​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.

SPRING 2026 RESIDENT ARTISTS

RACHEL KOBERNICK   soprano​
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Rachel Kobernick is a versatile soprano praised for her “power and sweetness” (The Observer), “seamless coloratura sparkle” (Seen and Heard International), and “captivating performance” (The New York Times). In 2025, Rachel premiered four exciting roles singing La Statue Animée in Rameau’s Pygmalion (Kentucky Opera), Marguerite in Faust (Heartbeat Opera), Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof (Cincinnati Opera), as well as Norina in Don Pasquale (Opera Magnifico). Next season, Rachel will make her concert debut as a soloist with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, return to Kentucky Opera to sing Berginella in Songbird, and make her role debut as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro (Indianapolis Opera). She is also a 2025 George and Nora London Foundation Competition Finalist. Additional performance credits include appearances with Sarasota Opera, Opera on the James, Queen City Opera, the NF Opera Collective, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and Cincinnati Song Initiative. In competition, Rachel has been a finalist of the Sullivan Foundation, National Opera Association, Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, and Corbett Foundation, and has won multiple awards from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, the Kyrenia Opera Competition, the National Society of Arts and Letters, and the Three Arts Scholarship Fund. Rachel graduated with a master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music and a bachelor’s of music from the Eastman School of Music.
ELISE MILLER   mezzo-soprano
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Elise Miller, lyric mezzo soprano, is becoming increasingly well known for her impressive versatility and shimmering vocalism, spanning a wide variety of roles and genres ranging from opera to musical theatre, including femme fatales to her specialty in trouser roles and many more. She recently a returned to Charlottesville Opera to perform the role of Mercédès in Bizet's Carmen, as well as attended the Ravinia Steans Music Institute as a Vocal Fellow. This Spring, Ms. Miller joins Indianapolis Opera as a Resident Artist, where she makes her role debut as Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro. Last Fall, Ms. Miller created the role of Rosa Saks in the world premiere of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, as part of a co-production between the Metropolitan Opera and Indiana University (I.U.). In the 2023-2024 season, she was Mrs. Lovett in I.U. Opera Theater’s production of Sweeney Todd, and joined the Choral Art Society of New Jersey as the mezzo-soprano soloist for their performance of Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass. She also served as an Emerging Artist at Charlottesville Opera, performing the role of Mrs. Paroo in The Music Man and covering the role of Giannetta in L’elisir d’Amore. Ms. Miller debuted with Central City Opera the summer of 2023 as an Apprentice Artist where she covered the role of Lilli Vanessi/Kate in Kiss Me, Kate. She has performed several other roles at Indiana University including Lazuli in L’étoile, Lolette in La Rondine, Emperor Nerone in L’incoronzione di Poppea, and Beth March in Little Women. A lover of jazz and cabaret music, Ms. Miller performed a varied array of German cabaret selections with an up-and-coming company called “The Wild Stage” in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2022. No stranger to new music, she performed the role of Lowri in the world premiere of Rhiannon’s Condemnation by composer Leigha Amick with New Voices Opera during their 2021-2022 season. Additionally, Ms. Miller premiered the role of Jean in a contemporary opera called The War Bride by composer Nathan Felix at Luminaria: San Antonio Arts Festival in 2018. Other noteworthy role credits include La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi (Music On Site, Inc.), Silly Girl and Enchanted Object in Beauty and the Beast (Woodlawn Theater), Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro and Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly (Mediterranean Opera Festival).  She was a Resident Artist with OPERA San Antonio from 2018-2020 and appeared in their mainstage productions of Tosca, Faust, La Traviata, and Carmen.​
ANTONIO DOMINO   tenor
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Antonio Domino, tenor, has recently finished as a Studio Artist with the Chautauqua Opera Company. During this time, he performed the role of Doodling Pennsylvanian in Lincoln in the Bardo and as a soloist in a recital. This past Spring, Mr. Domino joined Opera Créole as the cover of Ali in their world premiere of Morgiane. In 2024, Mr. Domino participated in Des Moines Metro Opera’s Apprentice Artist program and was featured as Walter in the world premiere of American Apollo. While in Iowa, he also covered the role of Second Jew in Salome and performed in a scenes program as Tonio from La fille du régiment and Ramiro in La Cenerentola. In the Spring, he finished his time as a Resident Artist at Portland Opera. While with the company, he performed the roles of Don Curzio in The Marriage of Figaro and Jasper in The Snowy Day. In 2023, Mr. Domino received his Master’s degree at Rice University where he studied with Dr. Robin Rice. At the Shepherd School of Music, he performed the role of Dick McGann in Street Scene and in a scenes program as Count Almaviva from The Barber of Seville, Tonio from La fille du régiment and Ramendado from Carmen. As a proud native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Mr. Domino received his Bachelor of Music from Loyola University where he studied with Dreux Montegut. He is also an alum of Houston Grand Opera's Young Artist Vocal Academy.
IAN MICHAEL baritone
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Ian Michael (he/him) is a versatile singing actor who resides in South Bend, IN. An Indianapolis native, Ian has performed as a soloist in various concerts throughout Northern Indiana, including Handel’s Messiah, the Mozart Requiem, and Holiday Pops with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. His theatrical credits include Ragtime: The Musical (Coalhouse Walker, Jr.) with Art 4, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Drifter/Ensemble) with Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, Tosca (The Jailer) with South Bend Lyric Opera, Gianni Schicchi (Simone) with Purdue Fort Wayne, Rigoletto (Count Ceprano) with Indianapolis Opera. He recently was a soloist and coordinator for the South Bend Lyric Opera production of Songs in Flight by Shawn E. Okpebholo. With this production, he led the initiative to bring classical music to a wider audience by coordinating with a panel discussion at Indiana University of South Bend featuring the composer and community leaders as well as a free community performance at the MLK Dream Center. He is also a 2022, 2023, and 2025 finalist of the Lotte Lenya Competition, and won the “Outstanding Performance of a Lenya Competition Songbook Selection” prize in 2024. Ian is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a BMA in Voice Performance and Bachelor of Theatre Arts. He has studied the principles of Levels I/II/III of the LoVetri Institute of Somatic Voicework™, and is a 200-hour Certified Yoga Teacher. In addition to performing, he has a passion for education and community outreach. He is currently the chair of the Community Engagement and Education committee for South Bend Lyric Opera and the owner of the Ian Michael Vocal Studio.
YIHAO ZHOU   pianist/coach

Driven by a deep belief in sincerity and companionship in his music-making, New York City-based pianist Yihao Zhou has distinguished himself as a refined collaborative artist and coach with extensive knowledge of languages and a wide range of song and operatic repertoire. Recent concert appearances have brought him to esteemed venues such as Carnegie Hall, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, Kaufman Music Center, and Lincoln Center. Beyond the concert stage, Yihao’s dedication to the operatic world is further highlighted by his engagement with various companies. He has previously served on the music staff of Beth Morrison Projects, Chicago Summer Opera, Music On Site, New York City Lyric Opera, and Opera Company of Middlebury, and recently assisted in the preparation of Sarah Kirkland Snider’s highly anticipated new opera, Hildegard, for its World Premiere with LA Opera in the 2025-2026 season. Yihao is excited to join Indianapolis Opera for its Resident Artist Program in the spring of 2026, marking a return to the state where he previously lived for two years while earning a master’s degree in piano performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Currently, Yihao is a member of the accompanying and coaching staff at The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music, from both of which he earned graduate degrees in collaborative piano. He received additional training at Music Academy of the West and SongFest, and holds a bachelor’s degree in both music and mathematics from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.