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.

Dante Mireles is from McAllen, Texas and first began singing opera in high school as a chorister in South Texas Lyric Opera’s productions. Mireles received his Bachelor of Music in voice from Texas Christian University, where he received the Nordan Music Scholarship. During Mireles’s years at TCU, he performed in several productions with the TCU Opera Studio and Fort Worth Opera. Mireles received his master’s degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Cesar Ulloa. Most notable among his performances at SFCM include Ariadne auf Naxos (Music Master), Firebird Motel (Trooper), Hansel and Gretel (Father), and Clemenza di Tito (Publio). Mireles is thrilled to be reaching a personal milestone by making his house debut as one of Opera Colorado’s Artists in Residence this season. In the company’s mainstage season, he will sing in Rigoletto (Marullo), Die tote Stadt (chorus), and Turandot (The Mandarin). In Opera Colorado’s touring productions, Mireles will sing in The Pirates of Penzance (Major General) and Romeo & Juliet (Mercutio and The Prince).

Bass-baritone Michael Leyte-Vidal is a proud Cuban-American and Miami native who is thrilled to join the Opera Colorado community. Michael receieved his Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music. Prior to studying opera, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Florida State University, where he studied acting and musical theatre and participated in competitive acapella. Michael will bring his varied influences and experiences to Opera Colorado’s 2022-23 Season by singing in the Opera on Tour productions of The Pirates of Penzance (Samuel/Sergeant of Police) and Romeo & Juliet (Friar Laurence). He will also be seen in mainstage productions in the chorus for Die tote Stadt and Turandot. Michael is honored to be joining Opera Colorado for its 40th Anniversary Season! As the world of opera changes, along with the world at large, working with a value-driven company that prioritizes integrity, inclusivity, outreach, and community is a distinct privilege.

Turner Staton (bass-baritone) is a native of Kansas City, Missouri. His degrees include an artists diploma from William Jewell Collge, a master’s drom 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 Baseball: a Musical Love Letter. Recent performances include Le nozze di Figaro (Figaro), Così fan tutte (Don Alfonso), Elizabeth Cree (Uncle), Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), La Calisto (Mercurio), and Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle. Festivals include Opera Satatoga as a 2022 Festival Artists and Tanglewood Music Festival as 2020 Vocal Fellow. Turner is elated to be joining Opera Colorado for its 40th Anniversary Season as a 2022-23 Artist in Residence, and he will be seen in the touring productions of The Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King) and Romeo & Juliet (Capulet/Tybalt). He will also be in the mainstage productions of Rigoletto (Monterrone, cover/Student Matinee), and chorus for Die tote Stadt and Turandot. 

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.