Artist in Residence Program

Kerby originally hails from Atlanta, Georgia, and graduated from East Carolina University with her Master of Music in voice performance and pedagogy. Previously, she graduated from Furman University in South Carolina. This season with Opera Colorado, she looks forward to singing in the mainstage production of Don Giovanni (Zerlina), and in the touring productions of The Elixir of Love (Adina) and Cinderella (Tisbe). She has performed in The Coronation of Poppea (Poppea) and Dialogues of the Carmélites (Blanche) with ECU Opera Theatre, and Dido and Aeneas (Belinda) with Furman Lyric Opera. Kerby is delighted to be joining the company and to trade her east coast views for the Colorado mountains!

Tongan-American and California native Saane Aziza Halaholo is already gaining recognition as a promising, young lyric soprano. Saane’s repertoire includes Dialogues of the Carmélites (Blanche and New Prioress), Susannah (Susannah), Le nozze di Figaro (Contessa Almaviva), L’amant anonyme (Léontine), Candide (Cunegonde), and Chérubin (Nina). A three-time Wolf Trap Opera Studio Artist, Saane made her professional debut there in 2022 singing in La traviata (Annina). Recently, she was engaged to sing in the Santa Fe Opera commission The Righteous (Marilyn) by Gregory Spears and Tracy K. Smith and Opera Fusion: New Works workshop in conjunction with Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, where she received her Master of Music and Artist Diploma degrees. In the 2023-24 Season, she will cover Donna Anna in Don Giovanni and perform in the touring productions of The Elixir of Love (Giannetta) and Cinderella (Clorinda). She is excited to sing for schools in the Denver metro area, and maybe even try winter sports for the first time!

Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, mezzo-soprano Melanie Dubil strives to contribute to experiences in which the world of classical vocal music can be relatable, accessible, and cathartic. Her recent operatic credits include Roméo et Juliette (Stéphano, cover), Kiss Me, Kate (Wardrobe Lady/Chorus), Two Remain (Edka), and Die Fledermaus (chorus) as a Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera. At Bard College Conservatory, Melanie appeared in Iolanthe (Queen of the Fairies), The Cunning Little Vixen (Lapák/Mrs. Pásková), Seven Deadly Sins (Anna I), and The Medium (Mrs. Nolan). In 2020, she was awarded an Emerging Artist Award in the Lotte Lenya Competition and starred in a virtual production of the musical 110 in the Shade (Lizzie) with the Chautauqua Institute. In concert, Melanie appeared at Carnegie Hall as a soloist in Serenade to Music at Manhattan School of Music’s 2019 Centennial Gala and sang in Jephte (Historicus) at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in 2018. Growing up in an Armenian and Ukrainian-American household, Melanie has always been curious about her ancestry. In 2018, she appeared at Opera America’s Marc A. Scorca Hall in a recital highlighting Ukrainian art and folk songs, and, recently, shared the work of iconic Armenian composer and ethnomusicologist Komitas Vardapet in an art song recital with Central City Opera. With Opera Colorado, Melanie will cover the role of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni and perform the role in the Student Matinee. Additionally, she will sing the title role in Opera Colorado’s touring production of Cinderella. Melanie holds degrees from Bard College Conservatory’s Graduate Vocal Arts Program (MM, 2022) and Manhattan School of Music (BM, 2020).

Tenor Randy Ho is ecstatic to return to his hometown and join the Opera Colorado Artist in Residence program for the 2023-24 Season. He will be performing in Opera Colorado’s mainstage performances, covering Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni and Samson and Delilah (Philistine Messenger). He will also be featured in the touring productions of The Elixir of Love (Nemorino) and Cinderella (Ramiro). Randy is grateful for the chance to share opera with more students in Denver and learn roles he has always dreamed of learning. During the 2022-23 Season, Randy was a Studio Artist at Pensacola Opera, where he performed in La bohème (Parpignol, Rodolfo cover) and Carousel (Enoch Snow). This past summer, Randy made his professional debut with Opera Saratoga in Don Pasquale (Ernesto). His favorite performances include La scala di seta (Dorvil), Hin und Zurück (Robert), Turn of the Screw (Peter Quint), Gianni Schicchi (Rinuccio), and Die Zauberflöte (Tamino). As a concert soloist, Randy has performed with The National Repertory Orchestra, Pensacola Choral Society, and The Denver Spirituals Project. Randy holds degrees from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University (M.M. in 2022) and the University of Denver (B.M. and B.S. in 2020).

Alexander Granito is a baritone from Orange County, California. Alex earned his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in vocal performance at San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he studied under voice teacher Cesar Ulloa. While studying at the conservatory, Alex’s notable performances include Die Fledermaus (Dr. Eisenstein, Dr. Falke), L’amant anonym (Valcour), Ariadne auf Naxos (Music Master), and Mamelles de Tiresias (Le Gendarme, Le Directeur). Alex is honored and excited to be an Opera Colorado Artist in Residence for the 2023-24 Season where he has the opportunity to work with a company committed to growing the audience of opera and investing in the growth of its artists. In the 2023-24 Season, Alex will sing in the mainstage productions of Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni, cover/Student Matinee) and Samson and Delilah (Second Philistine). Alex will also perform in the company’s touring productions of The Elixir of Love (Belcore) and Cinderella (Dandini).

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, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, and Tosca, and was featured in the premiere of Baseball: a Musical Love Letter. In Opera Colorado’s 40th Anniversary Season, Turner appeared in the mainstage productions of Rigoletto (Ceprano, Monterrone cover), and in the touring productions of The Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King) and Romeo & Juliet (Capulet/Tybalt). Additional performance credits include Le nozze di Figaro (Figaro), Così fan tutte (Don Alfonso), La Calisto (Mercurio), and Petite messe solennelle. Festivals include Opera Saratoga as a 2022 Festival Artist and Tanglewood Music Festival as a 2020, and 2021 Vocal Fellow. Turner is elated to be returning to Opera Colorado for his second season as a 2023-24 Artist in Residence and will be featured in the mainstage productions of Don Giovanni (Masetto/Leporello cover) and Samson and Delilah (Old Hebrew), and touring productions of The Elixir of Love (Dulcamara) and Cinderella (Alidoro/Don Magnifico).

Oleg Bellini was born and raised in Alessandria, 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 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 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 joined Opera Colorado as the Artist in Residence Collaborative Pianist in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 Seasons where he served as the coach and pianist for The Barber of Seville, The Pirates of Penzance, and Romeo & Juliet, and was the répétiteur for the Student Matinee of Rigoletto, pit musician in Die tote Stadt, and assisted the music team on Turandot. For the 2023-24 Season, Oleg is excited to be returning to Opera Colorado as the Resident Collaborative Pianist. He will coach and play for the touring productions of Cinderella and The Elixir of Love, and he will join the music team for the mainstage productions of Don Giovanni, The Flying Dutchman, and Samson and Delilah. He will also be the featured pianist for performances such as Arias & Ensembles, Storytimes Sessions, Sip & Sing, and American Song.