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Andrzej Stec, tenor, (2004)

Andrzej Stec, tenor, (2004), BM-Performance NIU; MM Northwestern University; has just graduated with a DMA (Interpretation) from University of Montreal.

He has been in Chicago Opera Theater's Young Artists Program (2007) and has performed with Rockford Chamber Orchestra (2007). With Opera Circle, Cleveland, he has sung in the US premiere of Elsner's opera "Echo in the Woods," (2010) and has been re-engaged by that company to sing Arturo in Bellini's "I Puritani" in November of 2010 and Szymanowski's "King Roger" in June of 2011

 
Aaron Bolden (2007, 2009)

Aaron Bolden, baritone (2007, 2009). During the 2009-2010 season, Aaron made his professional debuts with Light Opera Works, Chicago, in "Pirates of Penzance" and with Chicago Chamber Opera in the Cuban zarzuela "Maria la O" by Lecuona.

 
Agust Olafsson (2006)

Agust Olafsson (2006), baritone, has performed the three great Schubert cycles, Die Schöne Müllerin, Winterreise and Schwanengesang, in Reykjavik this Spring, 2010. In 2009 he completed a two year contract with Iceland Opera, Reykjavik, where he performed Nick Shadow in The Rake's Progress, Germont in La Traviata and Harlekin in Ariadne auf Naxos. He was re-engaged to sing the role of Belcore in L'elisir d'amore in 2009 and was awarded the Icelandic Theater Award (Griman) as Best Singer of the Year for that role.  He was chosen in 2008 by the composer Sveinsson to premiere his Fourth Symphony in Reykjavik with the Icelandic Symphony, and he has made a recording called "Aldarblik," Icelandic songs of the 20th century. He was invited to sing in a concert celebrating the life of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf at Wigmore Hall, London, in 2007. He is mentioned on the blog Barihunks (http://barihunks.blogspot.com/2009/03).

 
George Humphrey (2007)
George Humphrey (2007), tenor, is represented by Pamela Curzon, NY, and currently lives in Munich. He has recently sung Don Jose in Carmen for Dachau Opera, and will perform the role of Siegmund in Die Walküre for Hawaii Opera Theater and Lohengrin in the eponymous opera for Frankfurt am Main opera in 2010. He won second place in the Barry Alexander International Voice Competition in 2007, and was a finalist in both the Liederkranz and the Joy of Singing competitions in NYC the same year. 
 
Mary K Bergman (2004)

Mary K Bergman (2004) will make her Chicago debut as Mrs Peachum in "The Beggar's Opera" at DuPage Opera Theater in 2009.  She will sing Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn at a Lunchtime Concert at St. Barnabas Church, Ealing, London on March 25, 2009, and Schubert's Mass in G at Southminster Presbyterian Church, Arlington Heights (Chicago) on April 25, 2009. In 2010, she will sing recitals in Munich (May 1) at the Gasteig and in Würzburg at the Hochschule (May 3) with pianist Christof Weinhardt. The American song program will include Barber's Hermit Songs, Menotti's Canti della lontananza and John Carter's Cantata.

 


"The pupil must read the words of the piece again and again till each finest shadow of meaning has been mastered. He must next recite them with perfect simplicity and self-abandonment. The accent of truth apparent in the voice when speaking naturally is the basis of expression in singing. Light and shade, accent, sentiment, all become eloquent and persuasive. The imitation of instinctive impulse must, therefore, be the object of this special preparation."

-Manuel Garcia, Hints on Singing