The 2024–2025 season saw Mr. Henry make significant role debuts and return to esteemed companies across the Midwest. He joined Indianapolis Opera as their Resident Artist Baritone, debuting as Bernardo in West Side Story and appearing as a featured soloist in their 50th Anniversary Gala. This past summer, he joined Cincinnati Opera, making his company debut as Sciarrone in Tosca. Earlier engagements included role debuts as Yamadori and Yakuside in Madama Butterfly with Kentucky Opera, where he also covered the role of Sharpless. A baritone of Mexican-American heritage, Mr. Henry is a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where he earned his master’s degree in vocal performance under the tutelage of Dr. Quinn Patrick Ankrum. While at CCM, he performed leading roles including Dr. Rappaccini in Rappaccini’s Daughter, Junius in The Rape of Lucretia, and Tommy McIntyre in Fellow Travelers, earning praise for his dramatic intensity and vocal prowess. Mr. Henry’s concert repertoire includes Haydn’s Creation, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Handel’s Messiah, Duruflé’s Requiem, Fauré’s Requiem, and Saint-Saëns’s Oratorio de Noël. A versatile artist, he has also toured as both vocalist and instrumentalist with the professional mariachi ensemble Mariachi Búhos de Oro.
RACHEL BENNETT   pianist/coach

Rachel S. Bennett, pianist, is a versatile collaborative artist, educator, and vocal coach, originally from Asheville, North Carolina. Currently based in Tallahassee, Florida, she is a faculty vocal coach in the Opera Department at Florida State University, working with graduate and undergraduate singers and graduate assistant pianists. In January 2025, Rachel will serve as music director for outreach performances of Cinderella and The Magic Flute with the Florida State Opera. Rachel comes to Tallahassee from Greensboro, North Carolina, where she was on faculty at High Point University working in musical theater, accompanying, and piano instruction. Highlights from this appointment include receiving the student-voted ‘Adjunct Professor of the Year’ Award in 2019-2020 and co-leading a musical theater exchange program to Costa Rica. While in Costa Rica, Rachel led masterclasses for students and faculty at La Colmena, the country’s only musical theater training program. In recent years, Rachel has premiered numerous new works, including a concertino with baritone saxophone at the National American Saxophone Alliance convention, and several vocal chamber works at the 2023 Operation Opera Festival in Sacramento. Her recording of Robert Schumann’s Dichterliebe is currently airing on PBS’s “Thomasville: Live from the Center.” Rachel holds a BM in Piano Performance and an MM in Collaborative Piano from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she studied with Paul Stewart and Jim Douglass. She holds a DM in Collaborative Piano from Florida State University, where she studied with Valerie Trujillo. Rachel is excited to join Indianapolis Opera as a Resident Artist for their spring 2025 season.