Merola Opera Program celebrated 60 years of training the opera stars of tomorrow and launched the Merola Summer Festival season with a benefit gala on June 11th. If you missed it, there are a few opportunities to catch the talented singers, apprentice coaches, and apprentice stage director in action this summer. The next performance is the popular Schwabacher Summer Concert on July 6th. Check Red Carpet Bay Area’s calendar for performance dates, details and tickets.
More than 800 young artists from around the world auditioned for a spot in the acclaimed, highly selective Merola Opera Program this year. The 29 chosen artists will spend the summer, all expenses paid, in the 12-week intensive opera training that includes performances in two fully-staged opera productions, the popular Schwabacher Summer Concert, and a Merola Grand Finale.
Named for San Francisco Opera’s first general director Gaetano Merola, the Merola Opera Program began during the 1954-55 season and established its full training program in 1957. Since then, Merola has served as a proving ground for hundreds of artists including Leona Mitchell, Anna Netrebko, Patricia Racette, Ruth Ann Swenson, Carol Vaness, Deborah Voigt, Joyce DiDonato, Susan Graham, Dolora Zajick, Rolando Villazón, Thomas Hampson, and Patrick Summers.
Scenes from the Merola Opera Program 60th Anniversary Gala and Concert:
Merola’s 60th anniversary gala featured performances from some of the most illustrious participants from past Merola programs : Deborah Voigt (’85), Julie Adams (’14), Kristin Clayton (’93), Tracy Dahl (’85), Catherine Cook (’90), Zanda Svēde (’13), Dolora Zajick (’83), Pene Pati (’13), Issachah Savage (’13), Quinn Kelsey (’02), Bojan Knezevic (’92), John Churchwell (’96), and Mark Morash (’89).
Red Carpet Bay Area congratulates the 2017 Merola Artists:
Apprentice Coaches: César Cañón, Tuomas Juutilainen, James Maverick, Michael Sherman, Andrew Sun
Apprentice Stage Director: Victoria Crutchfield
Singers:
Baritones: Thomas Glass, Dimitri Katotakis
Bass Baritones: Andrew Hiers, Daniel Noyola, Christian Purcell, Cody Quattlebaum, Szymon Wach, David Weigel
Mezzo-Sopranos: Alice Chung, Ashley Dixon, Edith Grossman, Samantha Hankey
Sopranos: Kendra Berentson, Mathilda Edge, Natalie Image, Jane McIntyre, Felicia Moore, Alexandra Razskazoff, Kelsea Webb
Tenors: Andres Acosta, Anthony Ciaramitaro, Xingwa Hao, Addison Marlor
— Related — More Red Carpet Bay Area coverage for Merola Opera Program:
- Introducing the Adler Fellows (2016)
- Merola’s Girls of the Golden West (2013)
- San Francisco Boys Chorus (2013)
- Merola’s Royal Affair (2012)