Lea Woods Almanza, soprano
Lea Woods Almanza is thrilled to cross boundaries with music. With her background a mix of global cultures, Ms. Almanza knows how to relate to audiences around the world, and with her lyric soprano voice, described as “spotless”, “exquisite” and “touching”, encourages them to feel the music she so loves to perform.
Lea made her role debut of Musetta in La bohème with the Augusta Opera, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro with Opera Hong Kong, and Liu in Turandot with Hawaii Opera Theater. She has performed two solo recitals in Portland, Oregon, at the famous Japanese and Chinese Gardens, and has done numerous concerts around China, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Other engagements have included the role of Micaela in Carmen with Opera Hong Kong, Shanghai Symphony, and the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra in China; Valencienne in The Merry Widow with Fresno Grand Opera, Singapore Lyric Opera, and Opera Malaysia; and Zerlina in Chautauqua Opera’s Don Giovanni. Her earlier roles include Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro and Papagena in The Magic Flute, with Michigan Opera Theatre, Hawaii Opera Theater, and the Beijing Music Festival. She has sung with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra in Carmina Burana at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center, guest starred in a fundraiser concert for the Maui Symphony with the Maui Choral Arts Association at the Maui Cultural Center, as well as performed over the years with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Rutter’s Gloria and Bach’s Magnificat in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Ms. Almanza was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is an alumna of Cornell University. She lived in Italy for three years studying with Maestri Franco Corelli, Maurizio Arena, Claudia Pinza and Maria Chiara. She has participated in the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, Montreal and Puerto Rico where she worked frequently with Sherill Milnes and other renowned opera greats. While based in New York for seven years, she studied with Diana Soviero, Bill Schuman, Mark Oswald and Joan Dornemann and currently is back home in Hawaii where she’s begun her own vocal studio and enjoys time with her husband and son when not on tour performing!
Chad A. Johnson, tenor
Chad A. Johnson is quickly making a name for himself in the world of opera. Engagements in previous seasons included Alfredo in La traviata with Mobile Opera, Ruggero in La Rondine with Lyric Opera of San Diego, Ralph in HMS Pinafore with Nashville Opera, Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte with Sarasota Opera, and Paolino in Il matrimonio segreto at Brooklyn Academy of Music. His performances for 2008-2009 included the title role in Candide with Lyric Opera of San Diego, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with New Orleans Opera, Gérald in Lakmé with Florida Grand Opera, the tenor solo in Mozart’s Requiem with Atlanta Symphony, the Young tenor soloist in the world premiere of a new oratorio – Blizzard Voices with Opera Omaha, Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and an appearance with the Sun Valley Summer Symphony. Upcoming engagements for 2009-2010 include Alfredo in La traviata with both Dayton Opera and Greensboro Opera and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with both Virginia Opera and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. In concert he will be seen with the Alabama Symphony in Mozart’s Requiem and the Dayton Philharmonic for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
Mr. Johnson has participated in several young artist programs including Chicago Opera Theater, Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Artist Program for Singers and the Young Artist Ensemble at the Florida Grand Opera. During his two seasons with Florida Grand Opera he sang many roles including the Second Jew in Salome, Benvolio in Roméo et Juliette, Gastone in La traviata, Joszef in the North American premier of Ede Donath’s Szulamit and Pong in Turandot. The following summer, he sang the role of Harry, the miner in La fancuilla del West at Glimmerglass Opera, as a member of the Young American Artists Program at the Glimmerglass Opera.
An active concert soloist Mr. Johnson has performed with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra and Master Chorale, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, AIMS Festival Orchestra, the Symphony of the Americas and the New World Symphony. He has been a featured soloist in such works as Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Missa Brevis, Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music, Bach’s Magnificat and numerous recitals and concerts. Mr. Johnson has received prizes from the Young Patronesses of the Florida Grand Opera Vocal Competition, NATS regional and state vocal competitions, the Anna Sosenko Artist Assist Trust and the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts.
Fenlon Lamb, mezzo-soprano
American mezzo-soprano Fenlon Lamb consistently garners critical acclaim for her “dynamic, rich vocal sound” and “polished acting abilities.” This past season Ms. Lamb made her Seattle Opera debut as Enrichetta in I Puritani as well as her company and role debut with Berkshire Opera singing Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro. She also returned to the Bar Harbor Music Festival as Carmen and Sacramento Opera for Mrs. Grose in Turn of the Screw. In 2009, Ms. Lamb will sing Meg Page in Falstaff and Zerlina in Don Giovanni with Opera Cleveland. The following year she will sing the title role in La Cenerentola with Opera Vivente.
During the 2006/2007 season, Ms. Lamb portrayed the title role of Carmen for both the Mississippi and Granite State Opera companies. For the latter performance, Opera Online described her as a singer “gifted with a wonderful, resonant voice that packs plenty of punch in all the right places in the score.” Other recent engagements include Maddalena in Rigoletto with Opera Vivente, Flora in La Traviata at Opera Grand Rapids, Dorabella in Così fan tutte with Opera Santa Barbara, Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Sacramento Opera, Stephano in Roméo et Juliette with Opera Cleveland, and the title role in Agrippina with Opera Vivente.
Ms. Lamb debuted with the Cleveland Orchestra as Angelina in La Cenerentola. Performing the title role of Iolanthe for Cleveland Opera she sang with “fetching dignity and vocal allure,” while she brought “dry wit and knowing understatement” to Ilona in She Loves Me with Lyric Opera Cleveland. She also sang the Wife for the world premier of Come to Me in Dreams with baritone Sanford Sylvan. She has sung the Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd for both the Toledo and Cleveland Opera.
Concert appearances have included Beethoven’s Mass in C with Hartford Symphony, Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 with both the Toledo and Akron Symphonies, and the Opus 91songs of Brahms for the Toledo Symphony Chamber Music series. Additionally, Ms. Lamb has performed as soloist in Mozart’s Mass in c for Cleveland Choral Arts, Handel’s Messiah with Loyola Symphony, and Mozart’s Requiem with Santa Cruz Symphony.
Joseph Li, pianist
This season pianist/coach Joseph Li served as guest coach for Wagner’s Lohengrin at Houston Grand Opera under the baton of Patrick Summers. A recent alumnus of the HGO Studio, he coached several operas there including La fille du regiment, La bohème, Béatrice et Bénédict, the world premiere of Chorus!, and served as head coach for the world premiere of André Previn’s A Brief Encounter. This summer Mr. Li joined Pinchas Zukerman and Opera Lyra Ottawa as principal coach/repetiteur for OLO’s production of Die Zauberflöte, and earlier in the summer served on the coaching faculty for the Aspen Opera Theatre Centre and as chorus master for AOTC’s production of Don Giovanni. Other recent engagements include serving as coach and assistant conductor on Le nozze di Figaro at Berkshire Opera where he also appeared as recitalist on the Clark Museum’s “Vocal Colors” series and the multi-genre “Secrets of the Sky and Sea” at the Colonial Theatre. He is currently serving as guest faculty for the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. Upcoming engagements include duo recitals in Dallas and Sarasota later this season. 2010 marks Joseph’s first engagements in Asia under the auspices of Singers Beyond Borders.
Ryan Taylor, baritone
Baritone Ryan Taylor recently performed the role of Owen in Dead Man Walking, Ping in Turandot, Sharpless in Madame Butterfly and in Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle for the Fort Worth Opera. He has previously sung Germont in La Traviata with the Bar Harbor Music Festival, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia and Dandini in La Cenerentola with Opera Carolina, Marcello in La bohème with Jacksonville Symphony and Dayton Opera, and Guglielmo in Così fan tutte with Piedmont Opera and the Bar Harbor Music Festival. Additionally, he has performed Carmina Burana with the Bryan Symphony Orchestra, and Reno Philharmonic. For the Minnesota Opera, he has bowed as Ping in Turandot, Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Silvio in I Pagliacci, and Sharpless in Madame Butterfly. Mr. Taylor originated the role of Voltore in the world premiere of John Musto’s opera Volpone for the Wolf Trap Opera Company. He has portrayed Taddeo in L’Italiana in Algeri, Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Escamillo in Carmen, Harry Easter in Street Scene, and Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro.
On the concert platform, he has appeared in the Holocaust Cantata, Songs and Dances of Death, Handel’s Messiah, Mahler’s Symphony No.8, Stravinsky’s Pulcinella, Schubert’s Mass in G Major, Saint-Saëns’ Oratorio de Noël, and the Fauré and Duruflé Requiems. Mr. Taylor has previously appeared in concert in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Manila, and Singapore under the auspices of “Singers Beyond Borders.”
Wes Yoakam, guitar
In 2001, Wes Yoakam released his second album, Four Star Explosion, with his group “Big Atomic” to rave reviews and much critical acclaim. Track three “Breathe,” placed 5th out of 10,000 entries in NYC’s John Lennon Songwriting Contest, while other tracks “A Postcard From the Edge of the World” and “Evaporate” were selected by Smithereen’s frontman and B.E.A.M. Chairman Pat DiNizio to earn a B.E.A.M. Grant for emerging artists. Three songs from the album were also featured in director Ben Taylor’s most recent feature film, “In the Flesh” that was accepted into film festivals in the U.S. and Germany and earned a national distribution deal. MTV recognized his work by selecting “When Sparks Fly” to be featured in Making of the Video for Brittany Spears’ “Stronger”.
His next album release Wrestling the Dragon and the Rat sold 5,000 copies and is set for its second pressing. After spending several seasons in residency at the renowned music venue “The Club” in Vail, CO, Wes has returned to Atlanta where he is currently writing bluegrass material for a Georgia film project, and instrumental music for 3-D animation project “Jambalaya”. A sought-after collaborator in a variety of musical genres, Wes has been featured in performances with the Southeastern Festival of Song, Berkshire Opera and Bar Harbor Music Festival in programs entitled “The Great Escape”, “Secrets of the Sky and Sea”, and “Wine, Women & Song.”
2005 – 2008 Artist Roster
2008
Lea Woods Almanza, soprano
Fenlon Lamb, mezzo-soprano
Victor Ryan Robertson, tenor
Ryan Taylor, baritone
Tyson Deaton, pianist
2007
Lea Woods Almanza, soprano
Fenlon Lamb, mezzo-soprano
Victor Ryan Robertson, tenor
Ryan Taylor, baritone
Kim Pensinger Witman, pianist
2006
Lea Woods Almanza, soprano
Lauren McNeese, mezzo-soprano
Scott Scully, tenor
Ryan Taylor, baritone
Joshua Winograde, bass
Mary Dibbern, pianist
Recording Project – “The Stars are Brightly Shining”
Lea Woods Almanza, soprano
Jennifer Hines, mezzo-soprano
Todd Geer, tenor
Ryan Taylor, baritone
Jason Hardy, bass
Kathryn Olsen, pianist
2005
Lea Woods Almanza, soprano
Jennifer Hines, mezzo-soprano
Scott Piper, tenor
Ryan Taylor, baritone
Joshua Winograde, bass
Carrie-Ann Matheson, pianist