Artist in Residence Program

Catherine Swindle (soprano) is from Lubbock, Texas, and is a graduate of Manhattan School of Music with a master’s degree in Classical Voice. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Vocal Performance and French from Texas Tech University. She was recently awarded second place in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions New England Regional competition after winning the Connecticut District competition. Some concert highlights include performing Respighi’s Il Tramonto with the American String Quartet and participating in artist Lee Mingwei’s Sonic Blossom installation at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Other previous credits include Die Zauberflöte (First Lady), Bloch’s Macbeth (Première sorcière), Mozart’s Così fan tutte (Fiordiligi), and Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea (Poppea). She is delighted to return for a second season as a member of the 2021-22 Opera Colorado Artist in Residence program. She will perform in the touring productions of The Barber of Seville (Berta) and The Pirates of Penzance (Mabel); in the mainstage productions of Tosca (chorus) and The Shining (Mrs. Grady); and in the mainstage production (Frasquita) and student matinee performance (Micaëla) of Carmen.

Kendra Broom (mezzo-soprano) grew up in the California Bay Area and studied at Manhattan School of Music on the Birgit Nilsson Scholarship and at the Curtis Institute of Music as a Shaun F. O’ Malley Fellow. She is a recipient of the Shoshana Foundation’s Richard F. Gold Career Grant. Her recent appearances include title roles in Pelléas et Mélisande, L’enfant et les sortilèges, and The Rape of Lucretia, with other credits in Le nozze di Figaro (Cherubino), Hänsel und Gretel (Hänsel), and Lakme (Mallika). She was a featured guest with Curtis Institute’s 20/21 Ensemble, OPERA America’s New Works Forum, WWFM’s Celebrating Our Musical Future, and Opera Philadelphia’s Double Exposure. This season, she returns for a second season as an Opera Colorado Artist in Residence. She will perform in the touring productions of The Barber of Seville (Rosina) and The Pirates of Penzance (Ruth); in the mainstage productions of Tosca (Shepherd Boy/Chorus) and The Shining (Mrs. Massey); and in the mainstage production (Mercedes) and student matinee performance (Carmen) of Carmen.

Spencer Lawrence Boyd (tenor) has sung leading roles in L’elisir d’amore (Nemorino), La tragedie de Carmen (Don José), Die Zauberflöte (Tamino), and Mireille (Vincent), among others. Originally from Canal Fulton, Ohio, Spencer received a bachelor’s degree from Chapman University, a master’s degree from Kent State University, and a doctoral degree from Indiana University. As an Artist in Residence with Opera Colorado for the 2021-22 Season, he will perform in the touring productions of The Barber of Seville (Count Almaviva) and The Pirates of Penzance (Frederic); in the mainstage productions of Tosca (Spoletta) and The Shining (Lloyd the Bartender and Bill Watson); and in the mainstage production (Remendado) and student matinee performance (Don José) of Carmen.

Joseph Goodale (baritone) is a native of Dallas, Texas. He holds a master’s degree in Voice Performance from Southern Methodist University and a bachelor’s degree from Dallas Baptist University. His previous performances include collegiate productions of Cosí fan tutte (Don Alfonso), My Fair Lady (Henry Higgins), The Fantasticks (El Gallo), and Gianni Schicchi (Marco), in addition to various solo performances. While at SMU, he was an education artist for the Dallas Opera, performing in touring and digital productions of Bizet’s Doctor Miracle (The Mayor). During Opera Colorado’s 2021-22 Season, he will perform in the touring productions of The Barber of Seville (Ambrogio/Figaro cover) and The Pirates of Penzance (Major General); in the  mainstage productions of Tosca (Jailer/chorus) and The Shining (Crooner); and in the mainstage production (Moralès) and student matinee performance (Dancaìre) of Carmen.

Thomas Lynch (baritone) is from Long Island. He received his bachelor’s degree from Westminster Choir College at Rider University and his master’s degree from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. He has participated in young artists programs such as Bel Canto at Caramoor, Seagle Music Colony, and Hawaii Opera Theater. His recent performances include The Great Gatsby (Nick Caraway), Cosi fan tutte (Guglielmo), Eugene Onegin (Commander/Officer), Dialogues of the Carmelites (Marquis de la Force), The Consul (John Sorel), The Manchurian Candidate (Sgt. Raymond Shaw), and Salome (2nd Soldier/John the Baptist cover). Other performances include soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra under Rossen Milanov and baritone soloist for Goodall’s Eternal Light: Requiem with the MIT Cambridge Chinese Choral Society. Tom is excited to be returning for a second season with the Opera Colorado Artist in Residence Program, during which he will perform in the touring productions of The Barber of Seville (Figaro/Ambrogio cover) and The Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King); in the mainstage productions of Tosca (Sciaronne) and The Shining (Horace Derwent); and in the mainstage production (Dancaìre) and student matinee performance (Escamillo) of Carmen.

Phillip Lopez (bass-baritone) is from Avon, Illinois, and is a graduate of the Yale School of Music. He also holds degrees from Wichita State University and Millikin University. Recent performances include Rigoletto (Monterone), Don Giovanni (Masetto), The Rake’s Progress (Nick Shadow), Don Quichotte (Sancho), Schubert’s Winterreise, and Florencia en el Amazonas (Riolobo). He has been seen in Le nozze di Figaro (Antonio), An American Soldier (Major Rose/Spc. Austin Haldemann), The Grapes of Wrath (Traffic Cop/Peach Checker), and Madama Butterfly (The Imperial Commissioner), all with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. Other roles include Gianni Schicchi, Street Scene (Frank Maurrant), Le nozze di Figaro (Figaro), L’elisir d’amore (Dottore Dulcamara), and Acis & Galatea (Polyphemus). Phillip is excited to be an Artist in Residence at Opera Colorado for the 2021-22 Season, during which he will perform in the touring productions of The Barber of Seville (Don Bartolo) and The Pirates of Penzance (Sergeant of Police) and in the mainstage productions of Tosca (Angelotti), The Shining (Senator), and Carmen (Zuniga).

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.