Meet Our Team

Leadership

Steffanie Pearce

Founder & General Director

With over 40 years of experience in opera, Steffanie Pearce is a producer, director, performer, and teacher of the great art form. Before focusing her energy on producing and directing opera, Ms. Pearce enjoyed a long international singing career with opera companies, including Opera Marseille, Opera Lisbon, The Opera Company of Philadelphia, and San Diego Opera. She performed at major theaters, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

She moved to Naples in 2000 and founded Southwest Florida’s first opera company in 2005. In June 2014, she reorganized and expanded operations into three counties with the formation of Gulfshore Opera. She lives in Lee County with her daughter, Aria.

In 2016, Ms. Pearce was honored with the WGCU Makers Award. Chosen as one of five women in all of Southwest Florida, she was recognized as an authentic, passionate, and inspiring woman who will leave a memorable, lasting impact on the people, economy, and culture of Southwest Florida. In November 2023, Steffanie was selected as one of Gulfshore Life’s Women of the Year. They honored her as an arts visionary known for bringing opera to Southwest Florida, ensuring equitable access to the arts, and shaping our community with her outstanding contributions over the last 20 years.

Michelle Westley

Operations Director

As Director of Operations at Gulfshore Opera, Michelle Westley is at the heart of keeping the organization running smoothly. She oversees office operations, manages programming logistics, and coordinates ticketing and patron relations. Michelle is also deeply involved in donor engagement and leads a team of volunteers, ensuring Gulfshore Opera’s events are welcoming and memorable for all. Additionally, she supports marketing initiatives by overseeing and working closely with Latinovation, Gulfshore Opera’s fractional Brand Management team.

Michelle joined Gulfshore Opera in 2017 and quickly advanced from Box Office Manager to Board Secretary, Marketing Coordinator, and, by 2019, operations manager. Her commitment to efficiency and community has made her an indispensable leader on the Gulfshore Opera team.

Jorge Parodi

Music Director

Internationally acclaimed conductor Jorge Parodi has led several productions at The Atlanta Opera, New York City Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Opera Orlando, Opera Tampa, Savannah Opera, Buenos Aires Lírica, The Banff Centre and The Juilliard School. Recent credits include the World Premiéres of Coppola’s Lady Swanwhite for Opera Tampa and John Musto’s Rhoda and the Fossil Hunt in a coproduction of On Site Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Pittsburgh Opera.

Maestro Parodi is the General and Artistic Director of Opera Hispánica, the only company in the United States focused on the Hispanic vocal repertoire and the Latin perspective. He is also the Music Director of the Senior Opera Theatre at the Manhattan School of Music. He has been a faculty member at The Juilliard School for over a decade. His work was the subject of a featured interview in Opera News.

Parodi is also the Music Director of Opera in Williamsburg (Virginia), the Music Director of the International Summer Opera Festival of Morelia, and the Founder and Artistic Director of the Tokyo International Vocal Arts Academy.

Julie Maykowksi

Chief Development Officer

Julie Maykowski, Chief Development Officer, has had a multifaceted career in opera as a singer, stage manager, stage director, and administrator.

Julie is a dynamic, forward-thinking arts leader with more than two decades of experience transforming performing arts organizations through innovative programming, strategic development, and data-driven decision-making. Recognized for leading organizational turnarounds, cultivating major philanthropic investment, and developing groundbreaking artistic and community partnerships. Most recently, she led a full organizational turnaround at OperaSteamboat.

Her previous roles include Education Manager for Kentucky Opera, where she led the Young Artist Program and oversaw all education and outreach initiatives. She also served as Director of Development for both Sarasota Opera and Arizona Opera, and as Director of Artistic Administration and Head of the Young Artist Program at Florida Grand Opera, where she supported artistic planning and fundraising efforts.

Julie has also worked as Director of Development for the trailblazing Beth Morrison Projects, championing new and innovative opera. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in voice from the University of Kansas, a Master of Music degree in voice from Wichita State University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Drake University.

Outside the world of opera, Julie is an avid fly fisher, skier, hiker, and mountain adventurer with her spirited schnauzer, Henry, by her side.

Amy Brower

Financial Manager

Amy began her career in 1992 at Capital One Bank in Springfield, MO, in the accounting department after receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from Missouri State University. In 2008, Amy and her family relocated to Cape Coral, Florida, after vacationing in this area for many years and falling in love with the Southwest Florida community. Amy took the plunge into business ownership in 2011, starting Freelance Bookkeeping to provide small business owners with a full range of bookkeeping and financial support services. In 2018 Amy began serving Gulfshore Opera for bookkeeping and financial support services.

Juliana Alfano

Youth Education Director

Juliana began her time with Gulfshore Opera singing with the GO Divas, performing in the opera chorus and as a soloist for private events. She is delighted to dive deeper into the workings of Gulfshore Opera to serve as the Youth Engagement Director where she oversees the Harmony Choir program and finds meaningful ways for SWFL’s youth to engage with the arts. Juliana holds a Master’s Degree in Voice Pedagogy and Performance from Penn State. Her vocal training outside Penn State has taken her to New York City, Austria, and beyond. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from The Crane School of Music in northern New York, where she grew up. Juliana continues to sing locally and teach private voice lessons. Additionally, she serves as the Director of Music at Lamb of God Church in Estero and is also a musician at St. Leo the Great in Bonita Springs where she cantors and performs dinner concerts throughout the season.

Alejandro Castaño

CEO of Latinovation, GO Marketing Team

Alex Castano is a business strategist with expertise in leveraging artificial intelligence to drive marketing and branding outcomes. He has worked with global brands like Procter & Gamble and Pfizer, and now leads Latinovation, an AI-first company focused on growing brands with technology and strong teams. With a passion for community service, Alex serves as a board member for the Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida and coaches high school wrestling. He holds an AI certification from Columbia University and an MBA in Brand Management.

Latinovation’s Role with Gulfshore Opera

Latinovation serves as Gulfshore Opera’s fractional Brand Management team, guiding marketing and branding initiatives to GO across Southwest Florida. Latinovation manages campaigns that promote Gulfshore Opera’s events and mission, ensuring the brand remains cohesive and impactful across all channels.l and enhancing community engagement and visibility.

Staff

Renee Ludwig

Artistic Operations Manager

Renee Ludwig’s involvement in the arts and love for music and theater started with church performances at a young age. She relocated from Ohio to SW Florida with her family in 1988. She was unable to choose between sign language and drama, so she graduated from the University of South Florida with a Theatre Arts and Communication Disorders degree. Renee holds Drama and Secondary Math certifications as an educator in the School District of Lee County for nearly 25 years. With a diverse skill set in production and management, she has held various positions with Stageworks Theatre – Tampa, Players Circle Theater, and IATSE Local 647. The opportunity to join the GO team combines the best of music and theater in a new form that Renee is eager to explore.

Claudia Polzin

Donor and Community Relations Manager

Claudia is a well-known advocate for the performing arts in Southwest Florida and has lived in the region for over 20 years. Her career began in education as a music and theater teacher, and then she moved to the non-profit world, where she spent many years developing and educating nonprofits.

She worked for the Philharmonic Center for the Arts for 12 years as an education and development director in Southwest Florida. Following that position, she worked for the Guadalupe Center of Immokalee, the Community Foundation of Collier County, and the Director of Development for Classic South Florida – 88.7.

Since 2015, she has been a consultant to nonprofits in Southwest Florida. Having worked with Steffanie in a consulting capacity, it was a remarkable transition for her to join the Gulfshore Opera staff as the Development Manager.

Melissa Vitrella

Production Associate

Melissa Vitrella is thrilled to return to professional singing in Florida, where her operatic career began. She received a bachelor’s degree from Stetson University and pursued graduate studies at Florida State University, performing opera roles at both schools before debuting in supporting roles as an Affiliate Artist with Orlando Opera. From 2009–2011, she served as an Artist-in-Residence at Opera Naples, singing principal and supporting roles and contributing to production and outreach. After stepping away from the stage to raise her children, Melissa has enthusiastically returned to singing as a Regional Artist with Gulfshore Opera, where she also serves on the production team and as an outreach educator.

Renee Ludwig
Artistic Operations Manager
Renee Ludwig’s involvement in the arts and love for music and theater started with church performances at a young age. She relocated from Ohio to SW Florida with her family in 1988. She was unable to choose between sign language and drama, so she graduated from the University of South Florida with a Theatre Arts and Communication Disorders degree. Renee holds Drama and Secondary Math certifications as an educator in the School District of Lee County for nearly 25 years. With a diverse skill set in production and management, she has held various positions with Stageworks Theatre – Tampa, Players Circle Theater, and IATSE Local 647. The opportunity to join the GO team combines the best of music and theater in a new form that Renee is eager to explore.
Claudia Polzin
Donor and Community Relations Manager
Claudia is a well-known advocate for the performing arts in Southwest Florida and has lived in the region for over 20 years. Her career began in education as a music and theater teacher, and then she moved to the non-profit world, where she spent many years developing and educating nonprofits.

She worked for the Philharmonic Center for the Arts for 12 years as an education and development director in Southwest Florida. Following that position, she worked for the Guadalupe Center of Immokalee, the Community Foundation of Collier County, and the Director of Development for Classic South Florida – 88.7.

Since 2015, she has been a consultant to nonprofits in Southwest Florida. Having worked with Steffanie in a consulting capacity, it was a remarkable transition for her to join the Gulfshore Opera staff as the Development Manager.
Juliana Alfano
Youth Engagement Coordinator
Youth Engagement Coordinator Juliana Alfano relocated to Fort Myers from Lancaster, PA, where she worked as a private voice instructor, music director, and accompanist. She earned her Master’s degree in Voice Pedagogy and Performance from Pennsylvania State University, where she enjoyed many performing opportunities with Penn State’s Opera Theater. Some favorites included Phyllis in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe, Morgana in Handel’s Alcina, and Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea. Her training outside Penn State has taken her to New York City, Austria, and beyond. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from The Crane School of Music in northern New York, where she grew up. Juliana continues to teach voice lessons virtually with her students back in Pennsylvania and now serves as the Director of Music for Lamb of God church in Fort Myers. She is delighted to serve as GO Youth Engagement Coordinator and be a GO Divas member.
Audrey Delcompare
Operations Associate
Audrey Delcompare is a long-time Collier/Lee County member with a love for music and singing. Audrey’s undergraduate is a BA in Music performance with a minor in accounting and a Master of Business Administration from Florida Southern College, and is currently working as an Operations Associate for Gulfshore Opera. Audrey’s work includes collaboration with Operations Director Michelle Westly in logistics, ticketing, administrative work, and a development portion of analyzing and reporting.

Audrey’s passion for the arts began at a young age here in Naples with opportunities that Gulfshore Opera offers and creates for young artists. She has participated in several Gulfshore Opera productions and continues working with GO as an artist. Audrey’s experience uniquely positions her to contribute to Gulfshore Opera's goals and help drive their success.

Renee Ludwig

Artistic Operations Manager

Renee Ludwig’s involvement in the arts and love for music and theater started with church performances at a young age. She relocated from Ohio to SW Florida with her family in 1988. She was unable to choose between sign language and drama, so she graduated from the University of South Florida with a Theatre Arts and Communication Disorders degree. Renee holds Drama and Secondary Math certifications as an educator in the School District of Lee County for nearly 25 years. With a diverse skill set in production and management, she has held various positions with Stageworks Theatre – Tampa, Players Circle Theater, and IATSE Local 647. The opportunity to join the GO team combines the best of music and theater in a new form that Renee is eager to explore.

 

Gulfshore Opera is an equal opportunity employer, and consistent with our mission, we embrace equal opportunity employment and inclusiveness and will not discriminate in any way. We will take affirmative action measures to ensure that we avoid discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant based on race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Gulfshore Opera will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on these characteristics.