Cast
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Joseph Mayon
Joseph Mayon, Lyric Tenor - has performed in opera, concerts, oratorios, recitals, and musical theater internationally and throughout the United States. A Louisiana native, Mayon attended the world renowned Interlochen Arts Academy in MI, and furthered his studies at Louisiana State University, University of Denver, and Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music. Mayon has performed with companies such as Rome Festival Opera, Hudson Opera Theater, New York Opera Forum, West Side Opera, Underworld Opera, Harmony Project NYC, SingThrough Central, Ridgewood G&S Opera, and Vera Musica. Roles include Roberto Devereux (ROBERTO DEVEREUX), Faust (FAUST), Idomeneo (IDOMENEO), Leicester (MARIA STUARDA), Percy (ANNA BOLENA), Almaviva (BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA), Elvino (LA SONNAMBULA), Tamino (DIE ZAUBERFLÜTE), Goffredo and Ubaldo (ARMIDA), Arturo (LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR), Pollione (NORMA), Carlo (GIOVANNA D'ARCO), Gennaro (LUCREZIA BORGIA, Nemorino (L'ELISIR D'AMORE), Faust (FAUST), Tebaldo (I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI), and Frederic (PIRATES OF PENZANCE). Mayon has participated in the prestigious workshop series of Verdi's LA TRAVIATA as Alfredo given by Maestro Francisco Casanova, Maestro Brian Holman, and Anna Etsuko Tsuri. Mayon also performed in Thomas Z. Sheperd's world premier adaption of Gilbert & Sullivan's THESPIS as Sparkeon with The Light Opera Company of Long Island. Upcoming performances: Fernando (LA FAVORITE), Pollione (NORMA), Fenton (FALSTAFF), and Loge (DAS RHEINGOLD). Mayon is founder of THE MAYON SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS LLC, teaching musical theater after school programs, and has a private voice studio. Mayon is currently the music and choral director at St. John the Apostle School in Clark, NJ.
Sarah Bain
Sarah Bain has most recently been seen as Laetitia in Princeton Opera Company’s production of The Old Maid and the Thief. She is a recent alumnus of Westminster Choir College and was seen in their production of Trouble in Tahiti. Other past performances include Barbarina in the Bethesda Summer Music Festival’s Le nozze di Figaro and First Lady in Die Zauberflöte. She has sung with the Middle-Saxony Opera’s chorus in their production of Der Zigeunerbaron in Freiberg, Germany and in concert with the Middle Saxony Opera Orchestra.
Samantha Tropper
Samantha Tropper is honored to have the opportunity to sing the Second Lady in her first production with the Children’s Philharmonic. Samantha is a recent graduate of Muhlenberg College, where she earned a BA in Music. As a lover of opera and an arts educator, Samantha is excited to work with the Children’s Philharmonic to share the music and magic of one of her favorite operas with children who may have never experienced an opera before. Special thanks to her family, friends, and voice teacher Michelle for all of their support and never ending love.
Elizabeth DiFronzo
Mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DiFronzo makes company and role debuts this season as Tisbe in Rossini’s La Cenerentola at Miami Lyric Opera, Curra in Verdi’s La Forza del Destino with Atlantic Coast Opera Festival, and Dritte Dame in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with the Children’s Philharmonic of New Jersey. In March 2020, she will make her New Mexico debut with Opera West! as La Maestra delle Novizie in Suor Angelica.
Highlights from recent seasons include Miss Todd in The Old Maid and the Thief with Saint George Opera, Mother Goose in The Rake’s Progress and The Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas with Frost Opera Theater, and Florence Pike in Albert Herring with Spotlight on Opera. Ms. DiFronzo has performed song recitals in Texas and Florida, featuring Ravel’s Shéhérazade, Heggie’s The Deepest Desire, and Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen. An accomplished choral singer, she has performed with the Arizona Bach Festival, MusicaNova Orchestra, and the Grammy Award-winning Phoenix Chorale.
Ms. DiFronzo earned a Master of Music degree in Classical Vocal Performance from the University of Miami Frost School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from Texas State University and is based in New York City.
Jay Lucas Chacon
Jay Lucas Chacon is a baritone from Phoenix, AZ currently residing in NYC. Described as "versatile" and having "comedic instincts" (Voce di Meche), Jay has been an active and noticeable artist in NYC. Jay recently made his international debut in Montréal as a guest artist with L'Institut Canadien d'Art Vocal performing the role of Rodolfo in the Leoncavallo La bohème.
Jay made his main stage debut with New Camerata Opera in NYC for their production of the zarzuela El Barbero de Sevilla in the role of Benito. In addition to performing main-stage with New Camerata Opera, Jay will be joining their branch of opera on film, CamerataWorks, for their commission of Whitney Georges opera Julie in the role of Duc de Durfort.
Later this year, Jay will workshop his one-man show I Am Figaro, written by Bea Goodwin with The Curiosity Cabinet as well as perform with On Site Opera in the Shostakovich opera The Tale of the Silly Baby Mouse.
In recent seasons, Jay created the role of Richard in the premiere of David Chesky's opera La Farranucci with Operavocateur Productions. Jay also returned to Brooklyn Philharmonia Chorus for the role of Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana.
In 2018, Jay has been seen with Center for Contemporary Opera in their Developmental Series as the Soldier in Scott Wheeler' The Sorrows of Frederick. Jay returned to dell'Arte Opera Ensemble in the American premiere of Salieri' La Cifra creating the role of Sandrino, receiving excellent reviews from Operawire, Broadway World, among others.
The fall of 2017 was particularly busy for Jay. He made debuts with Long Island Opera Company as Schaunard in La bohème, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro with Manhattan Opera Studio, Marullo in Rigoletto with Teatro Lirico d’Europa in Wilkes-Barre PA, Marchese d'Obigny in La Traviata with MidAtlantic Opera Company in Jersey Shore, as well as Marco and covering the title role in Gianni Schicchi with City Lyric Opera in NYC.
During the summer of 2017, Jay returned to Apotheosis Opera, performing the role of The Count in Capriccio where he debuted as Handsome in La Fanciulla del West the previous year. He also performed his first Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem with Brooklyn Philharmonia Chorus. Earlier that year, Jay debuted with Bronx Opera as
George Page in Sir John in Love.
Jay has also had performances with Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre as Innkeeper/Governor in Man of La Mancha, covering Schaunard in La bohème with Saint Petersburg Opera Company, and Utopia Opera as L'orloge Comtoise in L'enfant et les Sortileges for his NYC debut. Jay made his debut with
dell'Arte Opera Ensemble as Figaro in the Paisiello Il Barbiere di Siviglia.'
Jay has been a member of the Austin Opera chorus and sang with Union Avenue Opera and Winter Opera Saint Louis. While in Austin, Jay was a member of Cindy Sadler's training program Spotlight on Opera where he sang the title role in Gianni Schicchi, Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Sam In Trouble in Tahiti. Jay also spent 3 summers with the Austrian American Mozart Academy in Salzburg, Austria where he sang Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro and Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus.
Jay currently works as a teaching artist with Bronx Opera and performs with New Camerata Operas outreach, Camerata Piccola. as well as Prelude Opera, a company specializing in children's operas. Jay has studied with Dr. Glenn Bennett and Met tenor William Lewis and currently studies with Alexandra LoBianco.
Juliet Morris
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Juliet Morris is a lyric coloratura soprano and New York native, who is quickly gaining traction for her energized coloratura and for “making every word count” (Voce di Meche). She recently made her Carnegie Hall debut in October 2019, performing in the concert “An Evening of Opera: Narrated by Vivian Schweitzer.” Other recent engagements in 2019 include performances as 2nd Woman (Dido and Aeneas) with Vocal Productions NYC, and Goat Herder (Dinorah), with Amore Opera. Previously, she has participated in the International Vocal Arts Institute and Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance programs. Performed roles include Suor Dolcina (Suor Angelica), Madame Herz (Der Shauspieldirektor), The Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte), Diane (Orphée Aux Enfers), and Ninetta (La Périchole). Juliet has placed as a semi-finalist in the MIOpera Competition and the International Premio Chigiana competition, an alternate finalist in the FAVA Grand Concourse Competition, and has won the Excellence in Vocal Performance Award from NYU Steinhardt. She holds a Masters Degree in Opera Performance from UT Austin, and a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance from New York University.
Anthony Kalanick
Anthony Kalanick is a sophomore at Montclair State University studying clarinet with KeriAnn Dibari. He is currently performing with the Montclair State Wind Symphony as well as the Montclair State Orchestra. He has previously performed as principal clarinetist in the Lakeland Youth Orchestra as well performing in the clarinet section in the North Jersey Area Band. He has performed in multiple chamber groups like clarinet quartets, clarinet choirs, and wind trios. He has performed musical productions of Les Miserable, Sister Act, Into the Woods, playing clarinet/flute/saxophone, and playing Electric and Double bass for James and the Giant Peach. He has also studied with Janet Vidovich.
Francesca Federico
Francesca Federico recently made her debut at the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center with the Teatro Nuovo bel canto festival under the baton of Maestro Will Crutchfield, where she covered the role of Ninetta in Rossini’s La gazza ladra, and joined the company's production of Bellini’s La Straniera. In the 2018-19 season Ms. Federico also made a company debut with Bronx Opera, performing the role of Anna Gomez in Menotti’s The Consul, and was named the winner of a 2018 opera grant from the Anna Sosenko Assist Trust.
In the 2017-18 season, Francesca Federico had the honor of creating the role of “Lyric Soprano/Naftalina” in the world premiere of Constantin Basica’s Knot an Opera!, with the Fresh Squeezed Opera Company. Ms.Federico was also the Soprano Soloist in the world premiere of Brad Balliett’s multidisciplinary opera The Universal Drum, and Artist Fellow with the Art Song Preservation Society Festival, specializing in French repertoire. Other recent roles include Donna Anna in Don Giovanni as a Principal Artist with the Utah Vocal Arts Festival, and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with the German Vocal Arts Institute.
Maria Eleni Zollo
Maria Eleni Zollo is a vibrant, Greek American soprano, who brings authenticity and enthusiasm to everything she does. As an active recitalist, concert soloist and operatic performer, Maria Eleni has appeared with the Mannes Orchestra, the Brooklyn Metro Chamber Orchestra, Apotheosis Opera, the Mannes Opera, Martina Arroyo's Prelude to Performance, Hunter Opera, Savannah Voice Festival, and the Lidal North International Opera Workshop at the Oslo Opera House. She was also a sposored recitalist with the New York City organization, Project 142. As well as performing standard repertoire, Maria Eleni has premiered the works of up and coming composers, including Nathan Fletcher, Felix Jarrar and Zachary Gulaboff Davis. Maria Eleni holds a B.M from Mannes School of Music and a M.A from CUNY Hunter College, where she won the university concerto competition in spring of 2018. Maria Eleni has been the choir director and organist of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY since 2013. She is very tied to her Greek American roots, and was named Miss Peloponessos in the 2016 Miss Greek Independence Day Pageant. That same year, she was also awarded the esteemed Pan Hellenic Scholarship. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, reading, cooking and playing with her Bichon Frisé, Marius.
Cliff Smith
Cliff Smith, basso profundo, has concertized throughout the United States of America and Europe. Operatically, he is most noted for his interpretation of Friar Laurent in Romeo and Juliette, Coline in La Boheme, and the Role of Bob in William Grant Still’s Opera Highway One. Most noted for his interpretations of Verdian roles, his voice commands a wide spectrum of oratorio works and operatic roles ranging from Mozart and Wagner. His voice has been characterized by critics as having, “a perfect balance of chiaro-scuro, a mixture of both dark and light qualities that warms the heart and captivates one’s entire soul.” Spring 2015, Cliff performed the role of Zuniga in the Opera Carmen with the University of Oklahoma and has been recently casted as Booker T. Washington in the musical Ragtime.
Throughout his career, Mr. Smith has maintained a well-balanced career of both singing and teacher, most recently noted for his most recent appointment as Dean of Students at Dr. Susan S. McKinney Secondary School of the Arts. While maintaining a full schedule at his newly appointed position, Dean Smith is also a Professor of Voice at NYACK College, Manhattan campus. Mr. Smith is also a full time Doctoral of Musical Arts student at the University of Oklahoma, 2017. Mr. Smith currently studies with Metropolitan Opera Star Kim Josephson. He has also studied with Professors Dana and Sue Talley, Dr. John E. Ware, Dame Marsha Henderson, Dr. Valerie Jones Francis, Professor Thomas Carey and Madame Marilyn Horne. Mr. Smith is also former conductor of the Brooklyn Ecumenical Choir, The Gospelites of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church of Harlem, and the Dr. Susan S. Mc Kinney Secondary School of the Arts High School Chorus; where he serves as collegiate coordinator & recruiter for Mc Kinney High School and Xavier University of Louisiana. He is the founder of Voices of Tomorrow, an artistic development program that prepares high school students for collegiate studies and careers in classical music, Opera, Pop, R&B and Hip-Hop. Mr. Smith currently holds a Master of Music in Performance from the University of Oklahoma and Bachelor of Music in Performance from Xavier University of Louisiana.