Get To Know Our 2023-24 Artists in Residence
Opera Colorado travels to all corners of its home state through touring productions and other educational programs, in addition to the operas on stage at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Throughout the season, you might begin to recognize the faces of our Artists in Residence. This specialized, nine-month program nurtures and builds the talents of emerging artists. Each year, we audition hundreds of singers from around the world for the program, and some even return for multiple seasons! Get to know the 2023-24 Artists in Residence and find out what they are binge watching, what their dream roles are, and more!
Come see the Artists in Residence at their first public performance on Friday, September 22 at the Artist in Residence Showcase.>>
Kerby Baier, soprano
Saane Halaholo, soprano
Melanie Dubil, mezzo-soprano
Randy Ho, tenor
Alexander Granito, baritone
Turner Staton, bass-baritone
Oleg Bellini, resident collaborative pianist
Meet the Artist: Kerby Baier, soprano
Where are you from? I am originally from Woodstock, Georgia. It’s northwest of Atlanta, or “A-town” as some call it.
What excites you about Colorado? I’m very excited to explore the Colorado mountains and all of the outdoorsy things! I’ve lived in the Southeast my entire life, and I’m looking forward to seeing what life out West is like.
What are you most looking forward to performing during your residency with Opera Colorado? I’m most looking forward to singing Zerlina in Opera Colorado’s production of Don Giovanni!
If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be and why? I would be a coffee scoop because I’d live in the coffee grounds and someone would hold me every day.
What are you doing this summer before starting your residency? This summer, I am continuing to teach voice lessons and do administrative work at Chapel Hill School of Musical Arts in North Carolina. Also, I plan to enjoy a few beach and mountain getaways.
What is a movie, show, or book you are enjoying right now? I recently discovered the long-loved show Rick and Morty and am loving it. I’ve also been gripped by Succession like the rest of the world.
What’s your dream role? My dream roles are Despina in Così fan tutte and Anne Trulove in The Rake’s Progress.
Describe yourself in three emojis.
What is your favorite music outside of opera? I love musical theatre and jazzy bands like Lake Street Dive.
Meet the Artist: Saane Halaholo, soprano
Where are you from? Orinda, California.
What excites you about Colorado? I’m excited to be closer to my family in California and experience the beautiful nature!
What are you most looking forward to performing during your residency with Opera Colorado? I’m most looking forward to performing Donna Anna in the Student Matinee of Don Giovanni.
If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be and why? I would be a spoon because they’re versatile and give you the most bang for your buck when eating curry.
What are you doing this summer before starting your residency? This summer I am covering Cio-Cio San in Cincinnati Opera’s new production of Madame Butterfly.
What is a movie, show, or book you are enjoying right now? I am loving the new season of Queer Eye on Netflix!
What’s your dream role? My dream role is the title role in Verdi’s Aida.
Describe yourself in three emojis.
What is your favorite music outside of opera? I am a big fan of R&B, hip hop, indie pop, and above all else: anything that Beyoncé has ever breathed on.
Meet the Artist: Melanie Dubil, mezzo-soprano
Where are you from? Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
What excites you about Colorado? I love the stunning Rocky Mountains; after spending two summers in Colorado, I cannot imagine a more beautiful or inspiring place to make music!
What are you most looking forward to performing during your residency with Opera Colorado? I am most looking forward to covering Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, as well as performing the role in the Student Matinee. I am also excited to sing the title role in Opera Colorado’s touring production of Rossini’s Cinderella.
If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be and why? If I were a kitchen utensil, I would likely be an immersion blender, not just because I love soup, but because I think they are really powerful and can be quite rowdy.
What are you doing this summer before starting your residency? This summer, I returned to Central City Opera as a Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Apprentice Artist where I covered the role of Stéphano in Romeo and Juliet and performed the role for their annual Nina Odescalchi Kelly Emerging Artists Matinee. While there, I appeared in Kiss Me, Kate (Wardrobe Lady/chorus) and Otello (chorus), as well as sang a solo recital for Central City Opera’s annual Lunch and Song series.
What is a movie, show, or book you are enjoying right now? A movie I recently have been obsessing over is Tár starring Cate Blanchett.
What’s your dream role? My current dream role is Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier.
Describe yourself in three emojis.
What is your favorite music outside of opera? I love all types of music outside of opera, but recently I’ve been listening mostly to an eclectic combination of Édith Piaf, Ashnikko, Eartha Kitt, Princess Nokia, and the Boswell Sisters.
Meet the Artist: Randy Ho, tenor
Where are you from? Denver, Colorado.
What excites you about Colorado? Being from Colorado, I am biased. I love the sunsets in Colorado, especially when facing west, and seeing how the color of the Rockies changes as it passes 6 p.m.
What are you most looking forward to performing during your residency with Opera Colorado? I am super excited to sing everything in the upcoming season. I am really thankful to have the chance to sing in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, since it is where I graduated high school.
If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be and why? An Instant Pot, I have a lot of different skills but don’t always have a chance to use them all.
What are you doing this summer before starting your residency? Before returning to Denver, I debuted professionally with Opera Saratoga, singing Ernesto in Don Pasquale as a festival artist this year. I was also in Opera Baltimore’s Faust, covering the title role, this past April.
What is a movie, show, or book you are enjoying right now? I am currently rewatching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and just finished Beef.
What’s your dream role? Nemorino in Elixir of Love.
Describe yourself in three emojis.
What is your favorite music outside of opera? Indie rock, hip-hop, and house music.
Meet the Artist: Alexander Granito, baritone
Where are you from? Orange County, California.
What excites you about Colorado? I am excited to be in Colorado because the city of Denver is surrounded by incredible natural features, which makes it a great place for outdoor activities that I enjoy such as hiking and golf. Denver is also a beautiful city that I cannot wait to explore.
What are you most looking forward to performing during your residency with Opera Colorado? During my residency, I am most excited to perform the role of Don Giovanni in the Student Matinee of Mozart’s Don Giovanni and cover the role in the mainstage performance.
If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be and why? If I were a kitchen utensil, I would be a metal spork. A metal spork is adaptable and utilitarian, as there is no food it won’t be able to dig into. It’s also shiny and strong, which are attributes that I believe show positivity and dependability.
What are you doing this summer before starting your residency? This summer, before my residency, I am a fellow at the Music Academy of the West.
What is a movie, show, or book you are enjoying right now? A show I am currently enjoying is called 1899 on Netflix, a mystery show about the disappearance of a large passenger ship.
What’s your dream role? Coincidently, my dream role has been to perform Don Giovanni in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, so I am super excited and honored to have the opportunity to perform it this year at Opera Colorado!
Describe yourself in three emojis.
What is your favorite music outside of opera? My favorite music to listen to outside of opera is electronic dance music; some of my favorite artists include Mitis, Calvin Harris, and Eric Prydz.
Re-Meet Returning Artist: Turner Staton, bass-baritone
Where are you from? Kansas City, Missouri.
What excites you about Colorado? Since I’m coming back for my second season, I would say I’m most excited about going on adventures I never got around to during my first season—like white water rafting!
What are you most looking forward to performing during your residency with Opera Colorado? This season is full of fantastic productions, but, for me, I think performing in Don Giovanni as Masetto in the mainstage production and Leporello in the Student Matinee will be a massive highlight for me!
If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be and why? Definitely a spork; I’m a bit of an odd duck, but I try and be useful in any way that I can!
What are you doing this summer before starting your residency? I will be getting life in order by finally finishing my website and taking new headshots, as well as preparing the six different roles I will be singing this upcoming season.
What is a movie, show, or book you are enjoying right now? I am a huge Dungeons and Dragons fan, so I have been watching Dimension 20.
What’s your dream role? Thankfully, I have had the opportunity to cross a lot of my dream roles off of my list, but I still hope to do a Sweeny Todd someday!
Describe yourself in three emojis.
What is your favorite music outside of opera? Honestly, I don’t know if I have a favorite type of music, but I love anything that can make me feel a sense of relief like the Punch Brothers band.
Returning for a third season: Oleg Bellini, resident collaborative pianist
Where are you from? Alessandria, Italy.
What excites you about Colorado? I am excited to keep exploring this beautiful state and its natural wonders.
What are you most looking forward to performing during your residency with Opera Colorado? I cannot wait to start performing Elixir of Love and Cinderella in our touring productions.
If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be and why? Well, just because I am Italian, I have to go with a pizza cutter.
What are you doing this summer before starting your residency? I will be practicing for the next season; there is a lot to learn.
What is a movie, show, or book you are enjoying right now? I recently started reading the The Witcher series.
What’s your dream role? If I were a singer, my dream role would be Rigoletto.
Describe yourself in three emojis.
What is your favorite music outside of opera? I like to listen to 80’s music.
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We have a very talented group with us this year. We are excited to share their talents with you in the 2023-24 Season. Are you excited to meet the Artists? Your first chance is their performance on Friday, September 22 at the Artist in Residence Showcase>> See you there!