Soprano Andrea Baker is praised as a “brilliant and sensitive” singer whose voice “shimmers and shines” as it grips the audience’s heart. She made her Gulfshore Opera debut in the title role of Rusalka in March 2025. In addition, her 2025–26 role debuts include Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Western Plains Opera and the Rapides Symphony, Micaela in Carmen with Charleston Opera Theater, and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with Opera Tampa in 2026. Her 2024–2025 season featured a range of notable performances, including Mimi in La bohème with Western Plains Opera, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte with Opera Ithaca, and Madame Silberklang in The Impresario at Anchorage Opera. In the 2023–2024 season, she earned excellent critical acclaim as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with TEC Monterrey in Mexico and as Donna Elvira with Opera Tampa. Her debut as Mimi in La bohème with Wichita Grand Opera was a particular highlight, with critics noting her nuanced and affecting interpretation.
Lyric coloratura soprano Abigail Raiford was featured as Artist of the Month in Musical America’s April 2025 edition. She earned acclaim for her “powerful, luxurious soprano voice” and her “wonderfully comic” portrayals. In 2025, Abigail was a National Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, and she won First Place and Audience Favorite in the D’Angelo Young Artist Vocal Competition at Opera Tampa. She joined Teatro Nuovo as Lisa in La sonnambula and Opera Philadelphia as an Emerging Artist for their 2025-2026 season. In 2026, she sings Carmina Burana with the York Symphony Orchestra.
As a noted interpreter of Mozart’s operas, Abigail’s signature roles include the Queen of the Night and First Lady in Die Zauberflöte, Despina in Così fan tutte, Yum-Yum in The Mikado, and Olympia in Pinocchio.
International tenor Matthew Cairns “possesses a resonant and full-bodied voice.” He was named one of 2024 Top Ten Rising Stars by Opera Wire and one of ‘30 Hot Classical Musicians Under 30’ by CBS in 2019.
In the 2025-2026 season, Mr. Cairns makes his role debut as Cavaradossi in Tosca with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa under the baton of Alexander Shelley, and his house debut at Seattle Opera in the role of Don José in Carmen. Last season, Mr. Cairns returned to the Canadian Opera Company as Ismaele in Nabucco and Tambourmajor in Wozzeck. He made his Paris Opera debut as Froh in Das Rheingold and sang Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Orchestre Métropolitain. He also sang Messagero in Aida and Shepherd/Sailor in Tristan und Isolde at Festival International de Lanaudière. In 2023-24, Mr. Cairns covered Leonard in The Hours at the Metropolitan Opera and made his French debut in Thaïs (Nicias) with Opéra de Toulon.
A graduate of the Lindemann Young Artists Program, Mr. Cairns made his Metropolitan Opera debut as the Messenger in Aida and covered Bob Boles in Peter Grimes. He also performed as Macduff in Macbeth with the Canadian Opera Company and as Don José in Carmen with Des Moines Metro Opera.
Praised for his “fetchingly resonant” voice of “great presence,” Dominican-born baritone Jean Carlos Rodriguez is establishing himself as a prominent performer on opera stages across the United States. During the 2024-2025 season, Mr. Rodriguez portrayed a “lecherous and loathsome” Tonio and “[held] the stage with authority” as Alfio in Sarasota Opera’s Cavalleria rusticana/Pagliacci. He also debuted the title role of Rigoletto with the Savannah VOICE Festival under the guidance of Sherill Milnes and sang Marcello in La bohème with Opera Tampa. During the 2023-2024 season, he made his Sarasota Opera debut as Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor and returned to Opera Tampa as Germont in La traviata.
Mr. Rodriguez is also highly regarded on the concert stage, maintaining a strong collaboration with The Florida Orchestra. Recently, he headlined Orff’s Carmina Burana and starred in Spanish Nights with Opera Tampa and as Vidal Hernando in Torroba’s Luisa Fernanda with the Spanish Lyric Theater.
Michael Fennelly, a celebrated Bösendorfer artist, praised as a pianist with “flair and energy” (The New York Times), has gained international acclaim for completing George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue for solo piano, orchestra, and symphonic chorus, earning him a knighthood in Spain. Known for his dynamic performances, he has toured all seven continents and performed with renowned orchestras and artists, including Renée Fleming and the New York Philharmonic. As a staff pianist for The Juilliard School and the Metropolitan Opera, Michael has collaborated with many of the world’s most celebrated musicians, including Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Renata Scotto, Itzhak Perlman, and Lorin Maazel. Fennelly has also excelled as a conductor, leading operas and premieres worldwide. He co-founded the Athena Music Foundation with his wife, soprano Megan Weston, to promote dynamic music programs and foster young talent.
