Jessica Mamey is a mezzo-soprano, performing a variety of musical styles from Cabaret to Classical. She hasbeen noted for her wide dramatic and musical range, bringing a “gorgeous mezzo soprano voice that is crispand clear” (Stage and Cinema). Ms. Mamey enthusiastically digs into new musical compositions, which led toher Long Beach Opera Debut as the District Attorney in Anthony Davis’ Pulitzer Prize winning Central Park 5.
This coming year, she will make her Lyric Opera of Orange County debut in the title role of Bizet’s Carmen andwith Vox Visceralis, debuting as Sesto in Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito.A native to Southern California, Ms. Mamey has enjoyed performing with Pacific Opera Project, ChamberOpera Players of LA, Center Stage Opera and Townsend Opera in roles including Dinah in Trouble inTahiti, Dorabella and Despina in Così fan tutte, Zerlina in Don Giovanni and in several new and rareworks. Past concert engagements include Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Pasadena Master Chorale andBeethoven’s Choral Fantasy with Hollywood Master Chorale.
Ms. Mamey graduated from Occidental College where she began her vocal studies with Scott Blois. Shecontinues her studies with teacher Joann Zajac.

Native Texan, tenor Hugo Vera is described as possessing a “truly heroic voice” that is both “beautiful and brilliant.” Mr. Vera has performed over 50 roles and 65 large choral orchestral works with distinguished companies in the US as part of his musical and artistic development of the full lyric tenor repertoire. In addition to being on The Metropolitan Opera roster for seven seasons, Mr. Vera has sung with such prominent companies as Lyric Opera of Chicago, New York City Opera, Illinois Symphony, Aspen Music Festival, Sarasota Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Opera North, Chautauqua Opera, Nashville Opera, Tanglewood Music Festival and Arizona Opera. His 2021-2022 season includes performances Pinkerton in “Madama Butterfly” with Indianapolis Opera, Don Jose in “Carmen” with Opera Aegean (Turkey), “Passione” with GLOW Lyric Theatre, debut with Lyric Opera of Orange County as Pinkerton in “Madama Butterfly,” “All is Calm” with Opera North and recitals in Los Angeles, Seattle, Lawrence, KS and Greenville, SC.
Hugo released a new recording in 2020 entitled “Romances and Poems” featuring the works of Russian composer Sergei Taneyev on the Centaur Recording label. Aside from being featured on various Metropolitan Opera Live in HD broadcasts, he can be heard in various world premiere recordings and broadcasts which include Ricky Ian Gordon’s “The Grapes of Wrath” (Minnesota Opera), Craig Bohmler’s “Riders of the Purple Sage” (Arizona Opera) as well Paul Paray’s Mass and DVD of Puccini’s “La Fanciulla del West” (Metropolitan Opera) as well as the virtual world premiere micro-opera, “Wide Awake in the New City” by Lisa Neher.
He keeps an active private voice studio in Tucson and New York City. He is Director of Vocal Arts & Opera at California State University, Northridge. He is also Executive Director, of Lawrence Opera Theatre (LOT) a summer music performing company as well as Artistic Director of the Vocal Academy of Opera (Turkey).

Jóhann Schram Reed has been noted internationally for his rich, warm sound and moving
performances. The Icelandic bass-baritone was most recently seen as Sarastro in Opera Neo’s
exciting virtual production of Mozart’sThe Magic Flute. Shortly before that, he sang the role of Don
Basilio in Opera Roanoke’s exciting production of Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, “singing absolutely
beautifully all the while” (Roanoke Times).

Mr. Schram Reed made his international debut as the soloist in Tokyo Sinfonia’s
performance of Brahms’Ein Deutsches Requiem, a part of their quincentennial celebration of the
Reformation. He has previously been a celebrated soloist in works such as the Mozart Requiem,
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast, the Bach Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah and
many others. In 2019, he took part in Marina Del Rey Symphony’s stellar performance of La
Bohéme. That following winter, Mr. Schram Reed joined Portland Opera for their production of La
Bohéme in the role of Colline.

In 2019, he claimed first prize at the Vox Domini Voice Competition in his native Iceland,
which was followed by a featured recital with the Icelandic National Opera.
As a successful crossover artist, Mr. Schram Reed was seen as Dr. Neville Craven in Utah
Festival Opera’s 2018 stunning production of The Secret Garden. During the same season, he was also
featured as Mr. Whitley in Amazing Grace, as well as in multiple concerts and cabaret appearances.
He has previously received acclaim for his portrayal of Emile de Becque in South Pacific as well as
his powerful performance as Inspector Javert in Bay View Festival’s Les Miserables.

Emily Weinberg is a mezzo-soprano who has been studying with private teacher Daniel Hendrick (tenor) for the last 12 years. While attending CSUF, she took on a varied number of roles in the school’s opera productions, including Mozart’s COSI FAN TUTTI (Dorabella), Ravel’s L’ENFANT ET LES SORTILEGES (L’enfant), and scenes from Berlioz’s BEATRICE ET BENEDICT (Beatrice), Rossini’s LA CENERENTOLA (Cenerentola), Verdi’s DON CARLO (Eboli), and RIGOLETTO (Maddalena). Her upcoming engagements include performances with Pacific Chorale, Pacific Symphony, Lyric Opera of Orange County, and the International Lyric Academy based in Venice, Italy. She will be performing the title role of Carmen in October of 2022 with Pacific Lyric Association.

Rose Ludowick is a soprano currently living and working in Orange County. She has previously appeared as La Fée in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon and has understudied the roles of Juliette in Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette and Cinderella in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon. She was also cast as Antonia in Santa Monica College’s spring 2020 production of Jacques Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffman and hopes to perform the role sometime in the future. She will be singing the role of Rosalinda in Santa Monica College’s spring 2022 production of Die Fledermaus.

California-born baritone, Michael Segura started his artistic journey through stage acting, choir, musical theater, and barbershop. Ultimately he became a classical musician and opera singer and is now finishing his Bachelor of Music degree at California State University of Fullerton. Michael has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall for the Arts, and has joined in performance with the Pacific Symphony and Lyric Opera of Orange County, most recently as Papageno in Mozart’s Magic Flute. Other performance accolades include: The title roles in Don Giovanni (Mozart) and Gianni Schicchi, Marco in Gianni Schicchi (Puccini), and Des Grieux in Le Portrait de Manon (Massenet) in addition to winning several competitions such as the CSUF Music Associates Concerto/Aria Competition and the National Association of Teachers of Singing – LA SEP Competition.

Axel Daniel Mejía-Juárez is an alumnus from Chapman University, where he received his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music. He is currently at California State University, Northridge pursuing a Master of Music in Vocal Arts, where he is studying under Dr. Hugo Vera.

Mr.Mejía-Juárez’s operatic experience includes roles such as Albert in Albert Herring (Britten), Alfred in Die Fledermaus (Johann Strauss II), Nibble Witch in Hansel and Gretel (Humperdinck), Footman and Barigoule in Cinderella (Viardot), and 2nd Priest in Die Zauberflöte (Mozart). He was most recently scene as Sam Kaplan in Street Scene with CSUN Opera.

He also performed in various scene productions as Tebaldo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Bellini), Tybalt in Romeo et Juliette (Gonound), Tamino in Die Zauberflöte (Mozart), and Gaston in La Traviata (Verdi).

Born in Nogales Sonora Mexico, Guillermo Keymolent, currently holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Arizona and is currently working on his Master of Music in vocal performance at California State University Northridge. Mr. Keymolent most recently performed the role of Lippo Fiorentino with CSUN Opera and has also sung with other companies such as Arizona Opera, Oro Valley Theater Company and Southern Arizona Performing Arts Co. Mr. Keymolent was most recently the K-8th Music Teacher for Academies of Math and Science in the Tucson-Phoenix Arizona area. Now, Mr. Keymolent, is a teacher aide and choir teacher at Magnolia Science Academy-7 in Los Angeles. Mr. Keymolent is excited to work with Lyric Opera OC for the first time. It’s not every day you get to be a cover for your voice teacher, Dr. Hugo Vera!

Andi Dana (they/them) is a singer and voice teacher born and raised in Southern California, performing regularly in local opera companies, schools, and churches. Throughout 2019, Andi was seen performing some of the great bass roles in the classical repertoire, such as Colline in Guild Opera Company’s La Boheme and Leporello in Independent Opera’s Don Giovanni. Andi also participated in Guild Opera’s school outreach and education programs throughout Los Angeles, performing The Duchess in Alice in Wonderland and The Wolf in Little Red Riding Hood. Other roles include Falke in CSULA’s Die Fledermaus as a guest artist; Bermyata in the West Coast premiere of Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Snow Maiden; Capulet in Romeo et Juliette with Independent Opera; and Angelotti in Pacific Lyric Association’s Tosca, where they met LOOC director Diana, leading to their LOOC debut as the Page in Amahl and the Night Visitors.

In 2020, Andi focused on their teaching work, expanding their role beyond voice teacher and into a voice coach for both singers and non-singers alike. They created the Empowered Identity Voice Studio to address vocal discomfort and dysphoria, in an effort to start conversations about how we can better understand our own voices, and help bring alignment and harmony between one’s identity and their speaking and/or singing voice.

Andi spends time at their day job occasionally giving classes about the wild birds in our area. As an amateur birder themself, the hobby has provided opportunities in learning about nature’s own beloved singers!

To learn more about Andi, you can visit www.empoweredidentityvoicestudio.com.

A Kentucky native, David Herrington is an operatic bass that has become a fixture in the Los Angeles/Orange County area for regional opera. David completed his undergraduate degree at Morehead State University and his Master’s at Rice University under the tutelage of Dr. Stephen King. After taking a hiatus from singing for a period of time to focus on his voice-over career in LA, he returned to the stage to perform the role of Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni for
Mission Opera in Santa Clarita in November of 2021 and he covered the role of Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte for LOOC this past February. He is performing the role of Zuniga in LOOC’s production of Carmen and he studies under Hugo Vera.

Peruvian baritenor César Ballardo is a graduate of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music (BCCM) at California State University, Long Beach, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Music in 2020. There, he performed with the BCCM Opera Institute the roles of Monsieur Javelinot from Poulanc’s Dialogues des Carmélites, Governor from Bernstein’s Candide, and prepared the role of Pluto from Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld which was canceled due to COVID-19. In 2021, he performed the role of Sigmund Freud in Steiner/Richards’ The Loathly Lady in St. Petersburg, Florida. In 2022, he joined the Pacific Opera Project as a chorus member in their production of Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta. He is currently performing his second season as a Fox singer in the Verdi Chorus.

Sara Blanton, a mezzo-soprano from Southern California, has so far performed in 8 different countries. Sara completed her Undergraduate studies in Vocal Performance at DePauw University after which she moved to Vienna, Austria and completed her opera performance certificate at the Richard Wagner Conservatory.  Sara’s most recent performances include Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Fidalma in Il matrimonio Segreto, Ottavia and Arnalra in L’incoronazione di Poppea, and Alma March in Little Women. She sang scenes as Carmen and The Mother (The Consul) in LOOC’s L’Opera Petit. Currently, Sara is the director of Paws-to-Share and is currently pursuing a Masters of Biology at Miami University.

Sarah Salazar’s remarkable life resembles that of an inspirational story. She has a unique tale of defying all odds and surviving a life threatening event. She has since, used her voice to inspire and bring hope to those around her. Salazar, a soprano based in California, calls herself a musical chameleon for her ability to easily cross multiple styles of singing ranging from opera, to musical theater, to pop. She has performed with the Verdi Chorus of Santa Monica, Opera Santa Barbara, Pacific Opera Project, Glendale Opera, and is looking forward to singing in Lyric Opera of Orange County’s production of Carmen! Follow her on Instagram @sweetsarahnade or go to Sarahsalazarsoprano .com for more info!

Mariah Rae is a Long Beach based soprano and vocalist, originally born in the Philippines and raised in Portland, Oregon. She recently graduated with a Master of Music in Opera Performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music (BCCM) at California State University Long Beach, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance and Journalism from Loyola Marymount University (LMU). Mariah recently appeared in Pacific Opera Project’s Iolanta (Tchaikovsky), was the 2nd place Graduate Division winner in NATS-LA’s 2021 Collegiate Auditions, and sang Soeur Constance in BCCM Opera Institute’s production of Dialogues des Carmélites (Poulenc). Other roles include Susanna from Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart), Adina from L’elisir d’amore (Donizetti), Laetitia from The Old Maid and the Thief (Menotti), and Lauretta from Gianni Schicci (Puccini). 

Jeryd Word, from Palmdale, California, found his love for music singing in his grandfather’s church and high school choir. Now, as a third year vocal performance major at CSUN where he studied with Dr. Hugo Vera, Jeryd has been apart of Northridge Singers, The Sunday Night Singers, four CSUN opera productions, and the section leader for Northridge United Methodist Church. This summer he will be performing with Mission Opera’s world premier production of 13 clocks, the International Eisteddfod in Wales, the Missoula international choral festival, and with Lawrence Opera Theatre.

José Torres Daniel, tenor is currently studying with Robert MacNeil at California State
University, Los Angeles where he is pursuing a degree in Vocal Performance. He is a freelance
singer and primarily performs in concert works and opera. He is a recipient of scholarships from
Mu Phi Epsilon, the Los Cancioneros Master Chorale, and the Norma Kiser scholarship at El
Camino College. Some of his recent performances include a performance for the LA Opera
League’s Musicale in Palos Verdes, concerts with the Golden State Pops Orchestra and the
California Philharmonic. He is also a Program Administrator for the Hollywood Youth Orchestra
working in part with Harmony Project.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Doris Lang Kosloff holds many prominent positions in the field of opera.
She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Queens College (The Aaron Copland School of Music) of the City
University of New York and holds a Master of Music degree from the Boston University School of Fine and
Applied Arts, from which she graduated first in her class. Kosloff is the Artistic Director and Conductor of Opera Connecticut, the state’s premier professional opera company. She is the Director of Vocal Studies at The Hartt School, University of Hartford, as well as the Director of the Hartt Opera Theater, for which she is also the Music Director and Conductor.

In 2009, Ms. Kosloff created the highly acclaimed American Opera Idol international competition which continues to draw new audiences to opera. That same year she was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of Miami Lyric Opera. Kosloff’s active guest conducting career includes guest appearances with the Syracuse Opera, Orlando Opera,
Southern Ballet Theatre, Opera Columbus, Treasure Coast Opera, and Miami Lyric Opera. Ms. Kosloff is the conductor of contemporary chamber orchestra works on many discs; She also recorded a symphonic disk with the Czech Radio Philharmonic. She was Music Director and Conductor for the world premiere of The Village (an opera based on factual events of the Holocaust) which premiered in March of 1995 in New York.

With an extensive background in music, dance, and theatre, Diana Farrell has garnered attention for her insightful and sensitive work as a stage director and vocal coach. She is the Artistic Director for Lyric Opera of Orange County and has become a frequent judge and panelist for competitions, grant committees, 

and young artist training programs around the country. In addition to Lyric Opera OC, she has created stage productions for Pacific Lyric Association, and Opera Western Reserve among others. 

As a singer, Diana has been hailed for her “golden voice.” Her most recent stage performances include the titular role of Puccini’s Tosca, Magda in Menotti’s The Consul, and Verdi’s Lady Macbeth, for which her “passionate intensity…” earned high praise as she “consistently sang with beauty and sensitivity.” She has also appeared in the roles of Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus), Contessa Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Micaëla (Carmen), Anna Maurrant (Street Scene), Berta (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Miriam (Lee Hoiby’s The Scarf), and the title role of Amelia Goes to the Ball, among others, with companies such as The Crested Butte Music Festival, Nightingale Opera Theatre, and Simsbury Light Opera.

When not focusing on opera, Diana performs with the Pacific Chorale. Highlights from recent concert engagements include Beethoven’s 9th Symphony Soprano Soloist with Poway Symphony Orchestra, Soprano soloist on Mozart’s Requiem and Sant Saen’s Oratorio de Noel with Centre Chorale, a performance of Berlioz’s Les Nuits d’été with the Dana Symphony Orchestra, an appearance with the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra, and Strauss’ Vier Lied with Peninsula Symphony Orchestra. Diana is the winner of multiple awards throughout her career, completing her formal studies with an Artist Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Eve Woldemikael, soprano,  sang as part of Mashairi Ya Kale African Choir as an undergraduate student at Brown University. While back home in Irvine during the pandemic, Eve was part of the Chamber Singers at Orange Coast College where she studied Applied Voice. Eve is a singer/songwriter and  has performed her original songs at open mics and local events in the Boston Area. She began focusing on classical solo repertoire in 2021 and has been honing her technique with works by Handel, Barber, and Bishop. She made her stage debut with LOOC’s L’Opera Petit, performing scenes from West Side Story, Oberon, and L’incoronazione di Poppea.  She is currently a graduate student at Harvard Divinity School pursuing a masters degree in Comparative Studies.

Luís Salcido IV is an award-winning singer/actor known for his ability to transform into the character he portrays. The American Baritone has performed since childhood appearing in television, movies, as well as performing professionally in Nashville, TN. Luís is a Southern California native and is currently employed by Coachella Valley USD as the Orthopedic Impairment Specialist. Luís was a recipient of the Desert Theatre League Award for Outstanding Supporting Male Performer for his work as Buddy in The Cardigans. Credits also include Linus in You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, The Cat in The Hat in Seussical the Musical, Aristocrat in Evita, Guglielmo in Così Fan Tutte, Nanki-Poo in The Mikado, Ruddigore in Ruddigore, Bill in A Hand of Bridge, The Russian in Chess, Motel the Tailor in Fiddler on the Roof, and Mr. Applegate in Damn Yankees. Luís holds a BA in Music Performance and Pedagogy and an MS in Special Education. Luís has studied with American Soprano Marylin Tyler at the University of New Mexico, and currently studies with American Baritone Jason Chandler Duika.

Alexandria Burdick is a soprano born and raised in Bakersfield, CA. She recently received her Bachelors in Music with an emphasis in Vocal Performance from California State University, Fullerton. Some of her favorite roles performed at her university include Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, and Rodelinda in Rodelinda, and as the soprano soloist in Stravinsky’s choral/ballet work Les noces. Since graduating, Alexandria has been working as a staff singer for the Grammy-Award winning Pacific Chorale and performing locally in Orange County. Her time spent at CSUF and in Pacific Chorale have provided her with many incredible performance opportunities at the Hollywood Bowl, Honda Center, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Carnegie Hall, and Anaheim Convention Center with artists such as Andrea Bocelli, John Williams, Deborah Voight, and Kathleen Battle.

Kennedy is a director, choreographer, performer, and educator. As a Chapman University student entering her senior year, she is working toward her B.A. in Theatre Studies with a directing/performance emphasis and B.S. in Business Administration. Kennedy is very excited to apply her knowledge and experience in musical theatre and directing, while also gaining a deeper exposure to the world of opera.  Directing credits include: Speak Up (AD-Chance Theatre), Home and The First Fireworks (Chapman University), Bye Bye Birdie, Guys and Dolls, and Newsies (COPA-OC). Performing credits include: Sheila in Hair and Mayor in Toxic Avenger (Cypress College).