Kearstin Piper Brown, praised for her “thrilling singing” (Opera Now), has emerged as one of the most sought-after lyric sopranos in the United States. In 2026, she made her debut with the Tulsa Symphony and reprises the role of Bess with Dayton Opera. Highlights of 2025 include cover engagements at Lyric Opera of Chicago for La bohème (Mimì) and at the Metropolitan Opera for Porgy and Bess (Bess). She made her role debut as Alice Ford with Portland Opera. During the 2024 season, Ms. Brown made notable company debuts with Florida Grand Opera as Nedda and with the Metropolitan Opera as Evelyn in Fire Shut Up in My Bones. Ms. Brown has performed her signature role of Bess with numerous companies, including Utah Festival Opera, Opera Kazan, Skylight Music Theatre, Dayton Opera, Virginia Opera, and the Belarusian Philharmonic Orchestra in Minsk. Her portrayal has been featured internationally through the New York Harlem Productions tour, which has appeared at prestigious venues such as Staatsoper Hamburg, Semperoper Dresden, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, and Komische Oper Berlin. She first performed the role in 2009 with Cape Town Opera and toured with the company to the Edinburgh Festival, Royal Festival Hall, London, and the Israeli Opera.
This season, Kyaunnee Richardson debuts as the Soprano Soloist in the ensemble of Porgy and Bess at the Metropolitan Opera, as Frasquita in Carmen with New York City Opera at Bryant Park, and as the Soprano Soloist in Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de Dominica at Carnegie Hall. She also debuted as Maxie in the world premiere of The Eleanors with the Savannah VOICE Festival, Sister 2 in Why I Live at the PO with UrbanArias, and Calpurnia in The Secret River with Opera Orlando.
Highlights from previous seasons include Johanna in Sweeney Todd with the American Gothic Performing Arts Festival; Gretel in Hansel and Gretel with Amelia Island Opera; Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with the Savannah VOICE Festival; Adele in Die Fledermaus, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, and Despina in Così fan tutte with Opera in Williamsburg; Monica in The Medium with First Coast Opera; and Juliette in Roméo et Juliette and Maria in West Side Story with Gulfshore Opera’s Gala Concert.
Kyaunnee placed first in the 2023 Opera Ebony’s Benjamin Matthews Vocal Competition and was a semi-finalist in the 2023 American Traditions Vocal Competition, where she was awarded the Sherrill Milnes American Opera Award.
The illustrious career of bass-baritone Kevin Short includes over twenty operas at the Metropolitan Opera. Recent highlights have included Porgy (Porgy and Bess), Sam (Un ballo in maschera), Uncle Paul in Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones, Doctor Grenvil (La traviata), and Pfleger (Elektra). Other roles at The Met include the title role in Der fliegende Holländer, Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte), Rocco and Don Fernando (Fidelio), Nick Shadow (The Rake’s Progress), Mephistopheles (Faust), Philippe II (Don Carlos), Zaccaria (Nabucco), Sparafucile (Rigoletto), and Jack Rance (La fanciulla del West).
Engagements on other international stages include Porgy in Porgy and Bess with NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester Hamburg, Headmaster/Preacher/Mr. Dingleas in Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio (Cincinnati Opera), Beethoven IX (Philadelphia Orchestra), and Mahler VIII (Grant Park Music Festival, Chicago). In addition to the Metropolitan Opera, Mr. Short has appeared as a leading artist with Santa Fe Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Washington National Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Arizona Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Seattle Opera, Opéra Comique, Welsh National Opera, Oper der Stadt Köln, Staatstheater Stuttgart, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, and many others.
With a commanding bass-baritone voice, Neil Nelson has captivated audiences both nationally and internationally. From the grand stages of the Tatarstan Opera Theatre in Russia to revered American companies such as Florida Grand Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, and Palm Beach Opera, his powerful performances leave a lasting impression. Neil’s versatility shines not only in his operatic roles but also in oratorio and concert singing. He made a stunning debut as Porgy in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess with the South Florida Symphony and has performed with ensembles like Orchestra Miami, the Lynn Conservatory Orchestra, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. His recent performances include portraying Emperor Claudio in Handel’s Agrippina and serving as bass soloist in Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
Collaborative pianist Michele Wong is a current doctoral fellow at the Juilliard School, holding previous degrees from Indiana University and the Eastman School of Music. She has been featured in performance series such as Howland Chamber Music, Caramoor, Long Island Chamber Music, and the Omega Ensemble. She has collaborated with renowned artists, including members of the Juilliard and Escher string quartets, winners and finalists of competitions such as the Metropolitan Opera Laffont, Tenor Vinas, the George and Nora London Foundation, and Seoul International. She maintains a busy international recital schedule as an art song and chamber music performer and is also a frequent lecturer, having given pre-concert talks at prestigious venues such as the Tilles Center and the Juilliard School.
