Anastasia Antropova is a classical pianist, singer, and vocal coach. She performs in venues in Europe and USA. She has won numerous international piano, singing, and composition competitions. Anastasia graduated from Saint Petersburg Conservatory in 2017 (MM in Piano Performance), while studying voice privately, and went to Milan to continue mastering her piano and voice skills. The solo performance venues included Casa Verdi, Sala Santa Maria, Palazzina Liberty in Italy, Academic Capella, and Steinway Piano Gallery in Saint Petersburg. In 2021 Anastasia was admitted to the Master’s Degree of Vocal Performance at the Roosevelt University. She is currently studying voice with Judith Haddon and working on her repertoire with Dana Brown. Anastasia performed her first opera role in the production of Bertha by Ned Rorem in 2021 (Chicago, Roosevelt University).

In 2022 she made her Chicago Symphony Center debut as a soloist performing Mahler’s Symphony N 3. She performed NYC Care Worker in Shendon’s “On Call: Covid-19” and RN in “Bluebeard’s Waiting Room” by Granger. The upcoming performances include La Zia Principessa in “Suor Angelica” by Puccini and Carmen in “Carmen” by Bizet.

In 2022 Anastasia became a winner of the Illinois Chapter of National Society of Arts & Letters competition.

Shu Li is a mezzo soprano from China. She is now a second year DMA student at Stony Brook University, and she got her master degree from Manhattan School of music. She was born in a musical family. Both her parents studied singing when they were in college and her mother is still a voice professor now. She has been involved in many performances, such as opera Albert Herring, Carmen, Der Rosenkavalier, Emmeline and etc. In addition to singing, she also interested and participated in creation of drama scripts and performances.

Tenor Zhihui Pang is a second-year master’s student of voice and graduate assistant at IU Jacobs School of Music studying with Deanne Meek and music coach Gary Arvin. Born in China, he studied journalism and communication at the Renmin University of China for his undergraduate program. Since his master’s program, he has performed the roles of Tamino (The Magic Flute), Prunier (La Rondine) and Liberto (The Coronation of Poppea). He has performed opera scenes from Faust as Faust and La fille du regiment as Tonio. He has participated opera chorus of the Magic Flute and Don Giovanni. He participated in Lyric Opera Studio Weimar in 2022 Summer and received a scholarship.

David Silvano is an emerging Peruvian-American tenor with a powerful, yet vibrant and flexible voice and a natural talent for acting. While he has a particular passion for the Romantic and post-Romantic repertoire, he is at home in a wide variety of styles. He looks forward to performing his role premier as Don José in Bizet's beloved opera Carmen in the Summer of 2023 with Chicago Summer Opera. He is also very pleased to have the opportunity to portray Younger Thompson in Tom Cipullo's Glory Denied with Opera Theatre of the Rockies in 2023, and The Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto with Mobile Opera in 2024. Mr. Silvano has most recently performed with the Messiah Choral Society of Grand Junction as a tenor soloist, and role of Martin in Copland's The Tender Land, with the Ralph Opera Program at Colorado State University. In the Summer of 2022, he sang the role of Theodore Billings in the staged premiere of Clint Borzoni and John de los Santos's The Copper Queen with Marble City Opera where he was praised by Arts Knoxville for bringing "a deliciously romantic lyrical side" to the character. He also performed the role of Ferrando in Mozart's Così fan Tutte and Aeneas in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas with the Ralph Opera Program. He has appeared in productions with Boulder Opera Company, Art Song Colorado, Opera Fort Collins, and Loveland Opera Theatre among others. Mr. Silvano has performed and studied a number of roles and scenes with Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Opera. Some of these include The Witch in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Francis Flute in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as scenes from Bizet’s Carmen (as Don José), Puccini’s La Bohème (as Rodolfo), and Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles (as Nadir). Mr. Silvano holds a BM in vocal performance from Colorado Mesa University and a MM in vocal performance from Colorado State University where he studied with John Robert Lindsey.

Annie Bennett is thrilled to be making her role debut as Micaëla with the Chicago Summer Opera program! Annie is a Chicago-based lyric soprano and a recent graduate of the Chicago College of Performing Arts, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Classical Voice. Some of her favorite past credits include Dido in Dido and Aeneas (Chicago College of Performing Arts), Isabel in The Pirates of Penzance (Savoyaires), as well as the world premiere of In Country as the role of Cass, which was written specifically for her by up-and-coming composer Cameron Dammann. Annie is also a current member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and has been performing with them since the Spring of 2022. Her other artistic endeavors include singing with and music directing the a cappella ensemble InVox Chicago, of which she has been a member since 2018. She currently studies with acclaimed countertenor Mark Crayton.

She is a second-year master student of The New School. She participated in Metopera competition Idaho district. Also she got in premier foundation semi-finalist in 2022

My name is Denisa – Stefania Cazaciuc and I am from Iasi, Romania. I am 15 years old and I am student in the first year of high school at the National College of Fine Arts „Octav Bancila” Iași, Romania.

Vocal Performances:

• July 30th and 31st, 2022 – debut in Opera „La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi, choir member, alto division, Renfield Centre, Blythswwod Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.

• July 23rd, 2022 – solo interpretation of the aria „O mio babbino caro” from the opera „Gianni Schicchi” by Giacomo Puccini and the duetto „La ci darem la mano” from the Opera ”Don Giovanni” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in the recital called „Arias for a Summer’s Night”, Broomhill Hyndland Parish Church, Glasgow, Scotland, UK;

• 2021, 17 July, debut as Barbarina in the opera ”Le Nozze di Figaro” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, educational project on the stage of National Athenaeum Iasi Romania

• In the following operas at the National Opera Iasi, Romania, (2017 – 2022) – as a member of the Children’s Choir “Juniorii Operei” (Juniors of the Opera) or in The Children’s Choir of the National Opera Iasi, Romania:

Georges Bizet – “Carmen”

Giacomo Puccini – “Tosca” – including solo performance

Carl Orff – “Carmina Burana”

Ruggero Leoncavallo – “Pagliacci”

Giacomo Puccini – “Boema”

Emil Lerescu – “Ecaterina Teodoroiu”

Piotr Ilici Ceaikovski – “The Nutcracker”

• Vocal performances in Christmas concerts at the National Opera Iasi (Romania) – as a member of the Children’s Choir “Juniorii Operei” (Juniors of the Opera)

• Vocal performances in other shows, including charitable shows

Awards 2021-2022:

2022 – First Prize at the International Competition „Emanuel Elenescu”, 25 noiembrie 2022, Piatra Neamț, România;

2022 – First Prize at the National Vocal Interpretation Competition „Elena Botez”, 5th edition, June 2022, Piatra Neamt, Romania;

2022 – 1st Place Soprano at the Competition „King`s Peak International Classical Music Competition, Spring 2022”, Voice Soprano, May 2022, USA;

2022 – First Prize for Excellence at the National Competition „Primăvara Artelor”, category canto classic, April 2022, Bacau, Romania;

2022 – First Prize for Excellence at the National Competition „Primăvara Artelor”, category chamber music, April 2022, Bacau, Romania;

2022 – First Place Winner at the 2022 AMERICAN MUSIC TALENT COMPETITION, Voice Category, Canto Classic;

2022 – First Prize for Excellence at the Competition „Mărțișoare Muzicale”, March 2022, Bucharest, Romania;

2022 – First Prize for Excellence at the National Competition of Canto Classic “REVELATIA VOCILOR” - “Voice`s Revelation”, February 2022, Bucharest, Romania;

2022 – First Prize at the National Vocal Performance Competition „Crai Nou”, Brasov, Romania;

2021 – Second Prize at the London Classical Music Competition 2021, UK;

2021 – Second Prize at the Danubia Talents International Online Music Competition, December 2021, Budapest, Hungary;

2021 – Trophy of the group 13-14 years old, category Music with winter theme, at the „Dor de Scena” National Music and Theater Festival, Romania, December 2021;

2021 – Gold Prize at the World Classical Music Awards, December 2021, UK;

2021 – First Prize Winner at the Charleston International Music Competition

– 2021 Romantic Music Competition, December 2021, Charleston, South Carolina, USA;

2021 – 1st Prize at the DA CAPO International Music Competition, Romania, December 2021;

2021 – First Prize at the Scherzo National Interpretation Competition, Romania, November 2021;

2021 – Laureat of the First Prize at the International Grand Music Competition, Russia, Moscow 2021

2021 – First Prize at the Talents of Europe Competition, September 2021, Spain;

2021 - 2nd Prize at the MAP International Music Competition, September 2021, Los Angeles, California, USA

2021 – First Prize at the International Moscow Music Online-Competition September 2021, Moscow, Russia

2021 – First Prize at the Medici International Music Competition, 15.08.2021, London, UK;

2021 – First Prize + Trophy at the International Competition „Young Talents 2021”, Romania;

2021 – Grand Prize 100% Perfect Score at the USA Classical Music International Competition held in May 2021 by International Youth Music Competitions, Atlanta, USA;

2021 – Silver Star at the Music & Stars Awards, iunie 2021;

2021 – First Prize at the Online Vocal Interpretation Contest „Elena Botez”, Piatra Neamt, Iunie 2021, Romania;

2021 – Platinum Medal at the „2021 Quebec International Music Competition” April 2021, Canada

2021 – First Prize at the „International Moscow Music Online-Competition” April 2021, Moscow, Russia

2021 – Grand Prize of C1 category at the „Elite Musicians International Competition” 2021, Iasi, Romania

2021 – First Prize at the Interpretation Competition „Vocal Consonances”, National College of Fine Arts Dinu Lipatti Bucharest, 1st edition, online, April 2021, canto classic;

2021 – First Place at the „Rocky Mountain Music Competition – Spring 2021” Canada, Rocky Mountain Voice Competition Junior Category, 13-14 years old category;

2021 – Laureate at the „Angel Voice Classic” Belgrade, Serbia, Classical Singing Junior;

2021 – Laureate at the „Angel Voice Classic” Belgrade, Serbia, Classical Singing, Nomination „Mozart Singer”, Junior;

2021 – Special Prize „Angel Voice Committee” Awards at the „Angel Voice Classic” Belgrade, Serbia;

2021 – First Place + Trophy at the „Young Talents International Competition – 2021” Romania, Canto Classic, 7th grade;

2021 – Laureate 1o at the „International Online Festival-Contest <<FUTURE STARS>>” Italy (Sopravista International Festivals), III° edition, academic vocal, age category 13-14 years old;

2021 – Laureate 1 (Golden Diploma) at the International Music Moscow Competition 2021;

2021 – First Place Winner at the 2021 King`s Peak International Classical Music Competition, Spring 2021, Voice Soprano, Age Group C;

2021 – First Place Winner at the 2021 AMERICAN MUSIC TALENT COMPETITION, Voice Category, Canto Classic;

2021 – First Place Winner at the National Competition CANTIS, Iasi, Romania, Canto Classic;

2021 – Special First Prize at the National Competition of Canto Classic “REVELATIA VOCILOR” - “Voice`s Revelation”, (Romania);

2021 – MasterClass with Bernice Chitiul, Teacher – Singing, Music & German at Secondary

– High Scool London, Soprano at Welsh National Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru;

2021 – Trophy at the Festival Competition “ROMANIAN TOP 10 FESTIVAL”, middle category, Section Canto Classic, (Romania);

2021 – Trophy at the Festival Competition “ROMANIAN TOP 10 FESTIVAL”, middle category, Section Musical, (Romania);

2021 – 1st Place at the Festival Competition “ROMANIAN TOP 10 FESTIVAL”, middle category, Section Pop International, (Romania);

2021 – 1st Prize at the International Competition “WINTER MUSIC STARS” (Romania),

Section Canto classic / age group 13 - 14 years;

Amy Philips, Mezzo soprano, is a singing actress and music educator based in Memphis Tennessee. She received training in opera and musical theater at McNeese State University in Lake Charles Louisiana and earned her Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance. She continued her training at the University of Memphis where she earned a Master’s of Music in Vocal Pedagogy. As a multi-style singing artist, previous performance engagements include understudying Glinda and performing in the ensemble for The Wizard of Oz with Playhouse on the Square, singing backup vocals for Loren Allred and Telly Leung with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, appearing on stage with Renée Fleming and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra singing You’ll Never Walk Alone, and Turnspit and Second Woodsprite in LAHSOW’s full-length production of Rusalka.

A versatile artist, Charles has performed opera and musical theatre roles and appeared as a concert soloist. At the University of North Alabama, he sang a variety of opera roles including Rodolfo in La Bohème, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and The Witch in Hansel and Gretel. He also performed as Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods and Man 1 in Songs for a New World. With the Shoals Symphony Orchestra in Alabama, he was heard as the tenor soloist in Bach’s Magnificat and Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio. As an opera chorus member, he performed in Andrea Chénier and Il Trovatore with Mobile Opera, in Turandot and Billy Budd with Des Moines Metro Opera Company, and in Rigoletto with Nashville Opera.

Since moving to Chicago, Mr. Anderson has been actively engaged in several performance opportunities. In concert, he lent his voice in the ensemble for both Rossini’s Stabat Mater and Mozart’s Requiem. He sang the role of Monostatos in The Magic Flute and The Priest in Jeff Myers’ Buried Alive. Charles even made his debut with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the world premiere production of The Factotum. He is delighted to be working with Chicago Summer Opera once again.

Cameron Mazzei is a tenor from Toronto, Ontario. After receiving his Bachelor of Music Performance Degree (Hon. Voice) in 2021 at the University of Western Ontario in London, Cameron continued his studies at Western and is now in his final year of the Masters in Music Literature & Performance Degree, graduating in 2023. During his time at Western, Cameron had the opportunity to work alongside renowned professors and artists, including mezzo-soprano, Dr. Sophie Roland and baritone, Theodore Baerg.

Cameron was a featured artist in Opera NUOVA’s 2022 Season in Edmonton, Alberta, working with prominent Canadian artists including Colin Ainsworth, Tracy Dhal, Kim Barber, Miriam Khalil, and others. Throughout the program, Cameron performed in various masterclasses and concerts, along with Main Stage productions of The Consul (The Magician) and L’incoronazione di Poppea (Lucano, Primi Soldati, and Friend of Seneca).

Cameron’s previous stage credits include UWOpera’s productions of Falstaff (Bardolfo), Alcina (Oronte), Gianni Schicchi (Gherardo), The Mikado (Nanki-Poo), Le Nozze di Figaro (Don Curzio) and La Finta Giardiniera (Don Anchiese), among others. In addition, Cameron was a part of Opera NUOVA’s production of Tuck Everlasting, and other outside productions of The Laramie Project and The Hounds of Baskerville.

Gavin Mason is a lyric baritone who graduated in 2021 from Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. At Viterbo he was the Tree Frog and Black Cat in The Bewitched Child by Ravel, Bob (Cover) in The Old Maid and the Thief by Menotti, and the Bass Trio Singer in Trouble in Tahiti by Bernstein. He also has done straight theater playing Sebastian in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and George Hastings in She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith. Gavin has also competed in Wisconsin NATS where he placed 2nd and 3rd in the upper college classical division.

Korean-American soprano, Soo Hyun Ryu, is a first year Master's of Music student at the IU Jacobs School of Music. She is currently studying under the tutelage of Carol Vaness. Her most recent role was Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi) in Carol Vaness' Opera Workshop. Ryu has earned her Bachelor's of Music in Voice in 2022 from the University of California, Santa Barbara, studying under Isabel Bayrakdarian. At her time in UC Santa Barbara, she performed the roles of Second Lady and Second Spirit in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and participated in the opera choruses for Lehar’s The Mock Marriage and Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

Born in Cameroon, Aurélien MANGWA studied singing through considerable years in the classical choirs of the capital Yaounde and extensive work with Baritone Vladimir BIDZANGA. After graduating from high school, he went to Istanbul where he studied singing with Mrs. Lynn TREPEL, professor at the Istanbul State Conservatory. And today student at the end of the higher cycle at the Royal Conservatory of Mons in Belgium in the class of Professor Thierry MIGLIORINI. He performs the role of Mr de Saint-Aiglefin in the operette Yes! by Maurice Yvain at the Royal Flamand Theater in Brussels and at the Royal Theater in Louvain in 2022. He was quickly invited to perform the Baritone and Bass parts in the Sacred Music repertoire.