The Opera Colorado Artist in Residence Program* is vital to the company’s mission of bringing opera to thousands of people across the Rocky Mountain region. Each season’s Artists in Residence perform in schools, community centers, and other venues across the state; take on select mainstage roles for Opera Colorado; and are the featured performers in the annual Student Matinee. Their eight-month residency in Denver also includes training and coaching from artistic staff and guest artists.
For more information, please contact Cherity Koepke, Director of the Opera Colorado Artist in Residence Program, at ckoepke@operacolorado.org or 303.778.0371.
The Artist in Residence Program is sponsored by Ken and Donna Barrow, with additional support from Patrick Spieles and Carol McMurry.
The Artist in Residence Showcase and Celebration Concerts are sponsored by Pam Beardsley, Penelope Lewis, and Carol Whitley.
MEET THE 2019-20 ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE
Laura Soto-Bayomi
sopranoSoprano Laura Soto-Bayomi is establishing herself as a passionate and versatile performer, equally at home on the concert and operatic stages. A native of Secaucus, NJ, Ms. Soto-Bayomi has performed with Amore Opera in NYC, and was the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the Brearley Singers at Riverside Church. During the summer of 2018, Ms. Soto-Bayomi performed the role of Magda in Kristine McIntyre’s production of La Rondine with Oberlin in Italy’s Arezzo Opera Festival. Ms. Soto-Bayomi has enjoyed summers as a Young Artist with the Chautauqua Opera Company (2015-17), performing the roles of Norina in Don Pasquale, Peep-Bo in The Mikado, Soprano 1 in Missy Mazzoli’s Song from the Uproar, and also sang in art song recitals and musical theatre cabarets. Other roles include Governess (The Turn of the Screw), Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus) and Climene (L’Egisto). Ms. Soto-Bayomi was a New England Disctrict Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Vocal Competition (’15) and a NJ State Opera Competition Finalist (’14). As an Artist in Residence with Opera Colorado for the 2019-20 season, Ms. Soto-Bayomi will appear as Berta in the mainstage production of The Barber of Seville, and in the touring productions as Gretel in Hansel and Gretel and Micaela in Carmen. Ms. Soto-Bayomi holds degrees from New England Conservatory (BM) and Bard College Conservatory’s Graduate Vocal Arts Program (MM) where she was a student of Patricia Misslin.
Kira Dills-Desurra
mezzo-sopranoKira Dills-DeSurra is a vibrant American mezzo-soprano whose magnetic stage presence has an effortless charm and truth. This season she will be returning to Opera Colorado as an Artist in Residence to cover the role of Rosina (The Barber of Seville) and sing Shepard Boy (Tosca). She will also be performing Hansel (Hansel and Gretel) and Carmen (Carmen) in Opera Colorado’s touring productions. This past season she debuted with Opera Colorado as Flora (La Traviata), Gertrude Stein in Tom Cipullo’s After Life and sang a performance of Cherubino in Mozart’s timeless masterpiece The Marriage of Figaro, she was also featured as Stéphano (Romeo and Juliet) and Hansel (Hansel and Gretel) in Opera Colorado’s touring productions. Kira has been an Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera the last two summers singing Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte) and Mercédès (Carmen). This summer she will be singing the role of Diana in La Calisto with Opera NEO. She hails from Petaluma, California and earned her Artist Diploma and Master of Music from Roosevelt University: Chicago College of Performing Arts and her Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern California.
Thomas Cilluffo
tenorThomas Cilluffo received his MM in Voice Performance in April of 2017 from the University of Michigan where he studied under the legendary tenor, George Shirley. Tom grew up in Traverse City in northern Michigan where he developed his love for music and theater, but he also has many other passions. He is an avid craftsman and enjoys making jewelry, woodworking, and blacksmithing. For the past seven years, Tom has held a “second job” making fine custom conducting batons for orchestral and choral conductors all over the world. He’s even been known to make a magic wand or two! Other than making loud noises while singing opera, he also plays the Highland Bagpipes, making him a favorite of the neighbors… Before coming to Opera Colorado, Tom was the tenor resident artist with Portland Opera in Portland, Oregon where he sang Contino Belfiore in La Finta Giardiniera, Borsa in Rigoletto, and the Sergeant of Police in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Other credits include Spoletta in Portland Summerfest’s Tosca, Adolfo Pirelli in Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s Sweeney Todd, Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), and Roméo (Roméo et Juliette). This season at Opera Colorado, he will perform the role of Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville at the student matinee, as well as cover the role on the mainstage, Spoletta in Tosca, The Witch in the touring production of Hansel and Gretel, and Don Jose in the touring production of Carmen.
Isaiah Feken
baritoneIsaiah Feken, a former Patricia and Dr. Carl S. Hoveland opera fellow, recently finished his graduate studies at the University of Georgia where he served as the principal baritone for UGA Opera Theatre. Roles with UGA Opera Theatre include Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Guglielmo in Cosí fan tutte, and the title role of Don Giovanni. Other credits include Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff with Crested Butte Music Festival as well Fred Graham in Kiss Me Kate! and Harry Stritch in the world premiere of A New Kind of Fallout with Opera Theatre Pittsburgh. As an Artist in Residence for Opera Colorado’s 2019-2020 season, Isaiah will perform the mainstage role of The Jailer in Tosca and sing the role of Figaro in the student matinee performance of The Barber of Seville. As a part of the touring productions, he will perform the Father in Hansel and Gretel and Escamillo in Carmen. Isaiah is a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and received his Bachelors of Music from University of Tulsa.
Eric McConnell
bass-baritoneOriginally from Thornton, CO, Eric McConnell has trained as a young artist with Central City Opera, Opera Saratoga, Seagle Music Colony, and the Aspen Opera Center. McConnell made his debut with Opera Colorado this past fall as Dr. Grenvil in La Traviata. With the company’s touring productions, he performed Sandman in Hansel and Gretel and Friar Laurence in Romeo & Juliet. Other past roles for McConnell include Blitch (Susannah), Bartolo/Basilio (The Barber of Seville), Frank (Die Fledermaus), and Sarastro (The Magic Flute). Additional career highlights include singing Elisha Fitzgibbon in the orchestral premiere of Evan Mack’s Roscoe with the Albany Symphony Orchestra, in a performance featuring renowned soprano Deborah Voigt. This summer, he sings the Sodbuster in Missy Mazzoli’s Proving Up at the Aspen Music Festival and School. This season, he returns as an Artist in Residence at Opera Colorado, where he will perform as Ambrogio in The Barber of Seville and Angelotti in Tosca. Additionally, he will sing Bartolo in the student matinée performance of The Barber of Seville. He will also make his debut with the Denver Philharmonic, singing the bass soloist in Mozart’s Requiem. McConnell holds degrees from Northwestern University and the University of Miami.
Joshua South
bassJoshua South, bass, has performed with many world-class performers, including Paul McCartney, Kelli O’Hara, and Kelsey Grammar at venues such as Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center. In the 2018-2019 season, he sang Riff in West Side Story (Central City Opera), Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte (Boulder Opera Company), Sarastro in The Magic Flute (Arapahoe Philharmonic), Pandolfe in Cendrillon (Boulder Opera Company), Dottore Grenvil in La Traviata (St. Petersburg Opera and Boulder Symphony) and the Big Bad Wolf in Cesar Cui’s Little Red Riding Hood (Boulder Opera Company). In 2016, South was featured at Opera North (USA) as Angelotti in Tosca. He also sang the role of Sparafucile with Amore Opera, the Alter Diener in Elektra with Create Opera, and was an apprentice artist with Sarasota Opera. Joshua also developed and performed the role of Mr. Hare in the New York workshop of Julian Grant and Mark Campbell’s The Nefarious, Immoral but Highly Profitable Enterprise of Mr. Burke & Mr. Hare, a new opera which served as a collaborative effort between Boston Lyric Opera and Music Theatre Group. As an Opera Colorado Artist in Residence this season, Joshua will perform the mainstage roles of Fiorello in The Barber of Seville and sing Basilio in the Student Matinee performance. He will also perform Sciaronne in Tosca. With the company’s touring productions, he will perform Sandman in Hansel and Gretel, and Zuniga in Carmen. Joshua holds music degrees from Manhattan School of Music, Birmingham Southern College, and is originally from Huntsville, Alabama.
Tyler Tucker
coach accompanist2018-2019
- Rebekah Howell, Soprano
- Kira Dills-DeSurra, Mezzo-Soprano
- Aaren Rivard, Tenor
- Nicholas Kreider*, Baritone
- Edward Laurenson, Baritone
- Eric McConnell, Bass-Baritone
- Tyler Tucker, Pianist
*Recipient of the Norblom Award
2017-2018
- Nicole Keeling, Soprano
- Vanessa Naghdi, Soprano
- Katherine Beck, Mezzo-Soprano
- Nathan Ward, Tenor
- Nicholas Kreider, Baritone
- Heath Martin, Baritone
- Andrew Hiers*, Bass-Baritone
- Jordan Ortman, Pianist
*Recipient of the Norblom Award
2016-2017
- Allison Nicholas, Soprano
- Danielle Lombardi, Mezzo-Soprano
- Omar Najmi*, Tenor
- Charles Eaton, Baritone
- Ryan Bradford, Baritone
- Parisa Zaeri, Pianist
*Recipient of the Norblom Award
2015-2016
- Emily Robinson, Soprano
- Danielle Lombardi, Mezzo-Soprano
- Benjamin Werley, Tenor
- Charles Eaton*, Baritone
- William Bryan, Baritone
- Alaina DeBellevue, Pianist
*Recipient of the Norblom Award
2014-2015
- Leah Bobbey, Soprano
- Katherine Sanford, Mezzo-Soprano
- Brett Sprague*, Tenor
- Andrew Paulson, Baritone
- Daniel DeVicente, Bass-Baritone
- Allan Armstrong, Pianist
*Recipient of the Norblom Award
2014
- Coleen Jackson, Soprano
- Louise Rogan, Mezzo-Soprano
- Brett Sprague, Tenor
- Jared Guest*, Baritone
- Benjamin Sieverding, Bass
- Taylor Baldwin, Pianist
*Recipient of the Norblom Award
2012-2013
- Morgan Harmison, Soprano
- Cassidy Smith*, Mezzo-Soprano
- Joshua Bouillon, Tenor
- Alexander DeSocio, Baritone
- Jared Guest, Baritone
- Steven Aguilo-Arbues, Pianist
*Recipient of the Norblom Award
2011-2012
- Amy Maples, Soprano
- Danielle Greiner, Mezzo-Soprano
- Dustin Peterson, Tenor
- John Allen Nelson, Baritone
- Christopher Besch*, Bass-Baritone
- Steven Aguilo-Arbues, Pianist
*Recipient of the Norblom Award
2010-2011
- Christie Hageman, Soprano
- Julia Tobiska, Mezzo-Soprano
- Adam Ulrich, Tenor
- Benjamin Moore*, Baritone
- Ryan Speedo Green, Bass-Baritone
- Steven Aguilo-Arbues, Pianist
*Recipient of the Norblom Award
2009-2010
- Donata Cucinotta*, Soprano
- Julia Tobiska*, Mezzo-Soprano
- Brendan Daly*, Tenor
- Lukas Graf*, Baritone
- Jeffrey Seppala*, Baritone
- Alexander Scopino*, Bass
- Steven Aguilo-Arbues*, Pianist
*Recipient of the Norblom Award
2008-2009
- Anna Noggle*, Soprano
- Donata Cucinotta*, Soprano
- Wendy Buzby*, Mezzo-Soprano
- Brendan Daly*, Tenor
- Lucas Goodrich*, Tenor
- Jeffrey Seppala*, Baritone
- Rodolfo Nieto*, Bass-Baritone
- Steven Aguilo-Arbues*, Pianist
*Joint recipients of the Norblom Award
2007-2008
- Michelle Trovato*, Soprano
- Kristin Berhmann*, Mezzo-Soprano
- Eve Orenstein*, Mezzo-Soprano
- Hak Soo Kim*, Tenor
- Carlos Aguirre*, Baritone
- Rodolfo Nieto*, Bass-Baritone
- Steven Aguilo-Arbues*, Pianist
*Joint recipients of the Norblom Award
2007
- Lianne Coble, Soprano
- Sangeetha Appavoo, Soprano
- Christina Rosas, Mezzo-Soprano
- Chester Pidduck, Tenor
- Gregory Bruce, Baritone
- Christopher Job, Bass
- Christopher Thompson, Pianist
2006
- Mary Ellen Assue, Soprano
- Heather Hill, Soprano
- Leslie Remmert Soich, Mezzo-Soprano
- Andy Truex, Tenor
- Adam Sattley, Tenor
- Jonathan Morales, Baritone
- Michael Tilley, Pianist
2005
- Kearstin Piper Brown*, Soprano
- Sharon Eisert, Soprano
- Julie Baron, Mezzo-Soprano
- Eapen Leubner, Tenor
- Jeremy Aye, Baritone
- Colin Brady, Bass-Baritone
- Michael Mastronicola, Pianist
*Recipient of the Norblom Award
2004
- Elizabeth Brooks, Soprano
- Veronica Chapman-Smith, Soprano
- Jennifer DeDominici, Mezzo-Soprano
- Andrew Ranson, Tenor
- John Fulton, Baritone
- Marc Heeg, Pianist
2003
- Stacey Canterbury, Soprano
- Emily Sinclair, Soprano
- Jennifer Herzig*, Mezzo-Soprano
- John Tiranno, Tenor
- Bradley Thompson, Baritone
- Glen Denis, Pianist
*Recipient of the Norblom Award
*Prior to the 2018-19 season, the Artist in Residence Program was known as the Young Artist Program.