Thank you to Angel, Bernardo, Cornelia, Sam, and Yang for all of their hard work and for an unforgettable semester.
The Resident Artists have been with Indianapolis Opera since early September, and in addition to performing in Opera in the Park in September, Opera Ball in October, and Don Giovanni earlier this month, they have been busy with outreach performances around the community. They completed a 4-week long residency with the children of Brookside Play, where they worked together to recreate classic fairy tales, learned how to express emotion through physical action, and experienced how music can illustrate different characters and moods. The Artists also presented our children’s program for this year, a musical story time entitled Sing Me A Story, which was designed with audiences of all ages in mind and features entertaining tales from both opera and musical theater. The program was also adapted for the month of October into Sing Me a Spooky Story, which was shared every weekend as a family-friendly offering for “Hallowine Nights” at Daniel’s Vineyard. While most of our engagement with schools this fall has been through virtual programming, we were thrilled to have our first in-person school performance since Spring of 2020 at William Penn School 49 in early October. The Artists also worked closely with our newest faculty member, Baritone Daniel Narducci, in their artistic development and preparation for outreach performances throughout their residency. Neighborhood concerts included our own Sundays at the Basile, as well as a fundraising concert hosted by Bruce at Julie Buchanan at Barnes & Thornburg, an “Opera on the Move” performance hosted by Frank and Katrina Basile and Nancy Thompson at Lake Clearwater, and an evening of “Classics & Cabaret” hosted by The Bridgewater Club in Carmel. Additionally, the Artists always enjoyed a warm reception as they performed to the grateful residents of several senior living facilities this semester. Over these last few months, the Resident Artists have also had invaluable opportunities for artistic development with International Soprano Angela Brown, Maestro Keith Chambers, and Director Alex Sheerin, in both masterclass and workshop settings. We are so proud of the growth of these young singers, and we are looking forward to continuing to watch them develop.
The Resident Artists have been with Indianapolis Opera since early September, and in addition to performing in Opera in the Park in September, Opera Ball in October, and Don Giovanni earlier this month, they have been busy with outreach performances around the community. They completed a 4-week long residency with the children of Brookside Play, where they worked together to recreate classic fairy tales, learned how to express emotion through physical action, and experienced how music can illustrate different characters and moods. The Artists also presented our children’s program for this year, a musical story time entitled Sing Me A Story, which was designed with audiences of all ages in mind and features entertaining tales from both opera and musical theater. The program was also adapted for the month of October into Sing Me a Spooky Story, which was shared every weekend as a family-friendly offering for “Hallowine Nights” at Daniel’s Vineyard. While most of our engagement with schools this fall has been through virtual programming, we were thrilled to have our first in-person school performance since Spring of 2020 at William Penn School 49 in early October. The Artists also worked closely with our newest faculty member, Baritone Daniel Narducci, in their artistic development and preparation for outreach performances throughout their residency. Neighborhood concerts included our own Sundays at the Basile, as well as a fundraising concert hosted by Bruce at Julie Buchanan at Barnes & Thornburg, an “Opera on the Move” performance hosted by Frank and Katrina Basile and Nancy Thompson at Lake Clearwater, and an evening of “Classics & Cabaret” hosted by The Bridgewater Club in Carmel. Additionally, the Artists always enjoyed a warm reception as they performed to the grateful residents of several senior living facilities this semester. Over these last few months, the Resident Artists have also had invaluable opportunities for artistic development with International Soprano Angela Brown, Maestro Keith Chambers, and Director Alex Sheerin, in both masterclass and workshop settings. We are so proud of the growth of these young singers, and we are looking forward to continuing to watch them develop.
Our Fall 2021 Resident Artists
Angel Riley is an emerging American soprano embarking on a promising career. Hailing from Belleville, Illinois, Angel recently graduated with a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance under the tutelage of Juliana Gondek at the University of California–Los Angeles where she acquired extensive experience as an operatic, concert, and recital soloist. Angel’s exciting stage presence and rich vocal color distinguish her performances, resulting in her winning a coveted position as a 2020 Emerging Artist with Boston Court Pasadena and a 2020-21 Gerdine Young Artist with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, where Angel performed the role of Mabel in Pirates of Penzance and covered the role of Mary in Highway 1, USA.
Follow her on Instgram: @angelnicoleriley
Bernardo Medeiros, Brazilian-American baritone, is an active performer of classical music and opera. He holds a BM in Music Education from Oklahoma State University, and attained both a Master’s Degree and Performance Certificate at the University of Houston. During his time at the university, Bernardo performed several roles, most notably Horace Tabor (The Ballad of Baby Doe), David (L’amico Fritzˆ), and Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro). Summer 2019, Bernardo made his professional debut with the North Shore Music Festival, singing the role of Malatesta in Don Pasquale. Most recently, as an Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera in 2021, he covered and performed the title role of Rigoletto.
Follow him on Instagram: @oklahomie13
Sam Mathis, tenor, is a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina. He recently received a Master’s Degree in Voice Performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he was under the instruction of Carol Vaness. While attending Indiana University, Sam performed the roles of Rodolfo in “La Bohème,” Rinuccio in “Gianni Schicchi,” and was a featured soloist in other ensembles within the Jacobs’ School of Music. Sam has also performed the roles of Rodolfo in “La Bohème” with Opera North, as well as Don José in “La Tragedie de Carmen” and Carlson in Floyd’s “Of Mice and Men” with Florida State University Opera.
Follow him on Instagram: @samuelblair1010
Cornelia Lotito, mezzo-soprano, praised for her "rich sound" and "remarkable agility" (Brooklyn Daily Eagle), most recently debuted with Knoxville Opera as Stephano in Romeo et Juliette. She has also performed the roles of Dorabella (Così fan tutte - Light Opera New Jersey), Angelina (La Cenerentola - Opera Theatre of Montclair), Berta (The Barber of Seville - Light Opera New Jersey), Dritte Dame (Die Zauberflöte - Opera Theatre of Montclair), and others. In 2021, Ms. Lotito won an encouragement award from the Tennessee District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She will premiere a new role with the Black Sheep Contemporary Ensemble in 2022.
Follow her on Instagram: @cornelialotito
Pianist Yang Lin was born into a musical family in Shanghai. Equally active as a collaborative pianist and vocal coach, he was appointed as recital pianist for renowned dramatic soprano Jane Eaglen in 2017. His opera experience includes The Bartered Bride, La Clemenza di Tito, Dinner at Eight, Die Zauberflöte, Hansel and Gretel, Gianni Schicchi, La Bohéme, Otello, Lohengrin, and Die Fledermaus. His music festival appearance include Cincinnati Opera, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Canadian Vocal Arts Institute, I Sing International Young Artist Festival, and Seiji Ozawa Music Academy. Yang holds a Master’s degree from New England Conservatory, and Artist Diploma from College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati.
Follow him on Instagram: @yang.parsifal.lin
Follow her on Instgram: @angelnicoleriley
Bernardo Medeiros, Brazilian-American baritone, is an active performer of classical music and opera. He holds a BM in Music Education from Oklahoma State University, and attained both a Master’s Degree and Performance Certificate at the University of Houston. During his time at the university, Bernardo performed several roles, most notably Horace Tabor (The Ballad of Baby Doe), David (L’amico Fritzˆ), and Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro). Summer 2019, Bernardo made his professional debut with the North Shore Music Festival, singing the role of Malatesta in Don Pasquale. Most recently, as an Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera in 2021, he covered and performed the title role of Rigoletto.
Follow him on Instagram: @oklahomie13
Sam Mathis, tenor, is a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina. He recently received a Master’s Degree in Voice Performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he was under the instruction of Carol Vaness. While attending Indiana University, Sam performed the roles of Rodolfo in “La Bohème,” Rinuccio in “Gianni Schicchi,” and was a featured soloist in other ensembles within the Jacobs’ School of Music. Sam has also performed the roles of Rodolfo in “La Bohème” with Opera North, as well as Don José in “La Tragedie de Carmen” and Carlson in Floyd’s “Of Mice and Men” with Florida State University Opera.
Follow him on Instagram: @samuelblair1010
Cornelia Lotito, mezzo-soprano, praised for her "rich sound" and "remarkable agility" (Brooklyn Daily Eagle), most recently debuted with Knoxville Opera as Stephano in Romeo et Juliette. She has also performed the roles of Dorabella (Così fan tutte - Light Opera New Jersey), Angelina (La Cenerentola - Opera Theatre of Montclair), Berta (The Barber of Seville - Light Opera New Jersey), Dritte Dame (Die Zauberflöte - Opera Theatre of Montclair), and others. In 2021, Ms. Lotito won an encouragement award from the Tennessee District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She will premiere a new role with the Black Sheep Contemporary Ensemble in 2022.
Follow her on Instagram: @cornelialotito
Pianist Yang Lin was born into a musical family in Shanghai. Equally active as a collaborative pianist and vocal coach, he was appointed as recital pianist for renowned dramatic soprano Jane Eaglen in 2017. His opera experience includes The Bartered Bride, La Clemenza di Tito, Dinner at Eight, Die Zauberflöte, Hansel and Gretel, Gianni Schicchi, La Bohéme, Otello, Lohengrin, and Die Fledermaus. His music festival appearance include Cincinnati Opera, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Canadian Vocal Arts Institute, I Sing International Young Artist Festival, and Seiji Ozawa Music Academy. Yang holds a Master’s degree from New England Conservatory, and Artist Diploma from College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati.
Follow him on Instagram: @yang.parsifal.lin
The Resident Artist program focuses on developing young artists through a complete training experience. IO resident artists present operatic performances and education experiences throughout Indiana and in neighboring states.
