Metropolitan Opera soprano Susanne Burgess is praised for her warm vocal color, legato line, dramatic fioratura, and engaging emotional expression. She was born in Geneva, Switzerland, and moved to Austin, Texas at 14. This year, Susanne returns to the Met as Frasquita in Carmen, following her debut as Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto. She recently performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Atlanta Opera, La Rondine at the Southern Illinois Music Festival, and Dear Erich with the New York City Opera. She sang Musetta in La Bohème and was awarded a Career Grant from the Gerda Lisner Foundation in New York.
Heralded for his “superbly refined voice” and “laudable performances” (Washington Classical Review), Chilean-born American baritone Javier Arrey has performed at prestigious opera houses, including The Vienna State Opera, The Metropolitan Opera, Opéra de Monte-Carlo, and San Francisco Opera. He has collaborated with renowned conductors such as Eun Sun Kim, Lorin Maazel, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Notable roles include Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Belcore in L’Elisir D’Amore, and Jago in Otello. In 2017, Javier received the Congressional Medal of Honor in Chile for his artistic achievements and efforts to bring opera to underserved communities.
Hailed by Opera News for his “handsome sound” and described as a “standout” by The Wall Street Journal, tenor Derrek Stark is quickly establishing himself as an elegant and nuanced performer. In the 2023/24 season, Stark returned to the Metropolitan Opera to cover Prunier in Puccini’s La Rondine. He also performed as the Prince in Dvořák’s Rusalka with POP Opera, Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance with Knoxville Opera, and Candide in Candide with Opera Tampa. Stark previously sang Alfredo Caruso in GO’s production of Die Fledermaus. He is an award-winning performer with a B.M. from Mansfield University and an M.M. from The Jacobs School of Music.
Aaron Santos is a classically trained tenor specializing in opera and musical theater. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance and has showcased his talent in various productions. Aaron has performed with Gulfshore Opera, taking on roles in Elixir of Love and Turandot, where his captivating voice and stage presence were highly praised. In addition to his operatic performances, Aaron has hosted several concerts with Gulfshore Opera, demonstrating his versatility and passion for engaging with audiences. He is thrilled to continue collaborating with the company and looks forward to future performances and projects.
Zaikuan Song, operatic bass from China, is recognized for his resonant voice and keen dramatic instinct across diverse operatic roles. His repertoire ranges from Donizetti and Mozart to Verdi and Puccini. Notable performances include Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Sarastro in The Magic Flute, and Rambaldo in La Rondine. Song has appeared with Opera Delaware, Houston Grand Opera, Opera Carolina, and others. He has been a concert soloist in Verdi Requiem and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Song was awarded the Top Prize in the National NATS competition and was a Midwest Region finalist in the 2020 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
Susan Neves is a celebrated soprano known for commanding some of opera’s most challenging roles. She has performed at prestigious venues, including the Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Vienna State Opera, and l’Arena di Verona. A winner of the International Luciano Pavarotti Vocal Competition, she debuted as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. She has earned acclaim for roles like Norma, Tosca, and Gioconda, as well as Verdi roles such as Abigaille in Nabucco and Leonora in Il Trovatore. Neves is also a sought-after teacher, coaching in New York City and Orlando, and has taught at the Manhattan School of Music and Stetson University.
American tenor Hayden Smith is celebrated for his “burnished tenor” and expressive phrasing. In 2023-2024, Smith performed the title roles in Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing and Beauty and the Beast with OPERA Iowa and joined Carnegie Hall as a soloist in Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass. He was an Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera, covering roles like Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville. Smith has trained with leading programs like the Glimmerglass Festival and Wolf Trap Opera, where he performed roles in the roles of Tybalt in Romeo and Juliette. He holds degrees from Temple University and Rice University.
