Artist in Residence Program

Francesca Mehrotra is an Indian-American soprano originally from Ashburn, VA. In the 2022-23 season, as a Resident Artist with Opera Colorado, Francesca will cover Gilda and sing Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto, as well as sing Gilda in the student matinee performance. Also at Opera Colorado, she will sing Mabel and Juliet in the touring productions of Pirates of Penzance and Romeo and Juliet, and Juliette in Die Tote Stadt. As an Apprentice Artist at Central City Opera, Francesca covered Clara in The Light in the Piazza and sang Ida in Die Fledermaus. Previous roles include Gretel (Hansel and Gretel) with Fort Worth Opera’s Children’s Opera Theatre, Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro) and Cleopatra (Giulio Cesare) at Seagle Festival, Zelda ‘18 (The Ghosts of Gatsby) with Opera Birmingham at the Opera America New Works Forum, Norina (Don Pasquale) and Mukhtar Mai (Thumbprint) at Boston Conservatory, Atalanta (Serse) at Opera NEO, and Nannetta (Falstaff), Tytania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), and Lucinda (Dark Sisters) at Texas Christian University. Francesca has a Master of Music in Opera Performance from the Boston Conservatory, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Bachelor of  Science in Strategic Communication from Texas Christian University. Francesca is thrilled to be joining Opera Colorado for its 40th Anniversary season! It’s a special gift to sing with a company whose mission aligns so beautifully with personal aspirations, and which strives to empower, challenge, and nurture young artists.

London-born mezzo-soprano Joanne Evans relishes the opportunity to share her fascination with what can be the supernatural power of the classical voice. Joanne made her US professional opera debut as Meg Page in Verdi’s Falstaff at Berkshire Opera Festival, alongside Tamara Wilson and Sebastian Catana. More recently, Joanne made her role debut as Olga in Eugene Onegin with Music Academy of the West. As part of her position as Resident Artist with Opera Colorado, Joanne will perform the roles of Giovanna/Cover Maddalena in Rigoletto, and Lucienne in Die tote Stadt. Through Opera Colorado’s community outreach touring program, Joanne will perform the roles of Stéphano/Gertrude in Romeo et Juliette, and Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance. Joanne is overjoyed to be joining Opera Colorado for their 40th anniversary season and couldn’t imagine a more welcoming and accomplished company to be joining. She looks forward to making Denver her home, and Denverites her family. Joanne was recently named a winner of the Met Opera Competition Boston District and was a finalist in the 2019 Harlem Opera Theatre competition.

David Soto Zambrana is a tenor from San Juan, Puerto Rico. He received a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma under Metropolitan Opera baritone Kim Josephson and was awarded a Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Encouragement Award in the Tulsa District. David will be performing Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance, Borsa in Rigoletto and covering the Duke of Mantua, Romeo in Roméo et Juliette, and chorus for Die Tote Stadt and Turandot. David is excited to join Opera Colorado for its 40th Anniversary Season and is thrilled to be making his operatic debut with the company.

Baritone Steve Valenzuela was born and raised in Waterbury, Connecticut. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Western Connecticut State University and his Master of Mu- sic degree from Louisiana State University. This season as an Opera Colorado Artist in Resi- dence, he will perform in the touring productions of Romeo and Juliette (Mercution/Prince) and The Pirates of Penzance (Major General); in the MainStage productions of Cavalleria Rusticana (Chorus), Rigoletto (Marullo), Die tote stadt (Chorus), and Turandot (Chorus). When asked about his thoughts on joining Opera Colorado for their 40th Anniversary Season his reply was “It’s unbelievable. I’m sure I’m in for an exciting time full great music, growth, and memories that will last a lifetime”. Previous operatic performance credits include Rigoletto (Count Ceprano), Le nozze di Figaro (Count Almaviva), Dog Days (Howard), Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), La bohème (Marcello)The Rake!s Progress (Nick Shadow), Threepenny Opera (John Peachum), Le nozze di Figaro (Figaro), Die Fledarmaus (Frank), The Merry Widow (Danilo), Tenderland (Top), and Trouble in Tahiti (Sam).

Turner Staton (bass-baritone) is a native of Kansas City, Missouri. His degrees include an artists diploma from William Jewell College, a master’s from Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and a bachelor’s from Pepperdine University. In 2022, Turner finished his tenure as an Apprentice Artist with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City where he performed in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Steve Jobs, Tosca, and was featured in the premiere of a Baseball: a Musical Love Letter. Recent performances include Le Nozze di Figaro (Figaro), Cosi fan Tutte (Don Alfonso), Elizabeth Cree (Uncle), Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), La Calisto (Mercurio), and Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle. Festivals include Opera Saratoga as a 2022 Festival Artist and Tanglewood Music Festival as a 2020, and 2021 (Covid Cancelation) Vocal Fellow. Turner is elated to be joining Opera Colorado for it’s 40^th Anniversary season as a 2022-2023 Resident Artist and will be seen in the touring productions of The Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King), and Romeo & Juliet (Capulet/Tybalt). As well as the mainstage productions of Rigoletto (Monterrone Cover/ Student Matinee), and Choruses of Die tote stadt, Turandot, and Cavalleria Rusticana.

Keith Klein is a 27-year-old operatic bass-baritone native to Kansas City, Missouri. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music (2018) and Florida State University (2020), Keith has a wide musical background and a rich singing voice. His singing career began with winning the 2014 KC Superstar competition and appearing on Season 10 of America’s Got Talent. Since then, he has been honing his craft in classical technique and singing for America’s most celebrated institutions. His most recent engagements include the role of King Melchior in the Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s 2021 production of Amahl and the Night Visitors, singing as a Gerdine Young Artist with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and being selected as a Fleming Artist for the Aspen Music Festival and School. As an Artist in Residence with Opera Colorado, Keith will be making his role debuts as Sergeant of Police in Pirates of Penzance, Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet, and Sparafucille in Rigoletto. Keith is immensely honored and excited to be a part of Opera Colorado’s 40th Anniversary season. It is an amazing milestone for such a widely-respected company and will once again be the host for wonderful music.

Oleg Bellini was born and raised in Italy, the son of an opera singer. He holds a master’s degree in Piano Performance from Conservatorio Statale di Musica A. Vivaldi in Italy. He also holds a master’s degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Georgia, where he studied with Dr. Liza Stepanova and Prof. Kathryn Wright. He also completed graduate studies in harpsichord at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden. While studying at UGA, Bellini served as an assistant vocal coach and principal collaborative pianist to Prof. Frederick P. Burchinal and Prof. Kathryn Wright on Opera productions including Don Giovanni, Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Pasquale, and many opera scenes productions.

Oleg has performed as a solo pianist in cities all across Europe and in the United States, including performances for the Stockholm Music Society in Sweden, Accademia R. Romanini of Brescia in Italy, and Steinway Piano Galleries of Atlanta. He has won multiple competitions and holds numerous awards for his piano performances. He has participated in summer music festivals such as La Musica Lirica in Novafeltria, Italy, under the baton of Maestro Joseph Rescigno; and Stafford Opera troupe summer programs in Virginia. One of his most recent professional collaborations was with Mazowiecki Teatr Muzyczny’s production of “Die Lustige Witwe” in Warsaw, Poland, with Maestro Arif Dadashev. He is excited to be joining the Opera Colorado Artist in Residence Program as the collaborative pianist.