Cast & Artistic Team

Charlie Parker's Yardbird 2024 Cast

Charlie Parker - Martin Bakari

Praised by Opera News as a "vocally charismatic" performer with a "golden tenor,” Martin Bakari's recent engagements include the title role in Charlie Parker's Yardbird (Atlanta Opera, Arizona Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Dayton Opera, New Orleans Opera), the tenor soloist in Carmina Burana (Cecilia Chorus of NY at Carnegie Hall, Symphony San Jose) and the premiere of Paul Moravec’s A Nation of Others (Oratorio Society of NY at Carnegie Hall), Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance (Virginia Opera), Pong in Turandot (Opera Colorado), Jalil/Wakil/Guard in the premiere of Sheila Silver's A Thousand Splendid Suns (Seattle Opera), Don Basilio in Le nozze di Figaro (Seattle Opera, Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival), Goro in Madama Butterfly (Dallas Opera), The Cartography Project (Washington National Opera, The Kennedy Center), and a United Kingdom recital tour (Mirror Visions Ensemble). Internationally, he has also appeared at major venues in Munich, Hamburg, Dresden, Frankfurt, Cologne, Tel Aviv, and Bari. Mr. Bakari's 2023-24 season includes Mime in Das Rheingold (Seattle Opera), the tenor soloist in Messiah (Oratorio Society of NY at Carnegie Hall) and Kodály's Psalmus Hungaricus (Grant Park Music Festival), Dr. Caius in Falstaff and Wilson (cover) in the premiere of Jake Heggie's Intelligence (Houston Grand Opera), Charlie Parker in Yardbird (Indianapolis Opera), Goro in Madama Butterfly (Opera Philadelphia), and Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance (Kentucky Opera). A 2018 George London Competition award winner, Mr. Bakari's recording of Grigory Smirnov's Dowson Songs (Naxos) was featured by Opera News as a "Critic's Choice" album. www.martinbakari.com

Addie Parker - 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.

Chan Parker - Ashley Fabian

Acclaimed by the New York Classical Review as “a vision of sunshine and joy”, possessing a
“lovely lyric soprano”, Ashley Fabian is quickly garnering recognition for her artistry in both
comedic and dramatic roles. She is celebrated for her “voice of immense warmth and
scintillating spin” (Parterre Box), and her command of the stage has been praised by critics and
audiences across the nation.

This season includes a return to the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a concert with Chris Thile at
the Hollywood Bowl, Gilda in Rigoletto with Holy City Arts & Lyric Opera, Händel’s Messiah
with the Winston-Salem Symphony, Zerlina in Don Giovanni with San Diego Opera, Chan
Parker in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird with Indianapolis Opera, and several performances as the
Soprano Soloist in Carmina Burana later in the Spring with companies including the
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Bozeman Symphony.

Last season included a cover of the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor at Los Angeles Opera,
joining the Columbus Symphony and Utah Symphony as the Soprano Soloist in Carmina
Burana, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with Pacific Opera Project, making her Los Angeles
Philharmonic debut in Steve Reich’s Traveler’s Prayer, her Carnegie Hall debut as Phyllis in
Iolanthe with MasterVoices, and Bellezza in Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno with Opera
Neo.

She has bowed with companies such as Seattle Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Des
Moines Metro Opera, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Central City Opera, Charleston
Symphony Orchestra, and Indianapolis Opera. Ms. Fabian enjoys a wide variety of projects on
both the stage and screen, and has won multiple game shows including Wheel of Fortune.

Dizzy Gillespie - Jorell Williams

American Baritone Jorell Williams, known for having “a solid vocal core and easy, natural
production” (Opera News), has been heralded as “a rock-solid singer with a keen understanding of his own expressive depths” (The Washington Post), and is gracing the world’s most prominent concert and opera stages. This season Mr. Williams’ engagements include Opera Philadelphia for 10 Days in a Madhouse, Opera Omaha in the title role of Don Pasquale, and Greek National Opera for Nadia Boulenger’s La Ville Morte (co-production with Catapult Opera). In concert, he joins the the National Philharmonic Orchestra for Handel’s Messiah, Symphony Nova Scotia for Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, The Ottawa Choral Society for Dvorak’s Te Deum, and Symphony Pops of Long Island for Orchestral Music of Margaret Bonds.

Mr. Williams was previously seen as Maduka in the world premiere of Tapestry Opera’s Of The Sea by Métis composer Ian Cusson, with critics saying that Mr. Williams “sings powerfully and with beauty and is emotionally engaging.” (Opera Canada) Highlighted performances include the title role of Don Giovanni with Opera Columbus, Escamillo in Pacific Opera Victoria’s Carmen, Belcore in L’elisir d’amore with Dayton Opera, Dizzy Gillespie in Yardbird with Seattle Opera, Schaunard in La Boheme with Finger Lakes Opera, Hannah-Before in As One with New York City Opera, Jake in Porgy and Bess at the Budapesti Nyari Fesztival, and the world premiere of Hilliard and Boresi’s The Happy Hour with Decameron Opera Coalition (featuring Bass- Baritone Luca Pisaroni). He recently sang the roles of George Armstrong and Young Man in the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon and Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel at Lincoln Center Theater (co-production with The Metropolitan Opera/filmed for PBS Great Performances).

Doris Parker - Victoria Korovljev

Victoria Korovljev is a rising young soprano with a warm lyrical timbre. She is the Resident Artist Soprano for Indianapolis Opera this Spring of 2023, where she is debuting as Zweite Dame and covering Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Victoria celebrated her Caribbean heritage with a debut as Elsa in the world premiere of The Pirate’s Daughter, commissioned by Romanza Lyric Opera. In the Fall of 2022, she was featured as Siren in Minnesota Opera’s production of Rinaldo. Also in 2022, she made her debut with Opera Grand Rapids as Female Soloist 2 in the world premiere of Stinney: An American Execution, which was recorded for PBS. In addition, Victoria made her role debut of Countess Almaviva with Trentino Music Festival. At TMF, she placed as a Finalist in their Young Artist Competition. Most recently, Victoria qualified as an alternate finalist with the Opera Birmingham Voice Competition. Furthermore, with much acclaim from the judges, Victoria qualified as a Semi-Finalist in the Palm Springs Opera Guild Competition and Jacques Offenbach Grand Prix. In the upcoming 2022-2023 season, Thursday Musical of Minneapolis selected Victoria as a featured solo artist in their Artist Series. During the pandemic, Victoria recorded two episodes introducing children to opera for Minnesota Public Radio and Minnesota Opera. Shortly thereafter, she was a visiting artist with Northern Light Opera Company, where she sung the character Catherine in Pippin. Other recent engagements include singing the role of Frasquita, as well as being a Finalist in the American Prize Competition for Women in Opera. Before the shutdown, Victoria took part in the workshops and premiering ensemble for Minnesota Opera’s newest commission, Edward Tulane.

Rebecca Parker - Courtney Porter

Courtney Porter— a native of Uniondale, New York— began her musical journey with
her father in church. Since then, Courtney has continued to minister in churches and schools
throughout the United States with specially curated recital programs; Hold On! A Celebration of
African American History (2019 and 2023), The Embrace recital series (2023), with special
collaborations with Trio Noire (2021 - present), a group of two sopranos and one mezzo soprano
who champion the music of African American composers.
Courtney Porter is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of
Kentucky (UK) under the tutelage of Dr. Everett McCorvey. Her most recent presentations
include the Mezzo Soprano soloist in Gustav Mahler’s Second Symphony with the University of
Kentucky Symphony Orchestra (2023), Carmen (Carmen scenes, 2023) and Third Lady (The
Magic Flute, 2022) with the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre, and the Mezzo Soprano
soloist in Julia Perry’s Stabat Mater with the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra (2021).
Courtney beams at the achievement of collaborating with local and regional professional
theater companies since her arrival to Kentucky— Voices Amplified, in her role of Angie
Dickinson in The Prom (2023) and with the Lexington Theatre Company in their production
of The Sound of Music (2023). Courtney Porter’s current residency with the Indianapolis
Opera (Spring 2024) offers a unique training opportunity that inspires and nurtures her
aspirations to share her light.

Nica - Liz Culpepper

Liz Culpepper, mezzo-soprano, is thrilled to be joining Indianapolis Opera as a Resident Artist this season. She was educated at the University of Texas (B.A. Music - Voice; 2015) and received her Master’s in Voice from Indiana University in 2017. While she was at IU, Liz sang the following roles: Suzuki (Madama Butterfly), Mrs. Sedley (Peter Grimes), Madame de Croissy (Dialogues des Carmélites), La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica), and Serse (Serse). She has also appeared at a number of summer music festivals. Notable appearances include Brevard in 2018, where she reprised the role of Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, in 2019 at the Princeton Festival in Nixon in China as the First Secretary, and with Teatro Nuovo in the 2022 season. Most recently, Liz made her solo debut at Lincoln Center with Teatro Nuovo as La Comare in Crispino e la Comare and was an Apprentice Artist at Sarasota Opera for their 2023 Winter Season. Liz is based in New York City where she is a core singer with Teatro Nuovo and she studies with Will Crutchfield. Prior to her Master’s degree, Liz specialized as an Early Music soprano with a special emphasis on the works of Bach. Through her work with Will Crutchfield and Teatro Nuovo, Liz has shifted her focus to historically informed performances of the Bel Canto repertoire with a special interest in Rossini. One of her long-term career goals is to sing all of his heroines. Coming up, Liz will perform with Teatro Nuovo in their 2024 season.

Charlie Parker (Cover) - Gavin Hughes

Gavin Hughes, tenor, 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 49th season.

The Yardbird Artistic Team

Clinton Smith - Conductor

Clinton Smith returns to Arizona Opera to conduct the world premiere of Frankenstein by Gregg Kallor and will make his Indianapolis Opera debut conducting his fourth production of Charlie Parker’s Yardbird. He will lead members of the Atlanta Symphony at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church for their annual presentation of Messiah and will serve as staff coach for Atlanta Opera’s young artist program and cover performances of La bohème. He also joins the faculty of Georgia State University as collaborative pianist and vocal coach. Clinton Smith’s 2022/2023 season included a return to Dayton Opera to conduct Charlie Parker's Yardbird. He returned to Arizona Opera and lead an orchestral workshop of the newly commissioned Frankenstein. On the orchestral stage, he made his guest conducting debut with the Georgia Philharmonic, leading two subscription concerts. Recent conducting credits include leading productions at the opera companies of Atlanta, Minnesota, Arizona, Kentucky, Florentine, Birmingham, Dayton, Tacoma, Las Vegas, Orlando, Pacific Northwest, Middlebury, and Fargo-Moorhead. He has been a guest faculty at Juilliard, the University of Michigan, Baldwin Wallace University, and Western Ontario University. He spent nine summers on the music staff of the Santa Fe Opera, and four seasons at Minnesota Opera. On equal footing in the orchestral world, Mr. Smith recently concluded a collective nine years as music and artistic director of both Orchestra Seattle/Seattle Chamber Singers and the St. Cloud Symphony, conducting over 60 orchestral, oratorio, chamber, pops, educational, and holiday concert performances.

Dr. Jessica Burton - Director

As a military brat, Jessica Burton 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!

Douglas Sumi - Pianist*
*IO Resident Artist Alumnus

American pianist, Douglas Sumi, is a frequent collaborator with many of today’s artists and opera theaters. He is a versatile artist, comfortable in the capacities of pianist, coach, and conductor, with a recognized commitment to song and opera. He has assisted conductors such as James Conlon, Patrick Summers, Michele Mariotti, Daniela Candillari, Evan Rogister, and Emmanuel Villaume. He has collaborated with celebrated artists such as Renée Fleming, Plácido Domingo, Itzhak Perlman, Carol Vaness, Vladimir Chernov, Angel Blue, Janai Brugger, and members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, and Boston Symphony Orchestra. For many seasons Sumi served on music staff at Los Angeles Opera and is an alumnus of their young artist program. In the summer of 2023, he joined the music staff of Opera Theatre of St. Louis. He has also worked for the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, New Orleans Opera Company, Bard SummerScape, Wolf Trap Opera Company, Indianapolis Opera, and Ash Lawn Opera Festival, among others. Sumi has led singers to top prizes of premiere competitions including Operalia, the Metropolitan National Council Auditions, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, and the Richard Tucker Foundation. While in Los Angeles, he served on faculty at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and currently is a member of the music staff at Boston Lyric Opera, while residing on faculty at Boston University’s School of Music, coaching singers and teaching courses in song literature, lyric diction, and opera for pianists.

Morgan Hunkele - Associate Conductor

Morgan Hunkele is an active collaborative pianist, vocal coach, and conductor in the United States and Europe. Currently the Resident Artist Pianist and Vocal Coach at Indianapolis Opera, Ms. Hunkele began working as a staff vocal pianist at Wake Forest University at the age of nineteen. She was a Collaborative Piano Fellow at Musiktheater Bavaria for the 2023 summer season and will also be working with Virginia Opera for their 2024 production of Frida Khalo and the Bravest Girl in the World. Recent conducting engagements include the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, where she was a 2023 summer conducting fellow of Markand Thakar. As a pianist, Ms. Hunkele has appeared as a guest artist in the Music for a Great Space concert series (Greensboro, NC), as a soloist with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, as a returning guest artist of the North Carolina Bach Festival, and as a featured pianist alongside the Winston-Salem Festival Ballet for the performance of three Rakowski etudes. She has been a finalist and prize winner in several piano competitions, including the Ronald Sachs International Music Competition and the Charlotte Steinway Piano Competition.

Ms. Hunkele holds degrees in piano performance as a full-scholarship student from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (MM) and as a recipient of the Chancellor's Excellence Award from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (BM and High-School Diploma). Additionally, she has studied and performed at Meadowmount School of Music, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Brevard Music Center, Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival, Baltimore International Piano Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and Vivace International Music Festival.